Atlantis Online
March 28, 2024, 06:17:47 am
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: DID A COMET CAUSE A FIRESTORM THAT DEVESTATED NORTH AMERICA 12,900 YEARS AGO?
http://atlantisonline.smfforfree2.com/index.php/topic,1963.0.html
 
  Home Help Arcade Gallery Links Staff List Calendar Login Register  

SPIRITUALISM and Spiritism

Pages: 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: SPIRITUALISM and Spiritism  (Read 4303 times)
0 Members and 31 Guests are viewing this topic.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #30 on: July 15, 2007, 07:01:57 am »







Linked to the Reform Movement

Spiritualists often set March 31, 1848 as the beginning of their movement. On that date, Kate and Margaret Fox, of Hydesville, New York, reported that they had made contact with the spirit of a murdered peddler. What made this an extraordinary event was that the spirit communicated through audible rapping noises, rather than simply appearing to a person. The evidence of the senses appealed to practical Americans, and the Fox sisters became a sensation.[3]

Amy Post and Isaac Post, Hicksite Quakers from Rochester, New York, had long been acquainted with the Fox family, and took the two girls into their home in the late spring of 1848. Immediately convinced of the genuineness of the Fox sisters' communications, they became early converts and introduced the girls to their circle of radical Quaker friends. It thus came about that many of the early participants in Spiritualism were radical Quakers and others caught up in the reforming movement of the mid-nineteenth century. These reformers were uncomfortable with established churches because those churches did little to fight slavery and even less to advance women's rights.[4]

Women were particularly attracted to the movement, because it gave them important roles as mediums and trance lecturers. In fact, Spiritualism provided one of the first forums in which American women could address mixed public audiences.[4] Cora L. V. Scott (1840–1923) was the most popular trance lecturer prior to the American Civil War. Young and beautiful, her appearance on stage fascinated men. Her audiences were struck by the contrast between her physical girlishness and the eloquence with which she spoke of spiritual matters, and found in that contrast support for the notion that spirits were speaking through her. Cora married four times, and each time adopted her husband's last name. During her period of greatest activity she was known as Cora Hatch.[4]

Another famous woman spiritualist was Achsa W. Sprague, who was born November 17, 1827, in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. At the age of 20, she became ill with rheumatic fever and credited her eventual recovery to intercession by spirits. An extremely popular trance lecturer, she traveled about the United States until her death in 1861. Sprague was an abolitionist and an advocate of women's rights.[4] Yet another prominent Spiritualist and trance medium prior to the Civil War was Paschal Beverly Randolph, an African American "Free Man of Color", who also played a part in the Abolition movement.[5]
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #31 on: July 15, 2007, 07:03:39 am »







Physical manifestations and fraud

In the years following the sensation that greeted the Fox sisters, demonstrations of mediumship (séances and automatic writing, for example) proved to be a profitable venture, and soon became popular forms of entertainment and spiritual catharsis. The Foxes were to earn a living this way and others would follow their lead.[3] Showmanship became an increasingly important part of Spiritualism, and the visible, audible, and tangible evidence of spirits escalated as mediums competed for paying audiences. Fraud was certainly widespread, as independent investigating commissions repeatedly established, most notably the 1887 report of the Seybert Commission [6].

Prominent investigators who exposed cases of fraud came from a variety of backgrounds, including professional researchers such as Frank Podmore of the Society for Psychical Research or Harry Price of the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, and professional conjurers such as John Nevil Maskelyne. Maskelyne exposed the Davenport Brothers by appearing in the audience during their shows and loudly explaining how the trick was done. During the 1920s, professional magician Harry Houdini undertook a well-publicised crusade against fraudulent mediums. Throughout his crusade, Houdini was adamant that he did not oppose the religion of Spiritualism itself, but rather the practice of deliberate fraud and trickery for monetary gain that was carried out in the name of that religion.[7]

But despite widespread fraud, the appeal of Spiritualism was strong. First and foremost, the movement appealed to those grieving the death of a loved one: the resurgence of interest in Spiritualism during and after the First World War was a direct response to the massive number of casualties.[8] Secondly, the movement appealed to reformers, who found that the spirits were in favor of such causes du jour as equal rights.[4] Finally, the movement appealed to those who had a materialist orientation and had rejected organized religion. The influential socialist and atheist Robert Owen embraced religion following his experiences in Spiritualist circles. Many scientific men who bothered to investigate the phenomena also ended up being converted. These include the chemist William Crookes, the evolutionary biologist Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913),[9] and the physician and author Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930).[10]
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #32 on: July 15, 2007, 07:14:00 am »







Widespread but unorganized

The movement quickly spread throughout the world; though only in the United Kingdom did it become as widespread as in the United States.[11] In Britain, by 1853, invitations to tea among the prosperous and fashionable often included Table-Turning, a type of séance in which spirits would communicate with people seated around a table by tilting and rotating the table. A particularly important convert was the French academic Allan Kardec (1804-1869), who made the first attempt to systematize Spiritualist practices and ideas into a consistent philosophical system. Kardec's books, written in the last 15 years of his life, became the textual basis of a religious movement called Spiritism, widespread in Latin countries. In Brazil, Kardec's ideas are embraced by millions of followers today.[12] In Puerto Rico, Kardec's books were widely read by the upper classes, and eventually gave birth to a spiritualist movement known as Mesa Blanca (White Table).

