View Related
Lord Northcliffe's view of the World Beyond (29)
It is paradoxical that those communicating from the Other Side are telling us that really there is no separation, and that wherever we reside, we share the same one and only universe. We just happen to find ourselves on different levels, frequencies or planes. As they ascend to the highest planes over there, in the most extended range of consciousness, the more evolved souls see that all life is interconnected. So we are living in one world of infinite variety. It is just that as we concentrate on our activities at one level, we are unable to see beyond the present time, and place, and our body and brain have strict limits as to what they can think and do. Whereas the mind of the spirit, once set free of material emotions and physical attachments, has a much broader vision. So it is really for our convenience and our sanity that we are unable to flood our mind with too much information. That is why we separate earth life from spirit life, heaven from hell or Hades, and our life here from our future life hereafter. What we can be sure of is that we DO survive all the hustle and bustle of this life, its joys, tragedies, disasters and successes. When we reach the Other Side, we will continue with more activities, hopefully guided with deeper insight and wisdom
So, bearing in mind what Conan Doyle concluded, that there is no real separation dividing one world from another, let’s look at further accounts of travels beyond the veil. Let’s think of the communicators as sharing information about the next stages of a journey which we will eventually be taking ourselves. With their helpful insight, our own travels will be made that much easier, since we will know what to expect.
Here is a further communication in March, 1923 from Lord Northcliffe through the 17-year-old medium Clifford Potter, son of a Protestant clergyman, who supported the spiritual work of the home circle held at his residence in Forest Hill, S.E. London. There was much opposition from members of his church. In those days a medium could be fined or jailed for ‘fortune-telling.’ Policemen’s wives would pretend to be genuine Spiritualist sitters, and try to catch the mediums out if they gave any false information, and so accuse them of fraud, and have them arrested. This can still happen today.
NORTHCLIFFE - I awoke in a house which it is difficult for me to describe. Flowers of every description were trailing up the walls. The roof seemed to me solid, and yet one could see right through it. I began to feel conscious – I came to myself. I felt happiness, joy supreme.
There seemed to be no longer any earthly limitations. I rose and went forth. Outside I met a man with an appearance such as I had never dreamt of. He wore a robe of gorgeous colour, and I knew he was one of the good, kind angel-folk. I went up to him. I greeted him perhaps in rather an earthly manner. He placed his hand on my shoulder; he looked into my eyes, and I knew who he was. It was Ellis T. Powell, whom I had known so well. It is he who has brought me here tonight to speak to you. I was surprised and astonished to see him. I took him by the hand. Naturally, I was glad to meet him, and he began to point out to me all the wonders above us. He took me up a glorious path. Around us all was radiant green; and there were beautiful birds singing, and animals, and flowers.
We climber up, and at the top of the hill I turned and looked down, and he showed me a shrine which I should look upon later. It was a sight which I have no words to describe. He told me that one day I should go there, and I should see [a higher enlightened Master] face to face.
I have gone through many things since that time, things far beyond my greatest powers of imagination. There’s a blue sky here, and we see the sun shining, as you see it there. But the evil is not here, only the good. I was struck in particular by the beautiful lakes. They tell me this water is the Water of Life – living water. To stand on the banks of the lakes, looking round, is to enjoy the greatest peace I have ever imagined to be possible. My eyes have been opened, and if I had to live again on earth, my life would be far different.
You must remember the Kingdom of God will not come through the material. You have to bring Truth down to Matter, it is said; but if a man is capable of rising to the Truth, why bring it down to him? I must go, but I will come back again. Good night to all friends.
On June 6th, 1923, in the same circle, he had more to say to Hannen Swaffer, a journalist who was looking into Spiritualism for the first time.
NORTHCLIFFE - I have been here before. My name is Northcliffe. I cannot explain my progress in earth definitions. I have learned to put a new meaning upon the word PROGRESSION, because all souls, I learn, are progressing – none stand still. Every act in every life is one small step upon the ladder of eternity. I find that must necessarily be so, and there can be no retrogression from the point of view of the high spirits looking down upon them all.
As far as spirit comparing itself with spirit in the lower planes is concerned, I realize that they must express themselves in terms which are within their own comprehension. Therefore, they speak of progression and retrogression; but I have learned that there is no retrogression; all is progression in the sight of God. Then man, indeed, does go down – to perfect himself in the sight of God; and the man who goes up goes to do the same thing. He is building himself a house; he is developing his soul’s nature into something above the mere brute animal. Whether going down or up, I see it as the same, and it is good to look upon.
I have been bringing my influence to bear upon your publication ‘Spiritual Truth.’ You are quite right in thinking you saw me at your office; I was there. I thought, when I passed, that I could influence my own publications and creations, but alas, I find now they are far beyond my influence – and they need not mere influencing, but an entire reconstruction; their whole policy must be doubled right over and turned the other way up; but such an achievement is beyond me, as I now stand.
THINK OF IT. I SEE WHAT I HAVE CREATED. The next work I create I shall go about with more premeditation and less ambition. To this work (journalism) I gave all the years of my life from early days. I made it what it is; and ALL THAT I MADE ON EARTH I LEFT BEHIND. God knows I MISSED it!
Think of me! I made a life for myself. I set out the path I should run at a very early age, and I stuck to that path every day of my life. I worked morning, noon and night, and I stayed there. To stray from it I considered of the devil. And at death, behold! I was precipitated into a place where I could look on but DO NOTHING. Never more could I influence my old colleagues. My comrades with whom I had worked , I spoke to them – they heard my voice never again. No longer could I do my old work. I was a lost soul, and in that time I found a new work. That work was on your paper (Hannen Swaffer’s). It was small compared to my old life, but it filled the gap when I needed something, alas, and longed for something. Gradually it is lifting me out of the rut into which I had fallen, and gradually I am lifting myself out of it.
I hope you will go on to great success. I am glad to have been here again, and I wish you all joy in your work. My faith is not so great as some, but from what I can see in the future years, your success will be an overwhelming one, such as you can hardly comprehend or conceive of. I hope that what I can see will come true."
Lord Northcliffe continued to put in lengthy appearances at home circles and meetings with the help of many well-known mediums of the day, and so provided a wealth of evidence of his survival and of his ability to watch current events in Europe from his birds-eye view from the world of spirit. Hannen Swaffer presented this evidence to an audience of 2500 people early in 1925, at the Queen’s Hall in London. The meeting attracted the largest journalistic gathering ever assembled on such an occasion. Yet, with a few exceptions, the newspapers did not comment. Those that did bother to cover the story were entirely sceptical!
Hannen Swaffer went on to run his own famous home circle for years, while Lord Northcliffe occasionally returned to talk at a seance, but gradually withdrew from ‘public’ appearances on earth as he continued his journey on the other side.
Reviewed from "Northcliffe's Return" by Hannen Swaffer. Psychic Book Club. 1925
Post Article:
Submit Your Own Article