Differences and Similarities
First, I must say that if you have any plans to go to Arthur Findlay
College, do not plan it as a time of rest. The schedule is grueling,
but worth it. During Lunch and dinnertime, (an hour and a half each),
there was plenty of time to rest, if that was what you chose to do, and
we did at times. On Thursday of the first week, Psychometry was to be
taught so I asked to be excused. I have done and taught psychometry
for many years and I thought I would benefit more with a rested mind
and body. Boy did I need that rest! Just to give you a little idea of
what each day was like at Stansted Hall here is the schedule we
followed.
My Trip to Arthur Findlay College
Stansted, England - Summer 2006
Part 2 of 4
Part 2 of 4
Every morning breakfast was served from 8 to 8:30 a.m. buffet style
with plenty of food. Too much food! After the first morning Patti
and I skipped breakfast for tea and biscuits in our room.
The first morning, and every morning thereafter, class started at 9:30a.m, which was always the full group in the Assembly Hall, before breaking up into smaller groups with our individual teachers. Our days were started with a half-hour meditation, led by a different teacher each day. These meditations were absolutely wonderful, especially for me, I am not use to being on the receiving end of the meditation. This practice gave us a good start to our busy day. Then the "teacher of the day" would give us an informative lecture or we would all participate in a group exercise. Many of the talks were of an inspirational nature. These talks were very inspiring and beneficial in understanding that Spiritualism and Mediumship come in many forms. Many of us may not communicate with spirit in the form of traditional "mediumship" but as inspirational speakers, lecturers, and leaders of the service, healers as well as teachers of philosophy, spirit communication and missionaries. Take what you do best and improve upon this gift. Just be the best you can be without competing with anyone but yourself. Some of the information given, I had already touched upon in my studies of Spiritualism, yet there were many thoughts that week that made me realize how to meld it all together.
We are then scheduled for break from 11-11:30 a.m. This was great as it gave us time to check out the store for any new arrivals of merchandise, which came in almost daily. (*Note: the store was open only when class was not in session).
At 11:30 a.m. we all traveled to our different assigned group areas. Each class was divided into smaller groups. This has been the practice at The College for some time and it works extremely well with the diversity of students. Each teacher has a specialty, and although we were all there for a similar reason, this breakdown happens for many reasons. Separating couples, friends and those who may have had a particular teacher in the past, gives each student more individualized teaching. Patti and I were separated for the first time in three days. It is a good thing too. My sides were starting to ache from laughing too much when we were together.
Lunch break was from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., which always gave us time for a little rest or walk. Promptly at 2:30 p.m. we were back with our smaller groups, until 4:00 p.m. tea break. At 4:30 p.m. we all met together in the Assembly Hall until 6:00 p.m. Again, each day at that time we would have a different teacher.
Dinner was at 6:00 p.m., my most favorite meal of the day, the deserts were the best, actually they were at all meals but dinner seemed to have more of them, and of course, I had 2 or 3 and poured the cream over everything. Do you think that had anything to do with the 5 pounds I put on in the two weeks we dined at Stansted Hall?
At 7:30 p.m. each evening we met as a full group in the Assembly Hall, again with a different teacher each evening. When the teachers were not teaching they were doing private readings. I had a "Spiritual Aura Reading" done on Monday by my personal teacher, which turned into an experiment later in the week. (*Note: more about this in another chapter, I will give you the information gathered in this experiment).
The first morning, and every morning thereafter, class started at 9:30a.m, which was always the full group in the Assembly Hall, before breaking up into smaller groups with our individual teachers. Our days were started with a half-hour meditation, led by a different teacher each day. These meditations were absolutely wonderful, especially for me, I am not use to being on the receiving end of the meditation. This practice gave us a good start to our busy day. Then the "teacher of the day" would give us an informative lecture or we would all participate in a group exercise. Many of the talks were of an inspirational nature. These talks were very inspiring and beneficial in understanding that Spiritualism and Mediumship come in many forms. Many of us may not communicate with spirit in the form of traditional "mediumship" but as inspirational speakers, lecturers, and leaders of the service, healers as well as teachers of philosophy, spirit communication and missionaries. Take what you do best and improve upon this gift. Just be the best you can be without competing with anyone but yourself. Some of the information given, I had already touched upon in my studies of Spiritualism, yet there were many thoughts that week that made me realize how to meld it all together.
We are then scheduled for break from 11-11:30 a.m. This was great as it gave us time to check out the store for any new arrivals of merchandise, which came in almost daily. (*Note: the store was open only when class was not in session).
