Evidence, evidence, evidence!

Medium Michael Bagan

Sue Farrow introduces a report on some exceptional survival evidence given recently to ‘Valerie’ by London-based medium Michael Bagan.       

Few Spiritualists – even those who do their utmost to look on the bright side – can have failed to notice that first class survival evidence has been increasingly thin on the ground in recent years.

Much has been written about the possible reasons for this – poor training, rushed or insufficient development, lack of home circles, etc – and it’s obvious that these could be contributing factors.

My own view, though, is rather more controversial. To put it bluntly (and unfashionably), I believe mediums are born, not made – that mediumship is a talent or ‘gift’ which certain individuals possess from birth. In that respect it’s no different from any other natural talent, such as music, art or sport.

It can be argued, of course, that most of us could probably be taught to play a simple scale on the piano, but few would deny that performing a concerto at the Royal Albert Hall would be beyond the reach of most, no matter how hard they practised. The majority of us are fortunate to be able to run for a bus, but an Olympic gold in the hundred meters? Probably not. Similarly, we may all have a grain or two of psychic ability but no amount of £s spent on training  courses will turn us into first class evidential mediums if a gift is not present in the first place.

The following is an unsolicited report from a lady whose identity is known to me. To safeguard the integrity of evidence that may come to her in the future, I will refer to her simply as ‘Valerie’.  She has chosen to share her reading publicly in the hope that it will provide comfort and encouragement to others suffering the pain of loss, and also to highlight the work of medium Michael Bagan, whom she believes to be exceptionally gifted. I share this view, having watched Michael’s mediumship unfold over the past seven years.

‘Valerie’, who suffered a devastating bereavement, had never met medium Michael Bagan prior to visiting Potters Bar Spiritualist Church on Sunday 7^th August, nor had she ever visited the church before. As you’ll see from her report, her approach to the evaluation of evidence is logical and meticulous. She categorises each piece of information using a system akin to that adopted by Spiritualist pioneer Arthur Findlay during his  many decades of research.

The very precise evidence given to ‘Valerie’ through Michael’s mediumship left her in absolutely no doubt that her loved one had survived beyond death. When I asked her what it had meant to her to receive such compelling evidence, she answered simply, “It was life-changing.”

This is her report.

Potters Bar Spiritualist Church
Sunday 7^th August, 2011
Medium – Michael Bagan

95%	Class 1 Evidence	Very specific evidence, recognised by the recipient of the message, either at the time of the reading, or upon consulting with relatives after the event. Not held in memory at the time of demonstration.
5%	Class 2 Evidence	Evidence, recognised by the recipient of the message at the time of reading. Not held in memory at the time of demonstration. Could possibly apply to others in a generic sense.

Michael introduced himself to the audience and gave a short explanation as to how he came to be a spiritual medium, and how he conducts his demonstrations.

Two ladies received a short reading, and almost immediately after that a ‘Timothy or Tim’ came through. We did not immediately claim this as it came with the name ‘Joe’ and we forgot Tim’s best friend at high school was Joe (White).

Several other things came through with some persistency which, with hindsight, we should have claimed, but did not because we failed to recognise them quickly enough or someone else claimed them before we could. Such things were:-

• The word ‘emphysema’ (not recognised by anyone else) – my dad died of heart failure due to emphysema.

• Reference to someone saying ‘all their time was spent in a kitchen’ in fact most of the time – this was claimed by someone else simply because most people spent lots of time in their kitchen, but in hindsight Tim practically lived in our kitchen, and was often on the computer until the early hours of the morning there.

• Reference to a person called ‘Grace’ (not recognised by anyone else) – she had come through on a previous reading with Michael and was a family friend who watched all my children grow up. She seemed to be the one to bring everyone through (she was a forthright and forceful character who would certainly be the one to take a lead in anything).

• The words ‘Tim’ and sometimes ‘Timothy’ – two other people claimed this name and in fact got readings, but on several occasions it came through attached to the name ‘Joe’.

• The names ‘Tina’ and ‘Laura’, and a reference to horse riding, came through at some point, again not claimed by anyone else except in a very generic sense – Tina is Tim’s close friend and Laura is, of course, his sister. Horses, and horse riding, were a big part of their lives when young.

• A memorial tree was mentioned, and this was claimed by someone else as a rose bush, although Tim has a magnolia tree in Bude planted in his memory, and also an oak tree where we live, by the lake (this will be planted on his birthday, in October).

Michael said the name ‘Tim’ was being presented, with the name ‘Nottingham’ or ‘Nottingham Road’. This was the name of the road where Tim lived, in his halls of residence. At this point we knew for definite it was Tim trying to come through, and immediately claimed the message. Our message then continued until the end of the demonstration, which went well over schedule.

Michael then mentioned the name ‘Laura’, and the fact that he and his sisters used to have snow fights. Correct in every detail. One of our most cherished memories is of the photos of him in our local park during the snow a couple of winters ago, throwing snowballs at his sisters, Laura and Louise.

Michael mentioned the name ‘Tina’, who is Tim’s close friend. He again mentioned the name ‘Joe’. Very specific information about Tim’s closest friends, Joe at high school and Tina, whom he met through his sister, Louise. It is to be emphasised that, at no time, did Michael ‘fish’ for information about these names or try out a few other names first.

Michael mentioned ‘emphysema’ and said he had a person called Edward, who died of a heart attack. The accuracy of this information amazes me. Again, no dithering or fishing, just straight to the correct name and cause of my dad’s death, which was a heart attack brought on by emphysema.

Michael mentioned that the spirits were telling him we had seen or heard them, whistling or making a noise. Again this is very accurate. My dad had a very specific whistle, which he always used, and which was heard in the back garden of our house, and also in my mother’s bungalow, on several occasions shortly after he died.

