In ‘Seances, Spirits, and 12 Steps,’  http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/seances-spirits-and-12-steps/ we examined the spiritualism of Alcoholics Anonymous cofounders Bill Wilson and, to a lesser extent, Dr. Bob Smith. We observed that Bill Wilson, the man who wrote the 12 Steps, was involved in psychic activity for decades. While some may attempt to claim Wilson as Christian or insist he was used by Jesus Christ, his spiritual service was in reality to the god of this world.[1] He was a man who cared deeply about his fellow alcoholics, but he was never a Christian.   

Why is this important? Alcoholics Anonymous has been successfully but incorrectly portrayed as Christian in origin. Although it is clear from Scripture alone that we are to have nothing to do with strange spiritual systems (2 Cor. 6:14-17), the misinformation about A.A.’s alleged Biblical roots has convinced many that Christians could and should attend 12 Step groups.

Biographer Robert Thomsen knew Bill Wilson personally. There are numerous biographies now, and it is significant that Thomsen’s biography of Bill W. was the very first.

In the book, ‘Bill W.,’ Thomsen takes us to Wilson’s life before Alcoholics Anonymous existed. To the time when Bill Wilson had been hospitalized yet again for his alcoholism. An amazing thing occurred in his hospital room. A white light, a sense of a Presence, and Wilson never drank again. Wilson describes this Presence as “…the great reality. The God of the preachers.” (PASS IT ON, pg. 121))

But was it? The God of the Christians? Well, no. For years Wilson had been exposed to the Swedenborgianism of his wife and her family. This religion loves the Bible–but rejects Christ as Savior. Emanuel Swedenborg, whose interpretation of the Bible is the basis for the religion, believed he spoke with all manner of spirits and deceased beings from Martin Luther to Aristotle to the Apostles. 

While Wilson was not a Swedenborgian per se, he was very much influenced by Swedenborg’s spiritualistic accounts, and by his rejection of a Biblical, fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible. Wilson also learned (?) through New Thought advocate Emmet Fox, some years later, that the Bible was not as the fundamentalist Christians interpreted it. 

It is understandable if a Christian, upon reading this quote about “The God of the preachers” would assume Bill was referring to the Biblical God. Wilson never accepted Christ.

Wilson’s own wife Lois had a grandfather who was a Swedenborgian preacher. Swedenborgians believe, among other things, that no religion has an exclusive path to salvation.

Here, in the first biography of Bill Wilson, Thomsen describes the “god” Bill Wilson experienced: “There could be no doubt of ultimate order in the universe, the cosmos was not dead matter, but a part of the living Presence, just as he was part of it. Now, in place of the light, the exaltation, he was filled with a peace such as he had never known. He had heard of men who’d tried to open the universe to themselves; he had opened himself to the universe. He had heard men say there was a bit of God in everyone, but this feeling that he was a part of God, himself a living part of the higher power, was a new and revolutionary feeling.” (Bill W., by Robert Thomsen, pg.223, Bold mine)  

This is panentheism.

From this point on Wilson was a sober man, and some months later cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous. Again, there is no doubt Wilson and A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob Smith were trying to help alcoholics. But A.A. has served to point many away from the God of the Bible.

Something rarely recognized, but very profound, happens to people in A.A. It is as if great, invisible chains are placed on those looking for help. For, once in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Christians and nonbelievers are taught that sobriety is only possible through the 12 Step religion. 

There are other invisible chains as well. For thousands of Christians, Alcoholics Anonymous has become an idol.  Many believers literally have more faith in A.A. and the 12 Steps than in Jesus Christ.

Have Christians ever considered—truly examined—the spiritual message of Alcoholics Anonymous? People are taught it is acceptable to believe in something, anything, some higher power to help one overcome alcoholism. By no means does this have to be Jesus. If someone wants to believe in Allah, fine. An unnamed spirit, fine. Yet Christians in A.A. are expected to pray and worship with those who exalt other gods. Let’s read what Paul states about this in Galatians 1:6-8:

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-8)

Paul is not done. This man, who was changed so dramatically by the same God who frees alcoholics, continues:

“As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:9)

The power and the horror of the A.A. mythology is the belief that it alone can help. Our churches are full of people who have been delivered by Christ, and who know they have no need of A.A. or the 12 Steps. The ministry Setting Captives Free[3], for example, is a Biblical approach, very effective, and can be found online.

God’s people have the right—and the obligation—to understand A.A.’s origin is a mixture of anti-Biblical elements. Our erroneous view of A.A’s cofounders, promoted so aggressively by certain Christian authors, has actually done much damage to the Body of Christ. They should not be celebrated or portrayed as Christians, but rather recognized as men who were used to spread a spiritual darkness that has overtaken many.

