Not simply a Victorian-era curio
March 8, 2024 4:37 AM Subscribe
"1980 was an ambitious year for the Victorian Spiritualists’ Union (VSU), the largest and oldest Spiritualist association in Australia, and the world’s longest continuously running Spiritualist organisation. That year, the VSU hosted the Australian visit of renowned British spirit artist, medium and author Coral Polge (1924–2001). The VSU had been trying as far back as 1975 to bring her out and finally succeeded five years later. Polge appeared in two shows at the Kew Civic Centre, a large venue in Melbourne’s affluent inner eastern suburbs. The VSU advertised these in a short-lived New Age newspaper, Ziriuz, alongside articles on alternative medicine, astrology, yoga, vegetarianism, biodynamic gardening and Buddhism."
The Victorian Spiritualists' Union Inc. persists, "CONTINUOUSLY SERVING SPIRITUALISM SINCE 1870." There's also the Spiritualist Church of Australia, as well as the The Church of United Spiritualism of Australia. Spiritualism has been an influence on the literature down under, as well. The dangers of maritime activity meant, no surprise, that spiritualism played a role there, too. Want more, check out eMelbourne on spiritualism and mesmerism. The talking dead are a part of various forms of communing with those who have passed."
Spiritualism has appeared previously on MetaFilter.
Check the Wikipedia entry on Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology for some information on Indigenous perspectives.
The Victorian Spiritualists' Union Inc. persists, "CONTINUOUSLY SERVING SPIRITUALISM SINCE 1870." There's also the Spiritualist Church of Australia, as well as the The Church of United Spiritualism of Australia. Spiritualism has been an influence on the literature down under, as well. The dangers of maritime activity meant, no surprise, that spiritualism played a role there, too. Want more, check out eMelbourne on spiritualism and mesmerism. The talking dead are a part of various forms of communing with those who have passed."
Spiritualism has appeared previously on MetaFilter.
Check the Wikipedia entry on Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology for some information on Indigenous perspectives.
Have you been to Lily Dale in Western New York? https://www.lilydaleassembly.org/
May be the oldest continuing spiritualist camp in the states.
posted by Czjewel at 6:09 AM on March 8 [2 favorites]
May be the oldest continuing spiritualist camp in the states.
posted by Czjewel at 6:09 AM on March 8 [2 favorites]
I have not. Up until about 18 hours ago, I had no clear idea such things still existed!
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:17 AM on March 8
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:17 AM on March 8
Even wilder is that there are people who were brought up in the Spiritualist community even today! Sabrina Scott*, a modern witch, is a kid who raised in the American Spiritualist faith. She has issues with it that led to her estrangement from her family.
*I run hot and cold on Sabrina as she can be super girl-bossy and very judgey
posted by Kitteh at 8:12 AM on March 8 [1 favorite]
*I run hot and cold on Sabrina as she can be super girl-bossy and very judgey
posted by Kitteh at 8:12 AM on March 8 [1 favorite]
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Request: I realize it's unlikely we'd do this, but please do not share links in the comments to pages featuring photographs of deceased Aboriginal Australians. Why not? Thank you.
posted by cupcakeninja at 4:41 AM on March 8 [1 favorite]