Social Medium

Pitfalls Of Online Mediumship and Circle Development

Just as the business community can’t do without social media interaction these days, nor can the spiritual community, but the mass upsurgence of social media in the spiritual community has developed quite a sinister undertone: from skeptics setting up mediums and unprofessional, substandard mediumship being touted as professional, to online development circles as the way forward for aspiring mediums.

Online courses are a plenty, with ‘certifications’ given out upon completion of an online course. Business is good. There are groups sprouting everywhere and it’s not long before you see the same personalities and experts, all with opinions on how, why and where. You have to wonder who is winning and who is losing, and if there any real benefit to working online in the modern world. Is spiritualism changing for the better or, in the move to the online world, is it losing face? Do we need to go back to the old school in-person circle traditions in order to develop our mediumship skills as best we possibly can? After all, in spirit, there’s no Facebook, X or Instagram. Well at least I don’t think so. Read on Macduff!

Social media and mediums

The reality is that social media with its online profiles an interaction, is a double edged sword. On one hand, it serves as a very good method of disseminating information and achieving what is known in the business world as brand recognition and authority. It has created new levels of business but has also given birth to a sinister monster.

Rather like the bible, which has a great basis for life and living, it too has been changed to suit the politics of the day, and like the bible, there is nothing but perception and opinion. It stands to reason that a balance must exist. For every yin there has to be a yang, and for every black there is a white. You see, we live in a world of opposites, each with its perfect law that creates a unique balancing act that can tip one way or another.

There are of course, good intentions and bad intentions. I believe that sums up the social media world with its lack of emotion and powerful method of information dissemination, which also can be full of disinformation and damaging influences.

Where Is The Divinity In Mediumship

Photographer: Joshua Davis | Source: Unsplash

Where has the divinity in mediumship gone or are we too late to this party?

Most people forget the divine reality behind mediumship and of course, spirit. A church is now just a show and no one wants to hear great philosophy from wonderful teachers. We have come to rely upon a more social culture to fuel our lives. The basic fundamentals of spiritual growth and development are often forgotten, hidden by agenda and a race to be at the top of the mountain in all endeavors. In a world where everything has become intertwined with a lack of patience, we now want physical phenomena to manifest in circles in the time it takes to brew a pot of tea - not in a matter of years. Does this all sound jaded? Perhaps a little, and for good cause. One only has to look behind the curtain to see what is hidden.

If you want to witness bad mediumship, which can damage the grieving by the careless choice of a single word, then just go online and see the new level of Social Media for Social Mediums. It’s no wonder our wonderful centers and churches are suffering. No one wants to go anymore. I mean, why would you when there are so many desperate individuals online trying to tout their craft and cloak it as spiritualism and mediumship? Pull up a chair, get online and in the spirit within seconds. But what about the issue of development? Well, that’s now online too.

You certainly don’t comprehensively learn the mechanics of mediumship and the importance of discernment online.

Let’s Come Full Circle

Deevelopment circle

So now we come to the mediumship development circle. At one time it was in the home or church circle – a closed development circle filled with love and the feeling of spirit. Circle members enter with excitement and anticipation of what great spirit has to share with us this week. Your teacher or circle leader creates a testing environment, guiding the students by what they feel and know, if spirit is actually connecting or if the student is blocking themselves. Where mediums not only develop their connection, but grow in spirit and in the time of spirit.

Instead, one can now simply sit on a chair or lounge in a bed and connect with others throughout the world – claiming space in an online development circle where professional mediumship is taught. It’s NESCAFE gold blend at its finest and voila, the next thing, there are groups of grieving people seeking guidance who are being pandered to by those who simply got a few things right – not knowing if it was simply psychic influence or really a divine loving connection. The grieving lose out in the long run by disinformation and bad, underdeveloped mediumship.

