“I walked through all the streets of Lily Dale and dead people in period dress came out of the houses to greet me. They took my hand, held it between their hands and said, ‘Thank you so much for being here,’ or ‘It is so good to have you here.’ The men wore hats and some of the women wore long gloves, with dark skirts and white blouses. And although I know in this reality it rained all night, to me, the town was bathed in sunshine.”

We have breakfast in a cafeteria. Sitting at the table next to us is Martie Hughes, one of the most famous mediums residing here. She tells me she has never been so “knocked out” in an altered-state process. “My head was literally in my lap before you finished your induction,” she says. “I don’t believe your voice.”

Later, another medium tells me, “I received a healing in your sessions. My back is so much better and my eyelids opened normally this morning. Before, they were always sticky. Thank you.”

Everywhere Tara and I go during the morning, people tell us thank you and offer similar stories. This is more than I am used to. 

Tara’s afternoon presentation in Assembly Hall is filled. The walls of the church-like hall are lined by turn-of-the-century photos of stern-looking Spiritualists. Tara jokes with the audience about wanting to do an automatic writing session to make contact with these people.

But her program is set. She does her “Path,” meditation and then spends time deciphering the symbols people have received. She often uses their symbols as touchstones to provide them with psychic information. The audience is impressed. The second session is “Insights: The Medicine Wheel,” which is my favorite of her meditations.

As we are signing the last books and CDs, Ron and Jen, two LA friends walk in to say hello. They are the successful creators of TV shows and are here doing research on a pilot about communicating with the dead. Terry, a writing partner, is also here and we see her later. When we get back to LA, we will meet so they can interview Tara for more information.

At 5:30 PM there is a “Message Service at Inspiration Stump. We walk deep into the woods where rough-wood pews are lined up before a concrete stump with stairs leading to the top. Supposedly, beneath the concrete, is the stump of a real tree that long served at the stage for mediums delivering messages from spirit.

We sit in the back and observe as one after another, the mediums come before the audience. Each one is allowed to deliver three messages. Listening to proddings from spirit, they scan the audience, pick a person and ask, “My I come to you?” or “May I touch in with you, my friend?”

The spirits are primarily deceased relatives. The advice is sometimes general, sometimes specific. One of the mediums says, “Your father says to tell you happy birthday.” The woman in the audience gasps. It is her birthday.

This spiritual service in the woods lasts for an hour. We say our goodbyes to Tammy, who asks us if we will return and present longer workshops next summer. We tell her we can’t wait to come back.

We leave the community to drive three hours back to Cleveland. In the morning we’ll turn in our rental car and fly to New York City.

To learn more about Lily Dale and the Spiritualist Church, I purchased a few books in the community bookstore and in NYC. “LILY DALE the true story of the town that talks to the dead” by Christine Wicker was published in 2003 and is considered a national bestseller.

The Lily Dale Spiritualist Church was chartered in 1832. In a flyer, Spiritualism is described as “... a Science, a Philosophy and a Religion. Learning and questioning are encouraged. There are no mysteries. We are all God’s children. No one atones for our errors; we alone are responsible. Men and women are totally equal in every aspect of our faith, at all levels. We believe in Spiritual Healing, while remaining aware that doctors are healers as well. Today’s technology is proving the Spiritual truth about life after death.”

The flyer goes on to describe a “Declaration of Principles.” I find myself agreeing with them all. (For more information: www.lilydalespiritualistchurch.com )

In her LILY DALE book, Wicker says, “Their beliefs once caused them to be considered freethinkers. Freethinking about religion, which included escape from Christian ideas about original sin and atonement, were important reasons for the original appeal of Spiritualism. Early Spiritualists supported the abolition of slavery, women’s rights, and free love, which in the nineteenth century meant the right to divorce. Lily Dale was one of the first platforms to allow women to speak. Susan B. Anthony spoke at the community’s annual Women’s Day so often that she was known as Aunt Susan.”

Click HERE to continue the Road Diary