Colchester Spiritualist Centre SNU Fennings Chase

Medium Janice Freestone (second left) gave us a lovely, gentle evening of messages full of love, pride and support from our loved ones in spirit. Marian (second right) led us in asking for healing for absent family and friends and Chris read Harry Edwards' insistence that healing is according to natural law followed by Benjamin Zephaniah's poem The British. Sue chaired expertly, with plenty of fun.

Best kept secret in England? Spiritual (and other kinds) of healing available free -donations welcome- at the beautiful house and gardens at the Harry Edwards Foundation https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=harry%20edwards%20foundation
Why aren't hundreds queuing up for the blissful experiences available here? I was there yesterday, the views from the terrace over miles of green Surrey hills are phenomenal.... get there soon!

We had medium June Piper this evening ,who did flower sentience. She did a reading with said flowers people brought from home. June gave excellent evidence of loved ones from spirit. we as spiritualist know life is eternal.we are so lucky having this knowledge. Chris chaired with good humour. He & June go back a long way. A great double act. Sharon led the healing intersetion ,reading those names entered needing healing. Myself read a poem that I had written for my late husband.
A lovely evening had by all, thanking each one of you for coming.
Left to right myself Sharon reading June medium Chris chair Sharon healing ❤️‍🩹
Love light & Blessings

"The Three (Clacton) Amigos" - what a lovely combination of different styles and varied messages from loved ones in spirit we heard tonight! Jimmy Burns (left) gave out some pretty clear warnings from spirit about one or two people needing to behave a little more responsibly ("...but I am only giving what spirit are telling me..") Veteran Victor Coppin brought out some lovely memories and heartfelt concerns and Chris Gill was able to remind people present of family issues and how their loved ones are still very much aware of their troubles... and their triumphs! These three good friends share a wonderful gift, and thankyou to them, to spirit and to all those open-minded people who came along tonight to give us all a real buzz.
Mary's reading from Silver Birch was an encouraging reminder that just about everyone has, and will show, their loving, caring side if we respect them and talk with them in the right way.

Medium Craig O'Malley (black shirt) is a force of nature - lovely accurate mediumship, powerful voice, powerful healing and powerful encouragement! One lady was asked by her grandmother in spirit to regularly tell herself out loud that she is worthy of love. Much laughter greeted "grandma wars" as one grandmother from spirit listed, at length, all the ways she was better (on earth) than the other! Loud, cheeky, funny, emotional, thrilling evening, thank you Craig and all your "victims". Chris Johns (left) led us in a moving healing session, AJ chaired with good humour and our President, Michelle, read a lovely poem "Dash" https://bit.ly/3ySkl4G Would love to know what you thought if you were there - lovely to have so many people, and so many new friends too, thank you for coming.

Medium Lee Roberts (the one with the tan!) worked for us tonight, praying for the children and families in the recent terrible tragedy in Southport. Sharon (left) read a lovely poem, Marian led the healing and reminded us that one-to-one healing is this Saturday 1pm-3pm, all welcome, no charge. Michelle (right) our President, chaired the evening and played a Taylor Swift song, thinking again of those affected in Southport.
Lee, from south London, has an entertaining, active style and great warmth. His linking to our loved ones in the spirit world was miraculous. Let me be personal and just tell you what he told me, but his messages to other people present were just as accurate and characterful! (Please bear in mind this is the first time he has been here and I'd never heard of him and obviously he had no idea who I am). He pointed at me and said my surname. Then my first name. Then he followed "writing on the wall" which was the university I attended. Then he asked what was P.........? I confirmed it was the name of my college. He mentioned my daughter's name, saying she needs some help at the moment. He gave my mum's name (she was sat in front of me). He gave the name of my home town, and then the name of the road (long since demolished) in that town where my dad was born. He mentioned my commitment to spiritualism and my particular interest, he mentioned chess (I have just helped to start a chess club that meets at the Centre). He said my Dad (in spirit) was pleased at the closeness between my mum and I. He gave the name of the man who worked with my Dad for decades and who in fact 40 years ago came through another medium to give me a detailed message for my Dad. He mentioned "Jewish origins" - it so happens that both my children have different Jewish ancestors. I am struggling to understand just how a medium can do all that, even though I know that loved ones in spirit can talk to us. My message, and no less amazing messages for some new and familiar faces there tonight, have blown my mind. I have to re-think my understanding of the power of spirit and spirit communication - in a very good way! Thank you Lee and thank you everyone who made the effort to come and be part of it.