As covered elsewhere, the official A.A. biography of Bill Wilson, ‘PASS IT ON,’ documents many of Wilson’s forays into Biblically forbidden activities such as spiritualism. These were so frequent he describes the following as “the fairly usual experience.”[4] He writes:

“The ouija board got moving in earnest. What followed was the fairly usual experience—it was a strange mélange of Aristotle, St. Francis, diverse archangels with odd names, deceased friends—some in purgatory and others doing nicely, thank you! There were malign and mischievious ones of all descriptions, telling of vices quite beyond my ken, even as former alcoholics. Then, the seemingly virtuous entities would elbow them out with messages of comfort, information, advice—and sometimes just sheer nonsense.”[5]  

A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob Smith, portrayed as a devout, Bible believing Christian in numerous books by author and A.A. apologist Dick B. and others, was also committed to these prohibited activities.

According to early A.A. member Tom Powers, “Now these people, Bill and Dr. Bob, believed vigorously and aggressively. They were working away at the spiritualism; it wasn’t just a hobby.”[6] No one would know this better than Tom Powers. He participated in many of these psychic incidents alongside the A.A. cofounders.

“As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My Face against that person and will cut him off from his people. You shall consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 20:6-7)

Dr. Bob, while a consistent Bible reader, did not interpret the Bible as the Word of God. Rather was he more in line with the heretical New Thought interpretation of Emmet Fox.[7] This has been a source of confusion for many who have wondered about the spiritual origin of Alcoholics Anonymous.

When someone calls the A.A. cofounders Christian, let them know Dr.Bob and Bill Wilson used a heretical book by Emmet Fox, a book that denies the Salvation of Christ, as an A.A. teaching tool. The book is deceptively titled, ‘The Sermon On The Mount.’[8]

Author Emmet Fox writes, “The ‘Plan of Salvation’ which figured so prominently in the evangelical sermons of a past generation is as completely unknown to the Bible as it is to the Koran.” [9]

No believer would share such heresy with hurting alcoholics—but the A.A. cofounders did. Dr. Bob loved this book.

Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob looked to the Bible for general principles. They were not saved and sanctified individuals hungry for God’s Holy Word. This is why they could so easily violate His prohibitions about communication with the dead.

According to author Susan Cheever, Dr. Bob “began every morning with meditation and prayer and twenty minutes of Bible study. Like Bill, Bob believed in paranormal possibility, and the two men spent time ‘spooking,’ invoking spirits of the dead.”[10] 

Because the Body of Christ continues to be flooded with literature claiming A.A. is Christian in origin, it is necessary to politely but strongly correct Dick B., author ‘The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous,’ The Good Book and the Big Book: AA’s Roots in the Bible,’ and many others.

A prolific writer, Dick B. has his fans. On his website under ‘Endorsements,’ Dick B. had listed, for quite some time, an enthusiastic message from…Robert Schuller.

Celebrate Recovery, the well known “Christ centered” 12 Step group, was founded in Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church. Celebrate Recovery is full of sincere people who are doing the best they can with the system given to them by those they trust. But, again, are the 12 Steps intended to help the church–or to serve as a decoy?

In his book, ‘The Truth War,’ the 12 Steps are addressed by John MacArthur. He writes, “Others would formally affirm Christ’s sovereignty and spiritual headship over the church, but they resist His rule in practice. To cite just one instance of how this is done, many churches have set various forms of human psychology, self-help therapy, and the idea of ‘recovery’ in place of the Bible’s teaching about sin and sanctification.” …”So wherever the work of God’s Word is being replaced with twelve-step programs and other substitutes, Christ’s headship over the church is being denied in practice.” (pg.159)

Dick B.’s belief is that use of the Bible, the A.A. cofounders’ involvement with the allegedly “Christian” Oxford Group, and Anne Smith’s “Quiet Time” and “Guidance” demonstrate some of the Christian beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous. As shall be pointed out in future articles, these incorrect claims have served to link the Body of Christ with the New Age fundamentalism of A.A’s 12 Step religion.

One of the most misleading factors in the origin of Alcoholics Anonymous is the Oxford Group. Founded by Frank Buchman, the Oxford Group was a pseudo-Christian movement that eventually became the MRA (Moral ReArmament), an organization that reached out to all faiths. But, in truth, this is also what the Oxford Group did. 

Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith both attended Oxford Group meetings before they were introduced to one another. The great preacher H.A. Ironside said of the Oxford Group:

“It appeals to people who reject the inspiration of [the Bible] as well to those who profess to believe it; it appeals to people who deny the Deity of Christ as well as to those who acknowledge it; to those who deny the eternal punishment of sin as well as those who believe in it. Here in our city it is openly endorsed by the Swedenborgians and by leaders of the Unitarians, as well as by a number who belong to orthodox churches. But it is silent about the blood of Christ.”[11] In other words, it was very much a forerunner of Alcoholics Anonymous. And equally deceptive.

Well, wait a minute, bottom line, don’t people get sober in Alcoholics Anonymous? Not as often as you might think. A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson himself tried to find alternatives for those for whom A.A. was not effective. Including, unfortunately, LSD.[2] The good news, the secret that should not be a secret, is that Christ has been delivering people all along.

