The tale of Tommy Steele.

david hobbs

That's a great story and one that I can connect with as i had a similar experience with a non believer.

Why does it happen when the only time in my life that I took a non believer to the church the worlds worst medium was on platform.

I still remember the mediums name but as she is still waffling her way around the churches of Essex I can't put it on here.

This particular lady was "taken over" by a shouting ranting German spirit that had absolutely nothing to say.

As my guest was a seventy plus rather posh lady I couldn't escape via the pisstaking beer drinking route so I just had to sit and squirm in embarrassment.

I have never taken anyone since.

In fact after that i hardly went again.

evergreen

ok so why does this happen???? I agree with what you have said .. if these people have "good" reputations then why do they not always preform well...

Raymond

Well I don't know the history of blood clot woman but I have seen her typre many times.

I think the problem lies in spiritualist churches themselves, or more accurately, in development circles in spiritualist churches.

I cannot recount how many times I have witnessed a medium telling somebody "Did you know you could get up here and do what I'm doing?" Some of the people who are told that have often felt they were a 'bit psychic' and so take themselves off to a development circle for a few months or do a weekend course at the SAGB or Arthur Findley College and BAM! Instant medium.

The mediums of old had the right idea. You would have to sit in circle for years before you were allowed anywhere near a platform.

Nowadays the circle leaders seem to want to churn out as many half-baked mediums as possible.

I suppose it does their egos the world of good to point at one of the better ones and say "Oh, he's one of mine".

evergreen

ok so you think they are no good to begin with... why would someone put themselves out there like that when they are obviously not a good show ??

Raymond

Well now we take the conversation into a whole different realm. The question of what make a medium 'good'.

If we're talking about how well they contact spirit and how relevant their messages are to a packed hall then I can say I have seen some very good mediums over the years.

But when it comes to public demonstrations I think the medium has to have something a bit more than just being good at relaying messages. They are, in effect, putting on a show.
I have seen some excellent mediums on the platform but their showmanship abilities are crap. I've lost count of how many times I have fallen asleep during a demonstration.

I have seen other mediums who hav had the audience rolling in laughter and I have seem mediums receive standing applause, but their messages were fairly average.

There are of course, some mediums who can do it all. Give brilliant, relevant messages and be entertaining at the same time. I offer up my two favourite mediums, Billy Cook and Nicky Allen as an example.

The problem of 'instant success' is something that cuts through all levels of modern society. People want everything yesterday. While that 'go-get-'em' attitude is sometimes a good thing I'm afraid it doesn't work with mediumship.

In my experience there are very few mediums who are 'good' with little or no formal training.