Facilitator’s Guide To The Psychomanteum

Facilitator’s Guide to the PSYCHOMANTEUM © 1994 Dianne Arcangel This guide presents basic methods for facilitating the psychomanteum or reunion experience; therefore, “facilitator” is the standard phraseology indicating the health care professional (therapist, analyst, psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, clergy, and so on) conducting the session, and “participant” or “seeker” refers to the person attending the psychomanteum session. To simplify linguistic form and readability, the pronoun “he” is used androgynously to identify a person, individual or human being. INTRODUCTION Reunions with deceased loved ones can be an important part of the grief process. Whether the experience is spontaneous or under controlled circumstances of observation, a visit is only the first step toward healing; the second step is having that experience validated. Ancient people sensed that transcending loss was fostered by such events, thus they developed methods of inviting spirits of the deceased. During times of antiquity, before written word, oracles of the dead were used to petition spirits of the deceased. Oracles, meaning the seat of prophecy, a place for acquiring wisdom, began as lakes, ponds, springs, pools, rivers and other natural reflective surfaces. Eventually, visionaries from all parts of the world began inventing man made forms for inviting discarnate (after death) spirits. Homer recorded oracle experiences, and by the seventh century oracular shrines, called psychomanteums, had become a common method for divine consultation. In his extraordinary research Doctor Raymond Moody recreated a psychomanteum in his Alabama gristmill. As a result, it is clear that an oracle can be built in most any quiet space in order to facilitate healing. DISTINCTIVE ADVANTAGE OF THE PSYCHOMANTEUM The mirrored vision is a unique and effective therapeutic intervention because it is the individual’s private experience, without hypnosis or mediumship being involved. PURPOSE OF THE PSYCHOMANTEUM The purpose of the reunion experience is personal transformation. Universal unity, peace and love begin with internal unity, peace and love. PURPOSE FOR THIS GUIDE The basic text for a reunion experience facilitator is Raymond Moody’s REUNIONS. Having read that, this guide provides additional information for health care professionals with suggestions in building a psychomanteum and facilitating participants. CREATING A PSYCHOMANTEUM Building a psychomanteum is not a laborious task. Being a sacred space, much like a cathedral or temple, it is created from one’s soul. With spontaneity, enthusiasm, respect and appreciation, the chamber is placed together step by step. This general guide has proven to be successful when followed as suggestions, rather than as a precise process analysis FINDING THE SPACE The preparations begin by finding a place for the sacred room. Although the usual psychomanteum itself will measure only three feet wide by six feet long, there is another consideration. A quiet place for the facilitator and participant to interview is required, and this is outside the booth. Therefore, decide whether one room will hold the chamber only and a different room will be used for the interview, or if one room will house both the psychomanteum and discussion area as well. 2 The psychomanteum can be built in most any place – an empty closet, storage room, bedroom, of