Some years ago Alcoholics Anonymous conducted a triennialsurvey and found that only five percent of the people still attended meetings one year after initial attendance. I don’t think A.A. has done any research since, because that is not an impressive success rate, and doesn’t speak very highly of its effectiveness. If you know of an updated study, please send it this way.  

In the coming weeks we shall be examining the Oxford Group and Anne Smith’s role and understanding of “guidance.” We will do our best to confront and correct false information and misunderstandings. With so many books about A.A.’s supposed Christian beginnings in circulation, only the Lord God can straighten this mess out. Only He can expose darkness to the Light.

Yes and Amen.

Endnotes:

1.     Alcoholics Anonymous Cofounders Were Not Christians http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3537/Brannon-Howse/John-Lanagan

2.     PASS IT ON,        Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. pg.369-70

3.     http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/home/our_courses.php

4.     PASS IT ON, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., pg. 278

5.     Ibid., pg. 278

6.     Ibid., pg.280

7.     http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3537/Brannon-Howse/John-Lanagan

8.     Emmet Fox, The Sermon On The Mount

9.     Ibid., pg. 5-6

10. Susan Cheever, My Name Is Bill, pg. 197

11. http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-Ironside.html H.A. Ironside, The Oxford Group Movement: Is It Scriptural?

Estoy segura que para muchos de vosotros es una magnífica noticia. Hace años que esperábamos en España la distribución de dos de las obras claves en la filmografía de Kiyoshi Kurosawa: Loft (2005) y Séance (2000), ambas consideradas continuacines de la magistral estela de terror iniciada con Cure (1997). Hace unos meses solo era un sueño, pero hoy ya puedo anunciaros a todos los incondicionales fans del prestigioso director japonés que es una realidad: desde esta misma semana ya están disponibles en DVD ambas obras y todo gracias al acuerdo al que ha sido capaz de llegar Mediatres Estudio con la productora coreana Mirovisión.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa

No confundir, por favor, con el legendario Akira Kurosawa (ambos solo coinciden en el apellido). Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Kobe, 1955) es, desde que en 1997 su película Cure (1997) circulara por el circuito de festivales, uno de los directores orientales de moda. Este director nipón ha sido protagonista en los últimos años de retrospectivas y homenajes que llevan desde su propio continente asiático (Hong Kong) al continente americano (L.A., Nueva York, Toronto), pasando por Europa (París, Sitges por partida doble), además de convertirse en otro más de los fijos en los festivales de cine grandes (Venecia, Cannes, Berlín, Toronto).

Sus películas llegan a nuestras manos como cuentagotas. Y eso lo demuestra el tiempo que hemos tenido que esperar para que fuesen distribuidas en nuestro país películas tan significativas como Loft y Séance. Ambas magníficos ejemplos del género que tanto ha hecho triunfar a Kurosawa: el TERROR.

Loft está protagonizada por Etsushi Toyokawa (Hula Girls) y Miki Nakatani (Ring), y cuenta la historia de Reiko, una escritora que se traslada a una casa en las afueras en la que espera poder acabar la novela romántica que le ha encargado su editor. En su nuevo hogar se pondrá en contacto con un profesor de arqueología, una momia milenaria y toda suerte de enigmáticos sucesos. Congelando todavía más su tempo habitual, Kurosawa vuelve a penetrar en los terrores de la existencia y la incertidumbre que crea la muerte con un thriller sobrenatural, abrupto y fragmentado, que resume buena parte de sus ambiciones artísticas y narrativas.

Por su parte, Séance está protagonizada por Koji Yakusho (Cure), actor fetiche de Kurosawa, y nos presenta a Koji y Junco, un matrimonio en apariencia normal; él es técnico de sonido, y ella… tiene poderes extrasensoriales. Un día en que Koji va al bosque a grabar unos sonidos, una niña que huye de un secuestrador se esconde en su maleta sin que él se de cuenta. La policía acude a Junco para que use sus poderes para descubrir dónde está la niña, pero Junco presiente que la niña se encuentra en el maletín, en su propia casa, así que decide ocultarlo temiendo que les acusen a ellos por el secuestro. No obstante, la ambición de Junco la llevará a idear un plan maquiavélico para distraer a la policía y atribuirse el descubrimiento del paradero de la niña sin que ellos se vean involucrados en el crimen.

I worked a million hours today and I am soooo super tired.  I tickled the ivories (spelling?!) a bit and sang my song in my head a bunch.  Still working it out.  After the holiday this week, it is time to call Raven and set up a lesson with her.  Cool.  And RickEy and I are meeting up twice this week.  We both agree that we have to focus now on one song at a time and get them completed.  I’m sure I mentioned this the other day…..possibly a little reminder for myself.

I am doing my seance tomorrow night…….can’t believe it is here already.

