The Mediumistic Temperament

A leading writer on the subject of mediumship has said: "It is a

fundamental proposition that sensitiveness, or the capability of

mediumship, is a faculty common to mankind, differing in degree--as

hearing and sight are common heritages, but keener in some individuals

than in others; or, under certain conditions, it may disappear." What

is called "the mediumistic temperament" is frequently marked

self-consciousness and shrinking from public criticism, and a diffidence

which causes the person to wish to be out of the range of the

observation of strangers and those not sympathetic to them; on the other

hand, however, there are other forms of the "mediumship temperament"

which is marked by a nervous, almost hysterical, self assertiveness and

desire for public notice and attention. Persons of either of these

phases of this temperament, however, have the common quality of being

extremely sensitive to sneers and slights, adverse criticism and

oppositions, while ridicule drives them almost beside themselves.

Likewise they are nearly always found to be enthusiastic and earnest

workers when their interests and sympathies are aroused; as a writer has

said "they are almost invariably emotional, enthusiastic, spontaneous,

and ardent." And, as another writer has said they are usually "generous

and impulsive, hot-headed and independent, close friends with warm

hearts; too sensitive to criticism of an unkind nature, too easily

pleased by praise; without malice, without revengeful thoughts." A

striking feature of this temperament may be summed up in the phrase,

"hungry for sympathy and understanding."