ChannelingChanneling• Opposite pole within New Age

Movement to Mother EarthSpirituality

• Stresses otherworldly (ratherthan nature-centred) sourcesof inspiration

• Stresses idea that we arealready too concerned withworldly things: spiritual focusshould take one away fromnature, not towards it.

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

Historical Influences: NecromancyHistorical Influences: Necromancy• Global practice, across

cultures and time periods• Speaking to the dead to reveal

hidden knowledge• Shamanic necromancy:

shaman enters trance, travelsto land of dead

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

• I Samuel 28 – Saul contactsspirit of Samuel

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

Transfiguration of Jesus

Spiritualism & TheosophySpiritualism & Theosophy• Both 19th century movements

already discussed inconnection to broader NewAge Movement

• Both emerged out of historicalenvironment shaped byChristianity that condemnednecromancy as demonic

• Spiritualism & Theosophymake communication withspirits central religious practice

• Spiritualism: speaks to spiritsof loved ones

• Theosophy: speaks to“elevated masters”

“Spirit Guide” by J. Ann Masiker

Edgar Cayce (1877-1945)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, verysuccessful

• Died 1945; had produced morethan 30,000 spirit readings bythis time

• Topics ranged from health,astrology, religion, politics

• Akashic Record – cosmiclibrary where all is recorded

Edgar CayceEdgar Cayce• Reincarnation problematic for

Cayce – reconciled to beliefwhen he saw that the Biblesupports it (i.e. Matthew 11:13-14 and 17:12-13, concerningthe identity of John the Baptist .)

• Past life regressions thenbecome a focus for Cayce.

• Founded Association forResearch and Enlightenment

• Founded Edgar CayceFoundation

• Writings published by son HughLynn Cayce in 1960’s – wideranging recognition as a result

John at the Jordon River -reincarnation of Elijah?

WorldviewWorldview• In addition to broader

worldview of New AgeMovement, Channelers alsoadd one additional element:– Dualism: implicit in nature of

channeling itself, becausesources for spiritual inspirationare defined as “out there”somewhere, which sets upseparation of here/there;self/other

– At first glance incompatiblewith monistic emphasis ofNew Age: but, message ofchanneled entities is almostalways monisitc: all is one Angel by Peggy Jentoft

TechniquesTechniques• Wide variety of

techniques: light trance,full trance; verbalcommunication; writtencommunication; ownvoice; different voices; inprivate; in public.

• Wide variety of spiritentities channeled:deceased humans;angels; energy beings;beings fromAtlantis/Lemuria;extraterrestrials.

The MessageThe Message• Although no two channeled

philosophies are identical, theredoes seem to be a common coremessage.

• 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 truereality) must be overcome

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

– Each person creates their ownreality

– You are God“The Temple Within” by Kolorama

SethSeth• Most famous early New

Age entity, channeled byJane Roberts

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

personality essence” –• Two books of channeled

writings, The SethMaterial (1970) and SethSpeaks (1972)

Jane Roberts

SethSeth• Teachings of Seth:

– God is “All that is”– Each individual has God

within themselves– Personality is multi-

dimensional – wetranscend time and space

– We are responsible for ourown lives – we chose thislife to foster our spiritualdevelopment

Conceptualization of Seth

A Course in MiraclesA Course in Miracles• Channeled by

psychologist & medicalschool professor HelenCohn Schucman between1965-1973.

• Channeled entity wasChrist

• “This is a course inMiracles. Please takenotes.”

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

A Course in MiraclesA Course in Miracles– Nothing Unreal Exists

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

• Only things which share thesecharacteristics are real – world, death,hate, sin are all unreal because they donot share these characteristics

• We are not separate from God, butmistakenly believe we are. In believingit, we experience it – false perceptionmust be overcome

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

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

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

RamthaRamtha• 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 havecome to help you over theditch.”

• Ditch = self-imposedlimitations & fear

JZ Knight

RamthaRamtha• Key teachings:

– Everyone has the power tomaster own destiny, andachieve desires throughpositive thinking

– To do so, must first realizetruth that God is not outsideyourself: You are God

– Only difference betweenRamtha and us is thatRamtha knows he’s God,and we don’t.

• Controversial because offees: $400 per channelingworkshop session

• Founded Sovereignty, Inc. toorganize workshops & booksales; www.ramtha.com andhttp://www.ramtha.tv fordisseminating teachings.

Ramtha speaks through JZ Knight

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

spark of love and light” – neverhuman – can give insight intohuman nature because lookingfrom outside

• First contact 1974• Similar message to previous,

with added element that life onearth has positive spiritualvalue– Time and space are the safety

nets that cushion us from thetrue spiritual state of affairs, inwhich we create our ownreality – without them, wewould not be able to finishlearning the lessons we need,to grasp our oneness withGod.

Lazaris speaks through Jach Pursel

The The PleiadiansPleiadians• Extraterrestrial entities

channeled by Barbara Marciniak• Similar message of personal

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

origins of humans – created byaliens to fulfill spiritual destiny.

• We have forgotten our destiny,however, and been led astray bypoorly evolved aliens who fearour potential.

• Bad aliens are in league withAmerican government – a themewe will see more of in nextsection of our course.

• Pleiadians are here to guide usback to spiritual pathBarbara Marciniak