ABC of Spiritualism 43 & 45 & 46/100

43. Are there not instances where men have sought advice from the spirit world in worldly affairs and, following the same, have met with disaster?

Quite a number of such cases have become known to the writer.

44. Why does the advice of the spirit world on worldly matters so often prove unreliable? There are doubtless many reasons for this.

1. The inhabitants of the spirit realm are out of direct touch, and not EN RAPPORT, with material conditions.

2. Some spirits are asked to give advice along lines of business with which in their earth life they had no connection and with which they have not acquainted themselves since passing over.

3. The mental atmosphere of those desiring and seeking messages for worldly gain is not conducive to good conditions for spirit messages.

45. How may the failure of other spirit messages regarding worldly affairs be accounted for? Sometimes an individual whose mind is filled with some project of worldly gain, whose desire and will are very strongly enlisted, and with whom the thought of this great gain has be- come an obsession, visits a medium, not so much to get the truth as to gain confirmation of his desires. The medium in a sensitive condition is more, largely dominated by the vibrations of the sitter than by the vibrations of the spirit world and the sitter gets back a reflex of his own mind and will. Sometimes the mortal vibrations of a circle are stronger than those from the spirit realm. A sitter under such conditions gets back the message he has brought.

46. What conditions are necessary on the part of the sitter to get the truth in a spirit message?

A mind free from bias; absolute sincerity; a supreme desire for truth whether it proves agreeable or the reverse; and a calm, receptive mind.