Founder’s Day is a Spiritualist Holiday (observed by the NSAC, and a few other denominations) set aside each January 25th to honor those teachers who paved the way for Spiritualism to develop and form as a religion and philosophy. The day marks the beginning of the first Spiritualist Lyceum, founded on the teachings and principles set up by Andrew Jackson Davis, who is especially honored on this day by several Spiritualist traditions who consider themselves as historical/spiritual successors to his teachings.
Andrew Jackson Davis (not to be confused with President Andrew Jackson) is considered to be the “John the Baptist” of the American Spiritualist movement, as his visions and mystical teachings regarding natural philosophy, mediumship, and the Spirit World predated the arrival of the Spiritualist movement by only a few years. Known as the ‘Poughkeepsie Seer’ Davis was an extremely accomplished Medium and Spiritual healer. Though he had very little formal education, he would dictate, and later write down messages from Spirit as well as visions that he saw in Trance. Davis wrote an enormous body of works in this state covering every subject conceivable including metaphysics, astronomy, medicine, as well as Spiritualist phenomena such as the state of the soul when transitioning from life, and his visions of a peaceful realm in the spirit world which he termed 'the Summerland'. Davis referred to his teachings as the ‘Harmonial Philosophy’ and gave lectures throughout his life. He found his teachings especially well received by Spiritualists, and while he never formally joined a Spiritualist association, he considered Spiritualism to be the highest form of religion. At one point stating ‘“It is the grandest religion ever bestowed upon mankind.’ Through the study, discussion, and investigation of his Harmonial Philosophy many Spiritualists developed a uniquely Spiritualist system to express their beliefs and teachings. This is truly Davis’s greatest contribution to Spiritualism, that although many of his texts are no longer studied directly, his teachings have so saturated Spiritualist thought and practice that some have argued that Davis is the true philosophical founder of Modern American Spiritualism. “The Harmonial Philosophy purports to be a revelation of the structures, laws, orders, and uses of the material and spiritual universe. It is a progressive exposition of the boundless system of Nature, addressed to the human instincts and understanding”. -Andrew Jackson Davis The real value of this day, however, is education. Davis passionately loved learning, and recognized the importance of education not just in the sense of acquiring facts and diplomas, but acquiring wisdom that would provide us with a moral compass. The true goal of Davis’s Harmonial Philosophy was that by developing ourselves spiritually, we can create a world and society, where his visions of the peaceful Summerland, a state of justice and equality, would be active on earth. This is why we look to our past, to remind us of those goals. Growth is the central law of our being and the object of all exertion, as it will be the result of all experience. Through growth we shall overcome evil with good and straighten the crooked ways of error and injustice. Such labours and efforts will and do receive the benedictions of angel intelligences even as good deeds attract admiration and co-operation from the generous and noble of every age and country.” -Andrew Jackson Davis By living according to our beloved Harmonial Principles, by promoting healing, justice, and education, we can co-create in the spiritual goodness that pervades the worlds, and create a paradise in the here and now.
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Just like regular hygiene is important, spiritual upkeep is also very important. Regularly cleansing oneself from the spiritual muck that we accumulate from our everyday dealings in life is essential. This ‘muck’ will often manifest itself in ways such as fatigue, confusion, depression, or other negative states of being. A good spiritual cleansing routine will ensure that your mind and spirit remain clear and free of negative vibrations. The following is my personal favorite simple cleansing bath that I regularly use myself:
A few splashes of Florida Water A bunch of basil brewed into a warm tea Coconut milk A splash holy water The measurements mainly depend on how much bath you need. You need to make about enough to fill a basin of water that will be able to cover your body. Before you actually use the bath you’ve prepared you need to physically wash yourself clean with a good soap. You can use a specific spiritual soap from a botanica or spiritual shop, but I tend to just recommend either Ivory soap or african black soap. After you’re nice and clean, you pour the bath from your shoulders down and let yourself air dry. All of this should be performed while making positive prayers and affirmations to attract good vibrations. This bath is simple, and is good for regular upkeep. It’s strong and helpful in it’s own way, but for a more serious situation you may want something a bit stronger. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? -Micah 6:8
