Dec 042013
 

me in Finland August 2013

Good afternoon, as a medium, please inform us whether it is true that there is a buried treasure guarded by unkind spirits in the farmland of my niece, located at Barangay?

Can you please talk with my mom in the spirit world and ask her for 6 numbers between one and 55?

I want to know when my husband is going to die?

When will the man at the office, I am having an affair with, leave his wife for me, I know I’m his soul mate?

What color sweater should I wear today?

As a professional medium, I encounter all sorts of people, many of whom are completely ignorant of what mediumship is or the mechanics of how it works. Although mediumship is not fortune telling or about predicting the future, the majority of people unfortunately associate spirit communication with Tarot card readers, palmists and related psychic practitioners.
Spiritualism differs from other religions in that cultivating the gifts of the spirit is emphasized. In the early years of the Spiritualist movement it was necessarily for the spirit world to utilize physical manifestations to convince the skeptical of the reality of life after death and higher spiritual truth. Of course, the drawback to physical phenomena is that the sensationalistic nature of such manifestations generally attracts a high percentage of people interested in entertainment and little else.

Although the movement of Spiritualism originated in upstate New York, it spread worldwide and its expression differs depending upon the location. In the early days in order to attract the masses much of the emphasis was placed on proving the continuity of life through mediumistic communications. In the USA, UK and many other regions, phenomena and evidential communications are emphasized. It has been my experience working in many countries worldwide as a medium that this focus generally results in an imbalance that encourages the involvement of people mainly interested in experiencing phenomena and receiving communications with little interest in self improvement and spiritual growth. Obviously, people have to start somewhere and such curiousity may eventually lead to further exploration, but sadly the majority of Spiritualist groups offer little more for the sincere seeker. As a result people searching for greater spiritual realization will either look elsewhere or, after receiving convincing communications through mediumship within Spiritualism, will leave Spiritualism to pursue other metaphysical paths that provide more comprehensive spiritual teachings. Is it not surprising that the dwindling numbers attending Spiritualist churches in the USA and UK are composed primarily of the middle aged and elderly? It is apparent that the lack of emphasis on higher philosophy cheapens the movement by attracting people interested mainly in an inexpensive retirement hobby. I remember serving one church affiliated with the Spiritualist National Union in the UK; the chairperson requested me to limit the length of my inspirational address for the Sunday worship service to 10 minutes or less and then expected me to deliver spirit communications for 45 minutes for the 80 people present. At another independent Spiritualist center in the USA, the president altered the order of the Sunday worship service so that the closing prayer would be given before the spirit messages. The reason for this change was so that people could comfortably leave after they had received a message and go downstairs for refreshments or outside for a cigarette.

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This is not to diminish the importance of evidential communications and spiritual manifestations as they are the foundation of Spiritualism and reinforce the greater truths espoused by the higher teachers in the spirit world. But once people cultivate total conviction in the reality of life after death, they need more than merely evidence of survival, they need practical spiritual guidance and wisdom to help them grow while physically incarnate. It is not that Spiritualism does not have a deeper philosophy to offer the world. The profound discourses of spirit teachers such as Silver Birch and White Eagle and the writings of Andrew Jackson Davis, William Stanton Moses, Allan Kardec, Samuel Dexter, William Stead and Arthur Findlay and many others attest to this.

The branch of Spiritualism known as Spiritism, based on the writings of Allan Kardec, while recognizing the importance of phenomena, places more emphasis on self improvement and spiritual growth. Is any wonder that in Brazil and other regions of the world that the Spiritist approach is thriving with millions of participants?

We can observe the natural law of cause and effect in action. An emphasis on phenomena does not attract nor retain people interested in serious spiritual unfoldment. Spiritual growth is not about the cultivation of clairvoyance or being able to levitate a table, it is about developing a deeper understanding of self and God. Our moral charcter and how we treat others is far more important than opening our third eye or channeling ascended masters. Once seekers of truth have been convinced that life survives the destruction of the physical body, they search for teachings that will help them improve their character and develop a greater awareness of God. A Spiritualist is one who believes, as the basis of his or her religion, in the communication between this and the Spirit World by means of mediumship and who endeavors to mould his or her character and conduct in accordance with the highest teachings derived from such communication.