American Spiritualists would meet in private homes for séances, at lecture halls for trance lectures,at state or national conventions, and at summer camps attended by thousands. Among the most significant of the camp meetings were Camp Etna, Etna, Maine, Onset Bay Grove, in Onset, Massachusetts, Lily Dale in western New York State, Camp Chesterfield in Indiana, the Wonewoc Spiritualist Camp in Wonewoc, Wisconsin, and Lake Pleasant in Montague, Massachusetts. In founding camp meetings the spiritualists appropriated a form developed in the early nineteenth century by American Protestant denominations. Spiritualist camp meetings were located most densely in New England and California, but also were established across the upper midwest. Cassadaga, Florida is the most notable Spiritualist camp meeting in the American south.[13]

The movement was extremely individualistic, with each Spiritualist relying on her own experiences and reading to discern the nature of the afterlife. Organization was therefore slow to appear, and when it did it was resisted by mediums and trance lecturers. Most Spiritualists were content to attend Christian churches, and Unitarian and particularly Universalist churches contained many Spiritualists. As the movement began to fade, partly through the bad publicity of fraud accusations, partly through the appeal of religious movements such as Christian Science, the Spiritualist Church was organized, and this church can claim to be the main vestige of the movement left today in the United States.[3]

This photograph from 1906 Chicago shows a group of middle-class women, meeting to discuss Spiritualism. The movement was primarily a middle and upper class phenomenon, and was particularly popular with women.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2007, 07:16:11 am by Bianca2001 » Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #33 on: July 15, 2007, 07:18:45 am »








Characteristic beliefs, compared with other faiths

Spiritualists believe in the possibility of communicating with spirits. A secondary belief is that spirits are in some way closer to God than living humans, and that spirits themselves are capable of growth and perfection, and can progress through successively higher spheres or planes. The afterlife is therefore not a static place, but one in which spirits continue to evolve. The two beliefs: that contact with spirits is possible, and that spirits are more advanced than humans, leads to a third belief, that spirits are capable of providing useful knowledge about moral and ethical issues, as well as about the nature of God and the afterlife. Thus many Spiritualists will speak of their spirit guides — specific spirits, often contacted, who are relied upon for worldly and spiritual guidance.[3]

Spiritualism emerged in a Christian environment and has many features in common with Christianity: an essentially Christian moral system, a perceived belief in the Judeo-Christian God, and liturgical practices such as Sunday services and the singing of hymns. The primary reason for these similarities is that Spiritualists believe that some spirits are "low" or mischievous, and delight in leading humans astray. Therefore, beginning with Swedenborg, believers have been cautioned to hesitate before following the advice of spirits, and have usually developed their beliefs within a Christian framework.[3]

Nevertheless, on significant points Christianity and Spiritualism are quite different. Spiritualists do not believe that the acts of this life lead to the assignment of each soul into an eternity of either Heaven or Hell; rather, they view the afterlife as containing many hierarchically arrayed "spheres," through which each spirit can successfully progress. Spiritualists also differ from Christians in that the Judeo-Christian Bible is not the primary source from which they derive knowledge of God and the afterlife: their own personal contacts with spirits provide that source.[3]

 
Spiritualists were fiercely opposed by Christian leaders. Here an 1865 tract equates Spiritualism with Witchcraft, and blames the faith for inducing the Civil War. The tract goes on to berate Spiritualism for its association with Abolitionism.Religions other than Christianity have also influenced Spiritualism. Animist faiths, with a tradition of shamanism, are obviously similar, and in the first decades of Spiritualism many mediums claimed contact with American Indian spirit guides, in an apparent acknowledgment of these similarities. Unlike animists, however, spiritualists tend to speak only of the spirits of dead humans, and do not espouse a belief in spirits of trees, springs, or other natural features.

Hinduism, though an extremely heterogeneous belief system, generally shares a belief with Spiritualism in the separation of the soul from the body at death, and its continued existence. But Hindus differ from Spiritualists in that they typically believe in reincarnation, and typically hold that all features of a person's personality are extinguished at death. Spiritualists, however, maintain that the spirit retains the personality it possessed during its (single) human existence.

