"I Walked with Spirits"

I mentioned in my last blog that I spent Memorial Day weekend at the retreat center for the United Metaphysical Churches in Roanoke, VA. While there, I picked up a neat little book that Rev. Brown suggested we all purchase. It's called: "I Walked with the Spirits" written by Jeanette Strack-Zanghi D.Min as Gerda Slater. Gerda Slater is a woman who now resides in a retirement community in Florida and Jeanette heard she had some amazing stories of her experiences with Spirit and wanted to get them all in print.

The book starts with her beginnings of course. Her life in Germany before Hitler's reign and then touching on what life was like for her during his reign. Then her meeting the love of her life - an American soldier and finally moving to the US to be with him. She was also able to bring her parents who she adored and they all lived happily in Florida.

Then her Mother died and Gerda was beside herself with grief. She was desperate to know where she went and how she was. She started reading everything she could on the afterlife. One day as she and her husband were walking around an antique store, a man from behind the counter told her that a woman in a wheelchair (in Spirit) was following them around the store. She was convinced it was her Mother. From there, she and her husband Eddy decided to start going to a Spiritualist Church near where they lived. Then her Father died and Gerda decided she needed to know more about life after death and she missed them so badly that she wanted to talk to them.

They started attending Camp Silver Belle in PA. This camp is no longer there but the stories she has of it and the experiences she had attending the circles are quite amazing. This book speaks of a time gone by. Of physical mediumship being at it's all time best. Manifestations of Spirit, Trumpet Circles, Card Precipitations, Silk Precipitations, and full blown Materializations. I am so jealous that she was able to experience all that wonder.

There are very few Mediums doing anything like this anymore. I have seen a few card precipitators and they are very good. But, materializations are a thing of the past. The church says that it's no longer important to show people these kind of signs from Spirit. And I have seen one materialization that I thought was quite remarkable. I was able to see Rev. Brown's joy guide rush in and out of his cabinet (an enclosed space covered with black curtains so that ectoplasm can build within it around the medium). I feel fortunate that I was able to witness that circle.

I am wishing the old time Medium's work was still around. I would love to experience the levitations and materializations. What I wouldn't give to see my loved ones again who have passed to the other side. I cannot give myself readings...I have to go to someone else. And there are good ones out there...you just need to look hard for them.

I'm sure you've heard of Lily Dale but there is another place that is worth mentioning. Camp Chesterfield in Indiana. I myself will be making a trek out there soon to check the place out. Many Mediums work in and around there. Gerda speaks of attending events there as well.

Gerda's book was a vanity press publication so it is hard to come by. Though I'm sure if you contacted the United Metaphysical Church in Roanoke...they would be happy to send you a copy. It's not the best written book I've ever read...but the stories of the circles are worth reading.