Catherine MacDonald's Psychic Ramblings...

I have been doing some site updates and as usual I googled myself only to discover that this blog is sadly out of date.

I am now blogging in several other places and if you would like to find me there you are more than welcome to do so.

As it is I have been very blessed to run a successful full-time business as a Spiritualist Medium/Psychic Advisor. As part of my efforts to provide the best service possible I am studying to become a Spiritual Psychotherapist/Spiritual Director with Transformational Arts College. I will graduate in 2010 and I have already seen a difference in the depth and scope of the readings I do.

Hosting a radio show called Psychic Street Smarts on That Channel.com has also been a blessing. The show is a 1 hour interview show of soul-full spiritual seekers, thinkers and artists and airs on http://www.thatchannel.com. You can access the archives at http://psychicstreetsmarts.blip.tv/ .

I have a main site at http://www.spiritualcat.com and three blogs:

Intuition Tells Me So... A Psychic’s Guide to Spirituality, Self-Discovery and Success! http://intuitiontellsmeso.wordpress.com/

Metaphysical Musings and Magical Meditations... Meaningful Meanderings for the Mindful...

http://spiritualcat.livejournal.com/

Catherine MacDonald Spiritualist Medium/Psychic Advisor

http://spiritualcat.blogspot.com/


Below is a portal site where you can find links to all of my blogs and websites in one place.

http://www.netvibes.com/spiritualcat

I hope you find them helpful in some way.

Blessings,

Catherine

Is it just me or do so called ministers in Spiritualism seem to be lacking good moral sense today?

I was reading on a forum a minister telling another poster not to claim potential income with the government! Now the Minister is in Toronto Ontario Canada... and the said poster was in the US somewhere and on Social Security Insurance.

I mean yes people on limited incomes do think of cutting corners... Been there myself... But for a MINISTER to encourage it??? I mean what the hell is wrong with this woman!

Job Possibility thread at Beliefnet

Just goes to show you that if she is advocating that kind of behaviour then you gotta wonder how she is running her show!

Sheesh! And to think she pontificates about integrity? Perhaps that is because the woman has none???

So tell me again how it is that these kinds of leaders in Spiritualist ministers legitimately differentiate themselves as mediums from the so called scam artist psychics they complain about?

A sad state Toronto's Spiritualist community is in if that is the kind of leaders we have.

For more on this topic go to: Spiritualism In Toronto Really Needs to Examine its Leaders! Spiritualism In Toronto Really Needs to Examine its Leaders!

When church becomes a chore you have to ask yourself why you are there. I spent the last 3 years in a nightmare of a place that calls itself a church and finally by summer I was so burned out and frustrated with the negativity of that place that I left. That was in July and I did not feel like I wanted to attend church again until almost Christmas.

Things have changed for me and all for the better and it is nice to find a new church home... to read more about my experience with Britten Memorial Church you can go to HERE

When I wrote that blog I was mistaken to think that Britten Memorial Church was a Christian Spiritualist Church. Many of the members do come from Christian Spiritualism but the management of the Church is much more open-minded and accepting of positive contributions from a variety of sources. I also like the fact that the folks running the church are educated and not insecure ego maniacs whose biggest downfall is the need to control everyone around them to the point that it closes their doors!

If there is no one in the pews ministers in Spiritualism need to look at themselves and examine why. I mean with the explosion of Spirit, Medium and Ghost programs on TV why are some Spiritualist churches so dead?

On Halloween I was privileged to take part in a number of radio interviews for 1290 CJBK and the CBC. While the experience was great fun and something totally new for me, the topic of online Spell Casting scams is a real problem in the psychic industry and so is also a subject that should be discussed on a serious level.

These Spell Casters use any means to extort exorbitant amounts of money out of desperate and sometimes naive people who are willing to believe and try anything!

Now before we judge the vulnerable we have to be aware that these scam artists are too good at what they do! The sheer number of them listed in the Google search engine is an indication that spell casting is a lucrative industry even though it is illegal in most places.

During the radio interviews I had the chance to try to inform the public. I am grateful for the opportunity to talk about the problems connected to Spell Casting as it works online.

For more on Spell Casting go to HERE

W5 http://www.ctv.ca/wfive did a frightening story this week about the power of a cult in Hamilton Ontario. This story called "Pied Piper of Hamilton" made me think. It is a story that was aired on W5 this weekend that discusses a Christian cult in Hamilton Ontario.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061027/wfive_pied_piper_061027/20061028?hub=WFive

While cults are more common that we would like to think, and are usually associated with Christian and Muslim splinter groups, no spiritual/religious path is safe. The dynamics that turn a well meaning church group into a potential cult have to do with the human greed and desire for power over others. I found this W5 report fascinating and frightening.

Looking at the program and the sites listed on this blog what did I learn? Well quite simply that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" as the saying goes. With this in mind, I have begun to understand why some folks look at Spiritualism and define it as a cult. I beg to differ. It is not the philosophical, scientific and religious ideas that Spiritualism is grounded on that make it seem like a cult, rather it is the ministers in power who lose themselves to their desire for money, power and position who can turn what can a healthy meeting place and spiritual lifestyle into a cult.