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It is amazing how many Spiritualist churches, including many affiliated with the National Spiritualist Association of Churches, hold Psychic Fairs with people providing psychic readings utilizing cards and other approaches to divination such as numerology and astrology. I want to make it clear that I have absolutely no problem with any of these intuitive arts as the spirit world will certainly work through anyone sincerely trying to help others regardless of the method or technique. I also as a teacher of mediumship often suggest to students that they utilize Tarot cards as a means to overcome analytical blocks within their minds.

In order to function Spiritualist organizations are forced to rely on donations and others means of raising funds. Many NSAC churches in the past held Mediums Days or Spiritual Festivals in which money could be raised by offering inexpensive mediumship sessions to the general public. Using the excuse that the average person has no idea of what a Mediums Day entails, many of these same churches presently call such events Psychic Fairs and in some cases include alongside their mediums an assortment of other intuitive practitioners. The emphasis on phenomena and inexpensive readings as a means of raising money within the Spiritualist movement has resulted in the movement being practically dead. Pardon the pun. People might attend to get a message a few times, but most do not continue as not much else is offered.

In Auckland, New Zealand where I reside, I occasionally participate in weekly meetings held by a local Spiritist group composed mainly of expatriate Brazilians. The meetings focus is primarily on higher Spiritualist philosophy as presented by the 19th century pioneer Allan Kardec. The only mediumship included in each meeting is hands on spiritual healing. The majority of the people attending the meeting are educated, professionals under the age of 40. Their primarily motivation for attending the meetings is self improvement and greater awareness of higher spiritual philosophy. Each June the group holds a traditional Brazilian festival at a rented hall in Auckland featuring live music, food, and many activities for children of all ages. About 400 people from all walks of life attend this popular event each year. For the past five years I have taken my four, young children, who love getting their faces painted and fishing for prizes. The money raised during this afternoon event is used for the general expenses of the group as well as paying for international teaching mediums to visit New Zealand, and far exceeds the funds that would be typically generated at a Mediums Day or Psychic Fair. I mention this example because I think that there are far better ways for Spiritualist churches to raise funds than holding Psychic Fairs. Psychic Fairs may be fun but such events only reinforce negative stereotypes of Spiritualism and detract from the true purpose of mediumship.

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An emphasis on frivolous phenomena cheapens what Spiritualism is about. Why is it that the age of 55 is young in many Spiritualist churches? How many Spiritualist churches offer monthly psychic fairs but fail to offer weekly programs for children and young adults? Spiritualism is a family religion and as such every Spiritualist church should offer programs for children. If there are not regular programs for children then something is seriously wrong with how things are being done. At the many Spiritist centers in the Philippines that I regularly serve, a large number of the participants as well as mediums are under the age of 25. While multiple trance addresses given by mediums are featured at every meeting, the motivation of those in attendance is not about being entertained or thrilled by receiving a message, but on developing spirituality and moral character. Because of this entire families typically attend and participate in the activities of the many Spiritist centers found throughout the Philippines.

The higher personalities in the spirit world are interested in making people in the physical world aware of their eternal nature as souls. In this regard the development and practice of evidential mediumship in all its wonderful phases is essential. But beyond this the spirit teachers want to bring greater understanding of the laws of God. Message circles, open seances and public demonstrations of mediumship and even mediums days should be regularly held at Spiritualist centers, but unless such functions are presented in a dignified manner along with other programs that offer the higher philosophy they are extremely limited in value.

I remember years ago serving a Spiritualist church where the pastor had made himself a Bishop. Evidential spirit communications were not delivered at this church and higher philosophy presented was nonexistent. This church was referred to by many mediums as a message mill due to the emphasis on inexpensive psychic readings and the prevalence of unreliable, poorly trained psychics. Instead of lowering the standards by holding psychic fairs, Spiritualist churches should focus on presenting demonstrations of quality, evidential mediumship along with programs aimed at the development of personal character based on Spiritualist principles. To do otherwise is a grave disservice to the spirit world.