We were glad to meet several new friends last night at an astonishing evening - there was an unplanned theme of spiritual healing, first in healing for those in need led by Marian (left), then in Chris' reading from the Sandy Edwards book (inset, which shows how spiritual healing is proved to work in a full scientific trial by Birmingham University and NHS clinics). Medium Penny Rossiter (centre) talked of her healing experiences and then gave one of the most astonishing demonstrations of mediumship we have ever had. Detail after specific detail or people's families, history and experiences, absolutely accurate. One example I remember, towards the end of a beautiful message for a man present: "And did you know someone who lost his foot?" "Yes". Truly phenomenal, and to echo Mary's reading recently - beyond reasonable doubt. Michelle, second left, is our President and Sue, second right, chaired the evening. Thank you Penny for travelling from Felixstowe and for putting your heart and soul into a wonderful evening!

Watching these almost instant sketches by psychic artist John Randall is mind-boggling - they come to life as he draws eyes, features and expressions.
The photo shows people who could identify their loved ones in the pictures. John and medium Lynda Rose are kneeling, with chair AJ behind.
Linda gave some accurate, meaningful messages from loved ones in spirit while John sketched. Sue took our absent healing.
I'm left with two clear ideas: life, love. Of course its complicated, but actually it is also so very simple. We stood to listen to The Last Post as a tribute to all those who were killed and injured on D-Day in Normandy 80 years ago today. Thank you for joining in everyone who came tonight!

Psychical Research – The Science of Spiritualism "To research the psychic sciences, phenomena of mediumship and healing, including the relationship to consciousness, with a scientific approach to advance Spiritualism in today’s world".  - Overview  The SNU’s Science Working Party and “Arthur’s Vision” is ded...

Have you seen our new website? https://colchesterspiritualistcentre.co.uk/
You can click on the Events page to see mediums we have booked for future services as well as details of our special events. Don't miss out!

"We must move from a belief-based religion to a practice-based religion, or little will change. We merely continue to argue about what we are supposed to believe and who the unbelievers are." Richard Rohr.
For me, spiritualism is about repeated evidence, available to all, proof of our loved ones living on in spirit. It doesn't matter what we believe or argue about, whether we adhere to any religion or none. No faith needed, just the honesty you have for the rest of your life.
(Thanks to David K Grove for this quote, Richard Rohr is a USA Franciscan)

Now I've finished this book: Beyond Matter by Dr Oliver Lazar, I am completely convinced it is THE book spiritualists and anyone interested (and anyone convinced we're idiots), should read. It shows how mediumship, scientifically tested, is true. It explains why, scientifically this is possible. It is authoritative and spiritually inspired. I am convinced it is a very important step forward - read on!

The Galileo Commission - if you want to see where some of the latest scientific and spiritual thinking is happening:
The work of the Scientific and Medical Network’s Galileo Commission is dedicated to expanding the science of consciousness beyond a limiting materialistic worldview and building support for the idea that consciousness is fundamental, and can give us access to deeper levels of reality.

