Trance Phenomena
Five "Phenomenal Evidence Reports' were sent to this department last
month regarding a trance demonstration by Reverend B. Ann Gehman of the
Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC in Falls Church, Virginia.
The date of the event was March 20, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. to about 9:30
p.m. EST. All four of the "Reports" contained some or all of the
following information pertaining to the experience. Quotes of
individuals will be below, there has been very little but some editing
for privacy reasons grammar only.
Type of Phenomena and Description of Event
"Transfiguration Séance". A full size cabinet made of wood and built by William Barth was assembled in full view of gathering observers, made up of about 25 people. Rev. Gehman described the process before she began and then sat within the box and draped herself with a black cloth. Two red lights illuminated her face in the darkened room. A short time later, at the request of her guide "Sally'", one was extinguished. Rev. Gehman also arranged "batteries" of 2 trusted healers on each side of her. For over an hour a succession of recognizable faces was seen every few minutes.
Type of Phenomena and Description of Event
"Transfiguration Séance". A full size cabinet made of wood and built by William Barth was assembled in full view of gathering observers, made up of about 25 people. Rev. Gehman described the process before she began and then sat within the box and draped herself with a black cloth. Two red lights illuminated her face in the darkened room. A short time later, at the request of her guide "Sally'", one was extinguished. Rev. Gehman also arranged "batteries" of 2 trusted healers on each side of her. For over an hour a succession of recognizable faces was seen every few minutes.
Personal Comments of Witnesses
Steven J. Vogel, Secretary, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"Initially, Rev. B. Ann Gehman's guide, Sally, brought through several very evidential mental mediumship messages for Sally C. and Pricilla B., who were sitting next to the cabinet as batteries and were followed by an intense cascade of heavily overshadowed faces, at least a good half-dozen of whom were recognizable by Shelly W., Sally C, Pricilla B., and a non-CSE woman recognized her mother and brother Tommy who had been killed in a car accident, most saw his face appear then disappear, repeatedly".
(We later we were told how he passed in an automobile accident).
"These were followed by some trance words of encouragement from guide "Sally", including a request to sit again to receive even better phenomena. All the while there were little sparkles of light flashing in the cabinet and swirls of whitish vapors". "Having witnessed similar demonstrations in Stansted, England, at ISF and by Rev. Richard Schoeller, I was very pleased that Rev. Gehman produced such a good and positive effect, especially considering most of us had not sat together before for physical mediumship and that we were able to blend so quickly and support the production of phenomena".
Susan H. Schreider from the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"Rev. Ann Gehman went into trance in a large cabinet. A group of 25 sang to raise the vibration. Initially there were 2 red lights on her face. At Anne's direction the upper light was turned off. Then the show took off!" "For a long time, about 1 hour, there was a succession of faces, one after the other, Asian, Black, male and female. I recognized Mao Tse-dung, Chou En-Lai, Richard Prior and Hemmingway. There were many more. It was truly a phenomenal experience". "The cabinet was empty, I watched it being built. There is not doubt in my mind about the veracity of the transfiguration. One face after another and each was quite different, race, gender, age and hair".
Sheila Cash, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"The medium was the Rev. Ann Gehman. I witnessed a great many faces of different sex, age and characteristic features passing over her face, though I could not name any that I knew personally. More strikingly evidential was that for the last 30 - 45 minutes, I saw large eyes super-imposed over her closed eyelids. The eyes changed shape and color, but had life in them or a type of depth, movement, and sparkle as well as animation. Sometimes the eyes scanned back and forth across the room, other times they would focus on someone who was making a comment. Yet other times they would have a very curious expression searching the faces and even the walls and ceiling of the building".
"Rev. Gehman explained how that type of session would go and used a black cabinet with black cloth inside. She put lavender essential oil, and a small bowl of sea salt inside the cabinet. All those in the building could freely see the cabinet and could circulate around it without any restrictions. I did not count the number of people that were there but it seemed to be 20 to 30. I knew about half of the participants. I knew some of the people who were describing what they saw in turn and I know them to be people of integrity. This was fascinating to witness"!
William R. Barth, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"Rev. Anne Gehman went into trance in a full sized cabinet made of wood. A group of about 25 people sat in two circular rows in front of her. Once the transfiguration was in full swing a new face could be seen every few seconds. As this was my first transfiguration, I had a hard time believing faces could change so rapidly. After about 1 hour Rev. Gehman said she would be ending soon. At that time under the same lighting conditions the changes to her face stopped and her facial characteristics remained very stable. It was at that time that I knew that my eyes were NOT playing tricks on me and a series of rapid transfigurations had occurred".
"I, William Barth, built the cabinet; the observers prepared the cabinet and observed the event at close range under a red light".