Comme récemment promis, voici le retour des tenues du jour! Je manque relativement de temps pour élaborer des tenues vraiment intéressantes et les photographier, mais je vais essayer de maintenir un rythme régulier. Celle-ci était ma préférée parmi les trois tenues du jour, puisque j’ai participé à une longue séance photo sur “les pin-ups de Nancy” pour un tout nouveau magazine local intitulé “Les Echos de la Mode”! Je vous tiendrai au courant de sa sortie, en attendant voici donc ladite tenue, et en bonus le petit reportage que des journalistes de FR3 ont réalisé au débotté en nous croisant par hasard dans les rues de Nancy!

Une broche camée sur l'une de mes robes préférées, avec mon bibi vintage préféré, très "espionne française WWII"! Je portais également des gants en dentelle chantilly écrue lors du shooting, ainsi que les Lady Page oxblood.

Je profite également de cet article pour vous signaler la mise en vente très prochaine de bibis anciens et de quelques vêtements neufs – bustier Zara, robes, jupes, combis, peut-être même (encore) des chaussures : le tri n’est pas terminé mais il y aura de tout! Stay tuned

]]> http://ajshadowcat08.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/tvd-1x09-damons-diabolical-plan-finally-revealed/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:54:06 +0000 BoOgwaK http://ajshadowcat08.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/tvd-1x09-damons-diabolical-plan-finally-revealed/ http://cubaout.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/michael-jackson-this-is-it-hd/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:55:35 +0000 cubaout http://cubaout.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/michael-jackson-this-is-it-hd/ http://blankascanvas.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/jacko-seance-and-other-nutters/ Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:45:28 +0000 blankascanvas http://blankascanvas.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/jacko-seance-and-other-nutters/

Spot The Nutter

Michael Jackson – The Live Seance

Micheal Jackson: The Live Seance

Porcupine Tree - The Incident

VALANCES OF THE DIALECTIC – FREDRIC JAMESON

NEW FROM VERSO

VALENCES OF THE DIALECTIC

BY FREDRIC JAMESON

After half a century exploring dialectical thought, renowned cultural critic Fredric Jameson presents a comprehensive study of a misunderstood yet vital strain in Western philosophy.

The dialectic, the concept of the evolution of an idea through conflicts arising from its inherent contradictions, transformed two centuries of Western philosophy. To Hegel, who dominated nineteenth-century thought, it was a metaphysical system. In the work of Marx, the dialectic became a tool for materialist historical analysis. More recently, the dialectic has come under attack from poststructuralist thinkers such as Deleuze or Laclau and Mouffe.

Jameson brings a theoretical scrutiny to bear on the questions that have arisen in the history of this philosophical tradition, contextualizing the debate in terms of commodification and globalization, and with reference to thinkers such as Rousseau, Lukács, Heidegger, Sartre, Derrida, and Althusser.

Through rigorous examination, Valences of the Dialectic charts a movement toward the innovation of a “spatial” dialectic. Jameson presents a new synthesis of thought that revitalizes dialectical thinking for the twenty-first century.

http://www.amazon.com/Valences-Dialectic-Fredric-Jameson/dp/185984877X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257803840&sr=1-1

Hardback • $49.95 • ISBN 978-1-84467-877-7 • 640 pages
November 2009
Available now in good bookstores and online
Distributed by W.W. Norton: tel. 1800 233 4830
Please submit desk copy requests to clara@versobooks.com

“Fredric Jameson is America’s leading Marxist critic. A prodigiously energetic thinker whose writings sweep majestically from Sophocles to science fiction … One of the great writers of our times, not just one of the most formidably gifted critics and cultural theorists” – Terry Eagleton
“Probably the most important cultural critic writing in English today … It can truly be said that nothing cultural is alien to him.” – Colin MacCabe

FREDRIC JAMESON is the Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature at Duke University. His many books include Postmodernism, Brecht and Method, Late Marxism, The Cultural Turn, A Singular Modernity, The Modernist
Papers, Archaeologies of the Future, and The Ideologies of Theory. He was a recipient of the 2008 Holberg International Memorial Prize.

 Links:
   1. http://www.amazon.com/Modernist-Papers-Fredric-Jameson/dp/1844670961/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257800242&sr=1-1
   2. http://www.amazon.com/Modernist-Papers-Fredric-Jameson/dp/1844670961/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257800242&sr=1-1
   3. http://www.amazon.com/Modernist-Papers-Fredric-Jameson/dp/1844670961/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257800242&sr=1-1
   4. http://www.amazon.com/Archaeologies-Future-Desire-Science-Fictions/dp/1844675386/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257805858&sr=1-2

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski

The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk

What happens when you give some very creative brothers and local, Memphis, emcees too much idle time. No not a freestyle session but a short film that explores the creative, hilarious, and innovative minds of these brothers. The video was directed by Marcellous Lovelace which stars Kevin “Max Ptah” Youngblood, Jason “Da Hater” Harris, Gavin “Cosmo” Harvey, & Sean “Seance” Edwards. The plot of this film is that in a warehouse on a cold winters night workers find multiple ways to settle turmoil while on the job. I detailed analogy of conflict resolution with a twist. Please watch this film and enjoy!!!

