Spiritualism is a 19th-century religious movement and philosophy based on the belief that human consciousness survives physical death and that the living can communicate with the dead.
Core Beliefs
Life After Death: The soul continues to exist and evolve in a spirit world after bodily death.Mediumship: Communication with departed spirits is possible through a sensitive person known as a medium (someone who can sense or transmit messages from the spirit world).
Personal Responsibility:
Actions and morality on Earth directly affect a person’s spiritual condition and progress.Infinite Intelligence: Adherents believe in a supreme creator or universal force, often called God or the Great Spirit.Key PracticesSéances: Gatherings where a medium attempts to receive messages or manifest spirit phenomena.Public Demonstrations: Modern services feature mediumship readings to provide evidence of continued life.
Spiritual Healing:
Practices aimed at channeling healing energy to the mind, body, or spirit.History and ContextOrigins: Modern Spiritualism formally began in March 1848 in Hydesville, New York, through the Fox sisters, who claimed to hear mysterious rapping noises from spirits.
Peak Popularity:
The movement spread rapidly across the United States and Europe during the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, offering comfort to families mourning losses from wars and disease.Controversy: The movement faced severe criticism and exposure of fraudulent trickery by professional stage magicians, including Harry Houdini, though devoted followers maintained the validity of genuine mediumship. Organizations like the Spiritualists’ National Union continue to practice and represent the faith today.
Spirituality references the meta-physical—that which goes beyond the material, mundane world; it includes a conscious sense of that which is greater than the individual, egocentric self, and embraces a connection to a unifying principal—an “All That Is.” Spirituality is about how we perceive, connect with, and bring this greater unifying principal into our lives. It is about consciously living from a more transcendent space of love, gratitude, kindness, compassion, nonjudgement, inclusiveness, respect and honor for all beings, resulting in a perception and experience of the profound sanctity and interconnectedness in all of life.
Spirituality supports my intention to live as consciously, completely, and as constructively as possible, with a sense of gratitude for and connection with All—no matter what transpires. Quietly honoring and acknowledging the spirit (Inner Light, Essence, divinity, soul—by whatever term) in everyone and in every creature enriches me and helps me to keep a larger, less ego-involved perspective/overview in relationships, both personal and professional. Holding a viewpoint that there is some greater plan or divine design at work in our lives that goes beyond physical matter reality inspires me and informs my decision making at all levels. Spirituality is my context for most everything—from the love and activities with family, friends, and animal companions, to the energy and intention shared in endeavors with my co-workers and colleagues around the world.