Pricilla Baker, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"My mother's face appeared over Ann Gehman's face. I also received a message from the spirit that came through using Ann's mouth but not with Ann's voice. My mother has a peculiar way of moving the muscles around her mouth. I have never seen anyone else's face make those same movements as they appeared on Ann's face."
"I received an oral message that was witnessed by all at this demonstration. My husband was mentioned, by name, and his current very serious medical condition commented on."
Department Comments:
We at the Department of Phenomenal Evidence would like to thank the members of The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in Falls Church, Virginia for taking the time to complete and submit the "Phenomenal Evidence Report" form. By reporting phenomenal evidence to this department, we can provide a historic account of our connections with spirit and share these experiences with others."
Steven J. Vogel, Secretary, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"Initially, Rev. B. Ann Gehman's guide, Sally, brought through several very evidential mental mediumship messages for Sally C. and Pricilla B., who were sitting next to the cabinet as batteries and were followed by an intense cascade of heavily overshadowed faces, at least a good half-dozen of whom were recognizable by Shelly W., Sally C, Pricilla B., and a non-CSE woman recognized her mother and brother Tommy who had been killed in a car accident, most saw his face appear then disappear, repeatedly".
(We later we were told how he passed in an automobile accident).
"These were followed by some trance words of encouragement from guide "Sally", including a request to sit again to receive even better phenomena. All the while there were little sparkles of light flashing in the cabinet and swirls of whitish vapors". "Having witnessed similar demonstrations in Stansted, England, at ISF and by Rev. Richard Schoeller, I was very pleased that Rev. Gehman produced such a good and positive effect, especially considering most of us had not sat together before for physical mediumship and that we were able to blend so quickly and support the production of phenomena".
Susan H. Schreider from the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"Rev. Ann Gehman went into trance in a large cabinet. A group of 25 sang to raise the vibration. Initially there were 2 red lights on her face. At Anne's direction the upper light was turned off. Then the show took off!" "For a long time, about 1 hour, there was a succession of faces, one after the other, Asian, Black, male and female. I recognized Mao Tse-dung, Chou En-Lai, Richard Prior and Hemmingway. There were many more. It was truly a phenomenal experience". "The cabinet was empty, I watched it being built. There is not doubt in my mind about the veracity of the transfiguration. One face after another and each was quite different, race, gender, age and hair".
Sheila Cash, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"The medium was the Rev. Ann Gehman. I witnessed a great many faces of different sex, age and characteristic features passing over her face, though I could not name any that I knew personally. More strikingly evidential was that for the last 30 - 45 minutes, I saw large eyes super-imposed over her closed eyelids. The eyes changed shape and color, but had life in them or a type of depth, movement, and sparkle as well as animation. Sometimes the eyes scanned back and forth across the room, other times they would focus on someone who was making a comment. Yet other times they would have a very curious expression searching the faces and even the walls and ceiling of the building".
"Rev. Gehman explained how that type of session would go and used a black cabinet with black cloth inside. She put lavender essential oil, and a small bowl of sea salt inside the cabinet. All those in the building could freely see the cabinet and could circulate around it without any restrictions. I did not count the number of people that were there but it seemed to be 20 to 30. I knew about half of the participants. I knew some of the people who were describing what they saw in turn and I know them to be people of integrity. This was fascinating to witness"!
William R. Barth, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"Rev. Anne Gehman went into trance in a full sized cabinet made of wood. A group of about 25 people sat in two circular rows in front of her. Once the transfiguration was in full swing a new face could be seen every few seconds. As this was my first transfiguration, I had a hard time believing faces could change so rapidly. After about 1 hour Rev. Gehman said she would be ending soon. At that time under the same lighting conditions the changes to her face stopped and her facial characteristics remained very stable. It was at that time that I knew that my eyes were NOT playing tricks on me and a series of rapid transfigurations had occurred".
"I, William Barth, built the cabinet; the observers prepared the cabinet and observed the event at close range under a red light".
Pricilla Baker, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC, Virginia
"My mother's face appeared over Ann Gehman's face. I also received a message from the spirit that came through using Ann's mouth but not with Ann's voice. My mother has a peculiar way of moving the muscles around her mouth. I have never seen anyone else's face make those same movements as they appeared on Ann's face."
"I received an oral message that was witnessed by all at this demonstration. My husband was mentioned, by name, and his current very serious medical condition commented on."
Department Comments:
We at the Department of Phenomenal Evidence would like to thank the members of The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in Falls Church, Virginia for taking the time to complete and submit the "Phenomenal Evidence Report" form. By reporting phenomenal evidence to this department, we can provide a historic account of our connections with spirit and share these experiences with others."
