Mediumship

In today's environment mediumship is being highlighted through the media of television, through shows such as 6ixth Sense with Colin Fry. Things can become a little confusing however with such terms as Psychic Medium, Clairvoyant Medium and Spiritualist Medium, as such the inclusion of this page is designed primarily to provide an insight into the working of mediumship in general.

In order to achieve this it is necessary to make a distinction between a psychic and a medium, for although the term refers to a person with a heightened sense of awareness to energies around them, the way in which they each work is quite different.

Both medium and psychic utilise the functionality of the auric field, as it encapsulates the physical body in its entirety. The auric field can contain a vast amount of information as regards to ourselves, which is where the psychic comes into their own. The psychic is to a large extent reading the flows of the auric field and to be honest can be very specific indeed as to the information they relay, startling even. The medium also has a heightened psychic ability as this forms the basis of what is termed clairsentience, a heightened sense of perception through being able to perceive and feel the emanations from a person in the phsyical body as well as a person passed to the spirit side of life. This is where the distinction is made, a psychic can tell you all about you, whilst a medium is able to communicate with our family and friends passed to the spirit side of life.

There is a lot of jargon banded about which can confuse and mislead, therefore I have listed the more commonly used ones below, and are common to all mediums in varying degrees; for instance one medium may be able to sense and not see, yet still provide a good description.

Clairsentience This is the ability to pick up emotions from your loved ones. It also allows the medium to feel any ailments your loved had, & to generally feel the person who is communicating through the medium. It should be noted that when working primarily with this sense, that the medium can also be perceiving information from the recipient as well as with the spirit communicator.

Clairvoyance This is the ability to see, commonly known as the third eye. This allows the medium to describe what a loved one from the world of spirit looks like. This comes in two forms, firstly being in what is termed subjective, that is to say within the minds eye. Secondly in what is termed objective clairvoyance, whereby the medium or sensitive will be able to view spirit out side of the mind, as they "spirit" move around.

Clairvoyance is often confused with the term Clairvoyant, which refers to a person who reads into what can be termed as a possible future

Clairaudience This is the ability to hear spirit, thus being able to pass on information from your loved ones. This comes in two forms, Firstly to hear in thought form, this is the most common form of clairaudience, and involves the medium picking up the thought patterns of your loved one in spirit. Secondly to hear the words through the physical ear, though not everyone else in the vicinity will hear what is being said.

Mediumship itself falls into two distinct and very different categories, those of a physical nature in which physical phenomenon can be perceived through the physical senses of sight, touch, hearing and in some cases smell. This type of mediumship was the first to be displayed in March 1848 at Hydesville New York state and led to the creation of the modern Spiritualist movement. (see Spiritualist National Union) The majority of physical phenomenon requires the use of a substance called ectoplasm, provided by the medium whilst in an entranced state. Transfiguration, direct voice, and materialisation come under physical mediumship

Mental mediumship as the name implies utilises the mind, as such not everyone will be able to perceive what is being seen, said or heard. Clairvoyance, Clairaudience and Clairsentience come under mental mediumship.

Trance mediumship also falls into the category of mental mediumship, though I feel it needs to be discussed a little further due to the misconceptions portrayed through the media. Firstly it should be stressed that trance is not POSSESSION.

There are different levels of development in the state of trance, ranging from the deep sleep of entire unconsciousness to a feeling of quietude or passiveness. Trance is the suspension of ordinary consciousness of external surroundings, in a sort of temporary loss awareness to outside stimulus; which can be best described as a semi-conscious state in which the person in trance has lost the ability to use their thinking powers (consciousness). Trance will normally take place within the low alpha to high theta ranges of brain wave (these are detailed below)

The brain is subject to four principal frequencies, which can be measured by means of an electroencephalograph, which records the electrical activity of the cortex of the brain. These electrical impulses are very small, and measured in micro volts, which can be amplified and thus made discernible by suitable apparatus.

The brains electro chemical impulses were first measured by Richard Caton as long ago as 1875. However it was Hans Berger an Austrian psychiatrist who made the first true records in 1929.

The various groups of brain rhythms, each covering a limited frequency range have been named: alpha, beta, delta and theta, and have been associated with definite mental states. These are listed below in order of frequency, being highest frequency first, or more active through to the least active.

· Beta Waves – these are relatively low in amplitude though they are the fastest of the four brain waves, and range in frequency from 15 to 40 cycles per second. The beta wave is associated with the brain being aroused and actively engaged in mental activities. A person in active conversation, orating a speech, or giving a presentation would all be in a predominately beta wave state. There are many external chemicals that can produce a beta wave state; these are stimulants, such as nicotine, caffeine, and amphetamines.

· Alpha waves – these waves are slower than beta waves and higher in amplitude. They have a frequency range of 8-18 cycles per second. The alpha wave is predominant during periods of relaxation with eyes closed, or when in deep self introspection. Some drugs such as marijuana and cannabis can induce a state of deep relaxation were alpha waves are predominant, by substituting the brains natural chemicals called endorphins. Alpha waves are most associated with meditation, and extra sensory perception.

· Theta waves – these waves are typically of even greater amplitude and slower in frequency than the alpha wave. Theta waves have a frequency range of between 5 and 8 cycles per second. This wave is associated primarily with light sleep, rapid eye movements, dream, and hallucinations. The brain uses this state to exercise itself, a little like working the muscles in a gym, making them stronger and relieving overall tension. It is fair to note that during theta brain wave activity brain cells reset their sodium and potassium ratios, which are involved in the osmosis process that transports chemicals into and out of the brain cells. It is also fairly common to have driven home after work and not be able to remember the last few miles of the journey.

· Delta waves – these brain waves are of the greatest amplitude, but slowest wavelength, and typically occur around a frequency range of 1.5 to 4 cycles per second. Deep dreamless sleep is associated with the lower end of the delta wave frequency range. When we go to bed and read a book for a short while we are usually in a low beta wave state, but upon putting the book down and turning off the lights our brainwaves slow from beta, through alpha and theta, and finally upon falling asleep are in a delta wave state. People dream in 90 minute cycles when the delta wave frequencies increase into the frequency range of theta waves, active dreaming takes place as well as rapid eye movements.

Research has shown that although one brainwave sate may predominate at any given time, depending on the activity level of the individual, the remaining three states are present in the mix of brainwaves at all times.

In summary, there are four brainwave states that range from the high amplitude, low frequency delta wave to the low amplitude high frequency beta wave. These brainwave states range from deep sleep to high arousal, the same four brainwave states are common to the human species, of all ages, and culture.