4 minute read
The Spirit of Things
by Samantha Duly
This month, I will be writing about choosing pathways. This is quite timely considering we have just entered into the New Year - and even moreso as it is also the start of a new decade.
To begin this topic, let us examine this time of year as a whole. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions that sometimes we do not keep. I wait until about the end of January or beginning of February to make decisions, to plan new ways and directions that I want to go in or implement. For example, I feel we can put too much pressure on ourselves when we are just ‘coming down’ from the festivities.
Christmas and the holiday period, especially around this time of year can be fraught with many difficulties, including family issues, monetary and relationship problems. So, if you want to make positive changes and choose new pathways this Supernal Magazine48
Choosing Pathways
year, be gentle on yourself and set yourself realistic goals/achievements.
When we first embark on our spiritual journey, there are so many different aspects to our path and not knowing which one to take can cause us confusion at times. Acquaintances, family and friends can give us ideas and suggestions, but really, we are the ones that need to decide where our path will take us.
Sitting with yourself in contemplation is a good start and maybe writing down a few headings, such as my direction in life, my personal development, my spiritual development, how do I want to be of service to humanity? What are the qualities that I can personally offer? Writing notes is a great start. Also, try just sitting in contemplation: this is your time and space to sit with your spirit and your soul.
Before we even embark on this spiritual journey called life, we have to work on ‘self’ and be in a good place on all levels, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. How can we help others if we have not helped ourselves in the first instance?
Some examples of choosing a pathway that is in line with your own personal spirituality and attributes and in keeping with my column they could be; meditation classes, yoga, spiritual healing including Reiki.
It could also include trance healing, spiritual development, psychic development, mediumistic development - this can
consist of mental mediumship, trance mediumship, and physical mediumship. After many years of study, practice, patience and perseverance on any of the above subjects, you may be in a position to teach others.
My pathway started firstly with studying Reiki gaining all three levels/certificates. In my second year of studying Reiki in 1999, I sat in a trance circle and a psychic development group with the late Robin Wimbow in Brighton, U.K. interestingly; I did not pursue trance mediumship. Mainly I feel it was because I did not want to ‘surrender’ my voice box to the spirit communicator. I had choked a few times, which scared me.
I found my ‘pathway’ later that year, after joining the SNU Church (Spiritualists National Union) also in Brighton, and embarked on mediumship courses and practising platform mediumship. I knew this was for me and that I had found my ‘chosen pathway’ after firstly doing my Reiki studies, trance mediumship and the separate psychic classes.
Through the Church, I then heard about the Arthur Findlay College in Stansted, Essex, London. The College offers many courses in psychic and mediumistic studies. I would say to anyone who is dedicated and committed to working for spirit, to at least experience one visit to the College as even being in the atmosphere will blow you away. Another point to include is spiritual education which can consist of joining a reputable Spiritualist Church. At a Church/ Centre, especially if it’s run as an SNU Centre, there will be lots of discussions on education. The SNU also has an international section, namely the SNUi (Spiritualists National Union international). After joining the latter, there are classes to access via the web in a classroom setting.
With regards to the SNU, which is based in the UK, upon joining you become a provisional member, then after a period of time, you become a full member. The Education side of the SNU offers many interesting online courses which you can purchase along with a tutor to assess and mark your essays. It’s a great start to one’s spiritual development on many levels, and you learn so much. To date, I have completed 118 essays and I am still learning! Good luck in choosing your pathway, but don’t forget it takes time!
Yours in Spirit, Samantha Duly
