Knowing the Facts about Channeling and Crystal Work

By Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon

Published by ATRI Publishing
Copyright 2012
ISBN 9781937136888
License Notes
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re sold or
given away to other peopleThank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963,
1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
This eBook is taken from the authors book, Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs. Updated 2012.
Channeling
Contents
Title page
Channeling Info at a Glance
Channeling Introduction and Influence
Induction Methods
Descriptions, Types, and Forms
New Age Connection
Influence with Medical Doctors
Modern Channelers
Evidence for Channeling
Spirit Identities
The Spirits and Necromancy
The Spirits Unmasked
Channelers' Confessions and Spirit Motives
Spirit Teachings
Religious Philosophy
Individual Spirits' Teachings
Impersonations and Denials of Christianity
"Creative" Psychology
Multiple Personalities and Channeling
Biblical Perspective
Destructive Nature
Crystal Work
Crystal Work Info at a Glance
Crystal Work Introduction and Influence
Historical Antecedents
Source of Power
Bibliography
About the Authors
Channeling

Channeling Info at a Glance

Description. Channeling occurs when someone permits a spirit entity to possess him or her
usually for some form of psychic knowledge or power, e.g., psychic diagnosis or healing, or to
use the person's vocal cords to speak in order to give spiritual teachings or practical advice.
Various forms of spirit communication by channeling exist, such as automatic writing, narrated
visions, and inner voice dictation. In addition, many people say they channel entities who claim
to be angels, even though these "angels" are indistinguishable in their methods and teachings
from the spirits channeled by occultists in general.
Founder. The first recorded incident of channeling per se is found in Genesis 3:1 (cf. 2
Corinthians 11:3,13-15.
How does it claim to work? Channeling claims to work through a variety of means. For
example, through meditation, relaxation, visualization, hypnosis, altered states of consciousness,
and other methods, channelers claim the spirits are able to enter, possess, and control them much
in the same manner as a puppeteer controls a puppet. Channelers claim that by permitting spirits
to possess and speak through them, mankind can attain a wealth of spiritual and practical wisdom
directly from spirits, who have "passed on" and are highly evolved. The spirits claim they can
assist people toward true individual, social, and spiritual enlightenment
Scientific evaluation. Certain aspects of the practice can be scientifically examined, as in
parapsychological research, but science cannot evaluate the specific claims made by channelers
concerning the spirits existence, nature, or purpose.
Examples of occult potential. Channeling is chiefly used for an endless number of occult
purposes, from realizing so-called "higher" states of consciousness, to developing psychic
powers, to attaining new revelations.
Major problem. Channeled spirits who claim to be wise and loving entities, or angels sent from
God, are lying spirits which the Bible identifies as demons. Despite their seeming charm and
benevolence, this is only a ruse to establish trust. As one channeler points out, "Guides have a
vested interest in being friendly" (349:42).
Biblical/Christian evaluation. Channeling is part of what the Bible calls Christians to stand
against in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:1018). And under the name "mediumship," it is a
practice specifically forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). The hidden purpose of the spirits is to
gain the confidence of men so they can influence and control them to bring their eventual
spiritual ruin (2 Corinthians 4.4)
Potential dangers. Spiritual deception, occult bondage, demon possession, mental breakdown,
physical harm, shortened life, financial and other risks perpetrated by fraudulent channelers, and
other consequences (refs. 291/270-274/1069).
Note: The New Age Movement as a whole is largely undergirded by channeled revelations
and activities. Some of this material is excerpted from the authors' The Facts on Spirit
Guides (eBook). Our eBooks, Knowing the Facts about A Course in Miracles, Knowing
the Facts about Dream Work, Knowing the Facts about Hypnosis and Hypnotic Regression,
Knowing the Facts about Shamanism, and Knowing the Facts about Visualization offer
additional illustrations of how channeling is used in modern New Age occultism. For an
analysis of how the popular angel phenomenon relates to channeling and the occult see our
Knowing the Facts about Angels eBook.

