Winchester Mystery House Centennial Speaker Series: Lisa Francesca

July’s Centennial Speaker Series with Lisa Francesca dove into the tools of the spiritualism movement used in San Jose.

Centennial Speaker Series Topic: Spiritualist Tools Used in San Jose with Lisa Francesca

I was lucky that everyone I had invited to this speaker series took me up on the offer to join me. A rare happening indeed! It was fun seeing my speaker sidekicks gather and we were in for quite a conversation topic. Many thanks as always to Courtney, Noelle, and Señor Scary! Lisa briefly introduced medium tools like using a book or map of stars to “converse” with the deceased. She went into the history of famous mystics and spiritualists. This list included the likes of Coralary, Lauderbeque, and how the spiritualism movement developed in the 19th century. Even famous figures were involved in the movement, such as Mary Todd Lincoln, who hosted séances in the White House, and Thomas Edison, who attempted to create a spirit communication device in 1920.

Lisa used this point to transition into the different tools these mystics would employ. Some tools introduced included the planchette, the oui-ja boards, cross writing and automatic writing. Lisa then dives into the history of her great-grandmother, Helen van Loben Sels and her mystic journey with the “masters”.

The Spiritualism Movement with Sarah Winchester

Personally, I felt that Lisa did not cover much regarding Sarah’s involvement with the spiritualism movement. However, she did explain that it would not have been considered unusual for Sarah to have reached out to a medium or host a séance to commune with the dead.

My Takeaway from the Centennial Speaker Series with Lisa Francesca

Lisa’s tale of her great-grandmother was truly fascinating, but I wished there had been just a little more connection to Sarah Winchester or spiritualism tools. In complete honesty, I had no idea there was such a strong presence of the spiritualism movement in San Jose. Helen’s journey with the masters sounded like a truly profound experience. It just wasn’t what I had expected when the topic had been announced. Still, it was all engaging enough that I picked up Lisa’s book to read at a later time.

Craving More from Lisa Francesca?

Lisa is a San Jose State graduate, author and ordained California medium and mystic. Her book, “Helen and the Masters: A Portrait of a California Mystic” acts as a biography for Lisa’s family and an exploration of mysticism. You can keep up with Lisa through her blog.

What else can be discovered beyond the Centennial Speaker Series at Winchester Mystery House?

Below you will find other posts I’ve written regarding the Winchester Mystery House’s assorted experiences and educational programs. At Llanda Villa, there is always something new to learn! More often than not, I like to think myself one of the first in line to attend.