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May 152013
 

The weekend of April 19-21, 2013 was a special one for the 11 lucky individuals who enthusiastically participated in the Mediumship Mastery Training Program held at the Sirius Conference Center in beautiful Shutesbury, Massachusetts. Participants attended the program from a number of States as well as abroad and the energy present during the intensive workshops about the chinese zodiac was extremely powerful. A sister community to the Findhorn Community in Scotland, Sirius is an incredible location to hold mediumship training due to the beautiful, natural surroundings and the serene, healing vibration that pervades the atmosphere.

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What are the motivations that lead an individual to actively take part in the formal study of spirit communication? And for someone wanting to explore psychic and mediumship development, what is the best avenue to pursue? Generally people get into mediumistic unfoldment after experiencing personal contact with the spirit world. Occasionally such communications are conveyed through another medium, but most often the initial connections made involve direct exchanges with spirit personalities in either the dream state or a conscious intuitive level.

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I always emphasize in my presentations that mediumship is completely natural and like an artistic or musical skill may be cultivated with proper mentoring in a structured educational environment. While it is true that not everyone is born with artist genius of a Renaissance Master, with the right training and perseverance even someone who can barely draw a stick figure can acquire the hand and eye coordination and improve their artistic technical ability. When studying mediumship it is alright to make mistakes and goof up. This is an ordinary part of the learning process. Remember mastery of any discipline requires considerable effort and perseverance, and does not happen instantly or overnight. The greatest of artists spent years of rigorous apprenticeship fine tuning their skills with more experienced artists. The same is true with the technical abilities necessary for reliable mediumship. While the love, healing and higher wisdom conveyed through the practice of mediumship is a beautiful gift, the process is a skill that must be cultivated. As with any skill, if we want quality, sufficient time must be spent learning the process and fine tuning the connections with the spirit world. As such mediums should never be put on a pedestal as mediumship is not an extraordinary skill but an ability that everyone possesses in varying degrees.

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The road to mediumship unfoldment is generally carefully orchestrated by the higher guides, who directly produce phenomena and awaken the intuitive faculties of the individual for the purpose of getting them to develop their mediumship. Mediumship unfoldment cannot be rushed or made to happen but once an individual begins to open up their natural abilities it is difficult to give up. The initial motivation of many people who want to develop mediumship is the desire to better understand their own psychic experiences. Others are motivated by a strong desire to serve and help those in need through imparting evidential spirit messages and guidance. The participants at the Mediumship Mastery Training Program were motivated by both these factors. Many of those attending had been practicing energy or spiritual healing for years and wanted to deepen their attunement with their team of spirit doctors. Others wanted to more efficiently bring through detailed and accurate evidential spirit messages from recognizable loved ones and others in the spirit world. The entire weekend program offered participants the opportunity to accelerate their healing and channeling abilities in a nurturing and loving educational atmosphere. Through lectures and discussion, powerful guided meditations, and practical experimental exercises, participants harmoniously worked together to bring all this about and more.

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The best way to develop mediumship is within the confines of a structured group that is facilitated by an experienced, competent instructor. While daily meditation and prayer combined with intellectual learning about the science and mechanics of the process are essential, nothing beats the progress that can be made in a well run, group situation. In the early years of the Spiritualist movement there were no teaching mediums as circles or mediumistic groups were held relying on the instructions of spirit mentors, who provided suggestions for achieving the best possible results.
Many of the early Spiritualists held home circles composed of family and friends, who met regularly for the purpose of communing with the angel world and developing spiritual gifts. Home circles are great, far more effective for mediumship unfoldment than the typical development group run within a Spiritualist church or center. With mediumship development, it is important that the energetic conditions created are able to be built upon consistently week after week by the spirit operators. This is why a closed group is always superior to an open circle in which the participants vary each session. With a closed group there is a harmony and psychic atmosphere present that is difficult to create in other situations.