Channeling Introduction and Influence

Channeling is a New Age euphemism for mediumship or spirit possession. When men and
women willingly give over their minds and bodies to spirit entities, and these spirits enter and
control them, using them to "heal," or to give occult teachings and other information, this is
called "channeling." Recent books that promote channeling include Sanaya Roman's and Duane
Packer's Opening to Channel: How to Connect with Your Guide (575), Kathryn Ridall's
Channeling: How to Reach Out to Your Spirit Guides (577), and Laeh Garfield's and Jack
Grant's Companions in Spirit: A Guide to Working with Your Spirit Helpers (349).
Throughout the world, channeling is a multi-billion-dollar business. Famous movie stars,
corporate executives, scholars, artists, and businessmen are turning to channeling. Various retreat
centers and workshops are springing up around the country, which teach people how to open
themselves so that the spirits can possess them and they can become channels themselves (280:7-
10).
From a historical perspective, we may understand the influencing potential of channeling. For
example, in 1851, just three years after the spiritualist revival of 1848, there were an estimated
1200 mediums in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as hundreds of mediums in other major cities
(463:159-60). By 1855, America boasted several thousand mediums and some 2 million
followers, which eventually grew to an estimated 8 to 11 million (389:362/1097:318). These
channelers (then called mediums) and their followers undergirded an entire century of
parapsychological research (the scientific study of the occult) in our country (1098). This
research helped to pave the way for the modern occult and New Age revival (1099:161,174; ref.
1069:51-60).
Today, Los Angeles is estimated to have over a thousand channelers (1102). There are hundreds
listed in the psychic yellow pages. There are also hundreds of practitioners in other major cities,
indicating that we are experiencing another occult revival. But the spirits today are turning to
highly sophisticated marketing techniques through books, radio, television, video, and cassette
(1103/ 574:49/662:6-7,13-15).
There have been many psychic movies portraying channelers as the only ones who know the
truth. (For a list of the best psychic movies see http://www.imdb.com/keyword/psychic/) In
recent years, The Medium TV series ran from 2005-2011 And The Mentalist debuted in 2008 and
continues to air on CBS (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mentalist).
Today, thousands of channeled books, CDs and DVDs are sold to the public. For example,
numerous titles are being marketed by LuminEssence Productions, a New Age business begun
by channelers Sanaya Roman (who channels an entity called "Orin") and Duane Packer (who
channels "DaBen") (http://www.orindaben.com/). Some of "Orin's" audios include the following
titles (note "Orin's" emphasis on the "laws" of prosperity and abundance, a teaching popular in
the "Christian" "faith" movement):
Discovering Life PurposeWhat Am I Here to Do?
Manifesting Your Destiny
Radiating Unconditional LoveBecoming the Source
Self-LoveLearning to Respect and Honor the Self
Being Your Higher Self
Opening Up All Your Psychic Abilities
Lucid DreamingInterpreting, Remembering Dreams
Getting in Touch with Your Power
Opening the Chakras
Clearing Blockages
Taking a Quantum Leap
Losing Weight., Looking Younger
Attracting Your Soul Mate
Having What You Want in a Relationship
Public RecognitionGetting Your Work Out to the World
For Self-Employed People: Attracting Business
Flowing with the Universe
Living with Joy
Personal Power Through Awareness
Creating Money: The Spiritual Law of Prosperity and Abundance.
Creating Money: Magnetizing Yourself
Creating Money: Clearing Beliefs and Old Programs
Creating Money: Releasing Doubts and Fears
Creating Money: Linking with Your Soul and the Guides
Creating Money: Aura Clearing, Energy and Lightwork
Subpersonality Journey: Awakening Your Prosperity Self
 Success: Releasing Fear of Success, Failure, Going for It!
Abundance: Creating Plenty in EVERY Area of Your Life (575:231-32).
A single channeler can easily channel 50 to 100 CDs/DVDs each year. In addition, the
endorsement of channeling by famous television and movie stars has made the practice much
more socially acceptable. Shirley MacLaine; Linda Evans, who starred in the 1960s Western TV
series, The Big Valley (19651969) and in the 1980s ABC prime time television soap opera
Dynasty; actress Sharon Gless, who played "Cagney" on the 1980s TV series "Cagney and
Lacey." When Sharon Gless won a 1987 "Emmy" for her role on the series, in her acceptance
speech, she said that her success was due to "Lazaris," a spirit entity who speaks through
medium Jach Pursel. Other famous "friends of Lazaris" have included Lesley Ann Warren, Ted
Danson, Barry Manilow, and noted New Age promoter Marilyn Ferguson (1526:490).
The popularity of channeling can also be seen through new retreat centers and workshops around
the country where people are taught how to open their minds and bodies to the spirits to become
channels themselves. In these gatherings live teaching sessions are conducted by the spirits
themselves, speaking through the channelers and motivating people to start study groups,
research centers, and magazines devoted to the study and development of channeling (574:4-
6,62-68/1103:10). (See a list of these magazines at http://new-age-internet-marketing-
academy.com/new_age_magazine_list.htm.)
Another area of popularity is the growing influence of channeling in the social sciences,
medicine, and other disciplines. We have provided an example in the area of medicine that
follows. The spirits are speaking through their human hosts about theories in psychology,
medical diagnosis and treatment, the investigation of parapsychology, the study of physics, the
application of sociology, and the development of new ideas in theology, archaeology, and other
disciplines (1104). In New York, spiritism has been used for several years as an adjunct to
psychotherapy in some community mental health centers (1105), and the practice is spreading to
other cities. There are even websites that promote channeling: http://www.channeling-spirit-
guides.com/ and http://www.extrasensory-perceptions-guide.com/meeting-spirit-guide.html.
Not only in America is channeling popular; there is an increasingly visible channeling movement
emerging throughout the Western world, including Canada, England, and West Germany
(574:61-67/98:13-70). Brazil boasts over a million channelers, or spiritists, with tens of millions
of followers (1106:227).

