As the rain pours down and the grey skies creep in, nature counteracts the dim skies with the leaves coming into their own right now.  Who needs flowers at this time of the year?  The leaves are truly starting their own festival of colours.

The silver birch is especially striking. This ‘Lady of the Woods’ is a graceful and elegant sighting in our woodlands.  Her triangular shaped leaves turn to a signature yellow gold, and with her silvery white bark she inspires so many faux decorations.

She is a healing lady also, known for her anti-inflammatory, cleansing, and diuretic attributes.  The Native Americans used her bark for wound healing, and also as a painkiller, very similar to willow, which they also used and was marketed, with additions, as aspirin.

Her symbolism is one of protection as well as fertility, and in days long ago birch twigs were given to lovers as some form of encouragement!!. Most importantly in many different ancient cultures, she was known as a clear connection between the physical and the spiritual realms.

Well, that is what we are about every time we gather.  Last night we welcomed the lovely Haylie Fox to Chawton.  Haylie gave us her beautiful energy and such an inspired address, and then went on to bring our lovely messages. Thank you so much, Haylie. We loved having you! Alison Keogh chaired our evening.

We say thanks to the family for their beautiful readings and prayers.  Thank you to Sue for the hospitality, Carole for the cake, and Lisa for running our music.  We thank our wonderful Healers on hand afterwards and everyone who sets up, breaks down, and washes up each and every week!!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for a wave of radical prayer in this world, so that we do not just hope when we ask, but believe with our whole being that what we ask spiritually for others as well as ourselves, has already been received.  Jesus said it first.  May this give us a radical faith and knowing that we can share with others.

Calendar up soon.

So what if it rains…Look at those colours!

Have a beautiful week!

As we move through autumn and the turning of leaves and absolutely stunning sunsets, I am curious as to why I am getting a sudden influx of chaffinches at my bird table. Usually, the blue tits and a robin are the only smaller birds, but suddenly, chaffinches galore, so there must have been some little ones born in the summer and boldly going to new places.

They are the perfect autumnal bird, as with their colouring, they can blend into the background quite easily, especially when on the ground, until they take flight, that is, when there is a flash of that white on their wings, which could be bad news when the likes of sparrowhawks are around.

Named because they sort through the chaff in search of grain when a farmer harvests his crops, the male is brighter and more gorgeous than the female, but although they do not mate for life, their bonds can last through many breeding seasons. In some folklore, their song is thought to be a song of prophecy, and they are also regarded as messengers from the spirit world.

We had an abundance of messages from the spirit world last night in Chawton. Our dear friend Jeanette Foote was in the house, and we had such a lovely time with so much laughter!! Jeanette gave an address on some of the history of mediumship, reminding us how difficult it was for the pioneers, who were often thought to be witches. So interesting, and then Jeanette worked so hard to bring through as many lovely messages as she was able. Thank you so much, Jeanette!! We loved having you!!

Steve Lidgett Williams chaired our evening, and we know that with Steve, we are always going to have fun. He also read out the names of the prior Presidents of the church, as it was, in fact, our founders’ service. Thanks so much, Steve.

Thanks to our readers! Thanks to Julie for the music. Carole made a cake creation that did not last long, and Sue worked our hospitality. Thank you to our wonderful healers on hand as always, and thank you to those who set up, break down, and wash up afterwards.

Prayer of the week.

We are delighted that there seems to be a ceasefire in Gaza, and Hamas has released the hostages. Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray that the way forward is smooth.

Please also pray for all those caught up in natural disasters. How terrifying. Please pray for the victims and their families.

Calendar up next.

Enjoy those sunsets!

Walking in the local woodlands, I came around a corner and spotted a bunch of fly agaric, recognized as the magical toadstools of fairy tales, myth, and folklore. This magical mushroom is bold in colour, usually scarlet or orange with white warty spots, and is hard to miss, but really a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as she is highly toxic, and can cause psychotic reactions when ingested, so that’s not a good idea!

Her name derives from her historical use as an insecticide. She is a sure sign that Autumn is underway. She is seen solo or in small clusters around Birch and other trees, and she helps the trees obtain the nutrients in their roots. Her spiritual symbolism is of transcending the physical plane to higher levels of spiritual awareness.

Well, we aim to do that every time we gather, and last night was no exception, as the lovely Eve Cowell was in the house. Eve shared a little about what and how she perceives when giving mediumship and a little about her history, which was so interesting, and then went on to share some lovely messages! Thank you so much, Eve! We loved having you! Thank you to Alison Keogh, who chaired our evening.

We also thank our family for sharing readings and prayers from the heart. We thank Sue for our hospitality, Carole for our cake, Julie for running our music, our wonderful healers for standing by after our gathering, and all those who set up, break down, and wash up each week!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for Spiritual courage for ourselves and our brothers and sisters across the world, in horrendous situations. We live in a fear-based world, and that fear can affect the quality of life. May we be blessed with new courage as we tackle the experiences on this physical plane.

