Everyone Dies - Except in Lily Dale
Hey Spooky Sisterhood family,
In the last blog we talked about The Fox Sisters and their influence on Spiritualism. This go around, we’re talking more about Spiritualism and the enchanting town of Lily Dale, New York. Let’s get spooky!
What is Spiritualism?
In case you need a refresher, spiritualism is a religious and social movement that gained significant movement in the mid-19th century, and is centered on the belief that people can communicate with the spirits of the dead, that the dead want to communicate with the living, and that they often do, usually through psychic mediums.
Photo from: TheGuardian.com
If an image of a spooky séance in a dimly lit room, ectoplasm oozing out of a medium’s eyes and nose, and possibly some table tipping popped into your head, you’re exactly right (except for the ectoplasm thing, but I love the idea of it). Spiritualism however, offers more of a framework for understanding death as a transition to another plane of existence, rather than an ending.
Spiritualism in the US has nine principles (as listed at NSAC.org):
We believe in God.
We believe that God is expressed through all Nature.
True religion is living in obedience to Nature’s Laws.
We never die.
Spiritualism proves that we can talk with people in the Spriit World.
Be kind, do good, and others will do likewise.
We bring unhappiness to ourselves by the errors we make, and we will be happy if we obey the laws of life.
Every day is a new beginning.
Prophecy and healing are expressions of God.
You can find Spiritualist Churches currently in 19 states, and Washington D.C., if you’re interested in learning more.
Photo from: ILoveNY.com
Next up: Lily Dale
If you haven’t heard of Lily Dale, nestled in the western part of New York State, you’re in for a treat. Lily Dale is a living spiritualist community, where year-round Spiritualist healers, mediums, teachers, and residents live and practice. Throughout the year, Lily Dale offers workshops, lectures, and classes on various aspects of Spiritualism, mediumship development (you can even take a mediumship exam and be listed in Lily Dale’s medium directory), psychic phenomenon, and holistic healing.
“Inspiration Stump” - a popular spot where registered Lily Dale psychic mediums give public readings twice daily. Photo from: GoWorldTravel.com
If this glimpse into Spiritualism and Lily Dale leaves you wanting more, summertime is usually when the town is most “alive”, with a full schedule of events and open mediumship displays, from paranormal investigations, ghost walks, and workshops to name a few. It’s on my long list of spooky places to check-out, for sure.
If you’ve been there, share your experiences in the comments! We’d love to hear your stories.
Written by: Andronike James
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Sources:
National Spiritualist Association of Churches
New York Times: This Community Welcomes Mediums, But First You Have to Prove Yourself
