Edith

I grew up in Orlando, Florida very close to the spiritualist community, Cassadaga.  It's been in existence for over 100 years.  Continuation of life after death is a basic principle of Spiritualism.  The first time I went I was probably 20 years old.  I did it as a lark, just something zany to do on a Sunday afternoon.  The experience was life altering.

There are a lot of mediums who probably are shams, but the real deal is at Cassadaga.  My great grandfather came to me at that first reading and told me I would be speaking in front of people.  At that point, I was a college drop out, so I took it as an encouraging sign to get back in school.  But, I also got devastating news.  My grandmother was terminally ill.  Most readings don't give you terrible news and countless readings and decades later, I've never had that happen again.  But, the medium was right, unfortunately.  Two months later, my grandmother was diagnosed with colon cancer and passed within a year.

It made me a believer and although I've been a Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopalian, I am most comfortable with the principles of Spiritualism.  On Sundays, I attend the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment and, on occasion, take friends with me.

One Sunday, I took John.  Crumbs.  Remember him?  The one who took on the psychotherapist and started raising bees?  The first part of the service is meditation and healing.  He goes up for the healing.  Okay.  It took me weeks to get the nerve to go up but he is the first in the healing chair.  The second part of the service is hymns and a sermon, normal stuff.  Ad, the last part is messages given by mediums to people in the congregation.

I get more than my share of messages.  I've heard from my father, my grandmother, a female relative that died before I was born.  On this Sunday, there were an inordinate number of messages, so I'm thinking I guess I'm not hearing from anybody today.  Then, the medium points at me and says, "Let me hear your voice."  The woman in front of me speaks and the medium says, "No, the woman behind you."  I said, "Good morning."

"There's a woman with you.  Her name is Edith.  Do you know her?"
I shake my head and John whispers, "That's my mother."  Are you kidding me??!!  Your mother has a message for me?
"She says to tell you that people will stand in your way, but don't listen, you are on the right path."  I laugh out loud.  I love this woman.  John is completely blown out of the water.

A week later, I'm in Cassadaga for a reading that lasts two hours and Edith is with me the whole time.
She is very pleased I am reaching out so far.  You are blooming, she says.  I ask about her son and she says, I like your path better, he doesn't listen to anyone.  I've been with you for some time.  You are like a daughter to me.

Mom likes me better, I tell John.