Develop Your Powers of Observation

Now I would like you to think about ‘Observation’. We are using that word to cover a number of things that perhaps could have a different word put to them, but ‘observation’ will suffice. It is so very important.

It is the ‘observation’ of the farmer that makes a good farmer. He chooses his fields, he knows when to bring his stock in to shelter; he is observing the weather and what is happening to the stock; which are the strong and healthy, which are the sick? These he looks after.  At the same time he is noticing the growth of his trees for the shelter for his stock. His whole life and the success of his land depend on his observation.

The artist; the man who is really skilled is aware of form, the juxtaposition of colour, and the lie of the land, perhaps if it is a landscape, or how to catch the character of a portrait… it is observation!

Observation of a different kind makes the great composer, or player of an instrument. He is noting the sound, one note against another, and one instrument against another. He is listening to nature and puts that down on paper, or applies it to his instrument.

A good mother is observing her children, their development. The teacher, the ability of the children under his care, and he knows that by certain stimulation that they will do better. It is all observation of one type or another.

Now we are thinking of you when you have passed over. If you have not learnt to observe many things, you will miss out a lot, because remember that you really haven’t got a physical body but you still have the senses.

You are using different eyes. You have eyes, you have hearing, and for a while the sense of taste but that is something that soon goes, because it is only with the sophistication of society that one has developed a physical palate. To survive man needs but simple food, so that now as you are not looking after a physical body, that can go.

But your other senses… the more you can develop them, the more you will get out of your life everlasting. If you are not aware of what is going on, how are you to know to say, “I would like to learn about that? How is that done? I must improve myself so I too can do this”.  In everything you do, stop for a while and look! Take it in to you!

You look at the stars, and there is history. Not so much the making of the stars, because we don’t ask you to become astronomers, but you can think of the sailors of long ago who because they were observant found your country, they were able to travel over vast deserts of water. There is so much to look at, so much to think about, so don’t give up because you feel that you have done as we asked for two weeks. (Mirth)

Keep this up. It is an important part of your development. Even if you have to stop in the middle of what you are doing just to look around you and think.

If it is a machine you are using think, “If it wasn’t for some other man or woman somewhere thinking of this, I couldn’t be here using it. They’ve worked out perhaps the wiring, or how to make the metal casing”. Or if you are making a piece of furniture think about what type of wood is used to make that piece of furniture and why, or if you are busy making a dress at the time, perhaps think about the weave of that fabric.

Or even if you are cooking… certainly it is food, think how man over time to satisfy his palate has worked out how to grow, or preserve, or to mix those various things. Go back to the basics of them and realise how wonderful man has been, because many of these things he’s developed from something very simple… or did he perhaps have unexplained guidance and help?

Well I think that perhaps we have given you enough to think of tonight. Please continue, as it is a very important part of your development to use those senses, to develop them, to look into books to find out more if you can’t get your answer by looking.

I think that we had better leave it at that.

Before I go, is there one simple question perhaps that we may be able to answer, that you would like to ask?

Sitter (J) Ling does this also apply to our sense of smell. Do we develop the sense of smell as well?

Spirit: Any sense, even that of taste, which you won’t use eventually, is an asset to you here on earth. The sense of smell is sometimes used here… it can be very beautiful, and if you haven’t learnt to appreciate the difference between various scents and odours, you may miss out.

Sitter(K): Ling if we don’t learn to be observant to any great degree on earth, is it too late to learn to become more observant, when we are with you?

Spirit: It is never too late friend, don’t ever get that idea, it is never too late! But the thing is that the more you learn on earth, the more you advance your spirit, and well we hope, the happier you will be.

Sitter: Thank you very much.

Spirit: That is all.

Goodnight.