Heavenly visions - Shaker gift drawing and gift songs

The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Coming--a charismatic British sect brought to America in 1774 by their leader, Ann Lee--became known as Shaking Quakers, or Shakers, for their dramatic expression of spirit possession in the ecstatic trances and whirling of "instruments," the majority of whom were women. Their visions were transcribed, usually by other women, and presented as gifts to members of the community to provide spiritual encouragement. Produced during the so-called Era of Manifestations, 1839-60, a period of crisis marked by the group's dwindling population and the absence of its founders, these works document the spiritual return of "Mother" Ann and other deceased Shaker leaders.
----http://www.ubu.com/ethno/visuals/shaker07.html ----http://superdigit.blogspot.com/2008/10/shaker-visual-poetry-gift-drawings-gift.html