Esoteric book group - December's book

Hi Fiona

I have purchased the book from Amazon for 24p + postage, I am looking forward to reading it.

Take Care

Janet

Haha, me too!

I love a bargain and I look forward to reading it!!

Viv xx

i have ordered from amazon too. sounds really interesting, look forward to starting it
alison
xx

Just ordered mine too!

Thanks Fiona!

Love Kirsty xx

Glad that everyone's been able to source it easily, and all the better that it's a total bargain.

Happy reading

Fiona

Hi Book group

This book looks like a really good read so I've just ordered it off amazon. I love a mystery!

Dawn xx

Hi all,
Mine came today and it is like brand new..I can't believe it for 24p...
I hope to start it later!

Viv xx

just ordered mine at the slightly more expensive price of 26p! Linda x

Hi Viv

How good id it your book arrived before mine !

Take care

Janet

Really..Well I was amazed at the speed of delivery as well as the price.
Did you order from Christopher Toms..
The book looks brand new by the way!
I bet yours comes tomorrow.

Viv xx

How luck are you my book still not arrived- can't wait much longer runing out of reading matter.

Take care
Janet xx

Blimey, it's taking it's time!!
I suppose it's the christmas post to blame...
To be honest Janet, I can't get into my book, I don't know if it's because my mind is elswhere or whether it is just not that interesting, and so I am looking forward to other opinions on it..
Hurry up postie!!

Viv xx

Now got to find time to read it! Hope yours comes soon Janet. Did they send you an email to say it had been posted to you? Linda x

Hi

My book still not arrived - checked it out with Amazon I had not noticed that the book is coming from USA should be with me by the 16th Dec. I am reading Gordon Smith (UK medium) at the moment, very similar book to Tony Stockwell.

Take care

Janet

i'm still waiting for mine to arrive, good really cos still reading tony stockwell embracing eternity from last month, not sure what is taking me so long!!!
alison
xx

Hello everyone,

Owing to what looks like Amazon's lassitude, I'll hold off for another few days on posting my thoughts, to give everyone a chance to read the book.

I'll check in again on the 16 and 17th to start the discussion, which can then continue over the festive season (hopefully everyone will have a sufficient lull at some point in order to get it read!.

Chat again soon

Fiona

I know that some people have just taken delivery of the book, but I thought I would give my opinion in the interim.

I have a longstanding interest in the Victorian era, and particularly in the fields of scientific discovery and the growth of popular media and showmanship, so this book, to me, was a real find. I zoomed through it - the author writes in a very accessible way - and was very taken with the eponymous hero, Daniel Home. He wasn't just the first psychic, I think he was the first celebrity! I couldn't believe how many people he came into contact with and however did he end up marrying into Russian nobility, twice? I was stunned by the scientists of his day (though they really had better things to do, such as harnessing electricity and working out evolutionary theory) who felt the need to experiment/decry/vindicate him! It struck me as similar to the days (in the early 80s) when 192 scientists banded together to speak out against...astrology. Not nuclear power, or atomic testing, mind. A bit like Richard Dawkins getting worked up over homeopathy. Some things never change!! This was a truly enlightening, relevant read. We never get to the bottom of who Home really was but he certainly deserves better than declining into obscurity. Without him: no Colin Fry, no Tony Stockwell. And certainly no Derren Brown!

Let me know how you got on.

Fiona

Hi Fiona

I am enjoying this book, still need more time to complete.
I agree this book is a real find.

Take care

Janet

Hi Janet & Fiona,

Your comments have spurred me on to give the book another go, I wasn't able to give it my undivided attention before,but I will try & find time over the hols to read it..

Viv xx

i haven't had much time this week to read, but the bits i have read i have enjoyed. i will attempt more at weekend but it def looks promising
alison xxx

Hi all, I'm a good way through this book now - and found it fascinating that spiritualism and mediumship as we know them are so recent!  Like Fiona I found Daniel's celebrity status amazing - but then as the first of his kind, I guess his novelty value as much as anything would make him interesting to the great and good.  You still can't quite imagine how he ends up being pals with the rich and famous - let alone emperors etc!! - in so many countries though!

On the down side, I am finding the author's style a bit repetitive at times though.

Will write more when I've finished

Love Kirsty xx

Hi Kirsty
I agree I cannot believe how he ends up being pals with the rich and famous at only 21 years old !

Will try and catch up 2/3 to go.