Michael then said that Tim was ‘going very fast’ and seemed to have a lot to communicate, and that he found it difficult to keep up with all the messages Tim was trying to get across.

Michael mentioned the name ‘David’, who was my uncle, and husband of my Aunt Dorothy, sister of my mum.

Michael then mentioned that Tim was talking about playing with, or pulling, his sister’s ears. Very specific, and personal, information. Tim would tease Laura about her ears, which stick out a bit, and poke fun and pull them.

Michael then said ‘Alice’ had come through, and that she was an elderly lady who was making it known that she had passed very peacefully, and had not experienced a sudden death, like a heart attack. Again, wonderful evidence which provides such reassurance, and is breathtakingly accurate. Alice is my nan, who indeed passed very peacefully in bed while speaking to my mum, when she was 86 years old. She had contracted pneumonia but her passing was very peaceful and she did not suffer in any way.

Michael gave 26^th July as an anniversary or birthday. This particular day is my Aunt Theresa’s birthday. Aunt Theresa is my mum’s last surviving sister and they are very close.

Michael said the places of Hatfield and Surrey were being brought through. Surrey was where I was born and raised, and had been staying all that particular week (Cobham). We had gone to Hatfield just prior to the demonstration in order to meet with friends.

Michael mentioned about having lots of books on open display at home, and perhaps noticing that some of them had been moved, or taken out of the displays. He also mentioned about light bulbs being switched on and off or exploding, and things moving about at home. Again evidence which is very specific to us as a family. We have lots of bookshelves at home, many of which contain Tim’s vast collection of classic literature, and many of which are situated in the kitchen, where Tim spent most of his time. We have noticed that a few books have been moved about, and items mis-placed. There have been two incidents of light bulbs exploding, once in my bedroom shortly after I switched on a bedside lamp, and once in the bathroom where we found the glass bulb on the floor, unbroken, detached from the bayonet, which was still in the socket.

Michael mentioned pressed leaves or flowers being kept. This evidence was very personal to my daughter, Louise, who has diligently kept a pressed leaf from Tim’s memorial magnolia tree, planted in the University gardens, in her journal.

Michael mentioned that they all said they were around us constantly, especially at home, and that they were all around us ‘so much’. We do feel their presence all the time in our house, although we also feel their presence when we travel. Although this type of message is not evidence as such, it is very comforting in its nature, and confirms what we always thought.

Michael mentioned the name Thomas, and that this seemed to be going back some time. Again, very personal information concerning an event that happened many years ago. My first son, Thomas, passed when he was 5 days old because he was born 12 weeks prematurely.

Michael said that Tim was asking his sisters to remember him as he was when he was throwing the snow, and having snowball fights in the park. We take this evidence as reassurance that this is the way we should remember him. We have several treasured photos of him with his hands cupped full of snow, a beaming smile on his face, which we treasure. He was having snowball fights with his sisters, walking the dogs in the park.

Michael mentioned the number 17 as being of significance. I think this may be evidence of the presence of one of my children who passed to spirit around 16 – 17 years ago, before being born into the physical.

Michael mentioned Brighton race course, and horse racing. I did not recognise this evidence personally at the time of the demonstration as I did not know at the time that, in fact, my grandad (who had a weekly bet on the horses), often used to take my mum to Brighton race course when she was young. When I told my mum this information it brought tears, such were the memories. To reiterate, none of us present at the demonstration knew of the significance of Brighton until I questioned my mother the next day.

Michael mentioned the place name ‘Cambridge’. At first we did not claim this, as we could think of no link with Cambridge at all. With hindsight my daughter remembered that Cambridge was the only place there was a reported sighting of Tim whilst he was missing for 3 weeks.

This was the only sighting that the police took seriously, although it did not lead to anything. This information was not in the public domain at any time, and my daughter, Louise, could never remember the exact place name, only that it began with a ‘C’. We since forgot this information, as it was obviously no longer important, but, shortly after the demonstration, Louise finally remembered that Cambridge was the name given to her by the police, as the place where a possible sighting of Tim had occurred. Tim would have known the significance of this as first class evidence.

Michael mentioned Sheffield. He made a few references to Sheffield. Wonderful evidence that it was Tim talking through Michael. Sheffield is where Tim was looking forward to going to university this year, having made all the arrangements to transfer courses.

Michael mentioned that Tim was making reference to someone keeping a diary or journal, and was showing a pen, like a fountain pen (this had also come earlier in the demonstration but we didn’t claim it at the time). Again, very personal evidence for Louise, Tim’s sister, who keeps a journal of memorabilia which we have discussed at length lately. She has recently added to it many things in remembrance of Tim, and this is his acknowledgement of her efforts.

Michael said that, as a last message, he had been asked to point out that there was another girl who should not be forgotten. This would, of course, be Tim’s sister, Louise, who had not yet been mentioned by name, although Tim had made reference to her journal earlier in the message.

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Michael said that they were still sending messages, and still had lots to say, but time had run out, as the demonstration had already over-run by a significant margin. He had to terminate the demonstration, and was full of apologies about this. We were very grateful as we had taken up most of the demonstration with our messages, and apparently they were still going strong!

We had tea and cakes and a lovely chat with everyone present, and then, sadly, had to leave to begin the journey home.

Michael came out to say goodbye as we left for the car, gave each of us a hug and wished us the best. I told him he was an excellent medium with a really wonderful technique, which he should have every confidence in.

(The names and place names in this document have been changed to protect the identity of those mentioned and to preserve the integrity of any evidence they may receive through other mediums in the future.)

For information on Michael’s forthcoming demonstrations, almost all of which are free of charge, visit http://michaelbagan.com/