Trance mediumship is one of the more elusive and incredible parts of a medium’s development, demonstration and presentation. I’ve been lucky enough, over many, many years, to watch some truly wonderful trance mediums, and I’ve been sitting with this phenomenon myself since I was a teenager.
How It Used to Be
From the age of 16, I saw how common trance work was among mediums serving the local Spiritualist churches. A medium would stand, close their eyes, and after a few moments start to speak an “address” really a spiritual philosophy that fed the whole congregation with a message. Not a personal message for one person, but something everybody could take home and think about through the coming week.
Those mediums would often go into a light trance to deliver it. They’d stand, sometimes rocking gently. You’d feel a shift in their energy the tone of the voice would change, and the information that came through felt different. More soulful. More connected. The words carried more weight. The teaching itself felt enhanced.
My Mentors: Joan and Marcia
Around this time I was lucky enough to sit with two mentors I’ve mentioned many times before a lady called Joan and another called Marcia. Both were wonderful trance mediums in their own right, and when we sat together in circle, I’d watch them: breathing growing heavier, eyes closed, the room becoming completely still and atmospheric. We knew to wait, to be patient. Then each of them would begin to speak in a lower voice, in different tones, sometimes in different accents and these distinct, unmistakable personalities would come through.
Marcia had her own guide, who spoke with a rhyme, jolly and friendly in his manner, but always delivering profound spiritual teaching. Joan’s guide came through with a slight Irish lilt upbeat and quick, but again always carrying a message with real depth for the group.
I understand this can sound too fantastical for anyone without a background in spirituality and mediumship that somebody else’s energy, vibration, and personality could come through another person to speak from beyond the grave. It does sound too good to be true. But it is entirely possible, and it is entirely true.
Transfiguration
Some of the validation for this comes from a related phenomenon called transfiguration. Under the right lighting never a completely dark room, but often under red, blue, green or purple light, or candlelight you can watch the medium’s own features shift. With Joan and Marcia, I’d see much heavier brows appear, almost like whiskers on their faces, features that simply weren’t there beforehand.
I was fortunate to witness this with other wonderful mediums too, Jean Skinner from the north-east of England, and Diane Elliott, whose work many readers will remember. I sat with both of them on many occasions, and each time I witnessed something remarkable. It’s this phenomenon of trance and transfiguration that so often gives us the evidence and encouragement that what’s coming through is genuine a real, meaningful way of receiving guidance directly from the spirit world.
My Own Trance Began at 19
I’ve sat with trance mediumship myself since I was 19, when it first happened through me. I want to say it was willing and I suppose on some soul level it must have been, because whoever was in a position to guide me was clearly able to come through and speak. And yet it was, and still is, a genuinely startling experience. Not frightening, just fantastical.
My breathing became laboured. I felt warm and cold at the same time, and within a second or two my sense of my own energetic body felt so vast I could have broken through the walls of the small room I was sitting in and then, moments later, so tiny I could have danced on the head of a pin. I understand now these are altered states of consciousness, and I do think our physical body reacts strongly when something genuinely spiritual is taking place.
A man’s voice spoke through me and gave his name as Zintar. He said he’d been my guide from the moment of my birth, that he’d known me in a life once lived, and that his role going forward was to speak to the groups I would sit with over the years bringing his own philosophy and, in time, healing and that transfiguration would develop for me too.
Bali, Right Now
As I write this, I’m in Bali working on a seminar with 140 people, alongside tutors and good friends Sean Collyns and Dianne Thomas from Australia and Lynn Probert from the UK. Tomorrow I’ll sit with a group and lead them, as best I can, through the development of trance, transfiguration, healing and trance communication. In the evening, around 70 people will gather simply to observe trance as I sit for their development.
Should You Develop Your Own Trance Gift?
I’d ask you to consider whether this might be right for you too. Developing your own trance ability brings you closer to spirit and builds a real bond you come to know the personalities of those who guide you. It starts simply: sitting quietly, focusing on the breath, setting a strong intention that your guides and guardians may come closer, and building the kind of rapport that allows them to work with you for years to come.
If you’d like to explore this, I run courses on the subject you’ll find one currently at TonyStockwell.com. I also have a four-day intensive coming up in October at the Omega Institute in upstate New York, a place I’ve been lucky enough to teach at for the last 15 to 20 years, beautiful grounds, acres of land, and a genuinely strong spiritual atmosphere. If you’re in the US and able to travel, I’d love to see you there.
Do Your Research
Whatever you decide, do look into the history of trance mediumship there have been some truly wonderful exponents. Maurice Barbanell channelled a spirit guide called Silver Birch, whose teachings are still read today. Estelle Roberts worked for decades with her guide Red Cloud, filling the Royal Albert Hall on more than twenty occasions. Ursula Roberts channelled a guide called Ramadahn, whose recorded talks have been published in several volumes. And, more recently, the late Jean Skinner from the north-east of England carried this tradition forward in her own remarkable way.
Seek out a good tutor. Seek out someone who can demonstrate this well. I really believe it will open your eyes and your mind to something far bigger than you’ve imagined spirit might be able to offer us.
I’d love to know if you have ever had Trance experiences yourself? Let me know in the comments below?
Please click below for details on my USA, October in person Trance programme.
https://tonystockwell.com/events/trance-mediumship-exploration-discovery-at-omega/?l=L0&ri=0
Please see below details for my upcoming Trance online programme.
https://tonystockwell.com/events/trance-associated-phenomena-teachings-zintar-tap9-2026-2027/?l=L0&ri=0
