Philip Solomon is the man described in America by Professor Hans Holzer, world's leading authority on the paranormal, as the greatest medium of our time. On his web site, Philip has a monthly series of articles called You Can Do Psychic Things Too. Each month, he explains 'in simple terms either how you can do things psychic too or explain about an area of the psychic/spiritual world for others. It is a free service I am giving you, so learn and enjoy.’

This month’s article: Advice For The Development Of Mediumship (published in PS Magazine with permission of Author)

In my view any advice that is given on this subject should always be very straightforward and in plain speaking. You don't have to be an intellectual or be a person with many letters after their name or have a degree. Indeed, many of the best mediums and healers I have met over the years have proven to be what can only be describe as very ordinary people in every way, and yet they are special for they have been chosen by Spirit to be instruments for their work. 

In the early days of their development sometimes people just want to be mediums so they can see the spirits of loved ones or to communicate with people they were drawn to when they were alive. It may be the starting point but not really what developing mediumship is about. What this work is really about very simply is to prove and demonstrate to all mankind that there are not just physical men and women but that they are part of pure spirit and that this life is only really the very early days of a life progression that will grow into real and full understanding with the physical death of that person.  What I am saying to you is that the inspiration or wish, if you prefer, to be a medium is a spiritual pathway and never an easy one to follow. 

‘The inspiration or wish to be a medium is a spiritual pathway and never an easy one to follow.’

I also believe that mediumship should always be seen as something to strive for that will reach above class structure, race and to some extent, even religion. I always teach my students that I see no reason why a medium may not follow a religion he or she feels appropriate to them as an individual. To some extent mediums are lucky today because it is respectable and admired to be a medium and the law of the Western World says we must be accepted and respected. But do remember in the past it was both ridiculed and opposed far more than the minor intolerances we have to put up with today by other groups. 

Mediumship is not a science, and I am not sure it could even be analysed, scientifically examined or even tested, though I have good friends who are parapsychologists who would disagree with me. I have not yet had it proven to me that it can be tested, and yet I know it is the truth. All over the world today good development classes are available to you in respectable Spiritualist churches, colleges like Stansted Hall and home circles too. By and large the experienced mediums who conduct these circles are genuine, knowledgeable and sincere, but there are one or two points you should take on board.

‘A medium must have a strong mind, strong self discipline and not fearful of the work they do.’

In my understanding, development should not really be taken by those suffering from any form of mental health problems; also if you are scared of sitting in a circle or taking development in any way then it is most definitely not the time in your life to be going forward with such things. A medium must have a strong mind, strong self discipline and not fearful of the work they do.  However, in my view, illnesses of the body or disability that is physical in nature is no obstacle whatsoever to your development. 

Before you sit in any sort of circle I believe development should start with learning and having a basic appreciation of what a medium does alongside an elementary understanding of the Spirit World and how our physical mind blends in perfect harmony with the spirit consciousness and how both can eventually have a common unifying consciousness. Does this sound complex? It's not really. Basically, the guide in the Spirit World will communicate a string of thoughts and inspirations from a spirit mind to the consciousness of the medium who then simply converts it into a list of words and sentences to be received by someone in the physical world.

‘In the very early days of your development you will need to enter into a 'silent period'.’

I said earlier that you don't have to be a genius to be a medium (academically that is) but in truth I suppose sometimes when this transfer process is done by someone with an extensive vocabulary the words passed over from spirit may be presented in a better way than someone who finds the use of words in their everyday life more difficult. However this does not mean they are any less a medium than the former. In the very early days of your development you will need to enter into a 'silent period', perhaps sitting with eight or ten other developing students which should always be under the tuition of an experienced and knowledgeable medium/teacher.

Many of us teach different methods to bring you into what we call 'the silence'. Perhaps you will be asked to think of something as simple as a flower or a vase, studying it meditatively. I nearly always teach my students to concentrate on a garden. Many experienced mediums also insist that you spend quite some time in this quiet period, perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes. 

I have to say in honesty that I disagree with this and rarely allow my students more than about five to seven minutes. Some mediums say you need to allow that longer time with the Guides to take control. I don't agree as the Guides in the Spirit World know very well what you are doing and about your development before you do! If in the future you stand on e rostrum and require twenty minutes before you can give messages, or before you give a private reading you need half an hour sitting in the silence before you can work for anyone I think you are going to have difficulties with the client's patience!! 

