Channelling

An individual may act as a "channel" for messages, teaching and guidance from one or more individuals or entities in another plane of being. Frequently these are, or claim to be, individuals who have previously been incarnate this world and who wish to help the world in its current state of development and promote individual well-being. They are said to exist, and to be aware of existing, as a spark of consciousness at many levels that creates thought and reality. Other entities may be spirits, angels, extraterrestrials or simply the Higher Self. Unlike possession, when the possessed person is taken over by the personality of the individual who is communicating, the channeller simply acts as a means of communication in the manner of a receiver and transmitter, although this may occur in a trance-like state. Communication may be direct with an intelligence in the etheric world or through means of a spirit guide. To be a medium requires a special nervous system and bodily chemistry, which may be developed, combined with a willingness to act in this way. Preparation may involve one or more of the following: meditation; self-hypnosis; the smoking of special herbs or taking of hallucinogens; chanting; dancing; going without food and/or sleep; particular breathing techniques. The more prepared the medium is, through meditation and regular practice, and the more worthy his or her morals and lifestyle, the higher the intelligence attracted and the more accurate the information forthcoming.

Some sources include under the heading 'channelling' all direct contact with the supernatural world that is not actual possession, or even possession as well. Others only include only voluntary channelling, although the initial experience may be spontaneous and only subsequently come under the control of the channeller. In this case prophets and teachers of religion might be called channellers since they are "channelling" their knowledge, experience and the divine message to the rest of the world; similarly the oracles of the Greeks and the messages of the gods described in most religions or beliefs, whether ancient or present-day, might also come under this heading. One widespread and well documented example is the spiritualist sessions popular among ladies in the 19th century, at a time when feminine behaviour was particularly repressed. These gave freedom to exponents - under the influence of the possessing spirit - to exhibit outrageous behaviour and to draw attention to themselves in a manner which would otherwise have incurred social ostracism.

Opinions are mixed as to the authenticity of the experience as being from another being, some sources considering the condition as being pathological, being either schizophrenic (although, unlike the schizophrenic, the medium can learn to be in control over the states he or she experiences and is not assaulted by voices and visions), or as being related to multiple personality disorder (MPD) - although in the latter case the individual has no control over the transition form one personality to another - while others consider channellers have access to levels of consciousness not open to most people, so that the person is channelling messages from deep in his or her own psyche; others again consider the channeller has access to the universal mind to which all consciousnesses are to some degree connected. These latter beliefs are shared by some channellers themselves, although others are very clear that they are in contact with spiritual beings.

Opinions vary, also, as to the use to which knowledge gained from channelling should be put. An unthinking acceptance of the data or advice contained in channelled material may be extremely unwise and different sources give guidelines for discriminating useful from non-useful or even harmful material.

The awareness that channelling exists and that decisions do not have to be based only on rational analysis of the facts has lead many people to trust in and develop the intuitive side of their own nature, leading to a more balanced personality and development of wisdom.