Spirits Speaking from the Heart at Tranquil Spirit

Channeling Spirit Communication through Trance Mediumship

Development of Physical Mediumship and Physical Phenomena

Our Spirit Group's main purpose is to communicate with us and others who are interested in what they have to say. They are keen to impart information and wisdom which may be of benefit. However, they have also indicated that they are also interested in physical mediumship and are happy to try to produce physical phenomena by way of providing us with further evidence of both their existence and the existence of the Spirit World.

The history of physical mediumship and the production of physical phenomena at seances has been long and chequered. We do not have time here to go into the details of this. Without doubt there have been many fraudulent practices and hoaxes over the years. The very conditions required for the production of the phenomena ie: total darkness, (though we do know of some physical mediums who sit in a red light), of course also lend themselves to unscrupulous hoaxters. However, there have also been examples of physical phenomena which it is hard to adequately explain through existing scientific knowledge.

We have been fortunate to have had opportunities to sit with some present day physical mediums such as Stewart Alexander and Colin Fry. We have seen steel or aluminium "trumpets" (cones) flying around rooms, sometimes at great speed, sometimes rhythmically in time with music which was being played. We have heard independent direct spirit voices, some of which have moved around the room. We have been tapped on our legs, arms or shoulders by "trumpets" or spirit hands. We have heard spirits making breathing or other sounds close to our ears. Eileen has watched a hand form out of ectoplasm over a table illumined from underneath with a low wattage red light and then had the opportunity to touch the hand. Examples of some of the other phenomena which may occur are: psychic breezes and cold spots, scents and smells, various forms of spirit lights, and apports. This is not an extensive list but it gives an indication of the range of phenomena which may occur.

There are now two different approaches to working with spirits in an attempt to develop the production of physical phenomena. The first is the traditional approach which involves the use of ectoplasm which spirits draw from the medium and sitters in order to produce phenomena. The approach of the Noah's Ark Society is typical of this approach. Detailed information and guidance may be obtained through the Society at its web site: The Noah's Ark Society for Physical Mediumship.

(Unfortunately we have been informed that the Noah's Ark Society is closing.)

The second approach is a much more recent development and has been pionered by the Scole Experimental Group. This has been described as an "energy based" approach and involves the blending and focusing of spiritual, earthly and group members' energies in the production of phenomena. It is alleged to be a safer approach for the medium who, using the traditional approach, is in a vulnerable state while acting as a physical medium. The Scole Experiment was the subject of on-going research by the Society for Psychical Research. The Spiritual Science Foundation which was the organisation which grew out of the Scole Group's activities has unfortunately now disbanded.

A new organisation, The Zerdin Fellowship was formed in November 2004. This organisation will fulfill a much needed role in the wake of the disbandment of both the Noah's Ark Society and the Spiritual Science Foundation. The Fellowship describes itself as a:

"Fellowship of like minded people, a family who are passionate about proving the survival of physical death and demonstrating what comes next, and learning how to live our life now."

The organisation's literature explains that: "It was Noah Zerdin who conceived of the idea of home circles coming together, as a network of circles. The name Zerdin is used in acknowledgement of his idea."

Some of the Fellowship's proposals are:

• A bi-monthly Buzzsheet, its purpose is to inform and educate each other. The BuzzSheet will invite information, articles, letters and the Séance reports etc.
• The Zerdin web page
• £9.99 subscription to cover administrative costs - to receive the BuzzSheet six times per year by post and access to the Web page and on line BuzzSheet.
• A mailing list to keep all fellows informed of events.
• Inclusion of Mental mediumship and other associated phenomena.
• Training and encouragement of the gifted.
• Arranging of seminars.

It is worth noting that opportunities to join existing groups, particularly those which have already had some success in getting physical phenomena, tend to be rather limited.

We would consider that the following general principles apply whichever particular approach to developing physical phenomena is used:

We have provided the above points only to give an indication of what is involved. If you are interested please seek further information from the Zerdin Fellowship or ourselves. You will also find a valuable resource in the Physical Mediumship Web Site which is dedicated to physical mediumship in all its forms.

On a future occasion we may include more details as to how our own circle functions. Results to date have been inconsistent. We have had some touches and some tugs on clothing. We have also experienced breezes and cold spots. Electrical equipment has been turned off apparently by spirit energies. Members have also seen spirit lights, but these are fleeting and it is likely that they are being seen psychically.

Due to a move from Stockport to Northwich we have closed the Physical Phenomena Circle at the present time.