"What is Spiritual Unfoldment: Understanding the Traditional Spiritualist Path"

'As we get past our superficial material wants and instant gratification we connect to a deeper part of ourselves, as well as to others, and the universe.' - Judith Wright

This quote landed in my heart during my deepest grief, when material comforts meant nothing and I was searching for something more substantial, more real. It changed everything.

In my last post, I shared how my own spiritual gifts unfolded over decades, not days. Today, I want to explain what 'unfoldment' actually means and why this patient, traditional approach sits at the very center of what I teach.

What makes unfoldment a key understanding that encourages faith and resilience, that nurtures trust and surrender? Let us explore this together.

Unfoldment: Revealing What's Already There

The potential exists in all of us, and your potential begins to flourish and grow in environments and conditions that nurture the process of unfoldment.

It is not a case of reaching for something new it is a process of revealing, unfolding what is already there. An emergence which is a natural process, facilitated by the right conditions, environments that you create and control.

We don't "develop" mediumship or "train" psychics. We help them unfold. Psychic and mediumship abilities are completely unique, where information is expressed individually an expression of a life being lived now (psychic awareness) or a life that has been lived (mediumship awareness). This should never be a cookie-cutter approach that devalues this sacred craft. Unfoldment works with you, not against you, on your timeline, showcasing your strengths, honoring your unique expression.

Spiritualism's Sacred Foundations

Spiritualism's roots began in 1848 with the founding of the Spiritualist Movement. This was and still is considered sacred work, far removed from today's commercialism. In those early days, circles were often carried out underground or in secret due to religious skepticism and social pressure. Yet the work continued, protected by those who understood its importance.

Home circles were run for years, mostly "closed circles" with regular, committed sitters whose development could progress over time. "Open circles" with lighter commitment came much later, opening opportunities to the masses. But the foundation was always the same: years of patient, consistent work.

Development circles sit for years, not weeks or months. In many cases, it is a lifelong commitment to spiritual practice. As we say in traditional Spiritualism: you cannot make a medium. We help them unfold.

The three pillars of unfoldment:

In this age of technology and stimulation overload, peace and stillness are rare—in some cases even regarded as lazy. Yet it is in stillness that true unfoldment occurs.

How many courses, PDFs and quick wins never see the light of day again? A question worth asking yourself: if you have pursued tutorship in a way that teaches you a perceived new skill or technique quickly, yet it has not evolved or become part of your skill set, why? Not only is this disappointing but also demotivating.

Because the three pillars of unfoldment are:

Time - Years, not months. A continuous process.

Practice - Discipline and consistency. No quick fix strategy.

Guidance - Mentors, circles, and a community of like-minded people.

I love the traditional approach to development for many reasons. Let me explain a few:

Time builds trust and underpins a process of learning from experience, your unique experience. Comparison has no room to breathe in circles where shared goals and learning progress over time. Confidence builds and a feeling of safety allows growth to bloom.

Practice is one thing, it is needed. But continued practice keeps you where you are, in your comfort zone. Development operates outside of your comfort zone: learning through failure, adapting, understanding how to move the needle, always progressing from a new learning perspective.

The Daily Practice of Unfoldment

Sitting in stillness, or sitting in the power, or creating space, is the environment of spiritual unfoldment. It is in this space that we begin to recognize our own energy, allowing spirit energy to emerge. After all, how can we know what spirit feels like if we do not understand our own energy first?

Consistent attendance to development circles builds routine and a spiritual practice that facilitates growth, where we can lean on and learn from other people and share experiences without comparison. The energy in a development circle is an incredible gift. Even at home where I sit in the same place, I have built up and have access to an energy reserve that is like a comfort blanket on a rainy day.

Study and self-reflection is the cornerstone of self-awareness. Technique is the sum of the parts, but understanding yourself, navigating what's influenced you, how you see the world, your reactions is the first step towards healing.

Patience within your own progress is a skill indeed. In spiritual growth, progress is often left unseen behind the veil you are being advanced and prepared for your work. Honoring quiet periods as well as breakthroughs, understanding that good things take time, that growth continues even when you cannot see it.

Being open to others' experiences, supported not only by them but by their shared energy, creates an element of safety that is sorely underrated.

The Commitments That Matter

I am often asked: what do I need to bring to circle? Am I at the right stage in my learning? Here are the things that matter most:

Commitment - Being there even when you feel nothing is happening, having the discipline and trust to do the work even if the results seem little or few and far between.

Humility - Spirit will be your greatest teacher. Accept that you are always a student in this process.

Trust - This can be a hard thing to master, especially when you feel at a standstill or lack understanding and progression. But it is one of, if not the only thing, that will propel you forward.

Patience - The ultimate goal. It's never been a race or a performance. Understand that we are in service to spirit, so be proud of the process that allows you to be the best vessel for mediumship.

Your development is about the journey, not the destination. By rushing through, we miss the incredible experiences, understandings and emotions associated with unfolding.

I have many journals from the very beginning of my development. To look back on those now, I can see how far I have come and the beautiful revelations and information I have gained. It's absolutely priceless.

The Cost of Rushing, The Gift of Patience

What's Lost When We Rush:

When we rush, we have no real foundation to work from, no true understanding of what came before or how to draw on those foundational structures for support. We miss the importance of energy awareness. Our own health and wellbeing can suffer.

And crucially, when we rush, it becomes about us, not about the spirit world. We rush to be seen, to be popular, to perform. The sacred becomes commercialized, and when the focus shifts to ego, quality diminishes.

What's Gained Through Unfoldment:

What you discover through unfoldment is depth within your work. You understand the balance between spiritual service and everyday life. You take time to ground yourself and, importantly, treasure your time with the people you love. You're solid in all aspects of your life.

Your confidence builds because you understand your abilities, you know why you feel what you feel or see what you see. You replace fear with clarity. You are able to lean into the past and draw on the very foundations that have nurtured you through this process, understanding that you are not alone. You gain strength and resilience.

You begin to come from a place of authenticity: you know yourself, accept yourself, and move forward with balanced emotions and perspectives. Your foundation is one of integrity, truth, and service, honoring the very thing your potential led you to the spirit world.

My journey with unfoldment

They say that hindsight is a wonderful thing, and as I look back on my own journey, I did not understand what unfoldment was. When I did, I saw it as a slow and cumbersome process.

When spirit came to find me I was not ready, fear allowed me to close the door on the very thing I have pursued in my later years. I now see my childhood experiences, my quiet years, my awakening as all part of my unfoldment. My gifts did not appear overnight; it took 45 years to get me to a point of unfoldment.

If you're reading this and feeling called to understand your gifts on a deeper level, your unfoldment might already be happening. The question is: are you ready to nurture the right environment with patience, practice, and community?

These principles are the very core of my teaching. My circles embody traditional values and service. If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out and explore this further.

Foundation Circle is a monthly membership for spiritual development and opens January 12th, 2026.

Please go to Join The Natural Unfoldment Circle - Dawn Smith Psychic Medium

You are so much more than a human being, you are expansive, responsive, and full of potential. Your unfoldment is already in motion.

The question is: are you ready to nurture it?