You can read various versions of the Galileo Commission Report here https://galileocommission.org/report/ and can support our movement by joining as a Professional Affiliate or Friend here https://galileocommission.org/join-us/ . You will then receive details of our free monthly events and occasional summits.
See SNU discussions on science and spirit at https://www.snu.org.uk/youtubing-science-spiritualism

When I'm asked "why are you into spiritualism?" my answer is I'm interested in truth in all areas: science, history, being honest with people and more, so when I hear mediums' messages that are obviously true, I want to understand. Truth is central (see our logo below) and how about this for a stunning quote: "Spiritual, I guess, means truthful" (David Lynch, filmmaker, speaking to Mitch Horowitz in book Uncertain Places, p201). When you get a message from a loved one in spirit you know is true, that can change your life.

Spiritualists often say we should talk more about our "philosophy", maybe without much idea what that is? The 7 Principles (albeit with some words showing their age) is our guide and foundation. I'm just thinking why spiritualism appeals so much to me: partly because it gives equal value and dignity to every single person. Everyone is spirit, everyone lives on. None of us on Earth know exactly what this person or that person is going through, or why. Service to others (as Silver Birch insists) is our practical religion, spiritual learning and growth our personal aim. How ludicrous then to value people by their status, money or power! We're not political revolutionaries, but we can work on our own values, and try to set an example?

Many people, alas, aren't interested in the evidence we offer of life after death, because they believe that "scientifically" spirit can't exist. A lot of work looking at the role of consciousness in quantum physics suggests that consciousness may be fundamental to all existence. This can help explain how individual consciousness survives after bodily death. See posts below for links to particularly American work on this or if you are scientifically interested, how about website/book by Paul J. van Leeuwen, Dutch physicist who gave us a talk on a recent course at Stansted Hall? http://bit.ly/3zP3yfN

Also based largely in USA/Canada is the Association for the Advancement of Post-Materialist Science (AAPS). Scientists, medics, engineers, philosophers producing some interesting research and exciting theories, all based again on the idea of consciousness as fundamental to all reality www.aapsglobal.com/ What if our spirit nature is a part of that universal consciousness? Wow!

IONS is doing brilliant scientific work in USA on consciousness (expressed partly as thought or awareness in humans and other animals?) as fundamental to existence. All sorts of implications for spiritualism and psychic understanding generally. Rigorous science does apply to psychic phenomena! More at https://noetic.org/

A BBC survey a few years ago found that just under half the adults in the UK believed in life after death. Yesterday the BBC World Service broadcast "Spiritualism and the Soul" as part of their Heart and Soul religious series. 21 year-old Saskia Masaun presents a picture of her own spiritualism, including interviews with SNU President Jackie Wright and Penny Hayward, as well a US professor. Worth a listen! On BBC Sounds at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct423t

Heart and Soul - Spiritualism and the Soul - BBC Sounds

Most people have never been to a spiritualist service, and there are some strange ideas out there! So how about a brief guide - feel free to share to your friends who wonder? We have a prayer or two, a minute to ask for healing from spirit for those who need it, a couple of songs/hymns/music and a brief reading and a short address or speech usually from the medium. Then the medium will communicate with the spirit world, bringing messages of all sorts from our departed loved ones to people present. The messages all come in love, they can be funny, apologetic, encouraging and just with evidence of who they are so people here know they are still loved and will meet again. Sometimes the best bit for me is the tea/coffee cakes/biscuits afterwards... even if I do have to try to talk with someone while scoffing my third cake..... Simple, obvious but nonetheless miraculous!

I once debated with a very assertive chap whether there is life after death. He said, in a charming Welsh accent: "There is absolutely no evidence of it." What I think he meant was, he was sure there is no survival of death, so what is the point of looking for evidence!? We get our own evidence, from mediums every week at our services. But there have also been thousands of revealing, important messages from the Spirit world since the 19th century, many of them and all sorts of science and philosophy recorded in vast numbers of books on these subjects. No evidence indeed! You're welcome to browse our Library and borrow books and don't forget to check the selection available to buy at www.snu.org.uk/pages/shop/department/books
(Photos of our small Library at the Colchester Centre)