Benefits of Traditional Circles

Consequently, experiencing a real circle or development group in person has the added advantage of feeling real spirit within that circle – harnessed by the power of those who sit in love and harmony. The teacher is able to guide and support the developing medium by being able to feel those subtle nuances and vibrational changes through their own development experience and can certainly discern the level of comfort, fear or judgement.

In taking the realm of spirit to the online world, we place between us technology which has no discernment, and where the teacher can’t identify how the harmony and people in the group are working or what problems exist. We give our power to technology and forget the power and harmony of internalized spirit and development of spiritual gifts received from great spirit. When it comes your time to cross, you won’t be going there and announcing your arrival by a Facebook message or sending out messages in the hope Archangel Michael or your spirit guru will see how awesome you are.

“In the silence of service comes the greatest gift of the spirit that makes the soul shine!” JB

The circle is where we develop. In our daily lives, we monitor our thoughts and take awareness and action in thought and deed. When we return to the development of the circle or small group that meets in harmony under spirit guidance, the immediate change and development of the soul is clearly measured. The teacher can guide and help the student to understand the language of the soul as it should be.

Some Are Meant To Be Mediums – Some Not

I remember talking to a colleague, let’s call her K. We could both identify how some people who think they have connection, are not within the spirit vibration and merely on the material vibration where the psychic flow seems acceptable. This, of course, causes a false sense of security and does not follow when really helping someone who may be suffering loss. It’s all about the medium and not the connection.

Human needs are complex, but at the root of things is the need to be appreciated and needed and that can become unbalanced. It’s all about numbers and speed. As K would say, some are meant to be mediums and some not. I would have to agree, for it is more damaging to let an untrained individual loose with a gun.

The teacher or leader in a circle with enough experience is able to identify real talent and ability and nurture that individual into a great ambassador for spirit.

It does not matter how technologically advanced we get – real mediumship is born by spiritual development and harnessing the power of spirit within, not from an app, camera or online development group.

If you want to use the excuse that there is no one around to start a circle or to sit, then you have not looked hard enough because there is always a way and it may take a little sacrifice. Another colleague has a home circle while other members travel vast distances just to feel the power of spirit up close and personal. That is where I believe mediumship should grow, up close and personal and learning to feel the real power of spirit in that environment.

Yes, technology plays a role in learning and perhaps serving, but as I believe, not in development. That should always be old school and developed from within.

Note: This article was originally published in the Afterlife Magazine by The Otherside Press and has since joined the PDN group.

When Someone Appears: The Mystery of Crisis Apparitions

A quiet presence in an ordinary room, the kind many crisis apparition experiences begin with. People sometimes describe a moment that only feels strange afterwards. Nothing dramatic at the time. A sense someone is nearby. A quick impression. Occasionally a voice, or the feeling of being watched.

Then life carries on.

The phone rings later. News arrives. A death. An accident. Something serious.

Only then does the earlier moment return and feel different.

Accounts like this turn up everywhere. Different cultures, different periods, very similar descriptions.

What are crisis apparitions?

Researchers eventually began using the phrase "crisis apparitions" for experiences reported around moments of danger, trauma, or death. The definition is simple, but the timing is what draws attention.

Most reports are spontaneous. People are not trying to contact anyone. They are going about their ordinary routines when something interrupts them. Often the person involved is emotionally close. The experience tends to feel unusually clear compared to daydreaming or memory.

Not everyone interprets these moments the same way. Some treat them as coincidence. Others see them as psychological responses. Parapsychology tends to step back and look at the pattern rather than the explanation.

Early Psychical Research

Early psychical researchers began collecting firsthand accounts in an attempt to understand these experiences rather than dismiss them.

​By the late nineteenth century, people had started writing these experiences down more deliberately. Instead of passing them along as stories, they were being collected, compared, and discussed.

The Society for Psychical Research, established in 1882, became one place where this happened.

The aim was cautious. Members were less interested in proving survival after death than in asking a simpler question. Did these reports appear often enough to take seriously?

