You are here: Home » Spiritualism

Spiritualism

Print Send a summary of this page to someone via email.

  New 'Psychic News' gets warm welcome
Jan 20, 2012
Now that some initial technical problems with its website have been resolved, I'm delighted to report on the very successful relaunch of Psychic News as a magazine. The happy event took place with the support of one of London's oldest Spiritualist churches, the London Spiritual Mission, on 15 December 2011. It was heartwarming to see how much backing the publication was given from mediums, contributors and various organisations that have an interest in psychical and spiritual matters. There was warm applause for Eric Hatton, Hugh Davis and Margaret Davis - the three trustees of JV Trust, the charity that is the new owner of Psychic News. Susan Farrow, managing director of the new company ... more
  'Psychic News' returning as a magazine
Dec 1, 2011
Psychic News sample coverHaving provided evidence of life after death for nearly eight decades, Psychic News, the independent voice of Spiritualism, is about to demonstrate its own survival by returning more than a year after it was put to death. Regular visitors to this website will be well aware of the sorry saga, ever since I broke the news on 10 July, 2010, that its demise was imminent. (Those unfamiliar with the story can use the search facility on this site to look up "Psychic News".) The exciting news is that Psychic News is returning as a fortnightly magazine, and its first issue (actually issue number 4,067) comes out on 15 December, two days ahead of its actual publication date (17 December) when it will look similar to the early sample, shown right. I must, at this point, declare a personal interest, having... more
  Thompson decides to answer seance questions
Oct 21, 2011
SpiritofPN ThompsonBritish-born medium David Thompson, now based in Australia but travelling the world to demonstrate his physical mediumship, took exception to my report on one of his seances which I attended in the UK. He gave his own verdict on my report on his website, but refused to publish my response to the points he made or answer seven questions I put to him. But we now have the answers. My original report resulted in 70 comments, for and against the evidential nature of Thompson's mediumship, on www.ParanormalReview.com, and my follow-up account of Thompson's response led to 17 more, though technical problems (now resolved) made it impossible for many people to post their views. At the same time, SpiritofPN website, run by Susan Farrow, reported on my experiences at the Thompson séance, giving a link to this website. It also published an incredible 366 comments, showing just how much interest there is in physical mediumship and also how varied the views are about its value and the quality of the phenomena produced. Thompson even joined in those comments, saying in response to a contribution from me... more
  Life after death for 'Psychic News'
Oct 5, 2011
PN front pageThat's a headline that many of you never expected to see. But it's true. Some 18 months after the Spiritualists' National Union (SNU) decided to kill off the world's only weekly Spiritualist newspaper, Psychic News, which had existed for almost 80 years, the J.V. Trust has become its new owner. It has succeeded in doing a deal with the liquidator appointed to sort out the affairs of Psychic Press (1995) Ltd, the company the SNU set up to publish the newspaper when it acquired it more than 15 years ago. News of its rescue comes today in this statement from Eric Hatton, the J.V. Trust chairman: "My fellow trustees and I are absolutely delighted to announce that yesterday, 4 October, 2011, ownership of Psychic News, its archives and other assets passed to the J.V. Trust... more
  David Thompson replies - then refuses to give answers
Sep 8, 2011
Katie KingUPDATED 10th and 13th September
I'm delighted to report that British-born physical medium David Thompson has responded to my report on a "materialisation" séance I attended last month. I had hoped that it might open up a dialogue in which he would participate, on an immensely important subject and one that has been hotly disputed for more than a century, since the photo of the spirit of Katie King (right) was taken by Sir William Crookes. His criticism of my Blog was posted on the website of his Circle of the Silver Cord. He has also submitted it to me for inclusion as a Comment here. Rather than do that, I think it is important that his views are not buried among the many other opinions that have been expressed, and for that reason I am treating it as a new topic. Besides, that gives me an opportunity to correct many of the misstatements and false assumptions he makes. Unlike David, however, I am not going to suggest any ulterior motive – just his lack of knowledge in certain areas. To help readers get the most from this exchange ... more
  Let's get physical ... or did we?
Aug 16, 2011
Black boxLast night, I either witnessed a remarkable display of physical mediumship by David Thompson, a Brit who now resides in Australia and who claims to produce full-form materialisations (the black box replaces his image, at his request), or a blatant deception that is succeeding in fooling many otherwise sensible people. So which was it? The only way to make up one's mind in such a situation – in which the 40-plus people attending this séance at Jenny's Sanctuary in Oxfordshire were literally in the dark – is to examine both scenarios and ask which, logically, makes the most sense. That's what I'm about to do ... more
 
more articles >>