a few months ago and I would like to share the experience with the board.

I have been in an experienced mediums circle for the past year or so now.  Six of us meet once a week on an afternoon in a small spiritualist church, for between 2-3 hours development work.  Very occasionally we are allowed up onto  the church's platform to gain some experience of being able to use the 'stage' and imagine we are looking out at a crowded church, instead of rows of empty seats.

Having taken my turn on stage: reciting an opening prayer, giving a spiritual address and finally passing on proof of survival of spirit, I sat down fairly contended.  The next person up was a fairly shy elderly lady with a strong tradional Chuch of England upbringing.  After she had said her opening prayer, I opened my eyes and saw a spirit lady of the same physical build, height and approx 'weight'.  The spirit lady was dressed in what I have later found out was a Dutch nuns habit, wearing an unusual hat/bonnet..

What surprised me most was that the spirit lady stood a few paces behind and to the side of the fledgling medium and kept this exact distance whenever the medium moved.  I looked away several times and then back again, expecting the guide to have gone but she was still there shadowing her charge.

Afterwards I had a quiet word with our circle leader.  She told me to write down a description of the guide, as she would also because she was aware of her presence.  It was only when our two descriptions were compared and seen to match accurately that I was allowed to describe to the budding medium medium what I had been  privileged  to witness.

If they had not agreed, would it mean it was not valid?  This can be the problem with trusting our spirit guides.  Suppose the leader had seen someone else or just didn't want to admit what you got was valid (for various reasons - and it has been seen to happen through jealousies), would it have affected you trusting your guide?  

My point and I am making one....trust your own guide.  The circle leader is not the person to be saying what is and what is not spirit.  Certainly not in the way we handle circles around here.