What do spiritualists see

The validity of Spiritualism has always been controversial, partly because of the negative image that fraudulent people have given of communications from the 'other side'. Spiritualism is different from the the world's major and minor religions Christianity, Judaism, Islam etc because it's recent, it doesn't have a global presence, it doesn't have a body of theology. However it is a new religious movement with rituals, doctrinal components, a belief in a transcendent realm, and it has an experiential dimension, elements that many other religions also have.

Modern Spiritualism sees itself as entirely rational, with no element of the supernatural. For Spiritualists, this is what distinguishes their beliefs from the concept of life after death found in many other faiths. The movement began in the USA in the middle of the 19th Century. It is said to be the eighth largest religion in Britain and has a network of groups across the country.

The total of SNU-affiliated and associated bodies in the UK is , broken down into affiliated bodies and 12 associated bodies. Those who follow it are united in believing that communication with spirits is possible; but beyond this central idea Modern Spiritualism can include a very wide range of beliefs and world-views. Spiritualism doesn't tell you what you should believe or how you should interpret religious philosophy.

We have no books that must be followed, we have no preachers whose word must be obeyed. The core philosophy of Spiritualism is described in The Seven Priniciples. Spiritualists sometimes refer to Spiritualism as a Religion, a Philosophy and a Science.

They regard their religion as based on universal truths:. Spiritualism is a common sense religion, one of knowing and living. We accept all truths and endeavour to prove their validity. Truths are found in nature, in other religions, in writings, in science, in philosophy, in Divine Law and are received through spirit communication. Many Spiritualists teach that Spiritualism is based on natural, scientific laws and does not involve the supernatural. They say that difference between their faith and other religions is that most religions are based on belief while Spiritualism is based on demonstrated evidence that there is life after death.

Some writers think this scientific emphasis dates from the early days of Spiritualism. Inspired perhaps by the then recent discoveries of invisible forces such as electricity and magnetism, Spiritualism may have been 'an attempt by nineteenth-century Americans to establish empirical grounds for religious belief amid the growing cultural authority of science'.

Spiritualists teach that communication from the Spirit-world not only shows that life continues after physical death, but that human beings in the Spirit-world remain morally responsible for good and bad deeds committed in the material world. They believe that growing awareness that even death does not free a person from the consequences of their bad acts will lead people to behave better in this present life.

They also believe that the information received from the spirit world should be sufficient to remove the fear of death. Spiritualism has been strongly criticised because there have been many cases in which 'spiritual manifestations' have been shown to be deliberately faked. But Spiritualists retort that this doesn't show that spiritualism is itself untrue.

As G K Chesterton put it:. The same can happen with very successful business people. They might have a very sharp, intuitive talent for creating and growing businesses. Teachers might have the gift to inspire us to learn a particular subject because of their love of it. The reality about all these talents and skills is that we are drawn by the expression of their higher self. You could even go so far as to say these ways that people are that have an emotional effect on us, that fill us with awe, wonder, joy, that excite something in us, are expressions of God through the person.

We are drawn by the God in them. And take it a little further, this is because God is love and we are drawn when we see an expression of love. People who love what they do and who have worked hard to hone very subtle aspects of a skill or talent are intriguing and attractive to others. Perhaps on a subconscious level we wonder that if we were to have a romantic relationship with this person, that they will put as much attention into us, their partner.

Another thing that opens ones heart is when we feel seen. You might notice something very particular about another and compliment them. When some of these less obvious things are noticed, we feel seen and this can trigger a feeling of closeness and of being understood. God is the same way. He notices very subtle things about us and encourages us to develop these things, especially when they facilitate the expression of love. Our character defects, flaws, selfish tendencies, stubbornness, laziness, anger, critical nature, self-pity etc, these aspects are glaring to God even though He allows us to have them.

When the time comes that we want to overcome these things and have them transformed, God can illuminate them so we can see exactly where we are off. This is where spiritual sight comes in. Our quest as soul in body is to purify our beings and thus allow for more Godly expression.

Most of us alive today have only a small percentage of our true GodSelf expressing. We may slip into it when we are engaged in activities we truly love or when we are with certain people who bring it out in us. But day to day living with city driving, public transportation, job situations, relationship issues, money struggles, alcohol, drugs, body image stuff, and deeply rooted fears, nag at us most of the day.

We tend to think of things as spiritual when they bring us peace, or inspire us, or carry that higher wisdom. Spiritual things are those things born of love. Learning how to love is really how to become spiritual and that means learning how to give, how to make the right sacrifices for the benefit of others, how to not react against the negativity thrown at you by others and how to keep your heart open even when you feel really hurt.

Something happens as a person begins to allow themselves to be trained spiritually and thus become more loving. And that is that their spiritual sight opens. As we reduce the intake of stimulating substances like drink, drugs, even coffee and cigarettes… as we reduce the dramatic involvement in unhealthy relationships, family relationships that perpetuate old wounds, and begin to bring our masculine and feminine aspects into balance, our conscious awareness of the world around us changes.

Spiritual sight is the ability to see that which is unseen. Spiritual sight is the ability to notice energetic aspects, patterns, blocks to, and free expressions of God… basically it is an expanded awareness of what is truly happening.

Many spiritual teachers, regardless of how they identify themselves religiously, speak about the Christ Consciousness. But there is a deeper reality, a truer energetic picture that exists and we become aware of it, or see it as we refine spiritually. For real Priests, this is absolutely essential. Priests who are going to counsel souls at the deepest spiritual level and help people in need must have spiritual sight.

And to be guided in the Path of Righteousness. Even if there is no love there, the priest would say he is obliged to follow through. So how do you think this person would feel afterwards? In contrast, a real Priest could tune into the deeper energies of the relationship. Just by listening to the man talk, he could sense the underlying dynamic and how things began to stagnate.

If this Priest was familiar with how to receive Guidance from within from the GodSelf, he might hear what to say or if he should say anything as opposed to just holding the space for the man to unload his burden.

As time went on, she stopped pretending to be a certain way and he felt betrayed so he resorted to criticism. She withdrew little by little until they reached a point where the openness and love was replaced with anger, guardedness and distance.

What is the best thing to do, as the Priest? Remember that being spiritual means being loving and so the question is what is the most loving thing to do, not do, to say or not say? The average person often thinks he should explain what he sees so the person can be enlightened. The Priest knows that God wants husband and wife to work out difficulties and stay together. So the Priest is thinking about how to inspire the man to want to make the changes that will ignite the love once again.

Spiritual sight gives us a clearer picture of the energy of any situation. For those of us who have always felt they have had a gift like this, I want you to let go of the idea that it is particularly developed in you.