At 11:30 a.m. we all traveled to our different assigned group areas. Each class was divided into smaller groups. This has been the practice at The College for some time and it works extremely well with the diversity of students. Each teacher has a specialty, and although we were all there for a similar reason, this breakdown happens for many reasons. Separating couples, friends and those who may have had a particular teacher in the past, gives each student more individualized teaching. Patti and I were separated for the first time in three days. It is a good thing too. My sides were starting to ache from laughing too much when we were together.
Lunch break was from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., which always gave us time for a little rest or walk. Promptly at 2:30 p.m. we were back with our smaller groups, until 4:00 p.m. tea break. At 4:30 p.m. we all met together in the Assembly Hall until 6:00 p.m. Again, each day at that time we would have a different teacher.
Dinner was at 6:00 p.m., my most favorite meal of the day, the deserts were the best, actually they were at all meals but dinner seemed to have more of them, and of course, I had 2 or 3 and poured the cream over everything. Do you think that had anything to do with the 5 pounds I put on in the two weeks we dined at Stansted Hall?
At 7:30 p.m. each evening we met as a full group in the Assembly Hall, again with a different teacher each evening. When the teachers were not teaching they were doing private readings. I had a "Spiritual Aura Reading" done on Monday by my personal teacher, which turned into an experiment later in the week. (*Note: more about this in another chapter, I will give you the information gathered in this experiment).
Patti at back entrance to the Stansted Hall Office.
Side view of "Assembly Hall" box similar to ours.
Sunday was "Service Night" and we all attended. We had heard so much
about English mediums and how they worked but this first Sunday was a
great disappointment to us both. Little did we know what we were in
for when we attended the Wednesday, "Message Only" service. This is
when our teachers would be giving the demonstration. Many of the
people from the Village of Mansfield attend this service. As it was
said to me at Stansted Hall, by one of my Scottish classmates, "There
was nary a seat in the house".
In speaking to the local people, I found that Spiritualism is well received and understood in the United Kingdom, although many do not practice it as a religion. On that Wednesday evening Patti and I marveled at the accuracy of our teachers. The demonstration was marvelous. Much like what many of us witnessed at the Sunday service at the NSAC 2006 Convention when our NSAC Board took to the podium. (*Note: my belief is all NSAC certified mediums should strive for this type of demonstration").
On Wednesday evening these mediums worked hard to "prove the continuity of life". (I will explain the way mediums in the United Kingdom and Scotland work in the next chapter). I asked my teachers why there was such a difference in the proof that they produced and the lack of proof that made the Sunday service seem more like a "psychic" demonstration, their answer was a very common sense one. All three of them had the same thought pattern on this: "When someone concentrates their energies in a certain area, such as mediumship they should strive to keep their focus in that direction. The mediums giving messages on the Sunday service were also teaching and studying Native American Culture, this was thought to take away from their striving to "prove continuity of life". This made a lot of sense to me, just as a doctor would specialize in a certain area.
This was also the consensus the following week with our trance teachers. The trance workers specializing in healing did not give messages. Those that were trance mediums did gallery readings the following week. Trance of any kind is NOT practiced on at the podium during a religious service in the United Kingdom. Private Sessions of Trance Healing is very accepted in England and amazing healings have been documented at the Spiritualists National Union, "SNU".
In speaking to the local people, I found that Spiritualism is well received and understood in the United Kingdom, although many do not practice it as a religion. On that Wednesday evening Patti and I marveled at the accuracy of our teachers. The demonstration was marvelous. Much like what many of us witnessed at the Sunday service at the NSAC 2006 Convention when our NSAC Board took to the podium. (*Note: my belief is all NSAC certified mediums should strive for this type of demonstration").
On Wednesday evening these mediums worked hard to "prove the continuity of life". (I will explain the way mediums in the United Kingdom and Scotland work in the next chapter). I asked my teachers why there was such a difference in the proof that they produced and the lack of proof that made the Sunday service seem more like a "psychic" demonstration, their answer was a very common sense one. All three of them had the same thought pattern on this: "When someone concentrates their energies in a certain area, such as mediumship they should strive to keep their focus in that direction. The mediums giving messages on the Sunday service were also teaching and studying Native American Culture, this was thought to take away from their striving to "prove continuity of life". This made a lot of sense to me, just as a doctor would specialize in a certain area.
This was also the consensus the following week with our trance teachers. The trance workers specializing in healing did not give messages. Those that were trance mediums did gallery readings the following week. Trance of any kind is NOT practiced on at the podium during a religious service in the United Kingdom. Private Sessions of Trance Healing is very accepted in England and amazing healings have been documented at the Spiritualists National Union, "SNU".
