Chicago - September 28, 2014

In attendance: Denise, Jeff, Marisol, Nelson and Sonia   

Marisol's uncle, the former director of a Chicago spiritist center, passed on Friday.  We read the prayer for the recently departed and reminisced about his life and work while he was with us.  Nelson sensed hundreds of spirits patiently lined up, waiting to be heard at his closed center.  One of them asked,  "Where are we going to go now?"  The conversation fluctuated between English and Spanish.  Nelson also realized that the uncle had not yet fully crossed over into the spiritual realm, as he was worried about his former center, the spirits who still needed his help, and his own progression.  Nelson heard him asking, "So what happens now?"  Nelson told the table that we still needed to pray for him in order to move him forward on his transition.  As for the assembled spirits who were lined up, a group leader was stepping forward, with bloody knuckles from his incessant knocking on the closed doors of the center. 

Spirits 1 & 2 (via Nelson):  As the spirit sat though Nelson, he said, "You are so nice, so kind.  I would knock before, and we had a good communication (with Marisol's uncle and his center).  Nobody answers my knock now.  Is the door closed? ¿Qué lugar? (Spanish for "What place?").  Is there another door?  I have many friends with me..."  Sonia explained to the spirit that he and his friends were now welcome at our door.  The spirit noticed a "senora"  who had traveled with them, and he wondered who she was.  The table determined that it was Marisol's grandmother, the mother of her uncle.  She had guided this group of spirits to our location.  The spirit was thirsty, and he asked for water as his conversation continued: "A new door?  Lugar.  We are confused, looking for him (the uncle) and we cannot find him.  His place was filled with spirits.  We were sad now because the door would not open.  Do you know how many we are?  We are 1,923."  After some persuasion from the table, the spirit and his group decided to go with Marisol's grandmother, and they all left.

Marisol's grandmother remained behind to address our table from her a position behind Nelson.  She wanted us to know that it was, "good to know that I can continue my job."  She explained that in addition to helping the group of spirits find their way to our door, she had appeared for another purpose - to help her son with his transition.  "But I had to do the work first, so he can wait," she said gently.  Nelson described her as very pleasant and funny, and Marisol explained that her grandmother was a medium and a healer when she was in the material world.  She used to receive remedies for health issues in her dreams, and she would share these remedies with anyone who needed them.  She expressed how happy she was that Marisol was continuing to work, and she wanted to let her know that eventually a door to another spiritual center would open for her when she was ready.  She added, "In the meantime, you have this.  Keep working.  Put your house in order." 

Nelson sensed something for "La", an 84 year old daughter of Marisol's grandmother who was living in Puerto Rico.  "I go to La and I talk to her," the grandmother said, "but she will not do what I say.  She's very stubborn."  The spirit said that La was not well (and Marisol agreed).  The spirit advised Marisol to visit La in Puerto Rico, and she promised to be with Marisol on the entire journey.  "Next time, let me sit," the grandmother told Nelson. "Sometimes the problems with mediums is that they think they have nothing to learn.  You are going to learn a lot from me," she advised sweetly.  Marisol's grandmother also told us that she continues to do her job, but she has been looking for someone to receive and write messages from her to help others.  It would be similar to what she did when she was in the material world.  She seemed frustrated with her inability to find someone, describing her ongoing efforts with a Spanish word for "crap" or "nonsense".  As this spirit prepared to leave us to tend to Marisol's uncle (her son), she explained his situation.  His spirit was no longer in his material body, but it had not been fully removed either - it hovered or floated over his body.  Marisol's grandmother explained that this was a process we all must experience, and she left. 

Spirit 3 (via Nelson): Denise's eyeglasses fell from her face and landed on the table.  A new spirit had arrived, and this was his way to be noticed - even though he was not yet ready to sit.  Nelson asked Denise about her ongoing "war" with her father, and Denise explained that her father was not taking care of himself.  His living arrangements left a lingering smell in his room that Denise could not tolerate.  She described it as, "the smell of death."  Nelson felt as if Denise's dad had given up and that he wanted to go, and Denise agreed.  Nelson advised Denise not to fight with her father, as his choices were not her business.  As difficult as it might be to see him making poor decisions, they were still his choices, not hers.  Sonia wondered, "Why are we holding on to all this stuff?" Marisol said the spirit of Denise's father, " has given up," and Nelson agreed, as he was shown the father's room as the setting for a funeral. 

Nelson believed that the house should be completely aired out, with the windows and doors left open.  He sensed layers of "catacombs" being built within the fumes of the dark, dank air and the rank smell of the father's surroundings only encouraged this atmosphere.  Marisol asked Denise if she was able to relocate to a studio apartment or to move in with a roommate.  She sensed that Denise needed to find a safe space for herself within the house if no other arrangements could be made.  Denise was working on it, and Marisol cautioned that the safe space was not just for Denise's physical health, it was also to protect her spirit.  Denise shared some of her health issues with the table.  Marisol realized that Denise was an "emotional eater," and Denise agreed.  Nelson strongly recommended that Denise have her stomach checked - by a new doctor, not her current specialist.  There was something there.  Nelson began to speak in an urgent tone, saying: "Listen!  You have been given a message! Find a new doctor.  Call as soon as you can."  The table realized that a spirit had slipped into Nelson as he told Denise, "Something is not right...."