Spiritism, the branch of Spiritualism developed by Allan Kardec and predominant in most Latin countries, has always emphasized reincarnation. According to Arthur Conan Doyle, most British Spiritualists of the early 20th century were indifferent to the doctrine of reincarnation, very few supported it, while a significant minority were vehemently opposed, since it had never been mentioned by spirits contacted in séance. Thus, according to Doyle, it is the empirical bent of Anglophone Spiritualism —its effort to develop religious views from actual observation of phenomena— that kept Spiritualists of this period from embracing reincarnation.[16]

Spiritualism also differs from occult movements, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn or the contemporary Wiccan covens, in that spirits are not contacted in order to obtain magical powers (with the single exception of obtaining power for healing). For example, Madame Blavatsky (1831-1891) of the Theosophical Society only practiced mediumship in order to contact powerful spirits capable of conferring esoteric knowledge. Blavatsky apparently did not believe that these spirits were deceased humans, and in fact held beliefs in reincarnation that were quite different from the views of most Spiritualists.[4]
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #34 on: July 15, 2007, 07:20:52 am »








Developments after the 1920s

Main articles: Spiritualist Church, Spiritualists' National Union, Survivalism (life after death), and Spiritualist Association of Great Britain
After the 1920s, Spiritualism evolved in three different directions. The first of these continued the tradition of individual practitioners, organized in circles centered on a medium and clients, without any ecclesiastical hierarchy or dogma. Already by the late 19th century Spiritualism had become increasingly syncretic, a natural development in a movement without central authority or dogma.[4] Today, among these unorganized circles, Spiritualism is not readily distinguishable from the similarly syncretic New Age movement. These spiritualists are quite heterogeneous in their beliefs on issues such as reincarnation or the existence of God. Some appropriate New Age and Neo-Pagan beliefs, and others call themselves 'Christian Spiritualists', continuing with the old tradition of cautiously incorporating spiritualist experiences into their Christian faith.

The second direction taken by Spiritualism has been to adopt formal organization, patterned after formal organization in Christian denominations, with established creeds and liturgies, and formal training requirements for mediums.[17] In North America the Spiritualist churches are primarily affiliated with the National Spiritualist Association of Churches, and in the UK with the Spiritualists National Union, founded in 1891. Formal education in spiritualist practice emerged in 1920, continuing today with Arthur Findlay's College of Psychic Studies. Diversity of belief among organized spiritualists has led to a few schisms, the most notable occurring in the UK in 1957 between those who held Spiritualism to be a religion sui generis, and a minority who held it to be a denomination of Christianity. The practice of organized Spiritualism today resembles that of any other organized religion, having discarded most showmanship, particularly those elements resembling the conjurer's art. There is thus today a much greater emphasis on "mental" mediumship and an almost complete avoidance of the miraculous "materializing" mediumship that so fascinated early believers such as Arthur Conan Doyle.[18]

The third direction taken by Spiritualism has been a continuation of its empirical orientation to religious phenomena. Already as early as 1882, with the founding of the Society for Psychical Research, secular organizations emerged to investigate spiritualist claims. Today many persons with this empirical approach avoid the label of "Spiritualism," preferring the term "Survivalism." Survivalists eschew religion, and base their belief in the afterlife on phenomena susceptible to at least rudimentary scientific investigation, such as mediumship, near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, electronic voice phenomena, and reincarnation research. Many Survivalists see themselves as the intellectual heirs of the Spiritualist movement.[19]


See also
Spiritism
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #35 on: July 15, 2007, 07:25:27 am »






                              R E I N C A R N A T I O N   A N D   S P I R I T U A L I S M





By T Stokes


This topic is at the top of the agenda in many churches at present.

A few points need addressing on the subject.

The occult rule that says; “as above so below” tells that as in the world of nature that comes alive in the spring, and then dies each winter, so it is with man, he must by the same rules perish and then come back.

The birth of Spiritualism as an independent doctrine really began last century, and allying it to Christianity probably ensured its survival, but today when Christianity is failing fast, we need to ensure separation is as painless as possible.

Recent scandals involving the investing of christian church monies into the arms trade, supporting violence in Africa, south American and Ireland, the hiding of sexual predators within its ranks, and the deliberate falsification of archive material, and preferring to see babies in Africa born with AIDS rather that allow birth control have decimated support for Christian sectarianism.

The problem spiritualism has with reincarnation is that if we reincarnate, then where do the mediums messages come from?

And why do intelligent people when dead give so little information of any importance.

Both these questions can be answered by the hagiographers, but outside the main body of spiritualistic doctrine.

However, the main criticism of the reincarnation belief system, comes from modern Christianity, whose teaching is, we only live two lives, this one and the one after.

But Christ was an Essene, who were teachers and believers in both re-incarnation and vegetarianism.

