As the season already starts to turn, we see the stunning mauve heather adorn our common lands. The ferns begin to shift to their signature autumnal rust colour, and other plants are starting to move through their own changes. The sunny St. John’s Wort has been in bloom since June and will soon be showing us red berries, which beckon wildlife to snack, but humans should refrain from eating, as there can be quite adverse effects.

The petals of St John’s Wort have long been used for homeopathic remedies, notably for skin problems, but especially for lifting the mood and chasing those blues away. Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, he has quite a history. He is named so because of the time of year he blooms, around the time of the summer solstice and the Feast of St John. His sap is red and is connected to the blood shed by St John, confirming his Christian ties. Wort is just an old English name for this plant who has spiritual symbolism of protection against negative energies, bringing healing and a connection to Divine Light, and we always like that.

Last night in Chawton, we rode high on that Light when Vanessa Smallwood came to visit. It was Vanessa’s first time with us, and we loved having her. What a night!! A fascinating address, concerning her path to Platform and Mediumship and then wonderful, sometimes hysterical messages, from those in spirit. Our sides were splitting. When we say our loved ones retain their sense of humour and who they are, we mean it!! There was a lot of laughter on both sides of the veil last night. Thank you so much, Vanessa! Li’l Chris, our own Christine Elliot, chaired the evening beautifully. Thank you so much, ladies!!

We thank our family for the beautiful readings, prayers, and hymns sung to lift the energies. We thank Julie for music, Sue for hospitality, our healers standing by after the service, and, as always, those who set up, break down, and wash up!!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for the animals in this world. From pets to wildlife and every other creature in between, in their different circumstances. There is so much ignorance and abuse of those others that share this world with us. From wars to famine to wildfires, the animals struggle, too.

Calendar up next.

Get your brolly out, and have a beautiful week!!

The pollinators are well and truly out in this gorgeous spring weather around these parts, and the emergence of beloved butterflies fluttering around on their maiden voyage is a sight to behold. The beautiful Orange tip male with his stunning orange wing tips and the not so gorgeous white female may have come into view. They can be found in your gardens if you are near meadows or on the edge of woodlands in the UK, Europe, and also some parts of Asia and have even been spotted in the US. Butterflies are the ultimate symbol of growth transformation and freedom. How apt as we near close to Easter.

What a weekend!! Rob Harvey headed a non church event in Chawton on Saturday bringing information and a demonstration of clairvoyance to those who may not come inside a church. He took questions and was joined by Virginia Gordon and Sarah Dorgan bringing the messages. It was a lovely evening!! Thank you to hospitality on that night.

Sunday in Chawton was our In House gathering. Chris Shore kept us in line chairing the evening beautifully, as we heard readings and prayers and an address on Forgiveness by Alison Keogh, followed by clairvoyance from Rob Harvey, Chris Elliot and Steve Lidgett Williams. A warm family night, beautiful messages and plenty of laughter. Spoilt again with cake and baked goods divine, we thank Carole, Julie on music, our healers and all those who set up and break down each week!!

*Les was in church!! It was so good for everyone to see him and I know he enjoyed the evening!

The AGM was last Thursday on zoom. and no one was fired:)

Prayer of the week.

Let us pray for each other, that we would all send prayers and healing to help mend our fractured world

Calendar up next.

Have a glorious week!! However busy you are, find time to enjoy this season where nature’s beauty lifts the soul!!

COMING BACK ONE MORE TIME

There is a profound mystery in the way the soul journeys beyond the veil, and I have often encountered moments when those who have passed feel the need to return—just for a little while—before they can fully move forward into the next stage of their existence. This experience has occurred in many spiritual settings, whether within a training circle, during a reading, or while demonstrating in church. Time and again, spirits draw close to the earth plane, seeking a final connection before they continue their ascension.

I recall one particularly moving encounter with a young woman whose mother had been one of the most gifted mediums of her time. She had been a woman of great discipline, deeply rooted in her ways. Yet, three years after her passing, she returned with an intensity that was almost tangible. As she drew close to her daughter, I could sense the deep emotions that surfaced within her—perhaps unspoken words, perhaps a lingering attachment. After the reading, I felt a shift in her presence, as if the act of returning had granted her the peace she needed to move on to a higher plane.