‘You must let your development take place in a proper circle with an experienced and developed medium there at all times.’

Concentration is a word you will often hear used during your development.  I prefer the word relaxation, for if you concentrate too hard it can be difficult in the early days to achieve anything at all - much better to relax and just simply enjoy! You will also come across the term 'blanking your mind'. 

Sometimes inexperienced sitters work so hard trying to get themselves into this state that they give up their development. For many, it is just not possible for their mind to become blank, indeed, even when you are fast asleep, I can promise you your mind is never blank. So don't worry too much about that term. In the very early days of your development it is important that you try to stick to just the one regular circle and attend regularly at a pre-arranged time. I would advise that the developing sitter should never sit for control when alone, you must let your development take place in a proper circle with an experienced and developed medium there at all times.

In the early days it is unlikely that your mind will become totally blank and I would advise that you just sit comfortably and relaxed, dressed in a way you are happy with and perhaps then just meditate upon some pleasant thoughts that will send you into a sort of daydreaming mode. I have always found this is just about right for the developing student to see what they can get.

‘People may also speak to you of psychic protection and I believe you can't learn about this from books about it.’

If it is a few spiritual messages that's wonderful, if it's the vision of a flower or a bright light or whatever else is pleasing to you then so be it and that is what is right for you, Spirit always knows best and are generally very gently and pleasantly allowing the start of development thought pictures to come through to you from the inspiration of Spirit. 

People may also speak to you of psychic protection and I believe you can't learn about this from books about it. Like Spiritualism, it is more a way of life and the same is true really of psychic protection. Although there have been a thousand books written about it in simple terms whenever you do any psychic work or any spiritual work and of course sit for development always send your thoughts out to what you perceive to be your god and ask for yourself and the circle you sit within to be protected and it always will be I promise you. 

Also try to open any development circle with a little prayer and then bring it to conclusion with a prayer of thanks and if you have taken my advice of sitting with an experienced medium to develop you the things I am explaining to you will be rules they insist you follow anyway. 

‘One thing you do have to learn in developing mediumship, is the ability to know the difference between your own imagination or thoughts, which come from yourself and those which come from spirit.’

Let me finish dear readers by explaining to you the closeness or narrow dividing line between the physical and the spirit consciousness. For those of you who understand this work you will comprehend clearly what I have said but for those with less knowledge let me explain this fact to you:

One thing you do have to learn in developing mediumship and as you progress further, is the ability to know the difference between your own imagination or thoughts which come from yourself and those which come from spirit. This can be exceedingly difficult to define in the early days and why it is so important for you to study under an experienced trainer medium. 

I often say to my students give what you get plain and simply. It doesn't matter in the development circle if you get it wrong. Perhaps you would choose to go to one of your colleagues in the circle and give them a message and they may say no they do not understand the message. I often say no's, (plenty of them too), in the very early days will develop you as much as yes's, for eventually with experience you will find that perhaps sixty or seventy percent of what comes through will prove to be spot-on correct.

 But at the start you must learn and understand that authenticity can only be proven to yourself and this can only be practised within the circle where it doesn't matters if mistakes or misinterpretations occur. With experience, inspiration and words that come through from the Spirit World will be received by you, the instrument, as clearly as if you were a computer and you will easily convert into words and messages whatever inspiration is given to you. 

The path you choose to walk is not an easy one but I will finish this month's feature by telling you this, every medium, particularly clairaudients, will tell you that if they are to receive inspiration and communication from Spirit they must get their mind into a condition of relaxation and reception and perhaps even more importantly, the belief in their inspirers and their own mediumship. 

Whether you are just starting out on the road to development or just sitting in a closed circle hoping in the near future to become a working medium for Spirit, I promise you this, if your intentions are pure and good, eventually at a time when everything is just right for you, Spirit will use you appropriately, of that you may be certain!

www.philipsolomon.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk 

p.solomon@blueyonder.co.uk

Philip co-authored his latest book, Beyond Death: Conditions In The Afterlife, with Hans Holzer.
Soon: Read book review in Ps-Magazine.