The spirit started speaking briefly in Spanish, and then he switched to English:

Spirit: I am not leaving that place.

Denise: What is the reason for you to be there?

Spirit: I am not talking to you.  (the spirit moved Nelson's hands behind his back, as if he were being restrained by someone)  Why are they holding me back?

Marisol: Listen to the kind spirits around you...

Spirit: I like it quiet.  I was doing what I need to do.

Marisol: Do you feel better (for what you have done)?

Spirit: No.  I'm a mess.  Look at me.  But we find what we are looking for and then we do not want to leave.

Marisol: You belong in the spirit world.

Spirit: (angry, and struggling in his seat):  Why are they holding me back?

Marisol: Your intentions are not good.

Spirit:  They brought me here,  Under arrest!   They took me.  I was not finished.  (pause) You know I don't like him (referring to Denise's father).  He is not nice, and not kind.  Not good.

Marisol: We have to forgive.

Spirit (noticing the guide who is with him):  He says I have to go.

Marisol: And forgive, so that you can move on.

Spirit (sighing): I'll leave him alone.  I've done enough.  Me and my group.

Jeff: How many are in your group?

Spirit: How old is he?  (pause) We are 79, one for every year.  It's a house of nuts.

The spirit departed, and Marisol told Denise to protect herself.  She should not be responsible for anyone else, because if she takes on the responsibilities of the others in her household, Denise is the one who will be sick.  Denise was advised to pray for protection and to push away the negativity when it arises.  "You have protection if you ask for it," Marisol reminded her.

Marisol also sensed that Nelson was undecided about something.  Nelson explained that although he loved his family in Puerto Rico, he is often called upon to resolve most of their problems.  After he helped them with an issue or situation, there wasn't any change in behavior, and no responsibility on their part.  The cycle repeats and repeats.  Marisol saw the situation as, "very heavy," and she cautioned that like Denise, these recurring situations "do not belong to you, Nelson."  Nelson sensed a group of madames surrounding his mother.  They felt lost and unable to work.  One of them sat through Nelson.

Spirit 4 (via Nelson):  The madame was very animated, and she spoke in Spanish.  She clapped her hands and told us she wanted to "open doors".  She explained that she "worked differently."  She described her good works as "carrying on when we are ordered to."  She explained that she was always around Nelson's mother, and described herself as "very strong."  She often had to "do things behind the scenes, as some things cannot be said."  She saw the situation in Puerto Rico as, "They have a party, but nothing gets done."  The madame also understood that "a bigger place was needed" (for our sessions), and she demanded to know, "Where are all the people?"  She urged Nelson to be calm and tranquil in regards to his family, repeating "calma" in Spanish several times.  "Take it easy," she cautioned, "It will all come when it should, one step at a time."  She sensed that Nelson was not sleeping well some weekends, and she wanted him to know that he "was not the salvation for his entire family."  The madame said that their situations were "in their own hands," just as Nelson's work was in his hands.  She continued:  "The salvation of your mother is in her hands, it's her responsibility.  Each person is responsible for their own being."  She explained that her group knew that they were spirits, and they knew what they were doing.  The madame also said that she enjoyed working with Nelson and guiding him, "because he does good things".  The madame described Nelson as a "good guy" and told the table that she was going to "cleanse him too."  She described herself as wearing a white turban, and explained that she was with a group of, "eight madames and one director," adding quickly, "But we do not like titles."  She said her group was "all dressed in white, and the white turban is our flag."  Once the madame had finished cleansing Nelson, "so that he can continue to work," she and her group left quietly.  The table discussed her presence.

Spirit 5 (via Marisol):  Marisol's spirit guide arrived, and she wanted to use Marisol to give passes to Denise.  (Note: Marisol's spirit guide is also a madame)  The passes were lengthy and intense. Marisol also stood behind Jeff, explaining that he might be lonely sometimes, but he was well loved.  She sensed a sadness in his heart, that "you don't show your partner."  Once she was returned to her seat, Marisol's spirit guide spoke to the group in Spanish.  She was a powerful presence.  After she left, our table discussed the possibility of meeting anytime for a reunion/session, whenever the need arose.

Spirit 6 (via Nelson): The spirit of Don Polo spoke from behind Nelson, promising to return again at our next session.  He wanted to remind us that our "questions were always good."  Referencing an earlier conversation in the living room before our session, Don Polo wanted the group to know that the spirit of Nelson's aunt (Norma) was with him, and she was very busy learning.  She was smiling, looking at Nelson and missing him, fondly remembering the work they did together.  Jeff thought that the two of them would eventually work together again.  Nelson saw Norma as "protected," as if she were inside a bubble, and he realized that her energy level was very different from his own at this time, so she had to be separated.  Nelson heard Norma when she said, "Keep doing it."

Don Polo said that the reunion could be closed.  There was more work to do, but that work would be done in the background on the spiritual side.  Nelson closed with a prayer.

For those wondering what a typical Cuban "madame" looks like...