Tools ‹ Seaspirit’s Blog — WordPress.

Michael Jackson’s ghost is  stealing the spotlight from:

Janet Jackson has just announced that she will be interviewed on ABC News on Nov. 18, where she will discuss the death of her brother, Michael. Unfortunately for Janet, she has been usurped by her deceased sibling, who is set to “appear” live on British television this Friday (Nov. 6) in a broadcast of a séance that will attempt to summon his spirit.

Michael Jackson: The Live Séance will be shown on Sky1 in the U.K., and the hour-long show promises to give fans a chance “to connect with their hero one last time.” According to Sky1 publicist Kirsty Howell, British psychic Derek Acorah will attempt to capitalize on Michael’s death…or, as she puts it, contact Michael’s spirit, “on an island … in a secret location familiar to Jackson.”

Oh, the idiocy! But wait. I’m confused. If Michael Jackson isn’t going anywhere, how can they promise it’ll be the “last time” fans will have a chance to communicate with him. Michael Jackson is sending me a message right now in fact and he says that’s just a cheap marketing ploy. I agree, MJ. What’s that, MJ? You don’t expect the “psychic” to say anything that isn’t either already out there in the public domain about you or any new information that is falsifiable? I think you’re right. Your lucky numbers are 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42.

“A.A.’s official biography indicates Bill Wilson received the details of the 12 Steps through spirit dictation. Does anyone see a simple, idolatrous problem here?” writes T.A. McMahon of The Berean Call.

McMahon then addresses the well meaning effort to offer “Christ centered” 12 Step support groups.  “But what about evangelicals just using the methodology the familiar spirit gave to Bill Wilson? Simple again: God condemns the source, and the approach is contrary to the way He wants to transform our lives. Furthermore, why turn to such a spiritually toxic system? Where are the evangelical pastors’ heads in this?”

Here is a considerably darker, more accurate origin to the 12 Steps than what you may have heard. Seances, spirits, and 12 Steps: http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/seances-spirits-and-12-steps-3/

It is November 2nd, and I would like to say that this year’s Halloween was absolutely spectacular..to say the least.

A Recap

One of the best sights of the night was for SURE a guy dressed as a pig with H1N1 written on him. He got praised all night. We later ran into a waving pope, who I then realized was wearing high heels! This is when we decided that gay bars are the most awesome ones around. They have the BEST music, the most amazing drag queens and an awesome vibe where you don’t have to worry about guys grabbing your ass! How fantastic indeed.

Rewinding to the start of the night, one of the things we have been meaning to do for a while was hold a witch’s circle or pagan seance. It was our first time and completely improvised, but we made it work with one of the guided meditation descriptions in a sweet witchcraft book. Lou and I were experiencing this awesome phenomenon with our friend Frieda, who was no doubt a little freaked out at first, but then ended up enjoying it as much as we did.

I created the circle of sacred space with our newfound wand transformed from a halloween devil’s tail (bahaha). We could the commence the session led by Lou, who is in the midst of learning the ways of shamanism, and wants to eventually learn everything there is to know about the pagan lifestyle. She got us into a meditative state, and as we let our energies merge together and loosen the reins on our present reality, our minds were at peace. We floated into our imaginative natural world where everything, including the trees, rocks and stars have a spirit.

I became the tree, rooted deep in the ground and connected with those that make my life even more enjoyable. I realized the incredible power of sisterhood and union with other energies. Letting go of everything that is on your mind is a skill to be learned by many, for it is one of the most difficult things to do. Becoming a complete part of a separate reality is something that you can only attempt to achieve in the city realm of things, but something that is so incredible in a place of natural beauty and full tranquility.

At the end of the session, we paid our gratitude towards all the great things in our lives and i spoke about the apple ritual (if you cut an apple in half, there is a star inside – resembling a pentagram). The circle was closed and we went out with a clear headedness probably unlike any drunk person that night.

apple star

Origins

Halloween originate frm the Celtic festival or ” new year ” called Samhain. It was one of the main feasts for the ancient celtics, and remains to be a very important event for practicing pagans and witches of our day. It was believed that on this day, the lines between the Otherworld and our world was blurred on his day, allowing supernaral forces of this mysterious world mingle with the common folk. Those who belong in the Otherworld are known as the sidh and they are of a divine nature. If you ever thought about where this yearly celebration came from – there’s your answer. You can find more details simply by googling “origins of Halloween”.

All in all, the moon still shines bright, ending the full moon of a few days ago.

Be open to life, and life will be open to you,

Phyllis

This past Saturday, October 31st – Halloween, I was scheduled to facilitate a “seance” at a wonderful location in San Francisco, CA – only a half block from Golden Gate Park. Originally I had scheduled an animal communication workshop that would have taken place during the day, however due to limited sign-ups and with it being held on a holiday and with the Bay Bridge closure the workshop will be rescheduled. Heidi, (my wife) had suggested that I add a “seance” to the events that I had scheduled for the weekend and so I added it to the event list.

