At home from work in bed tired and weary after a night shift, 07/01/14 I was just dropping off to sleep, when my mobile phone rang “who the hell can that be” I thought, I answered the phone very drowsy and not in a good mood the caller a lady, introduced herself as the booking secretary for Cirencester Spiritualist Church, she told me that they had a cancellation for their divine service Saturday night, and she had found a piece of paper in her mediums book with my name and number on it, but she did not know who had given her my name and number, and how the piece of paper had got into her mediums book, the mediums she had phoned were all busy, so in desperation she thought she might give me a try.
I explained to the lady that although I would love to serve her church, Slough is a long way from Cirencester, would the church be able to meet my fuel expenses, myself and the lady agreed expenses at £30.00, the lady was very baffled as to how she had got my name and number, my only explanation was that I had served Stroud Spiritualist Church back in the 90’s, and perhaps someone from there had took my name and number to recommend me, and somehow it had found it’s way into her mediums book, she told me that is not possible, I confirmed with her that I would serve Cirencester Spiritualist Church at 19.30 hrs 11/01/14, we said our goodbyes and as I laid down to sleep, I thought this is a mystery but this service must be meant to be, and spirit must want me to serve there for some reason.
On 11/01/14 I made my way to Cirencester Spiritualist Church nervous and excited, about what my purpose could be for serving spirit there, it was a cold misty winters night I arrived with 45 minutes to spare, before the service began I was greeted with a warm welcome, as I introduced myself as the medium for the evening, it was a medium sized SNU Church, but looking around I felt it was a strict SNU Church this made me a bit nervous, as I had not demonstrated at this level for some time, as I am quite laid back and down to earth in my presentation of philosophy and spirit messages, I was also wearing blue jeans and a navy blue collarless shirt and white trainers, which made me feel quite scruffy and felt strongly from my spirit guides, that I should really smarten up to serve them in Spiritualist Churches, the booking secretary arrived and introduced herself, as we shook hands she said ” I really don’t know how I got your name and number” I replied ” it’s a mystery but lovely to be here” I was shown to a side room to meditate and gain attunement to spirit, my spirit guides gathered around me I asked them what is my purpose for being here, Red Cloud just smiled at me thanks I thought, I was very nervous but my spirit guides were coming around me, with such strength I thought just go for it.
The booking secretary popped her head around the door and said it is time, she led me to the platform the church was well attended, which was a refreshing sight as less people attend divine services, as compared to evenings of clairvoyance I took my seat on the platform, nervous and calling on my spirit guides to come closer, as I shut my eyes I could see my grandad and he said to me we are in the moment, I opened my eyes and felt a very strong emotion, as if it was my first time serving spirit at a divine service, I was truly within the moment with spirit, I cannot explain the emotion but it felt euphoric, I was very drawn to the 7 principles of spiritualism hanging on the wall to my left, and I realised that my whole life I had been living not always correctly to the 7 principles, the 7 principles are in fact universal law, my spirit guides were giving me thoughts about the 7 principles, I felt very stongly that the 7 principles should be modernised, as they were communicated to the level of understanding at the time, the 7 principles were communicated to spiritualism through the mediumship of Emma Hardinge Britten in 1871 this is 2014 I thought, understanding of spirit and how the universe interacts with us has changed, they should be reworded so they can be understood by all.
It came time to give the inspired address to the congregation, I stood up and explained that I was very drawn to the 7 principles of spiritualism, but felt they were out of date, and needed to be modernised, not the thing I should be saying in a SNU Church I exclaimed to laughter from the congregation, let us look at the 7 principles of spiritualism from spirits view.
1, The Fatherhood Of God
Today we understand what we call God as a great universal energy and intelligence the creator of all things, yes our father in biblical times but 2000 years later, we should update to oneness or empathy with creation instead of the fatherhood of god.