It was Christ’s apostles and followers who proclaimed over and over again about the second coming, in other words Christ’s re-incarnation, and if HE were to come back, why not us?

Of the many bibles that one can study perhaps the Chaldean is the most sympathetic, but even this has been “got at” by the church establishment.

Political correctness is not a modern thing it has always been a weapon to silence dissent, it was used in 325 A.D to edit out reincarnation.

More recently, the “born again” Christians, do not realise that when Christ was asked; “how can we achieve this kingdom of heaven” his reply “you have to be born again” meant just that.

The modern twisting of his words, was not just political correctness, but the more sinister religious correctness, but for what motive ?.

This can be one of the government’s weapons in the psychological operations dept.

(psy /ops) and the twisting of dogma to religious ends is now known as “churchianity”

Religion has always been a great tool to influence the people, Winston Churchill was a master at it.

Christians believe in bodily resurrection which means on the day of judgement, god will call them physically from their graves up to heaven, ( metamsomatosis ) but what of those whose bodies have been blown up, or amputees? Or whose limbs are not all there?

“Remanation” which theologically is the returning to the godhead, is a universal belief, but how is this achieved ?

The Koran tells us ”god sends the souls of men back time and time again until, they be perfect”

Hinduism has so much on reincarnation, it was difficult to think of a particular comment, in fact every major religion bar Christianity teaches it, except modern Christianity.

There is no Christian answer to the question, that if god is this kind, just, loving person we are told he is, then why would he allow one person to be born a cripple, to a life of hunger and poverty, and another a prince, born to a life of luxury and plenty?

Where is the justice in that?

And the truth is he doesn’t choose, we do, we choose what would be best for our soul development, before we are born.

There are arguments in favour of, transmigration, palingenesis, metamsomatosis, metampsychosis etc, but the truth is simple, just as when you look at the oak tree, and it throws down it’s leaves and falls asleep for the winter, and then wakes up for the spring, so do we also, throw down our clothes, and fall asleep, before then waking up.

It was Shakespeare who said that we wear a mask for the brief period of our life, then just take it off to go home, now that does make sense.                           
« Last Edit: July 15, 2007, 07:47:42 am by Bianca2001 » Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #36 on: July 15, 2007, 12:53:07 pm »







                                            S P I R I T U A L I S T   B A S I C S



 

Introduction

Many people associate Spiritualism with psychic readings and "predicting the future". Reactions to this association often range from "it's of the devil" to healthy skepticism to a complete dependence on readings to continue daily living. Many people have a very flat understanding - you go to the medium, get a reading, and that's the end of it.

You're familiar with those movies that show the end of the story in the first 15 minutes and then spend the next hour and a half showing you how everything came together that way? Readings can be compared to the first 15 minutes of the movie. The problem is that many people watch the first 15 minutes and walk away thinking that they know everything they need to know.

The purpose of this writing is to give you the hour and a half that you missed so that you have a more accurate understanding, a greater appreciation for what Spiritualism is, and a clear perspective of how readings and "predicting the future" fit into the overall picture. The purpose is not conversion but exposure. (Spiritualists never convert anybody.) You decide what to believe. You are encouraged to continue your learning beyond this writing and experience things for yourself. Make an effort to understand and don't be too quick to dismiss something that may have value for you. Keep an open mind.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #37 on: July 15, 2007, 12:57:29 pm »








The Earth Plane

It is best to start out with square one - the earth plane. This existence that we commonly share is called the earth plane. The cars, houses, roads, grass, trees, streams, towns, cities, countries, mountains, deserts, and oceans, are all part of the earth plane. So is the sky, stars, moon and planets. Everything that is part of your "normal" perception is on the earth plane, man-made or natural.



The Spirit World

There is an existence called the spirit world. The spirit world exists in the same space that the earth plane does and is all around you. Imagine you are standing in a fog. The fog is all around you. Everything else that is normally around you is there also, whether you see it through the fog or not. Where does the fog stop and the "everything else" begin? In this way the spirit world exists in the same space as the earth plane. This is not a perfect analogy but it illustrates the point.



Spirits, Spirit beings or Spirit

People on the earth plane always have people from the spirit world around them. Whether you are Catholic, Jewish, Baptist, Hindu, Christian, Indian, Spiritualist, Buddhist, Moslem, or Atheist, it makes no difference.



Spirits are not normally visible. To continue the fog analogy, someone standing 10 feet away from you in a dense fog can't be seen, although the person is there. Spirit people can be perceived. Sometimes you may actually see a spirit person - often just a face or head, or perhaps the entire body. This appearance may be visible to you only (subjective), or may be for everyone to see (objective). You are not "just seeing things". Spirits can and do show themselves to people on occasion, and when they do, it is usually on a subjective basis.



