Rob wrote (18/01/2012 09:24:19):






Hi Mac, thanks for your very interesting question. You are right in that White Feather has commented on this or something similar before but I think it will be interesting to debate the issue here, rather than put the question to the guide again. Firstly the guide has always maintained that 'spirit is master, matter is servant' and that in regards to medical science keeping the physical body alive, they can only do so as long at the spiritual aspect is able to continue to function through it. If the spirit can no longer maintain its links through the material form, or even chooses not to, then it will depart and there is nothing that science or medicine can do to prevent that. Although it may appear at times that doctors decide when someone lives or dies, this is not actually the case when viewed from the spiritual realm. There have for instance, been examples of doctors switching off life support to enable to patient to 'die' whereupon the said patient has made a recovery. Why? because it was not time for the soul to depart.

With regard to the question about patients in a 'Persistent
Vegetative State' being contactable via non-physical means the guide asserts that this is possible but of course it would not be classed as 'mediumship' in the truest sense of the word. However, mediums inevitably have heightened senses and are able to perceive all manner or thoughts, feelings, emotions and happenings that may have nothing to do with communion with the spirit world. It is a naturally occurring consequence of mediumstic development that extra-sensory abilities develop and are heightened. Indeed, it could be argued that even with the best mediumship there is some element of the mediums' own sensory ability to pick up information from sitters that is not imparted from discarnate souls and that not all information given during a reading is actually from the spirit world.

So with patients in a comatose state you are right in stating that it would be a telepathic connection, as the person would technically still be, for the most part existing within the physical realm. The question does arise though as to what aspect of the individual the medium is contacting? It depends on what you term 'material' and what you term 'spirit'. Mind and consciousness are not actually products of matter, but function through matter, so in a sense the medium could be termed as communicating with the non-physical aspect of the patient. Perhaps the problem as White Feather often says is one of 'semantics', where our use and understanding of language as a means of conveying what we think we know, often falls short.

Finally, I do agree though that it may well be our best way of attempting to connect with people who are in the midst of this unfortunate situation. Great question Mac.

I wonder if anyone else will contribute to this discussion?

Anyone else, Robert?  Not looking promising... 

Interesting reply though - thank you.  It's good to hear the subject's been broached before and good to hear what White Feather had to say.  It's still in the realm of the possible, though, rather than 'actually happened' and documented as far as I'm aware.  Maybe it's too much a 'hot potato' for practitioners to make public?  Or maybe few ever find themselves in such circumstances so little is heard? It's probably an academic point but I wonder just how many 'trapped' individuals might, potentially, be reached in such a way?  All of 'em?  Most of 'em?  A small percentage...? Such contact could be invaluable as folk agonise over their loved one's future and then find that they are 'still there' in the body and with thoughts to convey. 

Has White Feather given any guidance on the 'rights and wrongs' (so to speak) of withdrawing (or continuing) medical support and allowing (or preventing) the individual to pass over?  Should the physical body be maintained at all costs to allow the spirit of the individual to decide the point when it's no longer their desire, or within their capability, to maintain their links with their body?  As I'm asking the question I'm receiving the answer....

It is difficult at times to ask the right questions in the right way and in the right context - semantics can indeed be a problem but it's often possible to re-structure questions and ask them again in a slightly different way.  Not just about this subject but about others too.  All one needs is time and willingness by all parties to continue until there's a deeper, broader understanding of the situation.  Not easy!  But words are all we have to communicate, spoken and written, so we need to do our best I always believe.

And as I mentioned elsewhere, this kind of situation is comparatively novel.  Guidance could not have been given by the teachers and guides of yesteryear -  before modern medicine brought it about.