Earlier today same day, I had already served at another demonstration. It is not the first time I have done two in one day, but each time I am reminded how varied and unpredictable this journey can be. That morning I spoke about something deeply personal: although I was aware of spirit from a young age, I did not truly understand it.
Most of us do not.
Awareness is one thing. Understanding comes later, through experience, through sitting in circle, through attending demonstrations, through meeting other mediums, and through allowing ourselves to explore what we sense.
For me, everything shifted around fourteen or fifteen years ago when I met a wonderful medium and was invited to sit in circle. Until then, I had lived what most would call a very ordinary life. Growing up in Stevenage, I was just another lad doing what lads do — enjoying life, not thinking too deeply about anything spiritual.
Then came the choice.
And that is what this path often comes down to – choice.
At some stage, when the spirit world begins to nudge, to whisper, to draw you in, you either ignore it or you follow it. I felt pulled, almost magnetically, into developing my understanding. Over the years there have been countless moments that left me in awe – experiences that were profound, humbling and, at times, completely unexpected.
Even standing in front of a congregation today would have seemed impossible to my younger self.
It is not always straightforward. Working with spirit can be confusing. You question yourself. You doubt. You test. But it is also deeply rewarding.
One experience in particular brought that home to me recently.
There is a church where I have served many times. A lady I have known for years contacted me. She told me that one of her closest friends was terminally ill. He was not particularly involved in spiritual circles or demonstrations, but he had a quiet faith – a sense that there might be something beyond this life.
She asked if I would speak to him. She even mentioned payment. I told her it was not about money.
A couple of days later, while working in central London, I found a quiet moment and had a video call with him. His name was John.
Within minutes, I knew I would have enjoyed his company in any setting – a pub, a café, anywhere. He was thoughtful, direct, and quietly courageous. We spoke for about forty minutes. He asked questions about the spirit world, about what might come next. He knew his time was limited.
Trying to explain the transition from this life to the next can be difficult. So I used an analogy.
I asked him if he had ever seen I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
He had seen it, though it was not really his thing.
I said, think of life as the jungle camp. All of us are the campmates. Some days are full of laughter. Some days are full of arguments. Sometimes we feast on “steak and chips”; other times we are surviving on “rice and beans”. There are challenges, triumphs, tensions and friendships.
Meanwhile, those who have passed before us are like the loved ones watching from home.
At some stage, each of us will be “voted off”. We will walk across that red bridge — and on the other side, our loved ones will be waiting.
It was a simple analogy, but it made sense to him.
Two weeks later, I received the call. He had passed peacefully at home. His friend told me that in the final weeks of his life he spoke often about our conversation — about how calm it had made him feel.
There are many aspects of mediumship that are remarkable. But this – offering comfort at the edge of life – is one of the greatest privileges.
A Robin Messenger
His wife, who was not particularly aware of spirit, noticed something else. About half an hour after he passed, while he was still at home, a robin appeared at the French doors and lingered there.
Many people associate robins with signs from the spirit world. Whether one views that symbolically or spiritually, the timing brought comfort.
For me, the real gift was knowing that in his final days he felt calmer, less afraid.
That is the quiet power of this work.
If you are already developing your mediumship, you know that there are moments when you truly help someone. And if you are standing at that crossroads — curious, unsure, perhaps doubting your own ability — my advice is simple:
Have a go.
You never know who you might comfort. You never know whose fear you might ease. You never know whose final weeks might be gentler because you chose to sit in circle instead of turning away.
I made that choice at thirty-eight. I will be fifty-three this year. Around fifteen years in circle. About twelve years giving readings. It has been an extraordinary journey — not because it is dramatic, but because it is meaningful.
The world does not need more judgement. It needs more people willing to help one another.
If spirit is nudging you, consider where that path might lead. Sometimes the smallest step into development becomes the most transformative decision of your life.
This blog is from a transcript of Martin Quigley’s address at our Online Divine Service on 22nd February 2026.
