The seance was held in a large rectangular room with a large curved sectional couch. There were at least a dozen chairs, which also lined the walls. Hoyt had his desk towards one corner and a square table in another corner.

After everyone was seated, Hoyt began the seance. First, he showed us a very tightly woven circular basket with a lid. He explained that once the lid was placed on the box, no light could penetrate inside. Hoyt then asked one of the attendees to open a sealed package of 3 x 5 cards that he had purchased at Walmart, to examine them thoroughly, and to make sure there was no writing on them. The man held up the cards that he had arranged in a fan shape, as if he were playing a hand of poker with playing cards. We could all see that the cards were completely blank. Next, Hoyt placed some of the cards into the basket. Then he asked another attendee to put a pencil, colored pencils, felt-tip markers, and oil pastels into the basket. The woman who was assigned the task asked if the markers needed to be opened. Hoyt explained that it was not necessary. Several layers of cards and art materials were put into the basket, in the same manner that one layers lasagna noodles and cheese. When this process was finished, Hoyt put the cover on the box and explained to us that all the cards and art supplies were in complete darkness. Therefore, there was no need for us to sit in the dark. The lights remained on during the entire seance.

Hoyt sat in a very highly ornate wooden chair and looked as if it were one hundred years old. Hoyt then asked us to say the Lord’s prayer, followed by his favorite hymn. Then he proceeded to give Spirits’ messages to everyone in the room. Hoyt was using his gifts of clairaudience (clear-hearing) and clairvoyance (clear-seeing) to listen to the spirit people who had also gathered in the room, and watch the visions they showed him. When it was my turn to receive a message, Hoyt told me that Black Hawk (one of my Indian guides), Sylvia and Joseph (my maternal grandparents), Harry (my father), and Ben (my uncle—dad’s brother) were in the room. He also told me that Bill English said hello to me. Hoyt proceeded to see many changes for me in the next year, including the opportunity to travel.

When everyone had received a message from Spirit, Hoyt announced that the cards were finished. He stood up and walked over to the covered box, removed the lid, and started sorting through the cards. About every fifth or sixth card was written on! Hoyt found the first card and turned it over. On one side of the card, Spirit had written the name of the person to receive the card and the names of the Spirit people associated with that person. When we saw the second side of the card, there was a collective gasp, for everyone was stunned by the magnificent picture on the card. It looked as if a master artist, like Rembrandt, Rubens, Renoir, or Monet, had painted it. The colors and details were breathtaking.