I witnessed many things whilst training to be a trance medium. I can vividly remember one particular medium take one single breath and holding it for over seven minutes – how can that be explained? I’ve also witnessed tables and chairs levitating up to the ceiling – while David Copperfield was nowhere in sight!
There is no doubt in my mind that the spirit world exists – I’ve had proof of that, but it is neither my job nor my intention to preach the virtues of spiritualism to you. I will only say that the spirit people who have kindly shared their wisdom through this publication are amongst the most knowledgeable people who have ever lived. In fact, I can guarantee that.
The fact that they have chosen to work with this little old ‘Average Joe’ is indeed an extremely humbling experience for me, for as I may have mentioned before – I am just a guy who wrote a book.
I could instinctively feel that there was someone or something behind the bedroom door. As it slowly opened, the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention like soldiers preparing for an almighty battle. Thankfully, a welcoming ray of brilliant white light slowly began to shine through the gap in the now ajar door, but it couldn’t disguise the fact that whatever was still lurking behind this door was evidently not of this earthly world.
Suddenly, my eyes were drawn to the time being displayed on the alarm clock beside the bed. It read 3am – the ‘witching hour’ – when all godless creatures were free to roam and pillage the frightened souls of the righteous.
Not surprisingly, I was now utterly terrified, and as I reluctantly awaited the perceived demon’s next move I suddenly decided that there was only one possible way out of this hellish nightmare. I tentatively reached down to the floor and grasped my only hope; a weapon that would surely send this monstrosity back to the world from which it originally came.
I slowly raised my weapon, my arm outstretched in front of me nervously holding this small rectangular box that held the power to almost certainly evaporate this foe, this unknown intruder, this curse from the dark side. Then with a devastating blow, I firmly pressed the big red standby button and sent this piece of Hollywood hokum to the trash bin.
Why, oh why, did I rent this utter nonsense from the DVD store? Oh yes – it’s apparently based on fact. Well, I’m sorry Emily Rose, but your exorcism surely won’t win any Oscars. Hands up those of you who thought there really was a demon in my room – shame on you both!
After carefully checking that my television set was now definitely switched off, I trudged upstairs to bed, still smirking at the audacity of the Hollywood filmmakers who consistently push this sort of material on the vulnerable and the naive. Not for me, a spirit medium with ‘bags’ more sense and knowledge, but who ultimately should have known better.
The film was still very much in my thoughts as I drifted off to sleep, albeit thankful in the knowledge that what I had just viewed was drastically over-exaggerated for the purpose of so-called entertainment!
When I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night, sensing a strong spirit presence in my bedroom, I instinctively turned to view the time on my alarm clock – 2.59 am, but then quick as a flash it was 3am - the ‘witching hour’! I was up out of that bed faster than diarrhoea from a salmonella-fuelled bowel. My soldiers had once again loaded their guns and were about to recommence battle. But, oh my god – this time it was for real!
The commotion woke my wife, Anne, who then glared at me with that now familiar disgruntled look. ‘Ghosts in the house again, dear?’ she asked sarcastically. I nodded sheepishly before switching on my bedside lamp. A wry smile spread slowly over my face.
‘I’m being taught a lesson here,’ I thought to myself as I slowly climbed back into the virtual safety of my now lukewarm bed, before tentatively turning off the bedside lamp and belatedly asking my guides for spiritual protection.
Fortunately, I slept like a log for the remainder of the night, before waking up peacefully the next morning, yet still trying desperately to work out just what had transpired the previous night. I knew that I had almost certainly been crudely woken by spirit energy at the precise time of three o’clock in the morning, but I was also aware that this couldn’t have been the witching hour because there is no witching hour! Just as I also knew that Emily Rose was not possessed by the devil – there is no devil! I had simply been foolish enough to watch a film that could badly affect my energy and presumably my spirit workers were trying to prove a point – or were they?
So, what’s this got to do with the meaning of life, you may ask? Absolutely nothing whatsoever. It’s just a small insight into my world; a world where very little is ever coincidental, yet a world where nothing is ever really straightforward either. But it is a world that is frequently challenging, and rarely ever dull. It’s my world, but it could easily be your world. We’re all co-existing in various different cocoons of profound thoughts and experiences. But what does life really entail? Why are we here? What purpose do we serve? And, more importantly, just what is the true meaning of life? –the latter, being a simple question, but one that has baffled the greatest of minds for many centuries. But you and I are hopefully going to find out the answer!
In actual fact, I have been searching for the answer to this precarious question all my adult life and now I have been promised the answer. I have been unobtrusively instructed to write this book and all will be revealed in due course. Says who? Well, I will tell you very soon and then you can send for the men in white coats! Seriously though, don’t send for them just yet!
I would be deeply honoured if you would journey with me on this heroic quest and together we can hopefully find that purpose for which we live and breathe in this big, bad, wonderful world of ours. And who knows, if enough followers join us along the way then this book may go global and I can retire gracefully with a large yacht moored off my own private island. Or if we go straight to DVD then I can hopefully relax in the knowledge that maybe, just maybe, this publication could have changed someone’s life for the better. If that is the case then it truly will be job done!
First golden rule though, despite what I just stated about yachts and private islands – never judge a soul by what’s in their wallet; always by what’s in their heart. Now open up your heart and let love guide you on this fabulous journey that we are about to embark on. But saddle up; for it’s sure to be a bumpy ride!
Oh and incidentally, if you rather randomly picked up this book in the bargain bin – you know, the badly organised display in your local supermarket that usually contains books reduced to clear by ex-Big Brother ‘celebrities’ –then please don’t worry. You can still join the party – as long as you donate to charity the amount of money you invariably saved. If you don’t, then I’ll send round Emily Rose to do a bit of late-night debt collection!
Before we go any further, I feel I should really introduce myself properly. After all we’ve been through already it’s only fitting that we should be appropriately acquainted.
My name is David Shaw, you can call me David, Dave, Davy, or by my professional name – Spiritcounsellor. When I say professional name, I really mean… Oh you know what I mean!
So, just who exactly am I? Well, I’m your stereotypical, run of the mill ‘Average Joe’, nothing more and nothing less. But, I’ve got a story to tell that will both shock and amaze you, and will hopefully leave you feeling that your own life has real purpose and value.