Spiritual Address by Martin Quigley.
In his Spiritual Address at Thundersley Christian Spiritualist Church, Martin Quigley reflected on the importance of faith, hope and love during uncertain times. Drawing upon his experiences as a working medium, Martin shared a remarkable story of spirit communication involving a grandmother and her much-loved pet pig, reminding us that love, memories and our connections with the spirit world can transcend physical life.
Faith, Hope and Love in Uncertain Times
The three words that stayed with me from this evening’s Bible reading were faith, hope and love. I believe these three qualities are at the heart of why so many of us come together in church or join our services online.
Often, it is the love of someone who has passed into the spirit world that brings us here. We seek reassurance, understanding and perhaps a reminder that those we love are still close to us.
From my experiences working with spirit, I believe that love is also the reason our loved ones return to communicate. They want us to know that we are not alone and that the bonds we share continue beyond physical life.
We live in uncertain times. There always seems to be something in the news that encourages people to worry, whether it is shortages in the shops, warnings about the future or events taking place around the world.
Recently, I visited Costco and was surprised to find that the bottled water had almost completely disappeared from the shelves. It reminded me of those occasions when people rush out to stockpile supplies because they are worried about what might happen next.
While there is nothing wrong with being prepared, I think we must be careful not to allow worry and fear to dominate our lives.
For me, the answer is to remember the bigger picture.
Remembering That We Are Spiritual Beings
As a Spiritualist, I believe that we are spiritual beings experiencing a temporary physical existence. We originate in the spirit world, spend a relatively short time here on Earth and eventually return to the spiritual realm.
Life can feel incredibly short, particularly when we lose someone we love. Sometimes, sadly, that earthly journey is much shorter than we would wish.
Yet I find comfort in my belief that God and the spirit world remain present throughout our experiences.
There will always be people who cause conflict, suffering or unnecessary commotion. We cannot control everything that happens around us, but we can choose how we respond.
I try to remind myself that much of what concerns us in our everyday lives is temporary. Our spiritual existence, however, is something far greater.
It does not matter whether you are an experienced medium, someone who has witnessed spirit communication or simply a person who is curious about Spiritualism. I believe we are all equally loved by those in the spirit world.
Our spiritual worth is not determined by our abilities or experiences.
Life Is Like a Catherine Wheel
At this time of year, with fireworks appearing in the night sky, I often think about an analogy I have used before.
When I was younger, someone would attach a Catherine wheel to a fence, light the taper and watch it begin to turn.
At first, it would move slowly. Then, as the fire caught, it would spin faster and faster until it became a brilliant blur of light.
I think life is rather like that.
When we are children, time seems to pass slowly. The years stretch out ahead of us, and everything feels as though it will last forever.
As we grow older, however, the years seem to pass more quickly. Before we know it, another Christmas has arrived, another birthday has passed and another chapter of our lives has begun.
It is a reminder of just how precious our time here really is.
Rather than becoming overwhelmed by the distractions and worries of everyday life, perhaps we should concentrate on making the most of our experiences and treating others with kindness.
Our Actions and Experiences Have Spiritual Significance
I was recently talking with a close friend whom I have known for around 25 years.
He has experienced things that have made him question whether there is something beyond our physical world, but he has never reached the point of complete certainty.
During our conversation, I explained something that has become particularly important to me through my years of working as a medium.
After approximately 14 or 15 years of spirit communication and hundreds of public demonstrations, I have developed a strong personal conviction that our experiences and actions are somehow recorded or preserved within the spirit world.
Again and again, during demonstrations of mediumship, I have encountered what I understand to be memories and details from people’s earthly lives, sometimes involving events that happened many decades ago.
For me, these experiences suggest that the things we do, the relationships we form and the moments we share have a significance that extends beyond our physical existence.
That is why I believe we should always endeavour to do ourselves justice, act with integrity and try to live in a way that reflects our higher spiritual nature.
A Remarkable Spirit Communication Involving a Pet Pig
I would like to share a recent experience that brought me a great deal of joy and reminded me why I love working with the spirit world.
My wife, Victoria, and I had travelled to a new venue in the north Milton Keynes area, where I had been invited to give a demonstration of mediumship.
I wasn’t sure how many people would attend. I thought perhaps there might be ten, fifteen or twenty people.
When we arrived, however, the car park was completely full. We eventually found somewhere to park further down the road and discovered that the hall was packed.