What are the signs that you or someone you care about is in a cult?

According to Rick Ross, Expert Consultant and Intervention Specialist:

"TEN WARNING SIGNS OF A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE GROUP/LEADER.

1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
9. The group/leader is always right.
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.

TEN WARNING SIGNS REGARDING PEOPLE INVOLVED IN/WITH A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE GROUP/LEADER.

1. Extreme obsessiveness [sic] regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
2. Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
6. Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede [sic] any personal goals or individual interests.
7. A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
8. Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
10. Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.

TEN SIGNS OF A SAFE GROUP/LEADER.

1. A safe group/leader will answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
2. A safe group/leader will disclose information such as finances and often offer an independently audited financial statement regarding budget and expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you want to know.
3. A safe group/leader is often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging accountability and oversight.
4. A safe group/leader may have disgruntled former followers, but will not vilify, excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
5. A safe group/leader will not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records, books, articles and statements about them.
6. A safe group/leader will encourage family communication, community interaction and existing friendships and not feel threatened.
7. A safe group/leader will recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing with others.
8. A safe group/leader will encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of self-esteem.
9. A safe group/leader will admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism and advice.
10. A safe group/leader will not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.

Don't be naïve, develop a good BS Detector.

You can protect yourself from unsafe groups and leaders by developing a good BS detector. Check things out, know the facts and examine the evidence. A safe group will be patient with your decision making process. If a group or leader grows angry and anxious just because you want to make an informed and careful decision before joining; beware." http://www.rickross.com/warningsigns.html

Now while a few of the organizations I was involved with over the years do not fit all the above listed items on the list of unsafe leader/group there are some factors that are red flags to me now. The big one I would say is about the money! "SHOW ME THE MONEY!"

LEARNING FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND SHARING IT-SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER:

Where's it going and who is benefiting from the funds generated from the church? Ask questions and if you think the answers you are getting are fishy then find out why that is. If the church is paying money to members for work or for building rental find out if these folks are claiming the earnings as they should or if they are using the front of "church" status to launder funds. Sounds nuts but does happen so better to find out for sure what is what.

1. Are there proper checks and balances re the bank accounts and is the church having to answer to the proper professionals: Provincial Government, Revenue Canada, External Auditors and Accountants?

If not then the chance of the organization being a cult is very likely. If you are on the board and especially if you have signing authority make sure you know exactly what is getting paid and when with the cheques you sign! NEVER sign over blank cheque no matter how much you trust the leader of the group or the other signing authorities involved. Remember you are financially responsible if something goes wrong and ignorance of what is going on will not be good protection of you if you do end up sued and in court for misappropriation of the church funds! Find out what your responsibilities and rights are do not take the leader's word for it. Ask your lawyer and an accountant and check in with the government too if need be.

2. How is the church registered as a business with the Government? Is it truly a charity or a not for profit organization or is it a business that is making money and not paying its taxes to the appropriate government agencies.

You can call The Companies Branch of your Provincial or Federal Government and ask for details about the specific church you are thinking of attending. This is the branch of the government that is responsible for business registry in your particular province or territory or county depending on what level the business is at. They will be glad to tell you the business status and incorporation date of the organization and any other information they have concerning the said organization. I am sure this also includes any legal and financial problems connected to the organization that have been reported and investigated. By the same token you can call this branch of government and find out how to report any organization that seems suspect. I am sure they will be able to advise you as to what the procedures are for forwarding a formal complaint if you should need to.

3. Is the church attached to a proper Governing/Religious Umbrella Organization like the National Spiritualist Association of Spiritualist Churches in the US or the Spiritualist National Union in the UK?

If the church is "independent" and they have no one to answer to then it leaves the group vulnerable to an egocentric charismatic leader who may or may not have a legitimate agenda for the organization. NEVER get involved with any group that does not have a proper connection to the appropriate religious governing body! There is safety in numbers, solid organizational structure and regulated standards that have to be met.

Not all Spiritualist Churches are alike but the best adage is "buyer beware", and "don't leave your common sense at the door" if you do choose to become involved. Do you your own research. Ask questions and make sure the answers you are given make sense and indicate a solid integrity of the organization.

And if my experience is common within Spiritualist circles, then education (or the lack of it) makes little difference. Controlling, charismatic Ministers and the groups they try to build for their own egocentric purposes are successful because they play their psychological head games out over time! Being psychically sensitive can help you navigate these kinds of situations, but true mediums/psychics do not read for friends, family or themselves because they are often too close to the situation. Get an external perspective be you psychic or not! Ross is right you really do have to be a good BS detector and make sure you check things out for yourself as you go along! Find out the right questions to ask and make sure you get answers. If the answers you do get set off red flags and things seem fishy they likely are and the only way you can know for sure is to check things out for yourself or get the right people in to do so. Most of all follow your gut/intuition in these situations if something does not sit right with you it likely isn't right. I followed my feelings and got out in good time and now know that if I ever go back to a Spiritualist church I will be asking the right questions to the right people and if I don't like what I hear I will not ignore my feelings. I will just not get involved and will report suspect organizations if I have enough evidence to do so.