Cassadaga, Florida: The place Spiritualism Meets Fantasy, Simply Miles from Disney World

Introduction

As my spouse Fyllis and I contemplated our go to to the tiny city of Cassadaga, Florida, the alternatives we confronted have been as intriguing as they have been diverse. Did we choose to affix a therapeutic circle or search religious counseling? Would we go for a séance or a category in Historical Knowledge Teachings?

Including to the attraction was the ironic undeniable fact that this vacation spot, targeted upon life after dying and speaking with those that have entered that realm, is situated not removed from Walt Disney World, with its wealth of fantasy-land, man-made points of interest geared to enjoyable and frivolity.

Foremost Merchandise

Cassadaga was based by George Colby, a medium, who claimed his “spirit information” Seneca suggested him to determine a religious heart in Florida. Colby bought land and, in 1894, integrated the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Assembly Affiliation. The Camp – truly a neighborhood-sized group – sits on a few of the solely hills within the low lands attribute of Central Florida. Of its roughly 100 everlasting residents, about 75 are Spiritualists.

The identify of the city got here from the Seneca Indian phrase which means “rocks beneath the water,” a reference to the close by Cassadaga Lakes. The compact group covers lower than 60 acres and is an inviting place for these with a incapacity.

Seven parks supply tranquil locations to walk, roll, calm down and meditate. They vary from small, quiet coves to Seneca Park, a wildlife sanctuary the place a gazebo overlooks Spirit Pond, and Horseshoe Park, with a path that leads previous a realm of carved pixies, gnomes, sprites and miniscule fairy homes.

The most effective place to start a go to is the Bookstore and Welcome Middle. Its number of books explores matters starting from Spiritualism, metaphysics and Buddhism to meditation, yoga and ghosts. Crystal balls and candles share shelf house with incense, Tibetan singing bowls and small statues of angels and fairies.

That is the place most individuals select the actions they want to expertise and make their preparations to take action. The names and phone numbers of mediums and healers who’re on responsibility that day are listed on a board, and enterprise playing cards of all of the Licensed Mediums and Healers are on show.

Whereas Fyllis headed for a session with a “Licensed Medium, Healer and Instructor,” I met with Reverend Physician Louis Gates. pastor of the Colby Memorial Temple. My aim was to be taught extra about Spiritualism and he turned out to be a treasure-trove of data.

I discovered Reverend Gates to be very affable and down-to-earth which, I concluded, are good traits for one who serves as each a pastor and a medium, healer and instructor. Our dialog started with a recounting of when the reverend first began to consider within the tenets of Spiritualism. That occurred on the early age of three when he mentioned his grandmother, who had died, appeared to him.

His temporary description of Spiritualism led me to deduce that it’s a mixture of faith, philosophy and, amongst its disciples, science. I discovered that I may relate to quite a few the precepts that Reverend Gates outlined. He mentioned it is rather welcoming, accepting and supportive. The general message is certainly one of love and hope with out a number of dogma.

I understood the precept he espoused that whereas persons are accountable for themselves and management their very own future, that comes with a little bit of potential draw back. “Spiritualism is a troublesome faith,” Reverend Gates defined, “as a result of there is no one else accountable if issues go unsuitable.”

Whereas I used to be receiving an introduction to Spiritualism, Fyllis was collaborating in a session with one of many practitioners who have been on responsibility that day. She got here away impressed with quite a few the lady’s observations, and mentioned she would undertake a wait-and-see perspective about others.

“I see you touring rather a lot for work” match effectively with my spouse’s position as a journey author. “You want the outside and open house” was consistent with her love for mountain climbing by means of woods.

Amongst different feedback have been that I’m a photographer (I take footage for example journey tales), Phyllis’s daughter Ariane “has a superb head on her shoulders” (she does) and that Fyllis has one thing to do with relics (which, I hope, referred to our current go to to Greek and Roman archaeological websites throughout a visit to Sicily, slightly than to me).

Alternatively, some remarks appeared much less related. For instance, Fyllis has no plans to go to the Pacific Northwest, converse earlier than a big group of individuals or write a guide.

The overriding aim, I concluded, is one with which each believers and any doubters can relate, at the least to some extent. For instance, I think that many individuals agree with an inspirational saying which we noticed on a wall within the foyer of a lodge: “Forgiveness lifts heaviness from the burdened coronary heart.”

Alternatively, skeptics may need much less religion in one other close by pronouncement we noticed, which reads: “I consider in fairies. I do, I do, I do.”

After our speaking and listening classes, we strolled round city which, given Cassadaga’s compact dimension, did not take lengthy. A strolling tour pamphlet led us to Seneca Park, which is known as for George Colby’s spirit information; a therapeutic space, and the Fairy Path Park the place, we have been advised, Nature Spirits “solely present themselves to those that consider.”

We ended our go to on the Cassadaga Lodge for a snack and look-see. Even there, within the midst of its Victorian setting, visitors could organize for a psychic studying, séance and different providers consistent with the general goal of the city.

That major aim, I concluded, is one with which each believers and any doubters can relate. I got here to the conclusion that Cassadaga warmly welcomes not solely devotees, however the curious and skeptical as effectively.

Writer Credentials:
Victor Block has been a journey journalist for a few years, and has written for main newspapers, magazines and journey web sites and served as an editor of Fodor’s Journey Guides. He’s a member of the Society of American Journey Writers and the North American Journey Journalists Affiliation. Victor is an everyday contributor of opinions to the Disabled World journey part. Go to Victors’s biography for additional insights into his background, experience, and accomplishments.

Info and Web page References

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Cite This Web page (APA): Block, V. (2025, January 22). Cassadaga, Florida: The place Spiritualism Meets Fantasy, Simply Miles from Disney World. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved January 23, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/journey/usa/cassadaga.php

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