It turned out to be a wonderful evening, with several meaningful connections.
One particular communication has stayed with me.
Towards the back of the room was a lady for whom I began receiving what I understood to be communication from several family members, including her father, husband and grandmother.
As the reading progressed, her grandmother became increasingly prominent.
Eventually, I felt the communication had come to an end. I passed on the love I had received and reached for my glass of water, as I usually do between readings.
But just as I took a sip, I became aware of the grandmother again.
This time, I could see her arm extended in front of me. In her hand was what appeared to be a dog lead.
And at the other end of that lead was an enormous male pig!
I turned back to the lady and apologised, explaining that I didn’t think her grandmother had quite finished communicating.
I described exactly what I was seeing: her grandmother holding a lead attached to a very large pig.
The lady immediately smiled and began to rise from her seat.
She was astonished.
She explained that I had just touched upon a very important part of her family’s history, something that went back many years.
A Childhood Friendship Remembered
The lady went on to explain that when her grandmother was a young girl, she had desperately wanted a dog.
Unfortunately, her parents would not allow her to have one.
However, her grandmother’s aunt ran a pig farm, and as a child she would regularly visit and help care for the animals.
During this time, she formed a particularly close bond with a young male piglet.
The attachment between them became so strong that her aunt eventually allowed her to take the piglet home and keep him as a pet.
It was a remarkable family memory, dating back perhaps seventy or eighty years.
Yet here I was, during a demonstration of mediumship, describing what I perceived to be that same grandmother holding a lead attached to a very large pig.
I couldn’t resist making a little joke.
I told the lady that her grandmother still appeared to have the pig with her, but he certainly wasn’t a piglet any more. He was so big that I could probably sit on his back and go for a ride!
The experience brought smiles to everyone involved.
For me, it was another reminder of the extraordinary details that can emerge during spirit communication, including memories that might otherwise seem insignificant to anyone outside the family.
The Spiritual Bond Between People and Animals
I have always loved animals. At home, we have dogs and parrots, and throughout my life I have shared strong bonds with the animals in my care.
Some of the most meaningful experiences I have had through mediumship have involved animals that have passed into the spirit world.
I know how much comfort it can bring to someone when they believe they have received a connection from a much-loved pet.
Our animals are members of our families. They share our homes, our routines and our affection. They are present through so many important moments of our lives.
From my own spiritual experiences, I believe that the love we share with animals can continue beyond their physical passing, just as our love for family and friends continues.
The story of the grandmother and her pig was particularly special because it involved such a personal and unusual memory.
It was not simply about an animal. It was about a childhood friendship, a treasured companion and a bond that had remained significant across generations.
For me, that is the beauty of spirit communication.
Living from Our Higher Spiritual Self
When we look at the world around us, it is easy to become distracted by uncertainty, conflict and negative news.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have experienced periods that have felt particularly unsettled.
But I believe we should remember that there is more to our existence than the events taking place around us.
Each of us has our own story, rather like a book filled with different chapters.
Some chapters are joyful, others are challenging, and there will inevitably be moments when we feel uncertain about what comes next.
We cannot always choose the circumstances we encounter, but we can try to approach them with faith, hope and love.
There is nothing wrong with taking sensible precautions or preparing for difficult circumstances. What matters is that we do not allow ourselves to become consumed by panic.
I encourage everyone to take a moment to reconnect with their higher spiritual self and remember the bigger picture.
My personal belief is that God and the spirit world are always present, even when we cannot fully understand the events unfolding around us.
Love Is What Connects Us
The message I most wanted to share this evening is that love is at the heart of our spiritual connections.
Whether it is a parent, grandparent, partner, friend or beloved animal, the relationships we form during our earthly lives are precious.
I believe that those relationships do not simply disappear when physical life ends.
The remarkable experience involving the grandmother and her pet pig reminded me of this in such a joyful and unexpected way.
It also reminded me that our loved ones do not need grand gestures to demonstrate their affection. Sometimes, it is the smallest and most personal memories that carry the greatest meaning.
So, whatever challenges you may be facing, try not to become overwhelmed by the noise of the world.
Remember the importance of faith, hope and love.
And remember that, in my experience and belief, the reason our loved ones seek to reconnect with us is beautifully simple.
They come through because of love.
God bless.
This article was drafted using Chat GPT AI from a transcript of the medium’s spiritual address during our Divine Service. Edited by humans. Featured image by Chat GPT.
