Raymond Buckland ... continued

Raymond Buckland is a sprightly 78 year old gentleman with a wide ranging reputation
as a metaphysical researcher.  His interest was sparked early in life when he came across
a relative's library of spiritualist writings. He was hooked and it became his lifelong passion
to learn, experience and share what he discovered with generations to follow.

His father, also a writer, was a king of his gypsy clan.  He married an English woman
and became one of the first 'settled gypsies' in England.  That caused no small friction
with his Roma mother and other female relatives. The new bride suffered rejection
and harsh treatment at their hands.  He knows what it is to have a foot in both worlds...
that of the Roma and that of the gadje (pronounced 'gowjoes') or non-Roma.
He gew up in an age of transition within their communities.
Young Raymond published his 1st article at 12, but he was 35 when his 1st book was published.
Since then he has written over 50 books on a wide variety of  metaphysical topics.

His first lecture provided an overview of Roma history with a few new insights that were
clearly the views of an insider rather than a cultural anthropologist. Along the way, he made
few apologies for some of the questionable attitudes and activities of his people, but he was able
to lend a humorous and compassionate understanding to the picture.
We were treated to a great slideshow of early photographs of the travelling Roma.
Mr. Buckley described the lifestyle, customs, beliefs of his people.  He also gave a good history
of the vardos or wagons with all their various styles. For those of you who need a vardo 'fix'
now and then, this is my favorite site..  http://gypsywaggons.co.uk/varsuk.htm 

In the later lectures, we practiced various forms of scrying, meditating, use of crystals
and various other methods of developing communication with your higher self and with
the non-visible world.   His experience is vast and covered not only Roma techniques,
but the various methods of spiritualism.  He told stories about how it took him 50 years to
make contact with his own father after his passing.
His friend, famed psychic John Edwards worked hard for 3 years to reach his own mother.
It's not often that you get to talk with someone so honest and knowledgeable about these topics.

In passing on his experience, one of the most memorable things he shared was that
"Spirit speaks first".   What he means by this is that as we notice our thoughts and impressions
throughout the day or when we ask for help, the first lightning-fast, fleeting impression
comes from spirit.  All subsequent thoughts are coming on a slower vibration.
Information from the spiritual realm is characterized by its swift and subtle quality.
Meditation helps us slow down, clear the mind and listen.
With time, we learn to discern these messages.

In all, Raymond Buckland was an inspiring guide and fascinating personality.
He was not a stereotypical Roma by any means, but he is a good historian
and a living link to his heritage.
We were grateful for all he shared with us...

Raymond Buckland, an English Gypsy

Back in 2000, I was living on a houseboat on Lake Lanier near Atlanta, Georgia.
That is a story in itself which will be shared in time, but for now, let me say that
it was a perfect gypsy set-up.
It was cheap, easy and when you were ready for a change, all you had to do
was turn the key in the ignition, cast the lines and go wondering on the water.
When you found an island with a sandy bank, you would just beach your boat there,
tie off and live till your supplies ran out.  Sleeping under the stars, revelling in the simplicity
of life.  No electricity, complete freedom, back to basics.
My old houseboat afforded just enough shelter, but it was spare enough to leave you living
close to the elements.   It was heaven!

A houseboat existence also left me with a bit of a home base...not too much, not too little,
from which to travel.
That summer, I indulged a long-held fascination with Spiritualism and it's roots.
Spiritualism is the belief in the continuation of life after the transition we call death.
150 or so years ago, it was a movement that swept America and England.
What remains of it in today's America are 3 communities: Camp Chesterfield in Indiana,
Lily Dale in upstate New York and Cassadaga near Daytona, Florida.
I decided to go visiting, one by one.
What I found was a quirky and wonderful assembling of psychice, mediums, healers
and investigators.  The camps are visited by all manner of interesting folk, as well.
I went as a bit of a curious and somewhat skeptical observer.
Having had plenty of unusual expereinces myself over the years, I knew that these things
are real and I wanted to spend  a little time among these people.  In particular, I wanted
to interview some of the older folks who had been born with gifts of healing.
My plan was to go to Camp Chesterfield and spend 3 weeks-3 months there,
observing and writing.
That was 12 years ago.  I am still here.  An unexpected chapter of my life unfolded here
and my beautiful boat days came to a close...
All good Gypsies must stay flexible, lightly attached and open to the call of Spirit.

There are what is called 'settled Gypies' and roaming ones.
I find myself somewhere in the middle...and it works pretty well.

So back to the story... Raymond Buckland was coming to give a series of lectures at
Camp Chesterfield and I was excited to meet this half-Roma son of a Gypsy king,
prolific writer,  and avid psychic investigator and teacher. 

to be continued...