Jenny Telfer Chaplin by Hopes, Sorrow Page A

of such spectres was exactly what many of the guests had been imagining, if not expecting.
    Elenora gave a knowing nod.
    “Yes. Just as I thought. Perhaps I should give you a little introduction about spiritual matters before I go into a trance or we hold an actual sitting.”
    There were nods of approval and even a few exhaled gasps of relief which caused amused smiles from some of the braver members of the group.
    “Spirit is all round us, helping us, even though we do not always listen, or go with that first gut-feeling, they do still try to help. Take this little group here tonight. We are not here by chance – this has not come about by coincidence. We are here, at precisely the right time, in the right place in each of our lives for this weekend to be meaningful for each individual.
    “In fact, there is no such thing as coincidence. I prefer to call it synchronicity, a bringing together of all essential factors at the correct time for all the people involved. There is so much I want to tell you about spirit or the so-called supernatural but I have no wish to overload your brains at this stage. One thing I will bring to your notice – everything on earth started as an idea.” She paused and pointed at a coffee table. “Even that table there started as an idea in some long-ago carpenter’s head. So we must remember the importance of positive thought, because all thoughts, be they positive or negative, eventually become reality. Am I not right in this, Mary?”
    At first somewhat flustered at being singled out, Mary muttered: “Well, yes ... er ... yes ... now you mention it.”
    Elenora prompted: “No need to be shy, Mary, for at some point or other we shall all be participating in events this weekend. Why not tell our friends how your own positive thoughts changed your life for good – not only for yourself, but also for your extended family and even for me.”
    As Mary still hesitated, Elenora said: “Perhaps our guests would like to freshen their coffee, then we can settle down to hear your story.”
    “Right, Mary, We’re ready to hear what you have to say on the subject of positive thought and your own experience of how spirit has changed your life.”
    Brave as she was in so many ways in tackling life’s problems, as she looked at the expectant faces turned towards her, Mary felt she could easily take the coward’s way out and run for cover. However, she knew that spirit had been good to her and she should at least acknowledge the fact. As she started speaking the words seem to come of their own volition until almost without realising it she had told the group the extent of her own experiences.
    “So, you see in all the years I was away from Ivylea, when my life was at its lowest ebb there was not a day but that I envisaged this beautiful house, Dunoon, and Argyll. I just knew that one day, when the time was right, spirit would arrange for me to return ... and that is exactly what happened.”
    After a short silence a sceptic said: “A lovely story, of course, but do you mean to imply that we should let spirit lead our lives for us? I can’t say that I go along with that theory.”
    “Spirit can po int us in many directions,” Elenora said, “they can and will give warnings of pitfalls to be avoided, of hazards to be aware of, but that is where free will comes in – you, we can all go against our designated path in life if we so wish. I think now is a good time for some trance.”
    In the course of Elenora’s trance state there were whispers from time to time.
    “Oh, I don’t believe it. That’s my grandmother. I can even smell her lavender and moth balls.”
    “Can you all see that bearded gentleman? Smell his clay pipe? It’s my Uncle Hamish.”
    Later discussion brought out the fact that already people were doubting what, if anything, they had actually seen.
    “A lot of rubbish, if you ask me. We imagined it.”
    “Then how did we all see the same thing?
    The original sceptic had his