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| CAMP CHESTERFIELD Camp Chesterfield group circle information: As for the camp itself, it's not a 'camp' like the name implies. These are sacred Indian grounds and they were given to the Spiritualists 115 years ago. The mediums all live in houses on the grounds. Cards: We sit in a circle and the medium, Rev. Hoyt Robinette, puts in a small light-tight basket a lot of markers, pencils, crayons and other writing utensils. He then lets a new sitter open a package of blank index cards and put them in too. The basket is closed and he goes around the room telling us who in spirit is with us; when he's done, perhaps 40 minutes later, he opens the basket and there's a card for each in the circle in the basket. One side has a picture and the other side has signatures from those who are with us in spirit. It's called precipitation and is a form of spiritual phenomena. On the back table on Sunday every week is an enlarged copy of one of Rev. Betty Tatalajski's cards. It has Mother Theresa on it. Silks: Same idea, but we sit in the dark with a small square piece of silk in our lap for the same amount of time. Rev. Robinette has vials of ink open, but they're on his desk, some distance away. Spiritual phenomena needs the dark most of the time, as ectoplasm is light sensitive. When Rev. Robinette's teachers say the job is done, he moves around the room with a red light, letting us get a glimpse of the faces that have appeared on the silk. They remain in the dark for the next 12 hours, as they continue to develop during that time. We have a great time sharing when they're ready in the morning. Direct Voice: The best of all! Though the cards and silks are treasures, the best experience is being able to talk directly to spirit. Spirit can communicate in many ways, and one of them is this method: through a large tin horn that is controlled by them. In the complete dark, the medium goes into trance, and ectoplasm, which we all have, an invisible light-sensitive material, comes from the solar plexus area mostly and then lifts the trumpet in the air. (Several of us in the group are currently sitting with trumpets, waiting for them to go up!) Inside the trumpet, spirit uses ectoplasm to create a voice-box identical to the medium's, and spirit speaks through that as it moves around. You can sometimes see and feel them as they move. Sometimes we get apports through the trumpets, usually in the form of small stones, sometimes jewelry, sometimes fresh roses. In the past spirit has manifested full forms via ectoplasm and people who were around to witness the old-timers', like Rev. Bill English, who Betty has been privileged to know. She once received a hug by one of her band of teachers and she said it was as physical as any of our bodies. Some of us have seen spirit manifest independently of the trumpet, even as a ball of light, with a voice coming from that. That's what's known as independent voice. When sitting in any of these circles, it's important to not have any watches or cell phones or anything that may make noise. No lights either, as any light that wasn't coming from spirit could seriously injure the in-trance medium. We are required to sit in a group circle before having a private direct voice session, and even then, it is up to the medium's discernment who they allow to sit with them. There are currently 5 working trumpet mediums on the grounds. Something important to mention is that, when in a direct voice, if a master teacher or ascended master is speaking we; listen. We do not interrupt or ask questions, unless we are asked to speak. These beings have made a great effort to share with us their wisdom and we consider it a gift and have much appreciation. One such circle is held with camps long time medium, and past camp president, Louise Irvine, as she continues to impress the students of the Ascended Master's in her phenomenal circles! And even when we are asked if we have questions, we choose them wisely. Save personal questions for your private readings. In our private readings, or in a perhaps more casual circle like the camp's current president, Rev. Patricia Kennedy and Rev. Suzanne Greer's wonderful circles, there is more interaction, as a lot 'of family and personal guides and teachers will come in to speak. We find Rev. Kennedy and Rev. Greer's Direct Voice sessions to be informative and most enjoyable! There are many mediums on the grounds and many kinds of readings available. One we all love is Rev. Norm Williams, the resident psychic artist. He's one of the scheduled private readings for the regulars. There's astrology with yet another medium, Rev. Phyllis D. Harrison, and she's the best. Rev. Evelyn Reigle is known as the "Grand Dame" and she's excellent for readings. Last year during her special Universal Master Teacher's circle, held for our group, she had 17 trumpets in the seance room up at once! Her guides even pick them all up and put them back in place after everyone leaves the room! Many mediums do readings, and they're great. The best thing to do if you're new is to walk around when you get there and look at the appointment books of the mediums, which are usually near their front door. You can talk to them about what they do, or ask questions of those of us who know them or what they do. Any questions, just ask one of us. We all love to talk about Camp Chesterfield! By Tracey Fossatti |
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