Take care

Janet

it seems i am way behind everyone else again! i need to get off my laptop and get reading!!!
night
alison xxxx

Hahaha!
Me & you both Alison..

Viv xxx

Hi
I was reading The First Psychic, page 200 where William Crookes is testing the truth about seances.
I had the TV on in the back ground when on comes Tony Robinson doing reserch into seances with Helen Duncan, a well know scottish medium. Did any see the program !

Janet

Hello everyone

Have just got back from retreat in bonny Scotland and ready to reconnect with the world once more...

Janet - do tell us more about that TV prog, what was Tony Robinson's conclusion?  Hilarious how they're still doing the same testing as in Home's day - I'm always reminded of Bertrand Russell's comment on scientific repetition "How many times do you need to see sulphur burn before you believe that it burns with a yellow flame?" !

Still on the theme of repetition, Kirsty has a very valid point: he did stumble over his words on more than a few occasions.  But while Lamont is undoubtedly skeptical, he was careful to avoid the Richard Dawkins-style crusading that he could have fallen into.  So credit is due, I feel. 

It's a book that warrants a couple of goes before fully getting into: I borrowed it again from my local library to re-read as needed.  I would have loved to read a few other articles on Home for extra research, but there is a lack of material.  Which, coming back to my first post, is a shame for he was a pioneer of sorts!

Happy New Year to all EBGBees

Fiona

Hi all,

I have had 3 goes so far at getting into the book and I am still finding it difficult I'm afraid.

Im sticking with it though..

I recorded Tony Robinson last night, haven't watched it yet, but I see he is on again tonight with a programme about the ghosts of Glastonbury.

Viv xx

Looks like im probably too late to join in with this months book although it does sound very interesting.
I will join in on the next month book

Love Jackie xxx

You can read mine Jackie,That is if I am not still plodding on with it..
I should hopefully be finished at the end of Jan,haha!!

Viv x

Yes I saw it in  bits janet, due to lots of interuptions ! I did catch  tonys reading with Darren Britten which I thought was pretty good, despite tony not realising quite abit of what he was told until after the event ! i just wish id seen abit more about helen duncan herself. Its on again tonight and tomorrow so im going to take a peek later on, love kimberley xx

I will read yours after you have finished with it.
I will deff be watching Tony Robinson tonight

Love Jackie xx

Hopefully tonight won't be as scary as last nights film..
Viv x

hi all
not been on for a while as i've been trying to do some reading!!
i'm about halfway through, finding it really interesting although some of the language makes me laugh.
it is amazing how he mixed with such influential people and how opinion was so divided on his genuineness (is that a word?!!)
love alison

Hi
I have finished the book, I am just weighing up the pro's and con's. Is it just me ! why have we not heard of this man, he should be famous. I have removed Dickens and Browning from my christmas card list.
Anyway I will wait for everyone else to finish reading this book.

Take care

Janet

Hi Janet,

If you're interested, I've got more info on DDH the famous Victorian psychic if you want to read it.  He was very famous in his time, and was highly regarded by many other spiritualists of his time, as was Helen Duncan.  These were pioneers in the early days of the 'ism'.  Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes) was also a very committed spiritualist.  There's lots of evidence that suggests Winston Churchill and some of his WW2 military advisors used to consult mediums and take part in seances.  Like many things connected to spiritualism, people don't find these things out until they go searching for them.   Did you know, many renowned physical mediums came from these parts, some of the oldest spiritualist churches are in Yorkshire?  There's a photo that hangs on a wall in Dewsbury Spiritualist church, that shows spirit writing on it.   Might be worth visiting Dewsbury one day so you can have a look.

Love Pat xxx

I would love more reading on DDH. Last months book Coincidences, had section on Winston Churchill that I found very interesting, I believe it said that he was very intuitive.
Will have to visit Dewsbury when the lighter nights come.

Janet

Hello Pat

I didn't know Dewsbury SC had spirit writing on the wall: clearly a visit is due.

It's extraordinary that he can be so famous in his time but not be heard of a century later, particulary when his ilk influenced Churchill (and given that Hitler was influenced by Nietzche and Nostradamus and those two haven't exactly fallen into obscurity)

A grave injustice has to be rectified.

I'm off to start a FB group!

Fiona

I agree with you Daniel Home needs his own FB group!
Do you have your January Book title yet. I am just about to make a start on the "Five Quarters of the Orange" book which you very kindly sent me.
Thank you it was a lovely thought.