One ‘but project’, later known as the Census of Hallucinations, asked large numbers of ordinary people whether they had ever experienced a vivid impression of someone who was not physically present, particularly around important events.

Some investigators felt a pattern might exist around moments of crisis. That suggestion has never been fully settled, but the material itself continued to be referenced.

The Admiral Tryon Case

A distant ship fading into mist, echoing the sudden loss at the heart of many crisis apparition reports.

​One example often mentioned in this context is the death of Vice Admiral Sir George Tryon in 1893. Tryon led the British Mediterranean Fleet. During naval maneuvers off the Syrian coast, a command resulted in a collision between HMS Victoria and HMS Camperdown.

The ship sank quickly.

In the period afterwards, a number of people connected to Tryon reflected on impressions they had experienced around that time. The accounts themselves were understated. What drew interest was when those impressions were said to have occurred.

Researchers approached the case carefully. It was not treated as evidence on its own, but as a reminder of how these accounts tend to surface and how difficult they are to separate from memory, coincidence, and grief.

Patterns Across Reports

Across many reports, certain tendencies appear. Emotional closeness shows up repeatedly. Experiences involving strangers do occur, but far less often.

Timing is harder to assess. Many accounts are described after the person learns about the crisis. Memory shifts in those moments. Meaning settles in quickly. Researchers have always acknowledged that problem.

Closeness appears again and again in these reports. Experiences involving strangers do occur, but far less often.

The repetition is not dramatic. It is simply persistent, which is part of why researchers keep returning to the subject.

Psychological Explanations

Psychology tends to begin from connection. People remain mentally oriented toward those who matter to them. Worry, expectation, coincidence, and memory can overlap in ways that feel striking afterwards.

Another factor is reinterpretation. Moments that seemed ordinary at the time may be reconsidered once new information arrives. Memory adjusts quickly in those circumstances.

Experiences of presence after loss are widely reported and do not necessarily indicate anything unusual in a clinical sense. For many people they are part of ordinary grieving. Crisis apparitions may represent an earlier point along that same spectrum.

Parapsychological Perspectives

Parapsychology approaches the question from a different angle. Rather than dismissing the experiences outright, it asks whether extreme situations might coincide with unusual forms of information transfer.

Some researchers describe this in terms of spontaneous telepathy or emotional signaling. The idea remains tentative. If anomalous communication exists, moments of crisis would be the most likely place to look.

That position does not resolve the question, but it keeps inquiry open.

Modern Research and Experience Studies

Modern research methods often rely on experience surveys rather than individual case investigation. Large collections allow researchers to look for recurring features even when verification is difficult.

Online reporting has changed the landscape. People share experiences quickly, sometimes before timelines are clear. That creates both opportunity and complication.

Crisis apparitions now sit alongside research into bereavement experiences, deathbed visions, and anomalous perception more broadly. The boundaries overlap but the timing element remains distinctive.

Why the Topic Persists

Reflecting on experiences that resist simple explanation is where crisis apparition research often returns.

These experiences sit in an awkward space. They appear too often to dismiss entirely, yet not with enough consistency to explain comfortably.

For many people, the meaning comes first. Explanation follows later, if it comes at all. Even those who lean toward psychological accounts often note how distinct the experience feels.

Researchers, meanwhile, focus on recurrence. Patterns raise questions even when answers remain uncertain.

A Quiet Mystery

Crisis apparition reports are rarely dramatic in presentation. They are brief interruptions. A sense of presence. A glance. A moment that only becomes significant later.

The Tryon case shows how these reports enter discussion. It is not unusual in structure, which is precisely why it is referenced. The details matter less than the pattern it reflects.

What keeps the subject alive is not spectacle. It is repetition. People continue to describe moments in which someone seems to appear at exactly the point something changes.

The explanation remains unsettled. The pattern does not disappear.

