I taught my first class in Lily Dale this past Sunday, Auras - the Light Fantastic. This was also my first trip to Lily Dale, so it was a Big Deal. I've been hearing about the place for years and I knew the basics: oldest Spiritualist community in the U.S., center of mediumship, one of the big three in the eastern states (Lily Dale, Omega Institute, A.R.E.), but being there is a different story.

It was still preseason in Lily Dale. The main gates were open for free, classes and events were limited and many of the residents were only just returning from sunnier climes. The town was quiet, only a few locals and some arrogant felines roamed the streets.

Lily Dale isn’t a slick, modern town. Most of the homes are more than 75 years old, many more than 100. The streets are rough and shaded by shaggy trees. Small signs grace many of the houses offering psychic services or detailing the buildings history. A certain dilapidated dignity clings to the place like a dignified old woman wrapped in velvet so old and worn it has become almost unrecognizable, but still beautiful.

I was teaching "Auras – The Light Fantastic." The minister at the Lily Dale Church of the Living Spirit announced my class during the service, he was the first person to comment on the (small) joke in the title. It was a thrill (the mention, not the joke). There I was, sitting surrounded by photos of early members of the American Spiritualist Movement and their living descendants, and this man was announcing my first contribution to that tradition. However small and soon to be forgotten that contribution may be, I was about to be part of this 100+ year old community. I started to fidget uncontrollably.

I don’t get stage fright anymore. I worry about not have enough workbooks or forgetting my notes, but I don’t get stage fright. These days my biggest fear is that I'll throw a class and no one will show. St. Francis may have had the spiritual fortitude to preach to the flowers in the field, but I don't. I had already told my friend Ric that if nobody showed he was going to have to peel me off the bathroom floor after I was done freaking out. As of that morning I knew that the class would include Ric and my Parents, I had workbooks for 25 and was terrified that I would end up with 22 left.

Breathe.

Fidget.

'Does my hair look ok?'

"Yes"

'Are you sure about this outfit?'

"Yes"

'Is it too late to back out and make a break for it?'

"Yes"

After the service, I met up with Cara Seekings, the event coordinator… who's phone number I had forgotten to bring, (I had spent the entire morning chanting her name in a mild panic, other than location and time I knew bollocks about what was going on. We both arrived at the church service at the same time and on the top step she told me not to worry, everything was fine) and got all the last minute details about the class. I had an hour after the service to pull myself together and get my materials in order.

My mental state was not improved by the news that class attendance had been down all month and the largest class thus far in May had only two attendees.

'Oh? Just two?'

"You'll be fine… ok, let go, you're hurting me."

'Sorry'

The class was small, but still the largest one all month with nine students, most having driven over an hour to be there.

At the half point break one of the men told me that mine was one of the best workshops he had been to, and he hit a lot of classes. I managed to replace the slack jawed incredulous look on my face with a smile.

It was a good class! Everyone was able to see an aura by the end of the workshop and draw what they saw. There were hugs and smiles all around with people wanting more information about what else I do and Cara telling what I need to so to get a class on the "Main Stage" next summer. I had a blast and, after the first few minutes, managed to keep the nervous fidgeting to a minimum. What more can you ask for?