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If you want to develop mediumship look for a local Spiritualist or Spiritist church or center, but be warned many of the people teaching in such places lack competence in terms of how to properly facilitate such a group, and for this getting the right properties to do this could be essential and using a pasco county property appraiser could be the best choice for this. In addition, many of the participants in some places may be unable to distinguish their own imaginations from genuine psychic impressions and as such would not be the best people to develop with. Mediumship is not an inexpensive retirement hobby nor is it a meant as a form of entertainment.  Far too many circles I have visited over the years have been poorly run and lacked focus or proper discipline. One of my students once attended an open mediumship development circle held at a nearby Spiritualist camp, where the president of the organization got up during the middle of the meditation period in order to go outside to smoke a cigarette. Another prominent medium in Canada would hold circles during which he would be entranced by his Native American guide, who would direct the all female members of the group to touch the phallus of the medium.  From what I understand this questionable request from the guide was complied with.  Mastery of mediumship is not just about developing a strong connection with the spirit world and being able to accurate convey communications, it is also about cultivating ethics and personal character too. In order for the highest levels of mediumship to be attained, the student of mediumship must strive for perfection and take care of themselves physically, emotionally, mentally and most importantly spiritually.

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Recently I chatted on Facebook with a British medium, who related to me that she does not need to read books as her higher guides teach her everything. Another self-taught medium bragged to me online about her lack of formal training. Years ago, a Canadian medium at the Lily Dale Assembly in New York remarked to me how she did not need to sit in circle or meditate as her guides were working with her all the time in other ways. I am always saddened when I encounter this type of attitude. As with any skill the more training that we receive with our mediumship and the more we work on ourselves, the better instruments we will be for the higher spirit personalities to work through. In the decades that I have been involved studying, teaching and professionally practicing mediumship, I have met thousands of mediums from many countries around the world. The mediums with formal training always possessed a far greater discipline with their mediumship than the unschooled, and as a result had achieved a considerably much higher skill level in terms of accuracy and reliability. Television shows like the popular Long Island Medium trivialize spirit communication and give the public the wrong impression. I always tell my students to watch that program as it is an extremely good example of the results of insufficient formal training and what not to do as a medium. Can you imagine going up to total stranger in a Wal-Mart and giving them a spirit message?

The Mediumship Mastery Training Program provides a structured educational environment for participants to develop quality mediumship. Many people want to develop mediumship, but they are unwilling to put in the time and effort to achieve a higher standard. The spirit world needs mediums to bring greater spiritual awareness and healing to this material world. While  the practice of mediumship may demonstrate the reality of eternal life to those lacking faith, the purpose of mediumship is not merely to provide evidence of life after death. Ultimately mediumship helps us to get in touch with ourselves on  a soul level and with God.

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I have dedicated my life to serve God through the practice of the spiritual gifts and I know that the participants in my Mediumship Mastery Training Program will also sincerely strive to use the skills they have acquired to help those in need. The great saintly personality Mother Teresa of Calcutta emphasized the importance of service and allowing ourselves to be vehicles for God to work through.  Mother Teresa rightly stated: It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.

In order to truly master mediumship we must master over ourselves first and overcome any personal defects that prevent us from being instruments of love. Mediumship development is not instant like a microwavable dinner.

Mastery of mediumship is a lifelong  journey toward God through the utilization of the spiritual gifts for the healing and enlightenment of those in pain and darkness.

The Mediumship Mastery Training Program is held in a number of locations around the world. Upcoming 2015  USA dates are April 24-26, August 21-23, and October 9-12. October 9-11 is the 12th annual Psychic Mediumship Retreat. Participants come from many regions of the USA as well as the world.  Australian 2015 program will be held February 28-March1  in Brisbane.  2015 dates in Norway, Sweden and the Philippines to be confirmed. Contact Steve directly at steveradhe@gmail.com for registration and details.