Further Reading

Phantasms of the Living — Edmund Gurney, F. W. H. Myers, Frank Podmore (1886)

Census of Hallucinations report — Society for Psychical Research (1894)

Apparitions — G. N. M. Tyrrell (1943)

New Frontiers of the Mind — J. B. Rhine (1937)

The Founders of Psychical Research — Alan Gauld (1968)

Parapsychology: A Handbook for the 21st Century — edited by Etzel Cardeña, John Palmer, David Marcusson-Clavertz (2015)

Critical First Steps For Psychic Beginners

There are some critical first steps that all beginners need to embrace if they want to expand their psychic abilities. Simply noticing these experiences won’t help someone to cultivate and gain the control they need to put this useful skill-set into action. It takes dedication and direct effort, but where does one begin?

Step One - Exploring The Scientific Foundations

Many budding psychics aren’t even aware of the existence of scientific research regarding psychic-based phenomena. Without this critical knowledge, it can leave them feeling confused and doubtful about the validity of their experiences. By exploring the scientific basics, one can gain a sense of confidence and understanding that will make the developmental process far easier. So where does one find this scientific information?

Despite the lack of mainstream acknowledgement, the academic study of psychic phenomenon is actually considered to have been formally created on February 20th, 1882 when the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) was founded by a group of distinguished scientists, thinkers, and scholars of the time (Irwin & Watt, 2007). In the 1930’s, J.B. Rhine began psychical research in the U.S. while working at Duke University. However, he replaced the use of the phrase ‘psychical research’ with the term parapsychology - meaning above or beyond psychology — and it is this terminology that still defines the field today.

Budding psychics need to know that within the parapsychological field, there is ample research supporting the existence of psi – pronounced as ‘sigh’ and being the scientific term used for psychic functioning. And it is here that the beginner will want to start their pursuit of knowledge. The Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE), The Society for Psychical Research (SPR), The Parapsychological Association (PA), The Institute of Noetic Sciences, and The Windbridge Research Center all provide quality scientific information. They each offer written materials, classes, events, and/or videos - all geared towards the academic understanding of a wide range of psi-based experiences. The Rhine Research Center also regularly offers an excellent course entitled Introduction to Parapsychology. It truly is an outstanding class to help beginners learn the scientific basics.

Step Two - Taking The Initiative

I have encountered countless people who want answers about their psychic experiences, but when asked what they are doing to solve those issues, they admit to having done nothing. This brings us to the second critical step of taking the initiative. There are, however, a variety of good reasons for why someone is not taking the initiative towards their psychic development. For example, fear and confusion are common reasons for not moving forward, as are a lack of time or discipline. In addition, some people are merely curious, putting psychic development far down on their priority list. There’s nothing wrong with this decision. It’s a personal choice. But in reality, without a burning desire along with effort and dedication, one will rarely get far in any area of life unless there is a willingness to truly set aside the time to make things happen.

Psychic Experience Evaluation

In order to evaluate this step, take some time to make a list of all of those issues that are preventing forward momentum in one’s psychic development. And be sure to be brutally honest when making the list. No one else is going to see it. In other words, if ‘lazy’ and ‘unmotivated’ are reasons for not developing, then that’s perfectly ok. This simply indicates, that at least for now, perhaps one’s psychic development needs to go to the wayside.

With a completed list of those issues that are preventing one from taking the initiative, the next step is to tackle one item at a time. For example, let’s look at confusion as this is a commonly reported issue. With confusion as the theme, make a more extensive list of everything that is confusing about psychic development; how to practice, who to trust for assistance, where to find a community, uncertainty about personal skills and experiences, etc. By breaking down the topic of confusion into smaller bites, these then become action steps that can be addressed one at a time. And by doing this, you are now taking the initiative. Yes, perhaps it seems a slow and maybe even irrelevant process, but by getting to the root of any resistance, one starts the path towards resolution.

Step Three - Documenting Psychic Events

The third critical step for psychic beginners is to pull out a pen and paper and to document any and all potential events. No matter how silly they might seem, if there’s something odd, extraordinary, synchronous, or weird that occurred, then just make note of it. It only takes a few minutes each night to jot down anything that took place during the day. Or, document it as soon as it happens. Either way, do this regularly for a few weeks, ideally a month, until there are a fair number of documented experiences.

