The Personnel Of The Circle

The personal composition of the spiritualistic circle is a very

important matter, and those entering into circle work should pay

careful attention to the personal and psychical character of those

composing the circle; and it may be added here that such work requires

very nice powers of discrimination, and a great degree of tact, in order

to preserve the proper character of the circle, and at the same time to

avoid woun ing the pride of those who are to be rejected. Regarding the

character of those composing the circle, the following statement of a

practical medium will be found of importance. "There are some people who

are so sensitive that they should not sit in circles, because they are

liable to become charged with the psychic emanations from, and dominated

by the expectancy of, the sitters, but who are not influenced by spirit

power to any great extent. Or probably there may exist 'cross

magnetism,' that is to say the inharmonious magnetism of different

members who are antagonistic to each other. Some sitters may be

sarcastic, merely curious, or selfish, or mercenary, or not over clean,

sober or scrupulous, and all such surroundings act and react upon the

highly sensitive organization of the undeveloped medium, and, above all,

provide conditions favorable for the manifestations of mischievous or

malicious spirits, unless the medium is sufficiently developed, or is

protected by wise spirits powerful enough to resist or control such

influences. Like attracts like, as a general rule; but there are

exceptions to this, as to most rules, as, for instance, where

unfortunate or unhappy spirits are permitted to manifest, and are even

brought to the seance by other and more experienced spirit people, so

that they may be helped. The influence of the sitters in moulding the

conditions is too little realized. If they introduce an atmosphere of

suspicion, doubt, distrust, or detraction, they break the continuity of

the flow of psychic energy that has to be employed. By thus severing the

current and dissipating the power, they mar the conditions essential to

success; and, as all such disturbances of necessity center upon and

injuriously affect the sensitive medium, they render soul-satisfying and

uplifting communion impossible. To all sitters, we would say, 'You get

to a very great extent what you make conditions for, therefore open the

doors of the heavens by love and purity.'"