How Spiritualist Mediums Are Trained: Development, Ethics, and Philosophy

Mediumship—the practice of communicating with the spirit world—is central to the philosophy of Spiritualism, a religious movement that took root in the 19th century. Unlike popular depictions that focus solely on dramatic séances, formal Spiritualist training is often rigorous, methodical, and deeply grounded in ethical principles. Importantly, not all mediums who undergo training within the Spiritualist tradition go on to identify as Spiritualists themselves, but the methods and standards they learn shape the way they practice.

The Arthur Findlay College

The Philosophical Foundations of Spiritualist Training

Spiritualism holds that life continues beyond physical death and that communication between the living and those in spirit is possible. Mediumship, therefore, is not viewed simply as a talent but as a sacred responsibility. Training under Spiritualist philosophy is based on three pillars:

1. Development of spiritual awareness – cultivating sensitivity to subtle energies, intuition, and altered states of consciousness.

2. Service to others – mediumship is understood as an act of healing, comfort, and evidence-giving rather than performance or spectacle.

3. Moral responsibility – ethical use of abilities is emphasized as equally important as technical skill.

These principles frame the technical development that follows.

Technical Development of a Spiritualist Medium

Training is often structured in “development circles,” small groups that meet regularly under the guidance of an experienced medium. The focus is on consistent practice, discipline, and patient unfolding of abilities rather than quick results. Common areas of technical training include:

• Meditation and Attunement: Learning to quiet the mind and heighten awareness of subtle impressions from spirit.

• Clair-senses: Developing clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairaudience (clear hearing), clairsentience (clear feeling), and other intuitive faculties in a controlled and discerning way.

• Evidence-Based Communication: Training to provide verifiable information—names, details, or specific memories—rather than vague impressions.

• Trance and Inspiration: Exploring altered states of consciousness where mediums may bring through philosophy, guidance, or healing energy.

• Platform and Private Practice: Learning how to conduct both public demonstrations and one-to-one sittings responsibly and professionally.

This training process can take years, and even experienced mediums continue to attend development circles to refine their connection and discipline.

The Ethics of Mediumship

Ethics are woven into every stage of training. Mediums are taught that their work is never about ego, prediction for personal gain, or manipulation. Instead, their responsibilities include:

• Evidence First: Providing accurate, meaningful information rather than sensationalism.

• Compassion and Sensitivity: Being mindful of sitters’ grief, trauma, and expectations.

• Boundaries and Consent: Not intruding on private matters or forcing messages where none are present.

• Humility: Recognizing that mediumship is a spiritual service, not a performance for entertainment.

• Integrity: Avoiding claims of infallibility, acknowledging human limitation, and encouraging sitters to use their own discernment.

Ethical standards ensure that mediumship remains a supportive and healing practice rather than exploitative or misleading.

Beyond Spiritualism: Mediums Outside the Faith

While the training is rooted in the doctrines of Spiritualism, not every classically trained medium goes on to identify as a Spiritualist. Some see mediumship as a natural intuitive faculty rather than a religious calling. Others may integrate their training into broader holistic practices such as energy healing, coaching, or personal development.

This distinction highlights the flexibility of Spiritualist training: the discipline and ethics can be adopted without full adherence to the religion itself. A medium may practice responsibly, guided by the same technical and ethical foundations, while holding different spiritual beliefs.

Finally...

The training of a Spiritualist medium is a blend of technical skill-building, philosophical grounding, and ethical discipline. It is not just about developing psychic abilities, but about cultivating responsibility, service, and compassion. Whether or not a medium ultimately identifies as a Spiritualist, the framework provided by this training continues to shape ethical, professional, and spiritually grounded practice across diverse settings.