The Spiritualist movement has a rich and wonderful history regarding involvement in Social Justice issues. Many (if not all) of the early Spiritualists who laid the foundation for Spiritualism as a religious tradition were deeply involved in Reform Movements of the era such as Abolitionism, Women’s Rights, Prison Reform, African-American rights, Labor Reform, Animal Rights, Vegetarianism, Temperence, Pacifism, Childwellfare, Rights for the Disabled, Native American rights, Healthcare Reform, etc. Spiritualist Mediums, Healers, Teachers, and Preachers would draw courage and strength from their commitment to Spiritualist principles and their connection to God and the Spirit World in order to support these movements seeking Justice and the betterment of society. We can look to the historical figures of Amy and Isaac Post, Andrew Jackson Davis, Paschal Beverly Randolph, Achsa Sprague, Victoria Woodhull, William Cooper Nell, Emma Hardinge Britten and many, many others as examples of this commitment and Spiritual calling to better the world that was in the hearts of many of the early Spiritualists. In an early Spiritualist tract, containing channeled teachings of the Spirits to Emma Hardinge Britten, Social Justice issues were touched upon fairly specifically: “Acknowledge all men’s rights to do, think, or speak, to be exactly equal to thine own; and all rights whatsoever that thou dost demand, thou shalt ever accord to others.” “Remember that a wrong done to the least of thy fellow creatures is a wrong done to all; and thou shalt never commit a wrong willfully and consciously to any of thy fellow-men, nor connive at wrong done by others without striving to prevent or protest against it.” Unfortunately, towards the end of the 1800s Spiritualism as an American movement began to lose it’s close associations with Reform movements. Spiritualists began to become complacent, some believing that no more Reform was needed or called for. Many Spiritualists withdrew from the political and social sphere to focus purely on the organization of Spiritualist societies and churches and private Spiritual matters. At its lowest point, actually permitting racism and segregation to infiltrate many Spiritualist churches and organizations. In the present day, institutionalized racism is universally considered abhorrent in Spiritualist organizations and Churches, and are once again open and accepting of all peoples. To be socially conscious is the general norm for Spiritualist churches today. The following are some of the current stances that the NSAC officially takes on social issues: -Freedom of Religious Expression -Accepting of all peoples free of discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, or sexual orientation -Feminism: “recognizes the purifying and uplifting power of woman in both public and private life” -Economic and Labor Justice: “to secure justice for the oppressed of the earth; we condem child labor, the sweat shop and industrial oppression and the practical and political disenfranchisement of all.” -Anti-Capital Punishment: “Crime is but the result of ignorance and a diseased mentality and capital punishment is a relic of a partially civilized age” “We support reform measures in the penal system and humane treatment of inmates. Through treatment and education, the criminal is given the opportunity to reform.” -Parenthood: advocates for planned parenthood and the widest dissemination of sex and hygiene knowledge to the end that poverty and social diseases may be eliminated” -Abortion: “it is the individual’s right to make an informed choice in the matter as she alone would be responsible for her actions” -Legitimacy of Birth: denounces the concept of declaring children illegitimate -War: “Abhors war in any form and supports every effort by any nation or group to maintain peace in the world” “The fact that all persons, or many, suppose dreams to possess a special significance, tends to inspire us with belief in it” –Aristotle, On Prophesying by Dreams
"I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream" -Numbers 12:6 Dream work is probably my absolute favorite form of spiritual work that I regularly perform, both for myself and others. Every single person has access to dreams thus it is something that everyone can do. It only takes a little bit of effort and maybe a dream book to help us understand our dreams. Some of my very first spiritual experiences involved with dreaming. I come from a family with a very strong belief in the power of dreams as well as mediumship through dreams. When I was young I would be visited in my dreams by good spirits and ancestors that had passed away, particularly my great grandmother. I would tell these dreams to my family and rather than seeing them as whimsical fantasies of a child, they would simply treat it as a visit from a relative and ask questions about what the spirits had to say. My dreams have served me as my main guide throughout my life, more so than even card-reading or scrying have. There are several different ways that you can better understand your dreams and work with your dreams: Find a dream book that you are comfortable with: It’s important to understand that dream books are somewhat like personal dictionaries, there are variations because people (as well as cultures and time periods) differ on meanings. If you look through dream books and find one that clicks with you, you will find that as you understand the symbols in the book your dreams will sync with the meanings. It’s like finding a common language between you and your dreams. There are several different kinds