O handmaid of God! The stars in the sky do not exert any
spiritual influence on this world of dust; but all the members and parts of the
universe are very strongly linked together in that limitless space, and this
connection produceth a reciprocity of material effects. Outside the bounty of
the Holy Spirit, whatsoever thou hearest as to the effect of trances, or the
mediums’ trumpets, conveying the singing voices of the dead, is imagination
pure and simple. As to the bounty of the Holy Spirit, however, relate
whatsoever thou wilt—it cannot be overstated; believe, therefore, whatsoever
thou hearest of this. But the persons referred to, the trumpet-people, are
entirely shut out from this bounty and receive no portion thereof; their way is
an illusion.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