Halloween Seance in San Francisco with Psychic Medium and Animal Communicator - Charles Peden

With the Bay Bridge being closed due to a repair falling apart, and with the majority of the people that I know in the Bay Area being in the east bay, signups were limited for this event, I also had several last minute cancelations due to the flu and so we had a smaller group than I had originally anticipated, however that can be a good thing as it allows me more time to connect with each spirit who comes through.

With all of the dire warnings about traffic jams as commuters turned to other bridges in the area, I left far earlier than I normally would have and was pleasantly surprised when I found myself near or at the speed limit nearly the entire way to the venue. I had to drive in from Benicia and so I took the 780 to the 80 and then took the 580 across the Richmond/San Rafael bridge. In San Rafael I got onto 101 and ran into a bit of stop and go traffic just prior to the Golden Gate Bridge. After crossing the bridge and turing on Fulton I arrived at my destination and checked the time, it was two hours until people were supposed to show up and so I simply sat and meditated while sipping some wonderful Peets coffee.

At 8:40 guests began arriving and by the time we were ready to begin we had 8 of us, including myself. I have worked with groups as large as 80 and as small as 2 and so though not large, it was certainly enough to have fun with. For myself as the medium, the larger the group, the more spirits who are waiting to speak and the busier it gets for me. It’s almost like being a switchboard operator with them coming at you fast and furious. The smaller the group the fewer spirits looking to make connections, though on the flip-side, the more in depth each connection can be as I have more time to spend with each one coming through.

Before getting started with describing the “seance” it’s self I should add that as a psychic medium and animal communicator or “life channel” I do not employ “parlor” tricks. There is no levitating tables, disembodied voices, (other than the ones I hear) and no trumpet playing nor table rapping. For me communication with the spirits of the dead is a much more conversational thing with them actually giving me solid names, dates and other pieces of information as well as using images, (visions) and emotions as well as physical sensations to communicate their messages. So we did not darken the room, simply we dimmed it a bit and lit a few candles. We did not burn incense, chant, pray nor meditate before we began. No one held hands and we did not offer up the names of those who we wished to connect with.

After the guests had taken their seats, sitting in a mixture of couches and chairs in a circle … facing each other with their cups of tea or water nearby, we got started. At first I simply explained a little bit about the procedure and about what to expect, then I told everyone present about how I came into my abilities and answered a few questions. A little after nine PM things began in earnest as I took in a deep breath and sat back on the couch, I closed my eyes for a second and suddenly I felt as though my lungs were flooded. The upper part of my lungs felt as though they had water on them or mucus, I felt that it was pneumonia and that it was a male, older gentleman. Immediately two of the people present said that they had a connection to a male who had pneumonia. I quickly determined which party the information that was coming through was for and proceeded to channel a personal message.

As much transpired over the course of the next few hours I will only touch on some of the highlights. At one point I was chatting with an older gentleman who started his conversation by talking about how much he and his wife, (who is still alive and traveling the world) loved each other and about what a good marriage they had. Now that he was passed though, he was watching over her during her visits abroad. Both his daughter and granddaughter were present in person at the “seance” and they mentioned that his wife was traveling through India at the moment. I asked the gentleman what part of India his wife was visiting at the moment and I very clearly heard him say to me, “northern India, Jaipur.” I repeated that to the mother and daughter and they were quick to confirm that was where she was visiting at the moment.

One of the pieces of information that came through took me a second to get, I kept seeing candy being made. And then I saw and smelled wild colors and flavors, not ones that you would see in baked goods. I saw each pieces being wrapped individually and thought that it might be gum, when I mentioned chewing gum one of the people present said that she had just been with her mother and that the last time they were together they had picked up some salt water taffy, which of course is what I was seeing.

A dog who had passed recently connected with me and revealed how much she had loved living with her people. She mentioned that she had been unhappy with a lump on her back that was under her skin and how when people would pet her, they would avoid that spot, now she was very happy to be free of any such issues. There were additional connections with animals which were also insightful and revealing. At one point I noticed that I had not yet had anyone come through for one of the guests. I turned to her and asked her if she was waiting for her father, she confirmed that she was indeed waiting to connect with him. I then asked her if he had a connection to the midwest, to fields of wheat and specifically to Kansas. She said that she grew up in the midwest, fields of wheat? yes … in Kansas? Yes.

The group reading ended up going at least an hour, with one of the other highlights being a surprise visit from a very well known fallen soldier. He had died in Afghanistan and as it turned out one of the people present had a husband who had just returned from Afghanistan. He was having nightmares about those left behind … who had died there and how powerless he felt with regards to not being able to help them. The “hero” soldier who came through informed the soldiers wife that he was there to help and that he was working to assist those who had been killed in combat, that he was helping other soldiers adjust to having just lost their lives. He asked her to inform her husband that he wanted to connect with him in his dreams.