Janet

Am thinking of starting a protest rally in support of him; all attendees to assemble at Dewsbury Spiritualist Church (once we have viewed the spirit writing)!!!

Glad the book got to you OK. Your gift was fantastic and very timely as I was off on retreat.

I did have a title for January but have now forgotten what it was so will post on my next visit on these pages.

Love
Fiona

Hi Fiona
Your so funny ! looks like Dewsbury will be on our to do list.

Take care

Janet

Hi all,

I have finally finished the book and I have to say it was a real chore to do so..

It was well written and a good portrayal of DDH, and as someone said earlier he certainly paved the way for the mediums of today, although I am sure they would have made their mark anyway with their geniune talents.

I think my problem with DDH is that he comes across as a showman with too much reliance on the shock factor and I am not convinced that he was a geniune medium, and if he was he wouldnt be the sort that I would like to see.

I really didn't warm to him at all, sorry ladies.

Viv xx

Hi Viv

I was interested in the historical side of things - the fact that Spiritualism developed so recently, and the fact that famous figures from all walks of life took such an interest in Daniel and his activities.  But I know what you mean about the showmanship of it.  It seems that then (as now, probably and sadly) there were plenty of people who wanted to make money by faking a show - and many of them were found out.  It's interesting that Daniel never was - although of course that doesn't prove he was totally genuine.  I just find it hard to understand why spirits would communicate with us by lifting a table or playing the accordian, so that side of things doesn't really make sense to me.  And I would have much more faith in people who just said "Sorry I'm not getting anything, please come back another time" than this attitude that even the Spiritulists seemed to have that every medium would have to fake it now and then.

Love Kirsty xx

That is an interesting point Kirsty that he didn't seem interested in making money from his theatrical seances and I am sure he could have done.
I just got the feeling early on in the book that he was a conceited man with little regard for the feelings of others.
And so on that basis I felt that the way he ws happy to live off others whilst mixing with the rich and famous was enough for him.
He didn't really need his own personal wealth at that point.
And yes, I absolutely agree about the special effects of the lifting tables and a bell being placed into peoples hands, plus spirit hand...
Why would that happen...and when people say it does it makes me suspicious I'm afraid..
I totally believe in spirit but why would they need to rely on such theatrical feats..and more or less on cue..Nope, it doesn't sit right with me.
And that made me dislike him.
The book itself, and the account of how spirituality developed, and not so long ago was a fascinating insight.

Love

Viv xx

i have almost finished the book and have to say i enjoyed it. although i can see where you are coming from viv saying you took a dislike to daniel near the beginning i didn't. he was certainly a bit odd but if he was the talented medium they describe that would make him a bit odd. i'm also not sure about the theatrical seances he performed like both kirsty and viv, i guess it was the way of the time, i can't understand why people would be more impressed with that than with personal info from loved oned who have passed. i can't imagine that communications from spirit are so much different now than they have ever been so why if he was such a talented medium is there no evidence of accurate readings for his sitters?
love alison
xxx

Hi Kirsty and Viv Although I havent read the book as I was too late to join in, I was very interested in your comments about the lifting of tables.

When I went on the ghost hunt on halloween we were communicating with a spirit from the medical hospital. This spirit called Elizabeth lifted the table for us, no one was touching the table at the time. This was just to prove to us that she was really there and I think she did want to entertain us.

She enjoyed us being there and didnt want us to leave. People were asking her to lift the table but again that was for some kind of proof for everyone that she really existed.

I for one didnt doubt at all that is was Elizabeth doing this for us. I imagine that it is very hard for a spirit (in terms of energy) to commincate with us in anyway so that will use collective energy from people that are there. I think that when I eventually go to the spirit world I will definately be lifting tables for people just to show that I can. 

Love Jackie xx

Sorry if my last post came across as harsh in anyway as it wasnt meant too.
I havent read the book so I maybe got it out of context.
Ive just had a bit of bad today with my mum and I just think I was saying how I felt at the time

Sorry Love Jackie xx

Your posting was fine, have a nice bubble bath and ease away the day.
Take care

Janet

I decided on a bottle of wine instead

Jackie xx

Hi Alison,

I'm pleased you enjoyed the book, you and the others obviously got something from the book that I couldn't.

I did try..but I think once my mind was made up that I didn't like him the book didn't stand a chance..lol

Jackie, the table incident that you witnessed sounds fascinating and obvious proof that it can happen..Wow !! Lucky you being able to witness it!

Viv xxx