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The Mystery of the Buried Crosses — Spiritualism

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The Mystery of the Buried Crosses

Name: The Mystery of the Buried Crosses
Price: 18.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781908733740

✍️ Garland, Hamlin

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

In his final work, Pulitzer-winning author Hamlin Garland chronicles an astonishing case of mediumship and unexplained phenomena. Originally a skeptic, Garland was drawn into the curious world of Violet Parent, whose spirit guides allegedly directed the unearthing of over 1,500 ancient crosses and other artifacts. Driven by an investigator's curiosity, Garland sought a new medium, Sophia Williams, to verify these claims. What unfolded was not just a continuation of the Parent mystery but a deeply personal communication from his own deceased uncle, blurring the lines between objective inquiry and profound spiritual encounter.

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Spiritualism

🏛 White Crow Books 📅 2013 📖 328 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781908733740

Fun Fact

Garland's "The Mystery of the Buried Crosses" offers a compelling, first-person account of an extraordinary psychic investigation. It excels in presenting complex phenomena through the lens of an intelligent, initially doubtful observer. While it may disappoint readers seeking definitive scientific validation, it provides a unique historical snapshot of spiritual inquiry. This book stands as a fascinating, unsettling entry in early 20th-century spiritualist literature, inviting contemplation on the boundaries of belief and reality.

📝 Description: The Mystery of the Buried Crosses

One of the most intriguing stories of mediumship on record was told by Hamlin Garland, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, in the last of his 52 books, The Mystery of the Buried Crosses, published in 1939. In 1934, shortly after giving a talk on psychic phenomena in Los Angeles, Garland, a very skeptical researcher, received a letter from Gregory Parent, a resident of Redlands, California, telling him of some strange psychic phenomena connected with his wife., Violet. They included some 1,500 crosses and other treasures buried by Indans and unearthed at the direction of her spirit guides as well as spirit photography. Having had many years of experience with mediums, Garland decided to find a medium who might get in touch with the deceased Violet Parent and request her help in finding additional relics, as Gregory Parent had noted that there were, according to the spirits, more to be found. Sometime around July 1937, Garland selected Sophia Williams, an amateur medium who did not charge for her services, to help him in his search. Williams was a direct-voice medium and while doing some tests with her, Garland's "Uncle David," who had been dead for some 30 years, communicated, Garland asked him if he remembered the old tune he used to play for him in on his fiddle. Garland then heard the tune "When you and I were young, Maggie" being whistled and played on a fiddle. If Williams were a fraud, she would have had to know about Uncle David, anticipate Garland's question to him about the tune, and smuggle a fiddle into and out of Garland's home. Many other evidential voices came through Williams, convincing Garland that she was a genuine medium. . Soon after Violet Parent communicated, Father Junipero Serra, the pioneering California missionary, and other "Invisibles" communicated. . Under their direction, Garland and Williams traveled hundreds of miles through southern and central California and Mexico searching for more artifacts. The spirits would tell them where to go, where to stop, which direction to walk, and then where to dig. In total they found 16 crosses, similar in substance and design to those collected by the Parents, in 10 widely separated locations. A year after The Mystery of the Buried Crosses was published, Garland died. . By the time of his death he had concluded after 40 years of research strongly suggesting that we do indeed survive physical death.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Garland’s narrative serves as a fascinating historical document for enthusiasts of paranormal literature, particularly those tracing the evolution of mediumship claims in American culture. However, readers seeking rigorous scientific proof or detached academic analysis may find the deeply personal nature of the communication from his uncle frustratingly subjective. It is not suited for strict materialists who view spiritual encounters solely as psychological projections. The book shines for those willing to suspend disbelief and explore the emotional weight behind such phenomena.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers intrigued by the intersection of journalism and metaphysics will find this text compelling. Hamlin Garland’s journey from skepticism to spiritual encounter offers a unique lens on the history of psychic research. It is ideal for those who appreciate first-person narratives that blur the line between objective investigation and personal grief. The account of unearthing ancient artifacts provides a tangible hook for abstract spiritual concepts, making it accessible yet profound. Those interested in how Pulitzer-winning authors engaged with occult topics during their time will discover a rare glimpse into the intellectual currents of spiritualism.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

This book is essential for anyone fascinated by the history of spiritualism, psychic research, or the intersection of objective inquiry with the supernatural. Readers who appreciate accounts of unique mediumistic phenomena, particularly those investigated by credible, initially skeptical figures,…

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Garland’s narrative serves as a fascinating historical document for enthusiasts of paranormal literature, particularly those tracing the evolution of mediumship claims in American culture. However, readers seeking rigorous scientific proof or detached academic analysis may find the deeply personal nature of the communication from his uncle frustratingly subjective. It is not suited for strict materialists who view spiritual encounters solely as psychological projections. The book shines for those willing to suspend disbelief and explore the emotional weight behind such phenomena.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Garland presents "The Mystery of the Buried Crosses" as a meticulous, factual investigation into genuine psychic phenomena he personally encountered and researched.

Its significance stems from the author's Pulitzer Prize-winning literary background and his initially skeptical approach to validating extraordinary mediumistic claims.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Skepticism & Investigation

Hamlin Garland, a renowned author, approaches the extraordinary claims of mediumship with a critical yet open mind. His narrative details his rigorous process of inquiry, seeking corroboration and understanding, rather than immediate belief. This provides a fascinating glimpse into how a respected intellectual grappled with phenomena challenging scientific norms.

Unconventional Mediumship

The book delves into the unique experiences of Violet Parent, whose spirit guides reportedly led to the discovery of numerous buried artifacts, including ancient crosses, alongside instances of spirit photography. This presents a rare and compelling account of mediumistic expression extending beyond typical séance room communications, involving tangible, physical manifestations.

Personal Spiritual Encounter

While investigating the Parent case, Garland's journey takes an unexpected turn when, through a different medium, he receives communication from his own long-deceased uncle. This personal connection transforms his research from purely objective observation into a profound, intimate experience, adding a powerful layer to his exploration of the spirit world.

📜 Historical context

Published in 1939, Garland's account emerged during a period of shifting attitudes towards spiritualism, moving from its Victorian heyday into a more scrutinized, yet still captivating, era. His involvement, as a celebrated author, lent significant gravitas to the study of psychic phenomena, placing this work firmly within the tradition of intellectual engagement with the unseen world in the early 20th century.

📚 Glossary

Mediumship
Spirit Photography
Direct-Voice Medium

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might your own skepticism or belief be challenged if you were to witness phenomena similar to those described by Garland?
Considering the Parent's experiences, what do you believe constitutes "proof" in the realm of the paranormal or spiritual?
If you had the opportunity, what questions would you pose to a medium or a spirit guide about the nature of reality or existence?