Perry James Rabbitts -  History

Brief history of my interest in the psychic and spiritual and the path that has led me to write this spiritual information and guidance website.

Introduction

In my early teenage years I was interested in the supernatural, paranormal, the occult, magic, the mysteries of religion and spirituality. But, I wanted not simply to learn of the theories but practical experience of them. In those days, before the internet or specialist book clubs, there were few opportunities to learn about these things and there seemed no chance of finding a spiritual teacher or guide so my spiritual searching didn't seem to get far. Perhaps this was for the best as I believe my struggle for spiritual information has lead me to writing this web site, to help those who come after me in finding safe, practical information and guidance leading to psychic and spiritual experience.

Early Reading

As a teenager I came across many interestingly titled books; witchcraft seemed popular as did fortunetelling and magical or psychic abilities. Now I see that those books, although having interesting sounding titles, were full of words that did not actually say much; they were history, people biographies, theories, descriptions but little of practical use. Perhaps, hidden in these books there were some useful ideas but it was hard to find.

At 15, I was given a deck of tarot cards and I used them at school giving tarot readings to class mates. At 17, I advertised as a tarot reader calling myself "Solomon". However, with no transport, a shy personality and a shaky home life I did not pursue this excursion into professional fortunetelling. Was I good at tarot reading? I guess I was ok, my school mates seemed to think so and I went to see one lady three times, she paid me each time so I must have been ok in her eyes.

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Finding Spiritualism

I was 18 when I found the Spiritualist Church in Reading, at 81 Baker Street. To my surprise, I found that at every service they try to communicate with people in the spirit world aiming to prove survival after death. Spiritualism interested to me as it had almost a scientific approach with a definite occult and supernatural appeal with spirit communication, psychic abilities, some fortunetelling and spiritual healing.

During a Spiritualist service a local medium, John Harvey, told me that "I had potential to be a medium!" John spoke to me a few weeks later and suggested that I join a group aiming for mediumship development. John eventually started a training group, called a 'development circle,' and asked me to join. I sat each week for seven years or so and there were many interesting occurrences. I feel John's teaching approach was not best suited to me as I didn't seem to progress very far; I did not go into a trance, did not see or hear spirits and there was no unusual phenomena. But perhaps there was more progress than I realize. In my mind I could get thoughts, images, sometimes names and descriptions of personalities that other members of the development group could recognize as deceased relatives or friends.

I helped out at the Spiritualist church in other ways, gardening, fundraising events and supporting activities. During 1998 I served on the committee as treasurer, however, some people on the committee with forceful personalities lead me to become disillusioned and my intense involvement with Spiritualism temporarily ended.

Mediumship Development

A couple of years later my Spiritualism interest revived as local medium, Mavis King, took me under her wing. I attended her open development group and she encouraged me to practice my clairvoyant abilities to public audiences. With her encouragement I began to have confidence that I did in fact have a useful clairvoyant ability.

I gave evidence of survival after death at public meetings where trainee clairvoyants practice their skills; I could describe spirit people, give names and describe in detail their homes whilst on earth. I could visualise where they had lived in fact it was like I was there, I could choose which way I looked and describe what would be there. I practiced mediumship on the Reading church's 'open platform' and I also at similar meetings at the Blackpool Spiritualist church, the Blackpool Spiritual Meeting Place, plus a few meetings organised by Mavis for her trainees. I did well and was invited as the speaker and clairvoyant demonstrator for a Sunday church service at a local Spiritualist Church. They invited me back a second time, however it did not go well and I realised that in fact I was not ready to do church services alone, I needed more of Mavis' encouragement, experience and support.

But people in the Reading Spiritualist Church started mistrusting each other and Mavis was no longer welcome in the church so there was no one to help me with my development. This fresh turmoil lead me once more to drift away from Spiritualism.

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Spiritual Searching

During the following three years, I had brief but enjoyable spells attending two local Pentecostal Christian Churches. I liked the energy of the Pastor's preaching and the vibrancy of music and praise. I learned to pray more and think of God as something powerful, awesome, marvellous and praiseworthy. I came to know that forgiveness of mistakes is the way God had organised things. In Spiritualism there wasn't this energetic praising of the magnificence God, of rejoicing and being happy therefore the Pentecostal approach inspired me and refreshed my sense of spirituality. Unfortunately, judgmental condemnation of people in the name of Jesus lead me to rethink whether the Pentecostal church was for me after all. The marvellous God concept, the wonderful works of Jesus I wanted to hear about but I not the institutional prejudice.

I attended three meditation courses run by Jean Taylor. I learned more to quieten my thoughts and opening myself up to new ways with working with my mind. I later attended Buddhism classes in philosophy and meditation.

I had this old book of talks given by medium, Emma Hardinge in 1865. She spoke about Spiritualism, psychology and 'human magnetism.' I have since studied this human magnetism or personal magnetism and now understand that it is highly relevant to spiritual development. I came across many interesting "occult" titles in the second hand section of an online specialist book store and now I have learned not only more about human magnetism but also Hindu 'Yogi spiritual philosophy.' The human magnetism approach links well with both the yogi philosophy and with Spiritualism philosophy; combining these three approaches offers practical guidance on how to develop spiritually.