There was much more that took place but, much of it is a “blur” to me, as the one channeling … I am not always 100% “present”.  Some connections stand out more than others, there is one more that I should mention as it will help some to understand things that they may be fearful or puzzled by. At one point I was asked about the attempts to make contact that an unidentified entity or spirit was employing. This entity was messing with all manner of electronic devices and was even messing with the persons car. I heard a very clear “26″ and asked her what 26 meant to her as in what happened 26 years ago. She said, “nothing” however I lived in Texas for 26 years. I said okay … hold on, now this has been going on for about a year, a year and a half? and she confirmed that it had been going on for about a year.

I then told her that it was a younger male and that he knew her from the time she lived in Texas. She mentioned a foreign exchange student who had lived with her family who had blonde hair and who died in a motorcycle crash right after graduating. It was him coming through to say how much living with her and her family had meant to him. They had been deeply touched by his sudden passing and was reaching out to her to let her know that he was okay and that he was doing fine. When she asked why he had only been trying to get ahold of her for the past year, he said that was how long she had been aware of me, as in that is how long she has had a way to connect with him and so he was very persistent in his attempts to connect with her, bugging her to the point that she would have to say something to me.

Essentially what took place was a group reading and not a “seance” or at least not in the traditional sense, however I tend to believe that what I do tends to be a bit clearer than the seance’s of yesterday. If you yourself would like to attend a group reading or would like to have me facilitate one in your home or other venue, simply visit my web site to learn more about who I am and what it is that I do.

Medium

So, the seance was not successful in terms of connecting with any one on the other side. Although, it was an interesting process that lead to the party goers sharing ghost stories and such. Then we played charades!

Glad to see Randi up on his feet and looking pretty healthy.

Why is it when people do séance they don’t try and raise someone important, like a good fairy who will give me the winning lottery numbers? Geez, the world sucks having to rely on Derren Brown and his friggin complicated process! Nope, everyone wants  to make contact with people like Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, Jade Goody or Elvis. Anywho, the 140 characters or less phenomenon Twitter had a Tweance of their own to try and contact Jacko. They used the skills of famed spirit rouser Jayne Wallace to conger up Jacko’s spirit  and she claims Jacko said he was responsible for his own death and that he was really looking forward to doing the  London concerts. Hmm, sounds like AEG spin to me.

Psst Shakespeare was also on the list of people most wanted to be contacted, but he was unavailable.

2nd Psst You would think if Jacko was able to communicate from the other side, he would be more concerned about telling the producer of the doco “This is It” to edit out all the clips of him wearing those silly red pants and jacket than being interviewed! Oh and sending messages to his kids  ? Oh and telling his family what’s up with the resting place!

October 31st. 

All Hallows’ Eve.  The night when the veil between this world and the Otherworld is lifted, and spirits come to visit.  The night when people honor their dearly departed with lit candles and dumb suppers.  Men and women hold hands around tables across the world to call upon the dead.  Girls gaze in mirrors to see the faces of their future husbands.  Children bob for apples and play Trick or Treat. 

For some, Halloween is a solemn occasion.  For others, it is Samhain, the Celtic New Year.   The beginning of the dark time of year.  The time of ends, and new beginnings.   And for others, it is simply a fun time of sticky sweet candy and staying up late watching Bela Lugosi.

And then, for a small group of quite nutty (but harmless) others, it is the beginning of a fervent time called, NaNo. 

Yes.  National Novel Writing Month is here again.

I did my first NaNo in ‘07.  My second in ‘08.  Everyone has their own reasons for participating.  Mine was to teach me discipline.  I wanted to approach writing as a professional.  I wanted to develop the discipline to sit down at the keys when I didn’t feel like it and when the Muse was off shopping for a new dress.  In that, I succeeded.  Ever since I won my first Nano- writing everyday  has become a natural part of my life and I’m pleased with the results of such effort.

So today, I wondered- Why am I doing NaNo again?   What lesson can I gleam from it this year?  And then the answer came: abandonment.  I want to stop thinking so much of the novel I have out on submission.  I want to simply write and have fun.

So, here’s to 3o days of wildly clicking away at the keys.  Total banishment of evil inner editors.  No reading professional blogs about the dire state of the publishing world.  I’m going to write in total, wonderful, ignorant bliss.

For those of you doing NaNo- what are your reasons?

And Happy Halloween, everyone!

A new wave is fast catching up to become a trend, i.e. communicating with the dead.

Tweeters are being invited to submit questions for the spirits of departed celebrities including Michael Jackson and William Shakespeare as part of the worlds first Twitter seance.
A psychic medium will then try to contact the stars who were chosen along with actor River Phoenix and Nirvanas Kurt Cobain from nominations sent in by the public at the London-based seance on Friday, the day before Halloween.
Other prominent dead figures nominated by tweeters keen to pose questions during the tweance included John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, Abraham Lincoln and Houdini.
Twitter users will be able to follow the seance live on the micro-blogging site, which psychic Jayne Wallace will use to relay any responses she receives from the spirits.