Who are these people? They are people who have passed over ("died") and are now living in the spirit world. They are commonly loved ones or relatives, but they may be your guides and teachers.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #38 on: July 15, 2007, 01:03:15 pm »








Guides and teachers are people who help you learn and grow. Yes, believe it or not, you are not spiritually perfect. If you think you are perfect then you are in sad shape. If you think it doesn't apply to you then you had better wake up and get with it. Everyone is here to learn and your guides and teachers are here to help you.

Life is growth and progression. All those experiences you've had in life that you can't understand or would never want to go through again are a part of that progression. So are those experiences of feeling "on top of the world". Guides and teachers are helping us to learn life's lessons and become better people on all levels - spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically (regardless of which religion (if any) you believe in).



"Spirit"

The term "Spirit" is used in several ways in Spiritualist literature. Spirit can mean an individual person who is living in the spirit world. Spirit can mean the spirit world itself, or the influence of the spirit world on the earth plane. Spirit can mean God (also called "infinite intelligence" or "the God of your understanding" in Spiritualist literature). The dictionary meaning for spirit is "essence".



Vibration

There is a quality of the universe called vibration. Every thing and every one vibrates. Vibration can be thought of as being on a scale from low (and slow) to high (and fast). Your vibration is low when you are depressed because you have lost your job or have turmoil in your family. You walk into a room where two people have just had a violent argument and you can "cut the tension with a knife" the vibration is low also. When you get up in the morning, it's a beautiful day and you have that feeling that "everything is perfect" or you are feeling love for someone, the vibration is high.

Vibration is more than your moment-to-moment happiness or unhappiness. When you walk into your aunt's house the vibration is different than it is when you walk into a friend's house or your workplace or a church or an auditorium. The feelings you have are somewhat of an indicator of the vibration.

Things vibrate the same way people do. Buildings, cars, trucks, bridges, roads, houses, hills, mountains, and streams. Rocks vibrate - it is just so slow and solid that you don't normally perceive it.

Animals and plants vibrate. Cats, bats, rats, dogs, hogs, spiders, snakes and elephants. Trees, plants, flowers and grass vibrate too.

Color is vibration - black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and white.

The God of your understanding is of the highest and purest vibration.

The person you are, the way you treat others (and your self), the things you do (and don't do), and the way you live your life largely make your vibration what it is. Your vibration is built up from life's everyday experiences and how you approach and handle them. Positive thoughts help bring about positive (higher) vibration.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #39 on: July 15, 2007, 01:10:20 pm »







Mediums

The spirit world is of a higher vibration than the earth plane. You can raise your vibration high enough to make contact with the spirit world and the people in it. Conversely, people in the spirit world can lower their vibration and touch down into the earth plane.

Mediums are people who are able to raise their vibration high enough to contact and communicate with your loved ones, guides, and teachers in the spirit world. A medium becomes the message bearer for the guides, teachers, loved ones, and other spirits around you who want to talk to you, let you know that they love you, and help you progress spiritually.



Personal responsibility and Spiritual Progression

Spiritualism teaches that you are responsible for your own happiness and unhappiness. Your happiness and unhappiness are largely determined by how you look at things. Negative things do happen and you have no control over some of them. But you can control your reaction and the point of view you take in dealing with the negative. Besides, an uncontrollable negative in your life today can have a positive affect on other areas of your life years later.

You can make changes to improve yourself and your life, which in turn affect your vibration. Spiritual progression takes time - it doesn't happen in a minute or overnight. You have to make a start in the right direction first. Your guides and teachers will help if you sincerely ask.

 

Natural Law

How do you progress spiritually? There is a set of rules to live by called Natural Law. In practice, they are like the laws of physics - unbreakable. It is like dropping a glass from your hand - it always falls to the ground. There are no exceptions to Natural Law. The more you live by Natural Law and apply it in a positive way, the higher your vibration. The closer you come to God.



Law of Vibration

You are already familiar with the Law of Vibration - all things vibrate and positive thoughts, positive actions create a positive (higher) vibration.



Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. The simplest way to see this law in action is to look at your self and the people around you. The people you are the most comfortable with and relate to are of a "like mind" in some way. Look for the similarities in the people around you - family, co-workers, and friends - their attitudes, opinions, outlook on life and spiritual makeup. Now think about the people who you can't stand, are very uncomfortable with and don't want to be around unless you have to. See the difference? Like attracts like.

