[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column bg_color=”hsl(0, 19%, 86%)” fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”2/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]I am resting up after a fabulous, stimulating, time at Arthur Findlay College, near Stansted, Essex, home of the Spiritualists National Union.
I had signed up for the week long “Spirit of Summer“ course to improve my Mediumship.
The course content in advance seemed a little vague, which I saw as a good thing, as I did not want anything too prescriptive, and it was to be led by Tony Stockwell about whom I had heard good things, but had never met in person.
He’s a dry and rather cheeky sense of humour, full of quick’s and copious pauses, followed by laughter from the group and a rick shade of “sort of compliments” from his teaching team. It is clearly obvious the coaching team have been personally hand picked for their sense if gayety and “marry” well. Though one never quite knows what will happen next.
On arrival, you cannot help but be impressed by Stansted Hall, built in 1871, in Victorian England, almost one hundred and fifty years ago, located close to the M11.
It has been systematically renovated over the years, but is what it is, a family country home now used as a conference/teaching centre, not a bespoke luxury hotel. Expect to share your experiences and conveniences and deal with it.
I was warmly welcomed upon arrival, by a key in an envelope at reception, I was late.
The accommodation is full of history and character, modernised in places but perfectly satisfactory.
My stay was full board, and no-one went hungry during the stay, the food was good, and there was plenty of it. All refreshments are included apart from alcohol, which is served from bars open only when the evening sessions are over at 9pm. Wisely, the spirits are not mixed.
I was surprised by the number of people on the course, over one hundred with some half a dozen tutors present.
We were divided into groups of around twenty- five based on ability, experience, and interests, and our psychic muscle was worked hard.
Breakfast was 8am to 8.30am. Sessions started at 9.30am and didn’t finish till eleven and a half hours later. Breaks were regular and always ran to time.
I was hugely fortunate to have Jackie Wright as my group leader for the week. A charismatic, no-nonsense northerner, she had a knack of encouraging and stretching her students. She inspired us to ask questions. Something I have always been accused of asking too many of.
We also enjoyed sessions with other tutors during the afternoon, with Tony Stockwell himself reassuringly around for much of the time. Having his children drop in to see daddy and mix with everyone, in between jumping on every musical instrumental apparatus going was a delight.
Far too young to quite play the drums or piano in tune yet, they did provide a incoherent warmth and a sense we were just dropping in on a family built with Love as its foundation.
My fellow students had arrived from the four corners of the globe, including Australia, and America, as well as Scandinavia.
UK residents were a minority. This made for a fabulous opportunity to exchange ideas, information and an experience with fellow students who became true friends as the week progressed.
By the time it came to the end of the week I had absorbed so much from everyone, and had a good laugh on the final night farewell. It was rich with poetry, songs, comedy and an unexpected last act by the tutors that brought the house down in aching belly laughs.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay, and am grateful to the staff and tutors for making it so. I hope to make future courses at AFC to build on my wonderful experience.
There is a library on the top landing, just off the main hall, full of history and information and a library worm chap who delights in imparting the history of spiritualism and his knowledge to you.
For more information about AFC and me, visit my website: http://www.jane-osborne.com/[/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://jane-osborne.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/arthur-findley.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