Who would you want to communicate with among passed away Kuwaitis? And what would ask them?

Tweet your questions amongst the Kuwaiti tweeters and lets find a psychic to commuicate with the spirits.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a journalist who had written about me twice before for the local paper. She has since moved on and is now at UC Berkeley, pursuing a masters in journalism. In the spirit of the season, she asked to interview me at a haunted location. She wanted to ask me some general questions as well as recording any contact with ghosts and or spirits that may occur.

UC Berkeley Faculty Club Great Hall

Initially I wanted to do the interview at the Claremont Spa and Resort which is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl who had passed there several years ago. Unfortunately the staff their did not authorize us to do an interview in the room that was said to be haunted and so I went back online and found another location in Berkeley that is said to be haunted, the Faculty Club at UC Berkeley.

UC Berkeley Faculty Club Great Hall

The journalist contacted the Faculty Club and they granted permission, not only that but the Faculty Club was kind enough to provide us with a guided tour of the building which was initially built in 1902.

UC Berkeley Faculty Club Great Hall

After leading us on a tour Phyllis left the journalist and myself in the Spirit Tower, room 219. It was said that a former professor by the name of Henry Stephens had resided in the room for several years during the course of his tenure at UC Berkeley and upon his passing at the age of 60, he elected to continue residing within the room in spirit form. Lending credence to the ghost story was a newspaper clipping from 1974 that is on display at the Faculty Club’s offices. In the article it was reported that a visiting professor from Japan who himself was once a skeptic of ghosts, had an encounter with the former professor while staying in his former room during a visit to the University.

UC Berkeley Faculty Club Spirit Tower, Room 219

Now, everyone knows my position regarding ghosts, they are real. After all it was the appearance of a ghost in our home back in January of 2006 that brought my abilities to the surface and took me from skeptic to light worker in a matter of months. So the real question was not, are ghosts real? but rather … is he still here? and if so, can I help him.

UC Berkeley Faculty Club Spirit Tower, Room 219 Door

As a medium I am met by spirits and ghosts in advance of public or media related events where they tend to either reveal that they will be making an appearance or they may provide a reason for not appearing, in very rare cases I receive no information in advance, which to me indicates they will not make a showing, or that they have moved on … no longer a ghost or perhaps even reincarnated. Having not yet made contact with the ghost of the professor in advance, led me to believe that he most likely would not make a showing.

Sure enough several minutes into my attempts to connect with him, I felt as though he was not going to show up. At about this same time the journalists batteries died in her tape recorder and she had to return downstairs to grab another battery pack from her bag that she had left downstairs. After she left the room I began to walk around it myself and took everything in.

UC Berkeley Faculty Club Spirit Tower, Room 219 - 1920 Football Team Photo

The location was is called the Spirit Tower, but not due to the rumors of their being a ghostly inhabitant, rather it is a reference to team spirit and support of the schools athletic programs. Standing in the tiny room, with the rain pouring down and feeling the bricks of the fireplace I tried to take myself back in time and imagine what it was like for the professor who had lived here for years. Even with no one but myself in the tower, I felt nothing … not so much as a whisper of psychic energy, nothing ghostly for sure … just my own thoughts and the sound of heavy downpour. One photo in the room that caught my eye was of the 1920 football team. I noted to myself the lack of any real protective gear (by today’s standards) and briefly flashed on what tough character both mentally and physically that they must have had. I could hear the door at the bottom of the stairs open and sat back down at the little writing desk beside the bed as the journalist climbed the stairs back into the towers room that I was sitting in.

She had new batteries and was ready to continue the interview. I informed her that I did not believe that our professor was going to make a showing. And told her that I was going to shift my focus to any spirit who wished to connect with us. In a matter of moments I felt the energy in the room shift and I felt the presence of a spirit from the other side. After speaking with him for a moment I determined that they were connected with the 1920 football team. I thought that it was most likely the captain of the team. He informed us that he had passed due to pneumonia and then he spoke about the football team of this time period and how they were a bunch of sissies having to wear all the extra protective gear and face masks on the helmets. Even though he ripped the team a bit, he ended up the interview with a hearty “Go Bears!”

After returning home I did a little research on the 1920 football team and discovered that the teams coach died about five years after the photo I saw was taken and that he died of pneumonia, perhaps both the teams captain and the coach had made a showing, either way it was an enjoyable meeting. The interview should run this week on KALX 90.7 Berkeley, and though I do not know what time it will air, it should be available as a podcast that you can download and listen to at your leisure.

For those of you who would like to join psychic medium and animal communicator Charles Peden in communicating with spirits from beyond the grave, you can purchase tickets to a Halloween Seance that is taking place in San Francisco this Halloween from 9 PM to 11 PM. For more information about the seance and Charles Peden, visit www.charlespeden.com.

Update:

Here is the link to the interview: http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/radio/ngr/2009/10/28/everything-ominous/