of dream books available, some are Predictive, that is, telling you things you may need to know for the future; some are Psychological, focusing more on your current inner state of being. Another type, which falls under Predictive, includes Lottery Dream books, where the Predictive meaning of your dream includes lottery numbers. The dream book that I’ve used the longest is Dreamer’s Dictionary by Stearn Robinson & Tom Corbett. I’ve had a copy of this book since I was very young, and this book has resonated with me fairly well over the years. This book is more of the ‘Predictive’ type. I also occasionally will reference The Dream Dictionary From A to Z by Theresa Cheung, which is more of the ‘Psychological’ type. For those interested in Lottery books, I generally tend to recommend two books to clients: Aunt Sally’s Policy Players’ Dream Book andKansas City Kitty. I’ve found that Aunt Sally’s is more versatile and a better start for those just starting out with Dream Work as it’s a combination of Predictive meanings and numbers (also, here in New York state we have a Lottery very similar to Policy) whereas my clients that are a bit more savvy with gambling and the lottery tend to prefer Kansas City Kitty, as it’s just numbers. Some of my family members actually use their own system of Lottery dreaming techniques which don’t generally revolve around Lottery books, however, two books that I’ve seen other members of my family use with success (though I personally have not used these books) are the Three Wiseman and Red Devil lottery books. Record your dreams in a journal: For some people remembering their dreams can be difficult, and recording important details upon waking can help interpret a dream. These entries don’t need to be poetic or detailed descriptions, in fact just recording a few key words is the most important thing you can do, as most dream books focus on just one or two key words in interpreting a dream. So for instance, let’s say you had a dream where you are driving a car down a country road. Think to yourself: what is the main subject of this dream to me? the car? the country road? Then look this meaning up in a dream book. If you prefer the Psychological approach, you can look at the dream as a whole, but generally speaking most dream books focus on one or two main details that you feel are the main subject of the dream. Sometimes you don’t necessarily need a dream book to find a meaning. The way my grandma described how to dream of numbers is simple: “say you have a dream where you’re at a grocery store, and you overhear someone say ‘I’d like three cantaloupes!’ You then would go out and bet the number three.” Now, this is a very simple form, and you can do all sorts of numerology to come up with other numbers, but that’s the gist of how it’s generally done. By recording your dreams, you not only are essentially building your own dream dictionary, but are keeping a very important account of any guidance that you receive from Spirit. Encourage prophetic/spiritual dreams: There are several simple techniques you can do to encourage spiritual dreams: Before going to bed you can prepare a tea to help you relax while you quietly meditate or pray to open your mind to ensure good, prophetic, or lucky dreams. You can find several ‘sleepy-time’ style teas made in stores. You can also brew a tea with herbs such as Jasmine that are said to have properties that induce dreams and visions. You can prepare (or have prepared for you) a small sachet, mojo bag, or gris-gris to keep under your pillow or on your person filled with herbs and curios to help gently open your mind to spiritual dreams. You can use spiritual supplies such as candles and incense that are created specifically for attracting prophetic and lucky dreams. These can be found online or in most Botanicas, Occult Stores, and New Age shops. You can place a clear glass or bowl of water on your nightstand (some say under the bed as well) to ensure clarity, promote spiritual power, and encourage good dreams. By incorporating some of these simple activities and tips into your regular routine, you will find that your dreams will begin to be clearer, prophetic, and filled with guiding wisdom that you can use on your own spiritual journey. I shared this a few months ago during a service at Plymouth Spiritualist Church, and I’ve been wanting to share it with everyone on here:
When I heard that the theme of the month was Renewing Spirit and Creating Positive Change, my mind immediately went to the historical roots of Spiritualism. That Spiritualism, as a movement, a church, was born among American Reformers; I wanted to find something to share that would tie in the past and present, and our local community as well. I’d like to bring your attention to Amy and Isaac Post. Amy and Isaac were extremely influential Quaker Spiritualists that lived here in Rochester, our city. Their home was on Plymouth Ave…there’s actually a plaque marking it as a historical monument, I recommend checking it out. They’re also buried in Mt. Hope cemetery. They were both very influential with the early Women’s Suffrage movement Amy attended the Seneca Falls Convention (the first Women’s Right’s Convention) and returned home to organize Rochester’s first Women’s Right’s Convention. They were both founders of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society. Their house was a location on the