Even back in its colonial days, America developed a reputation as a safe harbor for people with unusual or radical religious beliefs.

I think spiritualism, mesmerism, the mental healing movement, provided some people with the most meaningful experiences of their lives.

America became a special source of attraction to people who were fleeing the aftereffects of the 30 Years War and the religious persecution that began to sweep through Europe in the period between the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. And when people got here, very often they succeeded.

Even back in its colonial days, America developed a reputation as a safe harbor for people with unusual or radical religious beliefs.

Everybody has different stories about where I came from. Nobody really knows.

I think therapeutic spirituality has largely been a help in the modern world. So the fact that people can approach religion with practical needs.

Once the social and spiritual opening was created for women in the form of spiritualism, suddenly ambitious women who wanted to participate in the culture had a kind of a voice.