Last summer, I visited the National Spiritual Alliance in Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts. At one time, Lake Pleasant had been a large spiritualist summer camp. Now, it is mainly one building with a beautiful sanctuary where classes are taught and psychic fairs are held.
Louise Shattuck and David James wrote a book, “Spirit and Spa”,* about the history of Lake Pleasant. Reading their book brought me back to a peaceful time in history. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people left cities during the summer to spend weeks, perhaps months, at camp meetings. The Lake Pleasant spiritualist camp in Massachusetts was very popular from about 1870 to 1930, when trains brought people to the lakeside community. Initially, people lived in tents. Over time, the tents were replaced by cabins. Then came hotels and restaurants. Unfortunately, much of this infrastructure burned in a fire in 1907.
People went to the camp for a summer of entertainment. Bands played three times each day. Visitors went boating and swimming. In the evening, dances were held at an open air pavilion. There was even a roller skating arena. Ice cream was available. Activities included speakers, costume parties, cakewalks, card games, and hot air balloon rides.
Mediumship was the icing on the cake. In addition to the other activities, you could attend seances and mediumship circles, or have private readings.
According to the book, there wasn’t much to the spiritualist philosophy at the time. The basic tenets were that souls existed beyond death and that you could communicate with them. There was a disagreement about the possibility of reincarnation and this argument split the spiritualist community into two organizations.
These days, metaphysical interests have expanded well beyond the original ideas of spiritualism to include personal meditation, healing work, remote viewing, past-life access, and all types of psychic work. People enjoy communicating with their spirit guides, angels and Higher Self.
In many cases, information from the unseen comes through spirit guides. This is an interesting excerpt regarding one Medium’s spirit guides from page 98 of the book:
“My grandmother was 89 when she died in 1936. None of her guides stayed with her to the end. They all came one night and said they wouldn’t be back any more, that my grandmother’s health was too poor. Trances take a lot out of a medium and my grandmother didn’t have the strength to withstand them coming anymore. So they bid us all goodbye.”
The idea of spirit guides leaving someone surprised me a bit, although I have heard this from a couple of living psychics. Their guides left them for one reason or another. I suppose that could be another blog post.
“Spirit and Spa” contained many photos, a very nice component.
Several spiritualist communities still exist, including Lily Dale in western NY state, Cassadaga in Florida, Harmony Grove in CA, Camp Chesterfield in Indiana, and Ephrata in PA.
Up until this summer, you could visit the communities and have readings with psychics and Mediums. This summer’s pandemic shut down some of these activities. You can contact each community to find out if they are open to the public.
I enjoyed reading about the camp meeting lifestyle, however the book was a bit dry. I would have loved to read more about the Mediums, the spirit circles, and the information which came through.
Of course, when I read about spiritualist history or visit a spiritualist community, I hope to have a “deja vu” and remember myself at one of these places. It hasn’t happened yet, but it might.
Take care.
Gail
gail@MyPsychicSearch.com
* “Spirit and Spa” by Louise Shattuck in collaboration with David James. 2003. Delta House Press, Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Louise Shattuck and David James wrote a book, “Spirit and Spa”,* about the history of Lake Pleasant. Reading their book brought me back to a peaceful time in history. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people left cities during the summer to spend weeks, perhaps months, at camp meetings. The Lake Pleasant spiritualist camp in Massachusetts was very popular from about 1870 to 1930, when trains brought people to the lakeside community. Initially, people lived in tents. Over time, the tents were replaced by cabins. Then came hotels and restaurants. Unfortunately, much of this infrastructure burned in a fire in 1907.
People went to the camp for a summer of entertainment. Bands played three times each day. Visitors went boating and swimming. In the evening, dances were held at an open air pavilion. There was even a roller skating arena. Ice cream was available. Activities included speakers, costume parties, cakewalks, card games, and hot air balloon rides.
Mediumship was the icing on the cake. In addition to the other activities, you could attend seances and mediumship circles, or have private readings.
According to the book, there wasn’t much to the spiritualist philosophy at the time. The basic tenets were that souls existed beyond death and that you could communicate with them. There was a disagreement about the possibility of reincarnation and this argument split the spiritualist community into two organizations.
These days, metaphysical interests have expanded well beyond the original ideas of spiritualism to include personal meditation, healing work, remote viewing, past-life access, and all types of psychic work. People enjoy communicating with their spirit guides, angels and Higher Self.
In many cases, information from the unseen comes through spirit guides. This is an interesting excerpt regarding one Medium’s spirit guides from page 98 of the book:
“My grandmother was 89 when she died in 1936. None of her guides stayed with her to the end. They all came one night and said they wouldn’t be back any more, that my grandmother’s health was too poor. Trances take a lot out of a medium and my grandmother didn’t have the strength to withstand them coming anymore. So they bid us all goodbye.”
The idea of spirit guides leaving someone surprised me a bit, although I have heard this from a couple of living psychics. Their guides left them for one reason or another. I suppose that could be another blog post.
“Spirit and Spa” contained many photos, a very nice component.
Several spiritualist communities still exist, including Lily Dale in western NY state, Cassadaga in Florida, Harmony Grove in CA, Camp Chesterfield in Indiana, and Ephrata in PA.
Up until this summer, you could visit the communities and have readings with psychics and Mediums. This summer’s pandemic shut down some of these activities. You can contact each community to find out if they are open to the public.
I enjoyed reading about the camp meeting lifestyle, however the book was a bit dry. I would have loved to read more about the Mediums, the spirit circles, and the information which came through.
Of course, when I read about spiritualist history or visit a spiritualist community, I hope to have a “deja vu” and remember myself at one of these places. It hasn’t happened yet, but it might.
Take care.
Gail
gail@MyPsychicSearch.com
* “Spirit and Spa” by Louise Shattuck in collaboration with David James. 2003. Delta House Press, Greenfield, Massachusetts.
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