An Extraordinary Journey: The Memoirs of a Physical Medium

This interesting unusual book is written by Stewart Alexander (English [Kingston-on-Hull] medium, 1946-) and published 2010. It's unusual because it's about recent decades and because physical mediumship has become rare. It's in 2 sections, the first describing Alexander's developing ability and experiences as a medium, and the second some of his conclusions.Alexander's “extraordinary journey” began in his early 20's when his brother gave him Arthur Findlay's “On the Edge of the Etheric” and, over the next 40+ years, he developed as a physical medium able to produce e.g., materialisations, direct voice, apports. His spirit guides, of which the first who came through was White Feather, include (the child) Little Christopher, Walter Stinson (a Canadian and brother of Mina Crandon), Freda Johnson and Dr. Barnett.There are many interesting nuggets in the book. E.g., comments on Neville Whymant's 1926 experiences with Valiantine about languages and Confucius, and several descriptions of matter through matter occurrences (e.g., loops of wood from different species becoming interlocked, and Alexander's arm being raised during séance when he was known to be tightly bound throughout).Alexander has detailed knowledge of the history of Spiritualism and has thought a lot about his point of view. He believes that working with psychical researchers isn't wise because the history of Spiritualism shows researchers are never satisfied … sceptics rarely become persuaded … and to achieve better results in seances harmonious thoughts (the absence of scepticism) are vital. He argues, using examples including mediums George Valiantine, Mina Crandon (Margery), Eusapia Palladino and Helen Duncan, that their lives were scarred by unsympathetic critics. He says however that mediums (in his view super-sensitive and dealing with processes we barely comprehend) may unconsciously introduce fraud.Finally Alexander is gloomy about trends in Spiritualism, e.g., because of the increasing rarity of physical mediums, the ubiquity of arguably fraudulent television psychics, the takeover of strands of Spiritualism by Christianity; ... though he doesn't talk about the dominance of materialism in western culture.

First of all my views are from an opened-minded but skeptical perspective. Years ago I attended a number of spiritualist church meetings out of interest and generally found the whole experience disappointing. Apart from one or two exceptions the "mediumship" on offer was poor. The mediums may have been well meaning but some seemed " inebriated with their own verbosity" as Disraeli once said of Gladstone, full of empty rhetoric, and/or meaningless platitudes and banality. I found out that in the churches I visited that the "healers" were invariably long standing members of the congregation who learnt by working under a senior "healer" ( apprenticeship?). Not surprisingly, I never heard of any significant healing taking place. An auntie of mine who is almost 80 tells me that when she used to attend in the 1950s and 1960s things were vastly better. She and her husband knew Leslie Flint and attended his house and remembers hearing "Mickey" well. She further informs me that the voices used to "come out of thin air." She also was present at a seance where the jacket was removed. This was probably William Olsen (?).Unlike some of the popular "new age" books by media psychics, mediums etc., this book will attract less attention. And yet it is miles better. The author's style incorporates an unassuming manner that has almost become extinct in this age of relentless " bigging up" of oneself. The writing is of surprisingly good quality, and you find yourself taken into the author's confidence. I found so much of interest concerning Stewart's work, and appreciate a sense of honesty - not least his admitting of regular periods of doubt concerning his own developing mediumship. This honesty means he is not afraid to pull any punches on what he sees as the shortcomings of the spiritualist/new age scene at present. His analysis of famous mediums of the past - not uncritical- is very illuminating, as is his comprehensive views on the various forms of "skepticism" alive at the moment. He has had to be quite brave in a way, as some forms of criticism received seem very hurtful. I'm sorry not to have attended one of Stewart Alexander's seances - but found reading about them fascinating. This book is a rare gem, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done.

As a Medium myself I was certainly looking forward to reading this book by renowned Physical Medium Stewart Alexander. I had the rare privilege once of attending a Physical Séance in Brighton (not by Mr Alexander) which through up many questions some of which Mr Alexander addresses regarding Physical Mediumship, some he doesn't. The book journeys his life into first discovering he had the gift of Physical Mediumship (PM) to his many séances and travels in the UK and overseas. There will always be sceptics and distractors that no matter what the evidence presented to them will be in denial as it doesn't fit their view of the world, the likes of Chris French for example would deny a bumble bee can fly even if it flew up and stung him on the nose! And, this is the problem with PM. Its so controversial as it is held in blacked out rooms, or with red light that it is VERY open to fraud and indeed has been over they years. When you think the number of years it has been around has it really progressed? Still held in blacked out rooms, no clear video evidence that is irrefutable proof just out of focus images and occasional videos in red light that prove nothing. Until we get that PM in daylight, caught on HD video I feel it will always attract controversy. That said a cracking, thought provoking book by a man that thinks along the same lines as myself, highly recommend if you are interested in PM or not. Ian Broadmore