Located in western New York in the town of Pomfret, Lily Dale is considered to be the home of one of the largest Spiritualist communities in the world. Spiritualists became prominent in the United States in the mid-1800s, when a freethinking movement began to consider the idea that spirits can communicate from the afterlife. Many of the members are psychics, mediums, clairvoyants, clairaudients, and clairsentients and so forth. Though a key spiritual tenant of Spiritualism allows for spirit communication, not all members claim such gifts. Current Modern Spiritualist groups estimate their membership to be more than 200,000 in the United States –epicenters of the movement can be found in Ohio at Ashtabula, in Massachusetts at Lake Pleasant and in Lily Dale, New York.
The scene one finds at Lily Dale can be described as small and quaint – visitors are charmed by the Victorian hamlet’s picturesque scenes and feelings of tranquility in the landscape. In fact, Lily Dale was so named because it sits on Cassadaga Lake, which is overflowing with water lilies. It was toward the end of the 1800s that Lily Dale became a center for this open-minded Spiritualist movement and over the next few decades development was made that included hotels, amphitheaters, auditoriums and housing. Psychic residences welcome visitors into their home for personal, professional readings.
Its resident population is low, estimated to be fewer than 300 people in off season. But each year, it is estimated that over 20,000 visitors come to Lily Dale to participate in classes, demonstrations and otherwise experience the open-minded Spiritualist community. Lily Dale is very proud of its reputation as the place to visit when looking for guidance in living a life according to Spiritualist beliefs.
Lily Dale strengthened its reputation as a center for the Spiritualist community in the early 1920s, when the home of the modern movement’s founders, Kate and Margaret Fox, was moved to town. In the 1840s, the Fox sisters of Hydesville, NY had gained fame when it was reported that they were able to communicate with the dead. Their renown as spiritual mediums was further widened when they were brought to New York as part of a stage act of entertainer PT Barnum. When their house was moved to Lily Dale in the early 1920s, Lily Dale was cemented as a center for the Spiritualist community and a destination for those looking to benefit from the Spiritualist movement.
Lily Dale has a deep feminist history, including being a stronghold in the suffragette and temperance movements of the last century. Women play a central and important role in the Spiritualist movement, with its strong history of women providing a link between the living and those that have passed, dating back to the movement’s founders, the Fox sisters. Past speakers at Lily Dale have included Susan B Anthony in 1891 and Elizabeth Lowe Watson, both pioneers in the suffrage movement. Despite the close connection to the original feminist movement, men are just as welcome within the Spiritualist Church.
Recently, Lily Dale received rare national attention with the HBO special No One Dies In Lily Dale. The documentary was an honest portrayal of the residents of Lily Dale, the types of people who visit and some interesting facts about the Spiritualist movement.
The basic premise of Modern Spiritualism is a belief in the continuity of life. Spiritualists do not believe in “death” but that the spirit lives on after the living embodiment is gone. Spiritualists believe that those who have gone in body but live on in spirit will often communicate with the living and it is the responsibility of those in the world to be open and receptive for these communications.
Lily Dale has a reputation as being the center of guidance for those trying to live their lives in accordance with the tenants of Spiritualism. Guidance is given on experiencing the continuity of life and finding the truth in all things. The summer months are when the influx of visitors is greatest, but throughout the calendar year there are opportunities to continue an enrichment and understanding of living a spiritual life.
Each year, workshops, demonstrations and lectures are offered with such renowned thinkers as Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer. Lectures are offered to forward the Spiritualist understanding of the truths of existence, mediumistic phenomena and clairvoyance, and spiritual healing. Meetings and appointments with spiritual healers and mediums are available to visitors who feel they would benefit from one-on-one attention from mediums and spiritualist.
Most notable in Lily Dale is the open-minded freedom from judgment about religion or personal spiritual beliefs. All are welcome. Resident mediums, psychics and spiritualists do not preach to anyone but are willing to answer any questions about their own personal beliefs and spiritualism. The community is open to those looking to exchange information, receive guidance or need questions answered. An important basis of the Spiritualist movement is the responsibility of the individual to mankind, and it is manifested at Lily Dale in the welcoming of all who feel the need for guidance as they dedicate themselves to the service of the spirit.
Should you be interested in a personal reading by a psychic who works with mediums, give Psychic Sofia who is an ordained minister of the Spiritualist Church. You will also find some wonderful psychic mediums at Ask the Spirits and at Authentic Psychics Network
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