In exploring the nature of what I am calling Rational Mysticism there often the problem of semantics. As has been said elsewhere the Rational Self is the pragmatic, the practical and deals with the definable and verifiable reality we share. The Msytical Self is the metaphorical, transpersonal which is bound tightly by pre-existing beliefs and metaphsyical constructs. Brining the two sides of ‘self’ together is not a ‘problem’, it simply requires the discipline to know which hat is being worn and what set of ‘labels’ is being used when in debate with others.

In conversation with a ‘psychic’, who we will call Jason for the purposes of this essay, it became obvious that there was a kind of ‘heresy’ in the world of the spiritual medium which Jason was promoting. For the sake of our discussion see what you think…

A Psychic Heresy as explained by Jason…

Jason’s heresy falls into two key areas – that of semantics (in terms of the labels we use) and metaphysics (ideas about reality, the material and spiritual worlds)..

Semantics – The words we use.

Let us just consider two of the words used to describe the work Jason is involved in….

PSYCHIC

In his words…

“Psychic is a much used term and one that immediately creates in the mind of the listener certain presuppositions. The word itself comes from the Greek word psychikos which means “of the soul” or “mental” and in common usage usually implies an ability in ‘extrasensory perception’”

Jason attempts to make it clear that when he uses the word ‘psychic’ it is in the sense of attempting to create deeper understandings and meaning through the integration and use of all of the senses. He would argue against the idea of ‘extra-sensory’ perception in favour of ‘total sensory’ perception. In this usage of the term the ‘psychic’ attempts to become open to all of the conscious and unconscious information available so as to communicate clearly and effectively.

MEDIUM

In Jason’s words…

“This is another example of a misused term. The word medium may refer to communication (the tool used to transmit or store information), education (the tools used to educate), measurement (the middle value in a range of variables), science (the material that is undergoing or enabling a process) and Mediumship.”

It was the rise of the Spiritualism in the 1800′s that produced a veritable cavalcade of ‘spirit mediums’. Clearly these people became the tool, or vehicle through which communication between the material and spiritual realms was made possible. All Spiritual Mediums today subscribe to a view of the universe which maintains that in some form the personal identities of individuals survives death. As we will see this leads to Jason’s second ‘heresy’ -  that of the non-survival of the personality.

When pressed by traditional mediums as to his abilities Jason defers to the descriptions Clairsentience (the ability to have an impression or sensation about people, places and things) and Claircognizance (the ability to have a ‘knowing’ about a person, place or thing).

Jason’s Metaphysical Heresy

Whilst Jason is very happy to reflect upon the nature and the reality of both the seen (material) and unseen (spiritual) realms, he is less comfortable with some of the popularised views about them. To really explore Jason’s heretical views (in terms of the Spiritual and New Age movement) would take far too much space here.

“There is a generalised idea promoted amongst Spiritualists that the personality survives death. It is my contention that this is not the case. The spirit or soul, for want of a better term, does survive… the personality is an ego-driven construct and as such is of the material world. Souls or spirits return to the ‘source’ upon leaving the physical plane. They remain part of us as long as we remember them and their ‘essence’ can be described by sensitives and those we would call spirit mediums…

“Has it ever occurred to you to ask why the revelations from most spiritual mediums about your dear loved ones who have passed over are either about the nature of their passing; their personalities or their desire to tell you they are free? The first two categories of statements really stem from the mediums need to ensure the listener that they are ‘in touch’ with the ‘sitters’  loved ones. The last category of statement stems from the desire to let those left behind know that their beloved has passed safely into a higher place…

“This does not mean that the spiritual medium is a fraud – but simply that they are conveying messages from the spiritual plane in the language those still living in the material world can understand….

“If we were truly clear-seeing (clairvoyant) or clear-hearing (clairaudient) we would know that the language of spirit is not the language of the material world. We receive the messages and then translate them into words and ideas that are familiar. In doing so perhaps some of the meaning is lost.”

In Jason’s writings these ideas are explored and made far more clear. He maintains the idea that the medium through which messages from spirit are passed is not the most efficient of filters; their own ego, personality and beliefs shade and colour the original purity of these messages. That must be the case as they are still here on the material plane.

There will be many who will read these brief comments and immediately reject them because of their personal beliefs and values and that is ok. Jason would like to think that these ideas could promote discussion and further thought amongst colleagues, mystics, seers and psychics so that there can be further exploration and learning.