 An incredibly accurate medium, Tony Stockwell is probably familiar to you from the TV series: The Psychic Detective, Street Psychic and Psychic School. He is co-founder of The Avalon Project, which offers seminars, one-day workshops and lectures across the country to promote and encourage spiritual learning and development.
In January 2007, he is going to be giving a demonstration and workshop specially for Cygnus Readers. Look out for details in forthcoming issues of The Cygnus Review.
Visit www.tonystockwell.com.
Dear Friends,
Something I have spent a lot of time pondering over in the last year or two is ‘What effect does a belief in life after death have on the earthly life we are living now, if any at all?’
I used to have the simple belief that we fell into two camps: those who believed there was more to us than just this one life, that we are more than just the ‘physical us’, and those who believe that this is it, the us in the here and now is all we are and that once our number is up it’s the end.
Of course this is a very simplistic view as there are many versions of belief regarding our continued existence after ‘death’. Some believe in heaven and hell; some the spirit world; some people believe in an all-powerful all-knowing being, whether he/she is called God, Jehovah, Allah or the Great Spirit, to name but a few. Some others also like to think we are all part of the same creative force, more masters of our own destiny and continued progression into eternity. Still, however divided we are about the details of continued existence, it still amounts to the same thing: that there are believers and non-believers in ‘something more’.
In my work as a demonstrating medium I come into contact with people from every belief system you can think of, as well of course as the undecided, the curious and the downright sceptical. I do not take it upon my shoulders to try convincing all those who cross my path, I simply just do what I do and let people make up their own mind. I am sure there are those who have come to see me demonstrate my mediumship who have then gone on to investigate further what all this life after death stuff is all about; also hopefully those who have received such proof that they are now convinced; and I have no doubt at all that there have been those who have come to see me and other mediums and gone away thinking it’s all a load of clap-trap. Whatever they may think, I have no control over: that’s their life path and this is mine.
Amongst ‘us believers’ though, whether we have come to this acceptance later in life or have had a faith passed to us from parents, there is also another divide that is at times quite evident. Again, I am probably simplifying, and I am sure there are people who fall at different places between the two camps, or maybe even spend a little time in either going back and forward, but the divide definitely is there.
I am talking about those who embrace their belief and allow it to be part of and affect their day-to-day life, influence their words and actions and all decisions they make; and there are those who are quite content to box up their belief and treat it as something entirely separate from their day-to-day living.
I think that to have a faith is a blessing, a wonderful gift that can help us live a full and spiritual life, and if we truly embrace this and allow it to be the foundation of all we are and do, we will hopefully find the life we lead takes on an entirely different perspective.
Everything becomes crystal clear and suddenly in focus, and we can at times feel like invincible warriors who can cope with everything life throws at us. Look at grief for example: we know at some point it is going to affect each and every single person on the planet, however dreary that thought is. It’s a given that not only will we one day ‘die’ ourselves, but during our own life so will someone we love and care about. In trying times like this, when our resolve is put to the test, how comforting to know the loss is only brief and that we will one day be reunited.
Also think for a moment of the all consuming materialism that seems to dictate so much of what we do and how we live. If you accept that who and what we are now is just a tiny part of our infinite existence, does it really matter if we have the latest car or the latest gadgets and fashions? Should it really bother us if a friend has a bigger house?
Surely if we truly let our faith and belief influence and be part of all that we are, the stresses and strains of this physical existence will seem like a hill to climb rather than a mountain that blocks our path.
We all know that life can be joyous, happy and full of love, but can also at times be downright horrible, and that we are often presented with the most difficult things to cope with, and far be it from me to say any of the challenges you have are insignificant or unimportant. I have been a working medium for over 20 years and through my own experiences and work with the spirit world could not have a stronger faith; but I still moan and curse and complain as much as the next person, even sometimes about the mundane stupid things like a car-parking space.
Still, if we always remember and keep focus on what we truly are, we can hopefully put the spring back into our lives, be kinder to others and ourselves, and take each day as an opportunity to experience more things, have new adventures and make fascinating new friends.
It’s not something that will come easily or instantly, but hopefully, if we can all bear it in mind, we can start to let it affect all that we are and all that we do.
With love and good wishes,
Tony Stockwell
Text & photographs © Cygnus Books 18-Aug-2006
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