Use a Psychic Journal

Remember to list as many details as possible for each event. These can be helpful later – indicating patterns and uncovering tendencies towards certain psi-based experiences and/or skills. By its nature, psi is often incomplete, symbolic, and deeply intimate in nature. This means discerning personal meaning and deciphering one’s unique way of psychic functioning. For example, some individuals are very prone to seeing colors with each of those colors having unique meanings just for them. Others may hear song lyrics or movie titles or see animals or designs. These symbolic psi-based impressions will have different meanings for different people, so finding the clues and patterns as they pertain to YOU is all that matters. This involves documenting and making note and discovering insight over time - as well as patience!

In addition, a willingness to embrace psi enhances its frequency! By documenting and journaling, you are not only noticing psi but also encouraging it to take place. This notion is supported by the work of Gertrude Schmeidler who demonstrated through her research that belief in psi created positive results, while disbelief actually discouraged results – even above statistical chance. She coined this variable as ‘the sheep-goat effect.’ So, by embracing psi, even through something as simple as journaling, you can start to pull in more experiences to help hone-in on your particular psychic skill-sets.

Step Four - Learn The Psychic Language

The fourth critical step towards psychic awareness is to learn some basic terminology and language as it relates to psychic functioning – ideally from reliable resources. As previously discussed in step one, parapsychological organizations are a great place to start. There are, however, two drawbacks to these scientific organizations. First, since they are so academically oriented, some of their material can be rather confusing and overwhelming to the general layperson. Secondly, they observe and study psychic experiences from the outside looking in. This means they provide a very important objective look at psychic experiences but may be lacking in actual personal experience. For these reasons, it can also be very helpful to search out reliable paranormal resources as well as qualified psychics and mediums who have an understanding of parapsychology.

A well-trained paranormal group should understand the scientific basics surrounding parapsychology. This allows them to help someone wade through their confusion, offering clarity, resources, and guidance for further education. I won’t address the various aspects of finding a good paranormal group at this time. Just remember to ask them about their experience and training and how they plan to offer assistance. Far too many groups base their techniques and assistance on methods developed from television and know nothing of parapsychology. However, there are also plenty of quality field investigators out there. These folks can be very helpful in providing education and awareness for those having psychic experiences.

The Use Of Psi

In the same way, a well-qualified and experienced psychic or medium can also be extremely helpful. These folks offer personal experience and insights that academics often just can’t provide. Because psychics and mediums have ‘walked-the-walk,’ they can be a great resource for honing-in on what is psi and what isn’t, what it feels and looks like, explaining fears and resistances, discussing spirit visitations from an experiential perspective, as well as offering a basic vocabulary. It is important to explore not just the science, but also from those who are already utilizing the skill themselves.

While the ability to verbalize and speak the psychic language may not seem relevant to development, try to think of it this way. Let’s say that someone goes to school to learn how to work on cars. Before they can succeed they need to learn the various car parts, the way the parts function, and the tools that are required for working with those parts. This means learning the language and tools of the trade in order to become successful. The same applies to the psychic world as well - learning the language and tools of the trade leads to success.

Put it together

Summary: Put together, these four steps are all designed to help individuals get started on exploring, understanding, and expanding on their psychic experiences. Perhaps they don’t seem very glamourous, but learning the science, taking initiative by identifying resistances and finding solutions, documenting personal psi-based events, and then learning the psychic language and tools of the trade from a variety of reputable resources will all go a long way towards making the process unfold.

References

J.B. Rhine History & Background Psi Encylopedia

Gertrude Schmeidler Psi Encylopedia

An Introduction to Parapsychology, 5th Edition, Harvey J Irwin & Caroline Watt, 2007

Photos Courtesy of Unsplash Cover Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 Pic 4