Psychic Matters

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Someone recently called me a careerist medium. It was meant as an insult.
In this solo episode of Psychic Matters, I unpack exactly what that phrase means, where the idea behind it actually comes from, and why I've decided to wear it as a badge of honour.
I trace the word “careerist” back to its dictionary definition, then go looking for where the idea of the “selfless, invisible medium” really originated. It didn't come from the spirit world. It came from a legal and social system that told women for centuries to serve quietly, own nothing, and want nothing in return — coverture law, the marriage bar, the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act, and a gender pension gap that still sits at nearly 40% in 2026.
I look at the mediums held up as “pure” examples of giving their gift away for free — Gordon Higginson, Daniel Dunglas Home — and find that every one of them had someone else quietly paying their bills. And I look at the mediums who charged, who toured, who built platforms and audiences: Maria B. Hayden, the Fox Sisters, Emma Hardinge Britten, Estelle Roberts, and Helen Duncan — the women who built the tradition we all now stand on. Even Arthur Findlay, the man whose name is on our most respected college, was by this definition a careerist.
This episode is about money, history and standards. It's about why visibility is a duty, not an ego trip. And it's about why charging for skilled, ethical mediumship isn't a betrayal of the work — it's what makes the work sustainable enough to actually be there for the person lying awake at three in the morning who needs it.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

●      Where the phrase “careerist medium” comes from, and why it's used as an insult in Spiritualist circles
●      The real historical roots of the “selfless, invisible medium” model — and why they're social, not spiritual
●      How coverture law, the marriage bar and decades of restricted women's rights shaped what a “respectable” medium was allowed to be
●      Why mediumship let women speak publicly in an era when almost nothing else did
●      The mediums who built Spiritualism by charging, touring and building public profiles — Maria B. Hayden, the Fox Sisters, Emma Hardinge Britten, Estelle Roberts, Helen Duncan
●      The psychology of why free readings often fail to land, and paid ones do
●      What it actually costs, in time and money, to run a professional mediumship practice and podcast in 2026
●      Why visibility and branding are a duty to the people who need this work, not vanity

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CREDITS: Reach by Christopher Lloyd Clarke. Licensed by Enlightened Audio.

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The SNU: A New Direction
A conversation about leadership, standards, and the future of Spiritualism. In this episode of Psychic Matters, I sit down with Julia Almond — ordained SNU Minister, accredited medium, and a candidate for the presidency of the Spiritualists' National Union — to talk about where the Union has been, and where it could go next.
Julia brings a rare combination to this conversation: decades in senior leadership, from headteacher to Director of Children's Services, alongside a lifetime of service within the SNU itself — as church president, Finance Director, Vice President, and across District and National Council. We talk governance, education, healing, and what it actually takes to lead an organisation of this scale well.
Whether you're a lifelong Spiritualist, new to the movement, or simply curious about what it means to lead with integrity, this is a conversation worth your time.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:
●      Julia's personal journey into Spiritualism, and what drew her to ministry
●      What decades of leadership in education and local government taught her about running large organisations
●      Her priorities for governance, transparency, and trust within the SNU
●      Why education — for members, for schools, for the wider public — sits at the heart of her vision
●      Her plans for Spiritualist Healing and how it could be championed more widely
●      Her hopes for the Arthur Findlay College and its future within the movement
●      How she believes the SNU should listen to, and make use of, the skills of its own membership
●      The legacy she hopes to leave, if elected
 
Learn more about:
Julia Almond: https://www.facebook.com/minister.julia.almond/
the SNU: https://www.snu.org.uk
 
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CREDITS: Reach by Christopher Lloyd Clarke. Licensed by Enlightened Audio.