Apply this law with the Law of Vibration. Your vibration is determined by who you are and how you live your life. People with a similar vibration will be attracted to each other (on a spiritual level). If you are a hateful, jealous and cruel person then you will attract people who are hateful, jealous and cruel. If you are a kind, loving, and warm person, then you will attract people who are kind, loving, and warm. The Law of Attraction operates in the spirit world also. You tend to attract the spirit people that are "just like you". As you live your life closer to God (and Natural Law) your vibration raises and people of a higher vibration will be attracted to you both on the earth plane and from the spirit world.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #40 on: July 15, 2007, 01:14:45 pm »







You can see the Law of Attraction and Law of Vibration working together when a person makes genuine, positive changes to their life. Alcohol abusers who quit the habit are a fine example. Initially, the abuser's life revolves around getting drunk. Their "drinking buddies" lives also revolve around getting drunk. They are together because they have something in common they can relate to, similar needs, interests, and outlook (i.e. have a similar vibration). When the abuser changes his or her life and stops drinking because they honestly "don't need it" (i.e. have begun progressing spiritually) the drinking buddies fall by the wayside. The abuser is not interested in the drinking buddies (and vice versa) because he or she is "not like them" anymore.

Since the abuser's vibration is now a bit higher and different than the drinking buddies' vibration, the attraction for them is broken. The Law of Attraction hasn't stopped working at all - before long, the abuser will be with other people whose vibration is also "a bit higher". Like is still attracting like.

The Law of Attraction applies primarily to the spiritual and mental realms. In the physical, opposites attract. Although it is not used, it may be clearer to say that the Law of Spiritual Attraction is "like attracts like" and the Law of Physical Attraction is "like attracts it's opposite".



Law of Thought

Have you noticed that people with a negative outlook seem to be surrounded by negativity and negative thinking in general? Think about these people who are chronically miserable - complaining that the world has short changed them, others are always getting ahead faster than they are, and how things could be so much better if only things were done their way instead. Their world is largely a reflection of the negative thoughts that they generate.

Thoughts, both positive and negative, play a large role in your life. Your thoughts and your way of thinking are part of your being and vibration. Everyone is living in an ever-changing sea of thought. The waves, tides, and currents produced by your thoughts has an affect on others (and their thoughts affect you too.)

Don't dismiss this by saying that your thoughts don't have an affect on anything. They do. Negativity, bitterness, and jealousy cast darkness over your being as surely as love, kindness, and compassion spread sunshine. That sunshine (or darkness) affects how you feel and react to things, and is also reflected towards others when you come into contact with them.

Thoughts are very powerful. Thoughts (with feelings behind them) are just as powerful as actions. Your thoughts (and your way of thinking) are the base for your being and vibration. Since "you are what you think" (to a degree), change your thinking for the better and you will change yourself as well. Of course, it won't happen over night, but will change over time.

Your thoughts are not isolated to yourself. You don't think in a vacuum. Thoughts with enough energy behind them can be perceived by others. For instance, how many times has a friend or relative called you on the phone and you tell the person that you had just been thinking about him or her? Or vice versa? You probably just take this experience for granted, but there is more to it. You sent out a thought (most likely subconsciously). Your friend picked up on the thought (most likely subconsciously) and was many miles away from you.

A phone call is a simple example that shows the point, but do not dismiss this whole idea as trivial nonsense. It is not. And it is not as easy as arbitrarily thinking whatever you want and having it immediately happen either. If it worked that way then everyone would be a lottery winner and never have to work again!! There's no "faking" here, be genuine. It bears repeating.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #41 on: July 15, 2007, 01:18:15 pm »








Thoughts (with feelings behind them) are just as powerful as actions, and everyone is living in an ever-changing sea of thought. If your friend on the earth plane is sensitive enough to pick up on your thoughts from time to time, you can be sure that the spirit people around you pick up on your thoughts also. Spirits are more sensitive than your friend on the earth plane and can perceive your thoughts more easily.

Consider the implications. Thought can travel any distance and be perceived by others. Thought can become a method of communication. Thought is the basis for Spirit communication. Spirits send a thought which is perceived by the medium and passed onto you.

Both thought and action are subject to Natural Laws. For example, if your thinking and outlook is negative you will draw negativity toward you (through the Law of Attraction). On the other hand, positive thinking and outlook will draw the positive toward you.

 

Law of Cause and Effect

In physics, for every action there is an equivalent reaction. In spiritual matters there is a similar rule - the Law of Cause and Effect. The common phrase for this is "what goes around comes around". People seem to have a more immediate understanding of this law because they can apply it to the negative. Ask someone about "what goes around comes around" and you will most likely get a story about how they hurt a person in some way or did something that was really rotten and it "came back to haunt" them or an event occurred that "made it all even".

Remember that there are no exceptions. Natural law is unbreakable. You may have done something that was very rotten and think you have gotten away with it. There is absolutely, positively no "getting away with it". It may take a while for the effect to come back to you. It may take years. It may take a lifetime. It may not happen until you have left the earth plane and are living in the spirit world. But come back it will. You may not recognize the connection between the effect and its original cause but there is a link in there somewhere, whether you ultimately learn what it is or not. This includes your thoughts. Keep this in mind when you are about to unduly criticize someone or wish something horrible upon them.