May 022013
 

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Over twenty years ago at Temple Heights Spiritualist Camp in Northport, Maine, I had a lady from Manhattan come to me for a private session.  I did not know at the time that she desperately wanted to make contact with her deceased mother. The session was quite emotionally stirring and tearful to say the least as her mother was able to communicate through me.  The daughter gratefully expressed how meaningful and healing the session had been for her.
Mediumship is not an exact science and it very much dependent upon the psychic atmosphere and conditions present which allow communications to take place. Since we are dealing with telepathic, mind to mind communication between personalities in the spirit world and the medium.  The medium must be properly attuned and receptive to the mental impressions conveyed by the spirit communicators. Mediumistic communication is a delicate procedure requiring energetic harmony between all parties involved in the process. If there is enthusiasm and positive energy the conditions will be favorable.  Any type of antagonism or negativity results in less than satisfactory conditions that affect the results.
Over the years thousands of spirit personalities have communicated through me.  As a medium I am an imperfect instrument and I am always striving to improve my abilities and strengthen my connections with the spirit world.  Many people, like the lady described above, come to a medium such as myself seeking direct contact with specific loved ones and others in the spirit world.  Such individuals may be emotionally distraught and genuinely seek closure and healing over the deep pain they are experiencing. Unfortunately, many mistakenly believe that a medium can call up any particular person in the spirit world, and are greatly disappointed when the one or two special loved ones do not come through during the session. This is understandable since the average person knows little about the mechanics of the process and what actually has to take place in the spirit world to make it happen.
The fact that someone is physically deceased does not instantly enable that individual to communicate through a medium.  Nor does it mean that they would even want to come through depending upon the circumstances.  What many do not realize is that anyone from the spirit world coming through a trained medium is being permitted to communicate by the higher spirit teachers and guardians, who orchestrate the session, and determine, who will come through and what information will be conveyed.
Popular television programs that feature mediumship in a sensationalistic manner, while amusing to watch, are entertainment first, and rarely educational regarding the mechanics of the process.   It is also important to remember that such shows are highly edited, resulting in a gross misconception of how mediumship works.  When people see a television medium such as John Edward bring through a recognizable spirit loved one, they automatically conclude that every session with a medium will result in the loved one they want to hear from coming through. They do not realize that every mediumship session is highly experimental, and if the conditions are not right, then the results will be affected.  They do not know that the loved one that they want to hear from may not be available or may be unable to communicate during that particular session.  No medium, no matter how much money they are paid for a session,  can guarantee contact with a specific spirit.  One can always ask, but the results are never guaranteed. The spirit world sets the agenda and determines the content of the session. The medium is only the instrument through which the information is conveyed.

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What are some of the main reasons that someone may not come through? A person newly arrived in the spirit world may need to work on themselves emotionally or spend a period adjusting to their new environment, or for personal reasons they may simply not desire to come through. There are so many factors involved and each case is a unique situation.  Since mediumship is a carefully planned process, orchestrated by the higher personalities in the spirit world, some spirit personalities, for various reasons, may not be permitted to come through, and for those allowed to communicate the process must be studied and rehearsed.
Often during a mediumship session, I have been aware of spirit personalities, not connected in any way with the recipient,  observing the proceedings for the purpose of learning about the mechanics of mediumistic communication. Undoubtedly the loved ones of such spirits would be consulting a medium at a future date and such study would help familiarize the spirit with the nature of the process.  I have, also, been informed by some, very talkative spirit personalities during sessions that they spent extra time rehearsing the process and practicing.  I have experienced that such communicators are generally able to convey information mentally much stronger and clearer than the communicator who has not made the effort to study and practice the process.  Of course, the best communicators in terms of easily coming through tend to be the personalities who were the most outgoing and good as communicators while living physically.

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It has been my experience that the more frequently a spirit personality comes through a medium, the easier it is for them to communicate in successive sessions.  Since mediumship is telepathic communication, dependent upon harmonious mental conditions, it is helpful if the spirit personality is on the same mental wave length as the medium.  If the spirit personality does not relate to the medium, or does not connect well with them on a personal level, the results may not be as dramatic or evidential as in the case of working through a medium possessing a similar mindset or compatibility. Once a medium is found who is able to effectively channel a particular loved one, then this medium should continue to be used as the results will be most favorable.
All spirit personalities that come through a trained medium are not only permitted to come through the medium, they also come through the spirit team, who function as intermediaries for the medium. A medium may  describe a grandmother in the spirit world and convey verbatim, the exact words and details she wants to get across to her loved ones in the physical world, but what most people do not realize is that the information given by the grandmother is being transmitted with the assistance of the mediums spirit team.  The spirit team is a group of highly developed specialists, who have trained and worked with their medium for a considerable period of time.  Their energetic and mental attunement with the medium is especially powerful and as a result they are able to assist the medium in the channeling process.