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Discover a groundbreaking approach to memorials with Warren Roberts, founder of Living Legacy Forest. In this episode of Psychic Matters, we explore how Warren is transforming grief into life by turning human ashes into nourishment for trees. Learn how this eco-friendly method is creating beautiful forests, fostering biodiversity, and redefining the way we honour loved ones.
From the science behind safe, tree-growing ashes to the emotional and spiritual impact of living memorials, Warren shares his inspiring journey from personal loss to global environmental change. Whether you’re interested in green burial alternatives, sustainable living, or connecting with the natural world, this episode offers insight, hope, and inspiration.
Learn more and see how to get involved: https://livinglegacyforest.com
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CREDITS: Reach by Christopher Lloyd Clarke. Licensed by Enlightened Audio.

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In this deeply personal and historically important episode of Psychic Matters, Ann Théato is joined by Jean Else, the wife, partner and closest collaborator of the late Mavis Pittilla, one of the most influential and respected teachers of mediumship of the modern era.
Together, they explore the life, work and legacy of Mavis Pittilla, going beyond the public figure to reveal the woman shaped by war, loss, humility and unwavering service. From her early years as a mill girl in the north of England, through illness, spontaneous mediumistic awakening and decades of teaching, this conversation offers a rare and intimate insight into how Mavis understood mediumship not as performance or gift, but as responsibility, discipline and service to two worlds.
Jean shares first-hand accounts of Mavis’ training, her philosophy of evidence, ethics and trust, her relationship with Gordon Higginson, and her lasting impact on the Arthur Findlay College and the wider mediumship community. They also explore how mediumship evolves over time, the importance of understanding consciousness, and why belief and humility sit at the heart of exceptional work.
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the craft, ethics and future of mediumship, and for those who wish to understand why Mavis Pittilla’s influence continues to shape the standard of mediumship today
 
You’ll Learn
·       Why Mavis Pittilla viewed mediumship as a faculty and responsibility, not a gift or performance
·       How early life experiences shaped her humility, empathy and teaching style
·       What Mavis believed separated average mediumship from truly exceptional communication
·       Why service, ethics and evidence were non-negotiable in her work
·       How mediumship evolves over time within an individual medium
·       The role of belief, trust and consciousness in sustained, reliable mediumship
·       How Mavis’ legacy continues to influence teaching standards today
 Mavis Pittilla Links:
https://www.mavispittilla.com - - for all courses/books/resources/ tutorials/teaching materials/Mavis Pittilla authorised teachers & mentorship programmes
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CREDITS: Reach by Christopher Lloyd Clarke. Licensed by Enlightened Audio.

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In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Psychic Matters, Heather Mae shares her extraordinary Near-Death Experience — one that changed the course of her life forever.
After a sudden medical crisis, Heather found herself pulled through a swirling tunnel of light and into a realm overflowing with unconditional love, intelligence, and presence. In this expanded spiritual state, she encountered a being of light who communicated with her—not through words, but through pure knowing.
What she was shown about humanity, the nature of consciousness, and the future we are walking into is nothing short of breathtaking.
Heather speaks candidly about:
• The moment she realised she had left her physical body
• The overwhelming light that both enveloped and recognised her
• The profound message she received about where humanity is heading
• What she learned about fear, compassion, and why we are here
• The life review that revealed the true impact of seemingly small choices
• The encounter that changed how she sees death — and life
• How this experience now guides her daily choices and spiritual understanding
Heather’s story is a rare, intimate glimpse into what awaits us beyond physical life, offering comfort, inspiration, and a powerful sense of connection to something greater than ourselves.
Whether you are curious about the afterlife, seeking healing, or exploring the edges of human consciousness, this episode is a profound reminder that death is not an ending — it’s a transition into deeper truth.
Tune in, listen with an open heart, and allow Heather’s extraordinary journey to expand your own.
Heather Mae Links:
Instagram:   / got_insight 
Website: www.heathermae.ca
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BUY ME A COFFEE: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/psychicmatters
CREDITS: Reach by Christopher Lloyd Clarke. Licensed by Enlightened Audio.

Thank you for listening to Psychic Matters!