If you have done some of those "really rotten" things and are suffering from the consequences of those actions you are not doomed. Yes, you will have to pay for those transgressions and you won't get out of it. But the Law of Cause and Effect, like other Natural Laws, works in both the positive and negative directions. You can stop the negative thoughts and actions and replace them with positive ones, and before long those positive effects will be coming your way. Start with something simple like a heartfelt "have a good day" to the next person you meet. You don't have to "perform a miracle" in order for this to start working. Remember that Natural Law is always working. Start small and go from there. You will be amazed at the results. You will have a whole new appreciation for "what goes around comes around".



Law of Harmony

When you listen to good music, you appreciate the sound you are hearing and how it all blends together as one. Everything sounds "just right". Often you are not paying attention to this "blending together" as you are listening because the band is in harmony and all the instruments are in tune. But if the piano is badly out of tune and the guitar has a broken string you would notice it. The sound would be off and the music not right until you tuned the piano and replaced the guitar string.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #42 on: July 15, 2007, 01:20:43 pm »








Your life is like a band that is always playing music. The song you're playing is the song of your life, a song that is uniquely yours. Your music can be anything - classical, rock, folk, blues, rap, country, jazz, or heavy metal, it doesn't matter, as long as it is in harmony.

The instruments in your band have to be tuned up and work together well to sound best. As you bring more instruments into tune, the music gets better because the overall harmony improves. Musicians are continually tuning their instruments so that they are always sounding their best.

Keeping your instruments in tune and in harmony with each other is an ongoing process. Of course, "stuff happens". You just finished tuning the piano, then the lead guitar snaps a string and one of the drums needs to be replaced. You have that almost finished when someone hands you a new instrument you've never played before.

What are the "instruments" in your band? The important forces that affect your life. Work, school, family, friends, and your love life are some obvious examples. Your thoughts, actions, attitudes and outlook are more subtle examples. Your body is an instrument that needs tuning also - are you eating/exercising/sleeping too much or not enough?

How do you "tune" these "instruments"? By using your awareness. By staying in touch with yourself and responding to your needs. You can start by paying attention from moment to moment. "How much do I want to eat right now?" "Should I go to bed now or stay up for a while longer?"

Overeating is a common example of being out of tune. Your mind is busy telling you to eat and you're not paying attention to the fact that your stomach is getting full and don't need all that much to eat. Bring your eating and sleeping habits into tune by being aware of (and responding to) your needs.

Maintaining harmony in your life is a dynamic, ongoing process. This is not exactly the same thing as balance. The term "balance" implies a teeter-totter with two sides going up and down over a fixed point in the middle. Harmony is more of a smooth flow without any fixed point, a blending.

Take the time and make the effort to bring your life into harmony. Live in harmony with Natural Law. Improving your harmony can affect your vibration in a positive way.

 

Law of Continuity

The Law of Continuity states that Natural Law is continuous and applies to both the earth plane and the spirit world. Life is continuous. You don't die. Your body does. Your body is a physical thing and you are not. You are spirit ("essence").

What is the shape of water? Shapeless. Water assumes the shape of the container it is put in. When the water evaporates into a cloud, the container can not hold it any longer and is discarded. The cloud used to be water and still is water, although in a changed form.

In the same way, spirit is shapeless. Your spirit is in the container called your body. When you "die" your body can not hold your spirit any longer and it is discarded. You remain the same, although there is a change of form. Your personality, attitudes, thoughts, actions, sense of humor, your "essence" is unchanged.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #43 on: July 15, 2007, 01:23:33 pm »







Life is continuous growth and progression, both here and in the spirit world. When you get to the spirit world you are going to keep growing and learning (unless you choose otherwise). Part of that growing and learning may be to teach others the things you have learned (the way your spirit teachers teach you now). Your spirit teachers are teaching and learning at the same time. Some of them may be around you for a while and then leave because they have other people to teach (or need to learn something themselves). Others may be around you for a very long time.

Everyone is always learning life's lessons and becoming better people - leaving the earth plane ("dying") and living in the spirit world is merely one transition in that process. Dying doesn't call everything to a halt. Life is continuous, and so is Natural Law.



Heaven and Hell

Since you don't die when your body does, where do you go? To the spirit world. Is there heaven and hell? No. Not really. Spiritualists don't believe in hell. Everyone goes to the spirit world regardless of what their behavior has been like on the earth plane. No matter what. If you murder 100 people you go to the spirit world. If you save 100 people you go to the spirit world too.