Crystal Work Introduction and Influence

Time magazine has observed that "crystal power" and "crystal healing" are among the most
favored of New Age techniques for expanding consciousness or curing what ails you. Indeed,
hundreds of thousands of people are seeking the alleged power within crystals, which are so
prized today that "beautiful formations in ancient caves are being ravaged for their quartz"
(1143:174). One critical text on alternative medicine goes so far as to claim, "Crystals are fast
becoming an accepted part of our mainstream society" (1093:155). If so, it will be because the
books and lectures of New Age superstars such as Shirley MacLaine, which actively endorse the
use of crystals, have reached millions of people. MacLaine, for example, tells of using crystal
power for psychic "centering," or spiritual alignment, which she often employs while in the
bathtub:
 I checked the positions of my four quartz crystals sitting on each corner of the tub. I had
been learning to work with the power of crystals and that discipline had become part of my
daily life.
As I chanted my Hindu mantras I visualized white light flowing through my bloodstream.
It made me feel centered and balanced. I had learned to draw in white light that I visualized
coming from some source above me, and with the sound vibrating through my body, the
light traveled through me causing a sensation of calm alignment (347:8-9).
Crystals are used for a variety of psychic pursuits. "According to the nature of the illness, the
crystal will become hot or cold as it is passed over the person's aura. The crystal is absorbing the
bad energy out of the body, according to these teachings. It is important to remember that the
crystals are your teachers. Hold one in your hand. Be open to its power. It will teach you"
(997:67).
Despite the novelty for modern Americans, crystal work is a variation upon the old occult belief
that gems, stones, rocks, and minerals contain great power which can be magically directed for
various uses, such as psychic diagnosis and healing, developing psychic abilities, astral
projection, spirit contact, and channeling!'
One of the leading New Age promoters of crystal work is DaEl Walker, a spiritist who founded
"The Crystal Awareness Institute" (http://www.crystalawareness.com/).This organization claims
to be recognized by the state of California to offer continuing education credit for registered
nurses who take crystal classes (203:cover). The institute stresses "research," development and
training in crystal work, psychic healing, and expanding human consciousness along New Age
lines. Nationwide, over 10,000 people have attended Walker's lectures, workshops, and seminars.
Yet he is only one of dozens of popular teachers in the field (203:265).
As in most New Age practices, crystal work is viewed as a technique for manipulating mystical
energies. For example, "Crystal Healing is only concerned with energy. We believe the physical
body is the end result of energy. If the energies of the body can be stimulated and balanced, the
physical body must repair itself. Crystal Healing is non-intrusive and non-invasive. It only
adjusts energy fields" (203:24).
The supposed ability to regulate mystical energies explains why crystal work is employed in a
wide variety of occult practices. For example, it may involve manipulating the body's alleged
"life energy," (e.g., prana), for healing. It may be used in psychically "examining" the aura, or
"awakening" the chakras (alleged psychic centers in the body), or arousing kundalini energy (see
our Knowing the Facts about Yoga eBook). Crystals are also employed in such diverse practices
as shamanism (759:84-85), astral projection, dream work, visualization, divination, spirit
channeling, muscle testing, dowsing, astrology, the use of mind-expanding drugs, and even in
psychic surgery (202:28, 34,53,73,84,94,101,168,180,183).