Calendar up next.

Take a moment. Meditate on good things.

There are so many.

Happy Autumn, Everyone!.  What a wonderful time of year this is.  The Autumnal Equinox occurs today at 7.19pm GMT, the  22nd September 2025. The hours of sunlight have been receding since the summer solstice on the 21st June, and now the days and nights have become of equal length.  The Latin Equi Nox, that is  Equal Night, brings us  the Equinox.
This change of season will bring out the stunning colours of the trees and plants.  The animals are already scurrying around in preparation for the colder months. The early morning and night air becomes brisk with a slight bite, causing us to wrap up and put an extra blanket on the bed.   And as our nearest star, the sun, distinctly melts into a warm golden glow as she sets, maybe it’s time to steal a moment for tea and thoughts of gratitude, for the spiritual symbolism of this time reminds us that there is only a continuing cycle of life.
The lovely Sarah McLaughlan was in the house last night in Chawton!!  It was so good to see her as she shared an ‘inspired’ address and gave some absolutely wonderful messages.  Thank you so much, Sarah, for being with us.  Everyone enjoyed the evening so much!!  Our own delightful Chris Elliot chaired the proceedings.  Thank you both!!
Thank you for beautiful prayers, readings, and music.  Thank you, Lisa, for our music.  Thank you to our hospitality gal, Sue, and our cake maker, Carole, for yet another creation.  Thank you to our wonderful healers and all those who set up, break down, and wash up each week!!

Prayer of the week
Please pray for ALL the animals of the world. Their paths are not always easy.  They need our care and consideration.  We all indeed have the same breath.

Calendar up next.
Have a beautiful week!
Pause, and relish the emerging season.

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!!

As August prepares to shut up shop and the nights become darker sooner, we know that a change of season is on the horizon.  The late summer days and nights bring the hedgehogs and hoglets scurrying to forage and become strong before the colder temperatures arrive. This quirky little fellow is active mainly at night but can be seen before dusk.

The European Hedgehog is the native hedgehog of the UK.  After finding sanctuary in some of our gardens, and spending the summer dodging the strimmers and lawnmowers, he is now looking for shelter.  Leaves, log piles, and debris, will catch his eye and look like a good place for a long nap.   A little cat or dog food, but no milk, will give him a little help to gather his strength and get ready for what is to come.  Let us all enjoy the last hurrah of summer.  It has been quite spectacular.

We headed to Chawton last night, and after a beautiful day, we had quite a spectacular night.  John Morrow was in the house, and we had such a wonderful time as John shared his journey to mediumship and brought so many lovely messages.  Thank you so much, John!  We loved having you!  Steve Lidgett Williams chaired the evening, so between both of them, you know, there was plenty of humour.  Thank you, Steve!!

Our family held up the energy with their prayers and readings.  Thank you so much, everyone!! There was yet another cake.  Thank you, Carole!  Thanks, Sue, for our hospitality.  Thank you, Julie, for our music.  Thank you to our diligent healers and all those who set up, break down, and wash up!!

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for all those in our world who have no faith of any kind.  We sometimes forget what that was like or could be like.  Faith inspires us and makes our experiences richer with understanding and love for all.

The calendar will be up soon.

It’s going to be a beautiful week!

There is something very refreshing about summer rain. Even with the mild and stronger storms we have encountered in this neck of the woods, it just feels different, and did I mention warmer? This sentiment is shared by others, as we see by the endless poems and songs inspired by this warm season’s showers and downpours.

It is the warm ground that makes moist air move upwards and often creates thunderstorms where the clouds and air become unstable, and within the clouds, ice and water droplets collide, and electrical charges are created, and so lightning and thunder follow soon after. There is something quite wonderful about the crackle of thunder in the distance and the start of showers after a hot, humid day, and although people in this part of the world will always complain endlessly about the rain, this is summer rain and that changes everything.

We are always open to trying new things, and last night Rob did that again. He worked a little differently for our In-House night. After some explaining about the spirit side of things, he went on to take Questions not for himself, but for spirit to answer. This was clearly not trance, but just allowing spirit to pass on information to answer questions asked. Such an insightful evening. Thank you so much Rob!!. And our own Chris Elliot chaired the evening brilliantly. A very good team.

Our family readings and prayers always set the tone for the unseen ones to move in close. Thank you to our readers. Thank you, Julie, on the music. Thank you, Carole, again for the divine cake. ( There is usually a stampede for the cake table. ) Thank you, Sue, for hospitality. Thank you to our healers standing by afterwards. We are also well aware of those who wash up and those who set up and break down each week. Thank you.

Prayer of the week

Please pray for those whose lives have been dramatically changed and turned upside down by events in their lives. This is always such a hard road to navigate. May we lift all those in these circumstances, in whatever situation they find themselves in.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful week!!