So what's the difference? Why bother improving your life if you are going to go to the spirit world anyway? Because in the spirit world there are many, many places. Remember that the Law of Attraction works in the spirit world just like it does on the earth plane - you will attract people "just like you". If you are of a lower vibration (murdered 100 people) then you will go to a place that is in harmony with that vibration and you will be with people who are just the same way you are. This doesn't mean you will like it or that it will be pleasant. You will not be able to visit the people and places of a higher vibration either, although people may come to see you. You will still have to learn those same things that you refused to learn (or ignored completely) on the earth plane if you want to change your vibration and progress spiritually.

This is not hell and is not eternal damnation. You always have a choice, and you can change your mind at any time. You can stay where you are forever or you can make an effort to learn and progress. Again, it won't happen in a minute or overnight. Your guides and teachers will be there to help you.

What about haunted houses, ghosts, and poltergeists?
Many people know of someone who says that their house is haunted and has had a variety of unusual events occur. Normally, you "die" and go to the spirit world. Some people die but don't go to the spirit world - instead they stay around the earth plane. These people may not accept or realize that they're "dead" and frequently stay in places familiar to them such as houses and the like. All spirits can affect the earth plane in various ways and frequently these "earth-bound" spirits make themselves known as they go about their business. Some are quite harmless and others are not. Spirit loved ones may not be able to get through to tell the earth-bound spirit person that they should be in the spirit world instead. There are mediums on the earth plane who perform rescue work. The medium works with other spirits to help bring the earth-bound person to the spirit world.



The continuity of life

Life is eternal and life is progression, on the earth plane and in the spirit world. Learning is continuous. There is no finality to what you have learned. You may know very much and be living your life in harmony with Natural Law, but soon enough you will pick up something new to add to what you already know. You can always learn more.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #44 on: July 15, 2007, 01:25:54 pm »








The beauty and wonders of the spirit world are many. There are buildings and grass and trees and flowers and music and art and literature and science. Colors are very rich, more so than on the earth plane.

Your spirit guides and teachers are always ready to help you grow spiritually. There are more Natural Laws than what is covered here and much more that you can learn. Remember that when a medium comes to you with a message, it is coming from the spirits around you. The spirits around you are based on the Law of Attraction and the medium is the message bearer.

The beauty and wonders of the spirit world are many. There are buildings and grass and trees and flowers and music and art and literature and science. Colors are very rich, more so than on the earth plane.

Your spirit guides and teachers are always ready to help you grow spiritually. There are more Natural Laws than what is covered here and much more that you can learn. Remember that when a medium comes to you with a message, it is coming from the spirits around you. The spirits around you are based on the Law of Attraction and the medium is the message bearer.



Messages and Readings

Just what is a message and a reading? You get a message when you are sitting in the congregation and the medium working on the podium comes to you. The medium will say that they want to come to you, wait for an acknowledgment from you that it is OK to do so, and then give you a message from Spirit.

Here is a typical example. The chairperson calls a medium to the podium. The medium then calls on the first person Spirit wants to give a message to - "Can I come to the gentleman in the back with the green shirt please?" If you are the person in the green shirt, acknowledge the medium by saying "thank you", "hello", "welcome", or something similar. Try not to use the medium's name as this can be distracting. The medium will say thank you and then begin the message from Spirit; for example "I have a short woman here with long blond hair, possibly an aunt who passed into Spirit through a heart condition ...". If you recognize the aunt say so. If you know it is your cousin instead say that it's your cousin. The spirit person is identifying herself or himself for you, not the medium. A typical message is 5-10 minutes long. When the medium has finished giving the message say "thank you". The medium may give one, two, or several messages (to different people) before the next medium is called to the podium.

A reading is not really different than a message. A reading is done privately with yourself and the medium, so there is no need to identify you out of the congregation. Readings are longer, typically 30-60 minutes.

Remember that in both messages and readings, the medium is only the message bearer. The medium will often ask if the information being given is making sense to you so they can give you more. The medium is making sure that the information is being received clearly. The meaning of the information is strictly between you and Spirit. Mediums know that it is none of their business and are not interested in your personal affairs.



Medium (or Spiritual) and Psychic readings

The primary difference between a medium and a psychic is the way information is transmitted to the person. The medium's approach is passive. The person becomes the pathway for the information to come through, and the information is coming from people in the spirit world, not from the medium personally. A psychic's approach is active. The person plays an active part in getting the information - it may be picked out of the surrounding vibration or come from the psychic personally.

People who give readings will generally describe themselves as either a medium (giving spiritual readings) or a psychic. Any person giving a reading or a message could be doing so mediumistically (passive), psychically (active), or some combination of both. It is not a simple matter to tell where the reading is coming from and mediums take extra precautions to be sure that the reading is not coming from them personally.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Pages: 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by EzPortal
Bookmark this site! | Upgrade This Forum
SMF For Free - Create your own Forum
Powered by SMF | SMF © 2016, Simple Machines
Privacy Policy