Underground Railroad, at one point having fifteen people in their house going to make their way to Canada to escape slavery. They were friends with Frederick Douglas; and Amy encouraged Harriet Ann Jacobs, an Abolitionist, Reformer, and women who was formerly enslaved, to write her famous book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Isaac was a fairly well accomplished Medium, and would practice automatic writing. He at one point published a small volume of these writings, and I wanted to share an excerpt from one: My dear friend Isaac, Mine is the privilege to often visit those in body, and impress upon their minds their duty to themselves; their God, and their fellow man. It is my business to impress the minds of those that are engaged in the Anti-Slavery, Temperence, Women’s Rights, and other reforms. I often inspire them with courage and determination, to persevere through all opposition. I feel to encourage thee to give thyself as much as possible to the direction of thy spirit friends; such as are actuated by good motives; such as have the advancement of the world at heart; such as are joined in spirit with the good in all ages, to promote the best interests of man, and the highest attainment of his nature. I give thee my full liberty to use this, whenever it may seem to thee best. I will now leave thee with my best wishes for thy welfare in every sense of the word. Thy Friend, Adin T. Corey The Posts are amazing examples of people, but what they believed in isn’t limited to the past. Spirit moved them to help others, and to better their community, their country, and the world. Spiritualism still stands for so many amazing things. If you just open your heart and mind to Spirit, it will allow you to create positive change in the world. Thank you. A few weeks ago I was talking about some things with a friend of mine and I mentioned that I practice crystal scrying for my clients:
“Crystal scrying? What is that exactly?” “Well, in my case, crystal ball reading.” “Oh! Well now that’s something you don’t normally hear about! How old fashioned!” I found myself somewhat surprised, but the more I thought about it the more sense it made. While I do know Readers who scry for clients, most of the people I know who do scry, do so privately and not for others. The Crystal Ball Reader has unfortunately become a symbol representing “scam artist fortune tellers” or eccentric fictional magical characters (i.e. Professor Trelawny in Harry Potter).While crystal scrying is making a comeback it still carries the cultural baggage it brings with it. I was introduced to scrying at a very young age, and had a certain knack for it. Unfortunately I set my gift aside for a number of years largely due to a personal prejudice against crystal ball readers. In my teen years I was reintroduced to scrying when I purchased a beautiful crystal ball from a Botanica I frequented. It sparked a new passion in me to work on this gift so that I could not only share it with others, but also undo the years of personal prejudice I had against crystal ball readers. Happy Saint Nicholas' Day! and no, I don't mean Santa Claus!
Saint Nicholas was an actual human being born in the 4th Century in what is now modern day Turkey. He was renown for his abundant giving to those most in need. A good example sure, but how does this idea of giving apply to us spiritually? The great Charles Fillmore, in his amazing spiritual classic Prosperity comments on the spiritual practice of giving to others: “See yourself as the steward of God handing out His inexhaustible supplies. In this manner you are setting into action mental and spiritual forces that eventually bring large results into visibility. Be happy in your giving. God loves a cheerful giver because his mind and heart are open to the flow of the pure substance of Being that balances all things.” Nicholas cultivated this spiritual practice and transformed his spirit into a source of Abundance and Love for everyone he came in contact with. This time of year is known for giving, but we can cultivate this principle year round just like Nicholas did. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
While today is considered a special day set aside to give thanks for health, wealth, and abundance, it’s important to practice giving thanks each and every day! Take a little time each day to contemplate about every blessing you have, no matter how small, and manifest this abundance in your life all year long. A favorite affirmation of mine: “My thoughts are filled with positivity and my life is plentiful with prosperity.” Hello and welcome to South Wedge Psychic! I’m Stephen G, your friendly neighborhood card-reader, writing from the wonderful South Wedge neighborhood here in the city of Rochester, NY!
I have several awesome plans for this blog, so stay tuned for lots more posts on a variety of topics including simple spiritual tips to better your life, book reviews, positive affirmations, historical points about Rochester’s amazing history, and much, much more! If any of my readers has a comment they’d like to share, or a subject they’d like me to bring up feel free to just shoot me an email! (Same email in the contact section) So is everyone excited? Because I know I certainly am! Have a wonderful day! |
Stephen PatrickYour friendly neighborhood Spiritualist Archives
January 2019
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