We have just passed the midsummer mark, or the summer solstice. Due to the mystery of the sun appearing to stand still since Neolithic times (10,000 years before Christ), the imaginations of cultures throughout the centuries stirred, creating many traditions. St John’s Day, celebrated by many Christians on the 24th of June, is also thought to deliberately coincide with the midsummer mark.

We have enjoyed absolutely glorious weather in this neck of the woods, and so with flowers in full bloom and the beauty of the natural world, it has indeed been fitting for this time. The days, alas, will shorten now by two minutes every evening, but the symbolism of this midsummer time prompts us to think of joy and abundance during the fullness of this season in this hemisphere.

Joy and Laughter were abundant last night in Chawton. Lesley Knight was in the house, and how we love having her visit us. Lesley gave us laughter, shared beautiful thoughts that we all needed to hear, and then brought some lovely messages for us. Thank you so much, Lesley!! Alison Keogh chaired our evening

It was also Mr Shackleton’s birthday, and so we enjoyed cake and a bit of singing to ring in another year for him. Happy Birthday Les!! It is your birthday week!!

Thank you to The Family who brought lovely readings and prayers. Thank you, Julie, for running our music. Thank you, Carole, for the cake. Thank you hospitality, and a special thanks to our healers. And of course, light work is made of set up and break down because all of those who do it diligently every week.

Prayer of the week

Please pray for the tense situation in Iran. Pray for the leaders, and all people and animals, let’s not forget them, affected by any fallout.

Calendar up soon.

Have a beautiful week. Summer is here. Let’s hope she stays for the Garden Party Saturday!!

My relentless nettles have brought this magical creature back. I thought it was early for them but this Brown Hawker female is usually out and about at this time and will be active till October. She is a dragonfly, and her rust coloured wings caught my eye. These intricate wings of a dragonfly or damselfly are like stain glass windows, and her silhouette looks like a nature spirit. A stream runs nearby, and I am sure this makes things perfect for her in ways of laying eggs and hunting. She is a symbol of transformation, joy and lightness of being amongst many other things depending on where you live..

What a weekend!! There was plenty of lightness of being down in Chawton Saturday morning as we hosted our Clairvoyance, Healing and Coffee Morning.! Huge thanks to our visiting mediums- Lesley Knight and Lorraine Francois! Thank you for all your hard work!!

Our House mediums were not dawdling either. Sarah, Nerina, Rob, Virginia and Chris worked their tails off. There were thirty nine readings in all in about two hours. Healing was on hand from Ken and Barbara and Alison and Jane, and we did not stop but to gulp some coffee down quickly!! Others healed also to try and fill the demand. Julie coordinated with Chris Shore, as we yet again enjoyed baked goods divine from Carole and Sue. A very busy and joyful morning for all. Apologies if I have forgotten anyone, we were that busy.. The set up and the flowers were lovely also. Thank you!

Sunday in Chawton did not disappoint. Nerina took the service and brought a lovely address about nature spirits and then brought our messages. Thank you so much Nerina! What a lovely evening chaired by the equally lovely Chris Shore. Thank you for readings and prayers everyone and plenty of ‘tasties’ from Saturday to enjoy!! Healing was on hand as always after the service!!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for our Emergency Services. We are reminded of their role with the recent tragedy in Bicester, in the fire that claimed three lives, two of them firefighters. Please hold their families and friends in your prayers.

Calendar up next.

Have a beautiful week. Get outside and enjoy!!

We celebrated Easter yesterday and as we were driving to church Mr Shackleton and I came across a stunning but injured bird in the road with her deceased fledgling. The bird was huge and as I grabbed a towel to place her up a country path to see what I could do, whilst searching frantically on my phone for rehabbers or advice, she passed. A sad sobering moment of springtime and Easter.

She was beautiful and so big with large strong legs. I knew she was a hawk and it turns out she was a Goshawk with her fledgling which was very well developed and large. Goshawks have bounced back from near extinction in the 1800s but are still fairly rare. There are reported to be only 600 pairs of them across the UK which made this event especially sad, but the Easter message is continuing life and we know this goes for all who live, so we wish her and her ‘fledger’ well on their way. Please take due care and attention on the roads this springtime. A little less speed may spare some lives.

We gathered last evening in Chawton and had a lovely family Easter night. We heard beautiful prayers and readings and caught up on the Easter story. Rob gave a thoughtful inspired address as Nerina chaired beautifully.

Carole did not disappoint with her Easter cake. We also had meringues I believe whipped up by Sue. We are so spoilt. Thank you hospitality, Lisa and Julie our music team, and our healers, and everyone who sets up and breaks down.

Prayer of the week.

Please pray again for our leaders that they would receive guidance and also find more kindness within their hearts and govern accordingly.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Happy Easter Monday!!

Have a beauuutiful week !!