2, The Brotherhood Of Man
Have women not been created yet ( laughter from congregation ), when the 7 principles were communicated it was very much a mans world, women did not have the vote and had less rights than a man, now today we live in a age of equality perhaps this principle could be changed, to the unity of the human race, it would be more in keeping with the principle of the brotherhood of man, and would be a modern interpretation of this principle.
3, The Communion Of Spirits And The Ministry Of Angels
As spiritualists this principle is a cornerstone of our knowledge as is eternal life, the word communion by definition, is the sharing of intimate thoughts and feelings on a mental or spiritual level, spirit and angels communicate with us in thoughts and feelings, the universe communicates with us in thoughts feelings and synchronicities, it is not only mediums and healers that have communion with spirits and angels and the universe, everyone can communicate with spirit angels and the universe as we are all interconnected by creation, spirit teach that all things come from one source, and it is this one source that connects us all and everything together, spirit teach that thought is the most powerful thing in our universe, so let us all use our thoughts to communicate with our loved ones spirit guides angels creation and the universe, spirit angels creation and the universe will communicate back to us in different ways, but we have to be aware enough to perceive what is coming back to us, this is where spiritual development comes in and teaches us how to communicate on many levels, I feel the third principle could be simplified to universal communication.
4, The Continuous Existence Of The Human Soul
This principle is the spiritualist aim to prove survival the spirit and soul, after physical death and as we all know this truth is ongoing, but it is not just the human spirit that survives physical death, all that has life has spirit even a rock or a mountain has life and spirit, because everything can be broken down to atoms and atoms have energy, and it is a level of this energy that is spirit, that we have not invented a machine that can measure that energy yet, I feel this principle could be simplified to eternal life.
5, Personal Responsibility
We are all responsible for our thoughts and deeds in life, in this principle it teaches us to take responsibility for our thoughts and actions, how many times have we heard people complain about their lives, when in fact they are the creators of their lives, so they should take responsibility for how their lives turn out, and guide them to change their lives for the better, in universal law we are responsible for our thoughts and deeds as you give so shall you receive, I feel this principle should not be re worded because it is what it is, but I feel should be taught in churches and development circles.
6, Compensation And Retribution Hereafter For All The Good And Evil Deeds Done On Earth
This principle is very much universal karmic law, simply as you give so shall you receive in eternal life, there are many different levels of spirit as above so below, the level we go to in spirit depends on our thoughts and actions here on earth, spirit guides teach that we create heaven or hell in spirit, depending on our thoughts and actions on earth, this teaching should guide us to be loving kind and compassionate in our thoughts and actions here on earth, the truth is we create our own heaven or hell this could be brought up to date to, as you give as you give so shall you receive in eternal life.
7, Eternal Progress Open To Every Human Soul
This principle is very outdated and wrong, all that has life has soul whether human animal plant mineral, animals communicate with us from spirit, we can also communicate with elemental spirits, earth air fire and water all thing, from one source so all things have soul, and it is in this truth we can see the levels of spirit working here on earth, we can progress spiritually here on earth to raise our soul up another level, we can still do so in spirit we can also go backwards, depending on what level we choose to vibrate at through our thoughts and actions, this principle simply needs to be updated to eternal progress open to every soul.
The inspired address appeared to be well received by the congregation, after the next hymn it was time for the demonstration of mediumship, messages from loved ones spirit guides and angels flowed, there were tears and laughter and I was very relieved, as my nervousness told me I would not get anything, after the service three lovely people, Anne Cosh Barbara-Ann Winter and Mark Sloper, told me how much they enjoyed the service as did others, and they recommended me to other churches to serve, the booking secretary was very happy that the service went well as I was unknown to them, but how she got my name and number is still a mystery, but I suspect spirit played a big hand in it, she said she would re book me again but I have heard nothing more from her or the church.
Whatever the reason was for spirit guiding me to Cirencester Spiritualist Church, I do know that I have learned a lot from it, that I am still a medium and spirit wish to communicate through me, a lot of good has come from that service I have made friends and served other churches, and I thank spirit for the blessing of their guidance.
Stephen Rowlands 11/01/19
Stephen Rowlands 