Before I answer that question, I'd like to answer an even broader question: What is the purpose of group events?
From its inception, Spiritualism has been a group experience. Whether in churches, at s�ances, or in public halls and parks, gifted mediums presented the spirits to groups, large and small. In the early days of the work, spirit manifestations were often physical - - rappings, table tipping, spirit art (detailed paintings appearing on canvas without human hands) or slate writing (messages appearing on small blackboards in a deceased person's handwriting). Physical representations of spirit presences helped to establish Spiritualism as a legitimate movement. Lilydale, famous for its Spiritualist history, has a number of these evidential pieces in the museum and hanging in the historic buildings.
Today mediums use books, television, and the internet to share spirit messages which touch millions of people - - at the same time. Although technology has allowed spirit circles to grow ever larger, there is still the desire for an "in person" experience with a medium.
This is one of the reasons why I travel so many months during the year and provide a variety of group experiences from larger demonstrations of spirit communication to Small Spirit Circles and private sessions. Each of these experiences is unique, and provides a different opportunity to connect with loved ones in spirit.
Demonstrations of mediumship (the events are referred to as "An Afternoon" or "Evening of Spirit Communication") are the largest "in person" events I present. When I do an internet event, the audiences can be in the thousands. However, the major difference between a web event and a demonstration is not the size of the audience. A demonstration is a shared "in person" experience. You can think of it like this: an "in person" demonstration differs from a web event like watching a concert on TV differs from attending a live concert and dancing wildly in the aisles.
Hmmm . . . there isn't much aisle dancing at a demonstration, but I think you understand what I mean.
At a demonstration, people are part of the experience whether they receive a personal message or not. At a recent event in Maryland, a number of people were dabbing their eyes as a complete stranger received a touching message from a young man in spirit. At a demonstration, we feel the presence of the spirits and we share the emotions of others in the room. That's what makes a group experience different from any other.
Another reason I enjoy presenting larger events, is that they provide an opportunity for people who might be intrigued by spirit communication, to experience it in a comfortable way. Many people attend group events thinking, "I'll just watch." Well, that's not exactly what happens!
One of the anomalies of a group situation is that those who may not be expecting (or even wanting) a message, get one! I always found this to be amusing as do the friends who dragged the person along to the event. But the reason that this often happens is that there is actually an energy issue at work.
People who bring a list of demands to an event can deflect the subtle energies of spirit connection. However, those who attend without expectations or anticipation coupled with an attitude of gratitude, make it easier for the spirits to make contact.
At a group event, my guides manage my energy and the energy of the crowd in the most effective way. This way, the greatest number of people receive messages in the least depleting way for the medium.
This is one of the reasons why a personal message for one person may be meaningful to a person sitting all the way across the room.
After a recent event, a young woman said to me, "When you told the lady in the front row that her mother would be attending her upcoming wedding, I felt as though my mother was telling me the same thing." Often the spirits will choose one spirit whose message will touch many in the audience.
At one demonstration, there were 5 unrelated people in the group who had fathers who loved Christmas and assembled train sets under the tree every year. What is the likelihood of that?
A Spirit Touch Circle is sized between a Small Spirit Circle (10 people) and a demonstration (more than 50) because it is limited to 25 participants. I created this event because there were requests for a smaller event where some friends and families could "observe." Well, as I'm often heard to say, "There are no observers at events. We're all participants."
Spirit Touch Circles (which will now be called "Spirit Meet and Greet Circles") are message intensive events in an intimate and comfortable setting. Often couples and relatives attend these circles and a spirit will address them both.
Group events provide an opportunity to experience spirit communication in an up close and personal way (which is also wallet friendly). The next three group events are a Spirit Touch Circle (Spirit Meet and Greet) on Long Island, An Evening of Spirit Communication in Manhattan and a Spirit Touch Circle (Spirit Meet and Greet) in Claremont, CA.
Those of you who are on Facebook, please post your experiences at one of my group events. It would be great to hear from anyone who attended the Afternoon of Spirit Communication in Frederick, MD.
Hollister is an internationally renowned medium. Known for her extraordinarily detailed work, she provides specific messages from loved ones living in the spirit world with feeling, heart, and grace. Hollister is a clairvoyant, clairaudient and clairsentient (meaning that she can see, hear and feel the presence of spirits as well as get a sense of their personalities, emotions, physical attributes and illnesses), and her unique gifts have provided comfort and closure for people all over the world. With her personal charm, sense of humor, and sense of compassion, her messages of love, hope, and healing on KOST FM's, "Angels in Waiting" and KBIG FM's, "Radio Medium" have touched the lives of thousands of people. Her CD Many Doors - An Introduction to Mediumship takes listeners on a journey through the doors that separate life, death, and life after life. 