Running from one medium to another in hopes of contacting a deceased loved one is a waste of time and generally results in failure and disappointment. Frequently, people coming for a session are surprised when the communicating spirit is not the person they had hoped for, but a loved one they did not know well, or even an individual they did not like very much.  Remember the spirit world sets the agenda of the session and determines who will come through.  Sometimes the session is more for the person in the spirit world than the person recipient of the communication.
Can they communicate immediately or soon after physical passing? This question is frequently asked by many people investigating the possibility of working with a medium and, in my experience, it really depends upon the situation.  Generally, it is common for a recently passed individual to attempt to make contact with their loved ones in the physical world.  I have had people, who have passed over, come through a few hours after their physical death. Other individuals I know in the spirit world have never come through, and I am around mediumship all the time.  Usually, if the need is there for one or both parties, then attempts at communication will be made. I know for myself, with loved ones and others coming through, that generally those closest to me communicate through mediums, when I least expect it and am not even thinking about them.  They will communicate to me through a medium on the other side of the country, or through one of my students during an experimental class room exercise.  I personally do not seek contact with specific individuals in the spirit world, but when they do come through it is welcomed and appreciated.
For those desperately wanting to make contact with a loved one who has passed going to a medium is certainly a means of providing proof of life after death.  Learn about the mechanics of the process first. Know that if there is a genuine need the spirit world will try to provide.  Going to a medium expecting or demanding certain results is counter productive, as it inflicts damage upon the delicate psychic atmosphere necessary to achieve satisfactory results.  Most people do not realize that the attitudes and energy they bring to the session greatly affect what takes place. So often, when the recipient does not receive what they want out of the session, the medium is blamed.
The spirit world is all around us and communication with those who have passed over is possible with the right conditions.  If a particular spirit loved ones does not come through right away, there are likely good reasons for it.  Experiment with the spirit world on a regular basis. Besides consulting with mediums, learn how to be receptive to their love and influence.  The more we open up to the spirit world the easier it will be for them to communicate with us directly as well as through mediums. The easiest people for me to work with are other mediums. The reason for this is because mediums possess the right energy and attitudes that create the best possible conditions for telepathic communication between the two worlds.

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Feb 102013
 

Rv. Stephen Hermann Medium

Many people fail to realize when coming to a psychic medium for a session that they have much to do with creating the conditions necessary for obtaining the best possible results. The following are some pointers for making your session with a medium a rewarding experience.
  • Love and enthusiasm create a psychic atmosphere conducive to obtaining good results.
  • Be open to what comes through. The fact that a person has passed over does not necessarily mean that they are ready or able on their own to come through. People who expect or demand that things be done a certain way may actually ruin the atmosphere and make the process much more difficult.
  • It is important to be on time when consulting a medium. Rushing to the session or arriving late with a tense or harried state of mind will do little to assist the delicate process.
  • Preparation through prayer and meditation prior to the session is essential for the best results. Invite your spirit loved ones and guardians to be with you during the session.
  • Never “feed” the medium or provide information about yourself or people you want to contact in the spirit world. The best mediums never ask the people they are working with to questions such as “Is your mother in spirit?” or “Does anyone on this side of the room know someone who passed with the initial J?” The bottom line when going to a medium is tell them absolutely nothing. Let them tell you.
  • As you are part of the session your participation is essential. If you are unsure of what the medium is talking about, ask for further clarification without revealing information about yourself. A simple “yes” or “no” is sufficient. Don’t just sit there being confused.
  • When consulting a medium it is wise to tape record the session or at least take good notes for future reference. Often we may not recognize the people coming through, as they may not be the people we might expect to come through or, in many cases, even physically have known or been close to. This is especially true if we do not know our family tree well. Information not understood at the time of the session ought to be able to be validated.
  • Always approach spirit communication with an open, yet questioning mind. Never let yourself be gullible and believe everything purported to be channeled from the spirit world. People claim to channel ascended masters, space aliens, and even penguins. Besides the massive amount of fraudulence found within the field, there is a fine line between genuine mediumistic communication and the delusion of sincere people who cannot distinguish their own imagination from true psychic impressions. If it sounds like science fiction it probably is.

Highly acclaimed for his detailed and accurate mediumship, the Reverend Stephen Hermann is a world famous medium with extraordinary talent.  Based in Auckland, New Zealand,  Stephen travels extensively teaching and demonstrating spirit communication and spiritual healing. Contact him directly for in person or phone mediumship sessions at steveradhe@gmail.com