Many years ago, while practicing trance mediumship with my family—who themselves were gifted in spirit communication—I observed how the first return to the earthly realm could be an overwhelming experience for some spirits. One gentleman, a World War II fighter pilot, came through with a rush of disoriented energy. His last earthly memory was the moment of his passing in a plane crash, and it was as if he had to relive that moment before he could speak. Yet, once those emotions were released, his soul found clarity, and he was able to communicate freely.

There is also something sacred in the way spirits of those I have helped move on sometimes return—not simply to express gratitude, but to step once more into the world they left behind, gathering their final memories before transitioning fully. I have witnessed this in homes where spirits, once bound to a place for decades, summon the courage to revisit, even if their memories there were difficult. In one instance, while demonstrating in church with two mediums I had been training, I sensed the presence of a woman standing beside the lady chairing. I recognized her as a spirit I had once helped cross over from a house where she had been trapped. She was hesitant but felt safe in the church’s sacred space, allowing herself this one last earthly moment before truly letting go. It was a stepping stone, a final embrace of what once was, before embracing what was to come.

All of this speaks to the vast and infinite nature of existence. We move from one realm to another, guided by unseen hands, carried by divine wisdom. For those of us still in our physical bodies, the fullness of these transitions may be beyond our comprehension, yet time and again, spirit shows us glimpses of this eternal journey. Particularly in circle, where souls find the courage to return, we witness the beauty of release—the spirit’s willingness to face the past and, with newfound freedom, step into the radiance of the next world. It is a testament to their strength, to their free will, and ultimately, to the ever-expanding journey of the soul.

Rob Harvey President

Those who come back to say thank you

I am often amazed by those spirits who come back to say thank you. Despite experiencing it many times, it never ceases to move me. Last Sunday in church, we ventured beyond the usual clairvoyance and created a unique, spiritual atmosphere that bridged two worlds. I explained to the congregation the concept of a circle—where individuals gather, offer the right prayers, and come together with pure intentions. When like-minded spirits gather for the right reasons, the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds strengthens, and truly remarkable experiences can unfold.

This is exactly what happened that Sunday. By setting the right tone through prayer and understanding, we created an atmosphere within the church that mimicked the intimacy and connection of a circle environment. The results were incredible. Not only did clairvoyant messages flow freely, but many in the congregation—some of whom I have been training—were able to sense their own loved ones who had passed. It was as though the veil between worlds had grown thin, allowing beautiful reunions to take place.

One particularly extraordinary moment involved two spirits I had helped years ago to move on from the earthly plane. One was a young girl who had been trapped in a house for over 60 years, and the other was a woman who had similarly lingered for decades. Both of them returned that evening—not just sensed by me but by others in the congregation as well—to say thank you.

To understand how profound this was, consider their journey. These spirits had been confined to the earthly plane for decades, bound by their own free will or confusion. When the opportunity arose for them to leave their long confinement and move on to the next world, they courageously took it. I was privileged to witness their transition, and the beauty of where they went is indescribable—a place of peace and light, waiting for us all.

Now, for them to return to the earth plane—even briefly—required immense courage. When spirits draw close to the physical world, they often re-experience the emotions and memories of their time here, including the pain or confusion that kept them bound. Despite this, both spirits returned to express their gratitude. Their bravery and the beauty of the moment reminded me of the extraordinary interconnectedness of the physical and spiritual realms.

However, it’s important to recognize that my role in their journey was only a small part of a much larger process. Many spirits on the other side orchestrated their release, yet there is often a need for someone in the physical world to complete the final link in the chain. This highlights the significance of being open and willing to serve as that bridge.

Sunday’s service was a powerful example of what can happen when we gather with the right intentions, open our minds, and embrace the possibilities. For the spirits, it was an opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and express messages that may have been waiting for years. For us, it was a humbling reminder of the strength of love and the reality of the spiritual world.

The atmosphere that evening was truly sacred—a perfect convergence of two worlds. It reaffirmed my belief that when we come together with open hearts and a willingness to help, anything is possible. For those in the spiritual world, it was a chance to draw near to their loved ones on the earth plane. For those of us here, it was a glimpse into the eternal connections that bind us all.

Let us all strive to keep our minds and hearts open to these possibilities. When we do, extraordinary things can happen.

Rob Harvey