Channeling •  Opposite pole within New Age

Movement to Mother Earth Spirituality

•  Stresses otherworldly (rather than nature-centred) sources of inspiration

•  Stresses idea that we are already too concerned with worldly things: spiritual focus should take one away from nature, not towards it.

•  Both Channeling & Mother Earth share wider New Age worldview, however: self-transformation, evolution of spiritual consciousness, coming of new spiritual age. “Peace Angel” by Patricia Canivan

Historical Influences: Necromancy •  Global practice, across

cultures and time periods •  Speaking to the dead to reveal

hidden knowledge •  Shamanic necromancy:

shaman enters trance, travels to land of dead

•  Priestly/Prophetic: priest/prophet calls spirits of dead to this world –  Biblical necromancy:

•  I Samuel 28 – Saul contacts spirit of Samuel

•  Mark 9:2-8 – Jesus contacts spirits of Moses & Elijah

Transfiguration of Jesus

Biblical Necromancy Biblical necromancy:

•  I Samuel 28:15-19 15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” 16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 19 The LORD will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

•  Mark 9:2 – After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Transfiguration of Jesus

Spiritualism & Theosophy •  Both 19th century movements

already discussed in connection to broader New Age Movement

•  Both emerged out of historical environment shaped by Christianity that condemned necromancy as demonic

•  Spiritualism & Theosophy make communication with spirits central religious practice

•  Spiritualism: speaks to spirits of loved ones

•  Theosophy: speaks to “elevated masters”

“Spirit Guide” by J. Ann Masiker

Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) •  Very famous “channeler,”

known as “Sleeping Prophet” •  Falls ill in 1900, is hypnotized

& prescribes own cure. •  Begins to conduct health

readings under hypnosis, very successful

•  Died 1945; had produced more than 30,000 spirit readings by this time

•  Topics ranged from health, astrology, religion, politics

•  Akashic Record – cosmic library where all is recorded

Edgar Cayce •  Reincarnation problematic for

Cayce – reconciled to belief when he saw that the Bible supports it (i.e. Mark 9:11, Matthew 11:13-14 and 17:12-13, concerning the identity of John the Baptist .)

•  Past life regressions then become a focus for Cayce.

•  Founded Association for Research and Enlightenment

•  Founded Edgar Cayce Foundation

•  Writings published by son Hugh Lynn Cayce in 1960’s – wide ranging recognition as a result

John at the Jordon River - reincarnation of Elijah?

John the Baptist as Elijah? •  Mark 9:1112: And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say

that Elijah must come first?” 12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

•  Matthew 11:13-14: 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Worldview •  In addition to broader

worldview of New Age Movement, Channelers also add one additional element: –  Dualism: implicit in nature of

channeling itself, because sources for spiritual inspiration are defined as “out there” somewhere, which sets up separation of here/there; self/other

–  At first glance incompatible with monistic emphasis of New Age: but, message of channeled entities is almost always monisitc: all is one Angel by Peggy Jentoft

Techniques •  Wide variety of

techniques: light trance, full trance; verbal communication; written communication; own voice; different voices; in private; in public.

•  Wide variety of spirit entities channeled: deceased humans; angels; energy beings; beings from Atlantis/Lemuria; extraterrestrials.

The Message •  Although no two channeled

philosophies are identical, there does seem to be a common core message.

•  Eight core teachings are: –  Personal responsibility: you are

responsible for saving your self –  Salvation comes from loving

yourself –  Fear = the obstacle that must be

overcome –  Death = illusion; reincarnation =

truth –  Physicality (belief that physical is

all there is; that physical is true reality) must be overcome

–  Getting in touch with “higher self” – you spiritual essence – is spiritual goal

–  Each person creates their own reality

–  You are God “The Temple Within” by Kolorama

Seth •  Most famous early New

Age entity, channeled by Jane Roberts

•  First contact 1963. •  Self-described as “energy

personality essence” – •  Two books of channeled

writings, The Seth Material (1970) and Seth Speaks (1972)

Jane Roberts

Seth •  Teachings of Seth:

–  God is “All that is” •  “God is not human as you use the

term, though he passed through human stages. He is not an individual but an energy gestalt. Its energy is so unbelievalbe that it does indeed form all universes, and because its energy is within and behind all universes, systems and fields, it is indeed aware of each sparrow that falls, for it IS each sparrow that falls.”

–  Each individual has God within themselves

–  Personality is multi-dimensional – we transcend time and space

–  We are responsible for our own lives – we chose this life to foster our spiritual development

Conceptualization of Seth

A Course in Miracles •  Channeled by

psychologist & medical school professor Helen Cohn Schucman between 1965-1973.

•  Channeled entity was Christ

•  “This is a course in Miracles. Please take notes.”

•  622 page text, 478 page work book, 365 lessons, 88 page teachers’ manual – published anonymously Helen Cohn Schucman

A Course in Miracles –  Nothing Unreal Exists

•  God is father/son/holy spirit: Father is changeless, eternal

•  Only things which share these characteristics are real – world, death, hate, sin are all unreal because they do not share these characteristics

•  We are not separate from God, but mistakenly believe we are. In believing it, we experience it – false perception must be overcome

–  Nothing Real can be Threatened •  Only God, and ourselves as extensions

of God, are real – because we share God’s characteristic of being eternal, we cannot be threatened – there is no death, no separation.

•  Grasping this truth = the miracle – when we grasp it, love replaces fear, and we are reunited with all that is – God.

Ramtha •  Channeled by J.Z. Knight •  Spirit entity = 35,000 year

old warrior from Atlantis. •  First contact 1977 via

“pyramid power” •  “I am Ramtha, the

Enlightened One. I have come to help you over the ditch.”

•  Ditch = self-imposed limitations & fear

JZ Knight

Ramtha •  Key teachings:

–  Everyone has the power to master own destiny, and achieve desires through positive thinking

–  To do so, must first realize truth that God is not outside yourself: You are God

–  Only difference between Ramtha and us is that Ramtha knows he’s God, and we don’t.

•  Controversial because of fees: $400 per channeling workshop session

•  Founded Sovereignty, Inc. to organize workshops & book sales; www.ramtha.com and http://www.ramtha.tv for disseminating teachings.

Ramtha speaks through JZ Knight

Lazaris •  Channeled by Jach Pursel •  Entity self-described as “a

spark of love and light” – never human – can give insight into human nature because looking from outside

•  First contact 1974 •  Similar message to previous,

with added element that life on earth has positive spiritual value –  Time and space are the safety

nets that cushion us from the true spiritual state of affairs, in which we create our own reality – without them, we would not be able to finish learning the lessons we need, to grasp our oneness with God.

Lazaris speaks through Jach Pursel

The Pleiadians •  Extraterrestrial entities

channeled by Barbara Marciniak •  Similar message of personal

responsibility, we are god, etc. •  Added element = extraterrestrial

origins of humans – created by aliens to fulfill spiritual destiny.

•  We have forgotten our destiny, however, and been led astray by poorly evolved aliens who fear our potential.

•  Bad aliens are in league with American government – a theme we will see more of in next section of our course.

•  Pleiadians are here to guide us back to spiritual path Barbara Marciniak