A couple of thoughts for the day
To use a psychic medium or not to use a psychic medium, that is the question. ‘Tis nobler…….and so on and so forth. This is an honest discussion that comes up I think for many paranormal groups. Watching Ghost Hunters Academy completely condemn using psychic mediums in the research field was definitely an extreme decision. We can’t help feel that this is for the benefit of television, paranormal investigating wouldn’t be as creditable if you were to say that you do investigate with a psychic medium. Are the complaints against using mediums justified?
Of course there are many, many people coming forward today saying they are psychic mediums. We have met more than our fair share. Can it be that the line between being a psychic medium and an intuitive is so very fine that the definition of what is what and who is who is often misinterpreted. Just how do you decide as a paranormal researcher what is best for your team?
One theory that has been used for and by paranormal investigators is using a psychic to point to areas where they say there is a spirit for the team to snap pictures. This has been successful, but not truly verified. Another theory floating around is , are psychics and intuitives more likely to capture evidence of the spirit world through the lens of a camera because of their ability to sense an energy? For our team we were lucky enough to see how this works for psychic mediums in Les Haslem’s photographic portfolio. Her pictures were some of the best pictures we have seen of spirit energy. Then there was Kae Blecha who talked to our guests at the Villa Kathrine event. She has also, captured photographic evidence of spirit energy.
Why would any paranormal team decide that psychics should NOT be used. The greatest outstanding argument for this is that it is not scientific proof. But….is any of our evidence or any evidence from any group actually scientific evidence? Ah, that is the question.
There are many pi’s who have been in the field for decades. They have studied active sites, they have developed new technology, they will only investigate with the strictest of conditions being met to set up for an investigation. Technology has taken the pi very far in this field, but is it a science? Can any investigation be considered a scientific experiment? Are we not open to any random piece of evidence that comes our way as to study it and analyze it? Since it’s random evidence and not controlled evidence how can it be considered scientific evidence. Technological evidence yes, scientific evidence? This has yet to be decided.
For now our team will continue to work with any theory that comes our way if we see purpose behind it. Psychic mediumship we do believe plays a role in researching spirit activity. We of course do not take just the word of someone that spirit activity is present, we do want to see evidence in association with that claim. As a team we do not feel like this is less nobler than using a new piece of equipment. The psychic mediums we have talked to and used are respectable mediums in the paranormal field and they do work hand in with many, many paranormal investigators. For a group of investigators to deem themselves as a scientific research group who does not believe in using any sort of psychic mediumship is an acceptable form of investigating but it is not the only form of investigating.In a field where no one can claim to be an expert on what they study shouldn’t all avenues of investigating be open to explore the possibilities that paranormal activity is valid? We believe so and will continue the course of using psychic mediums to explore claims of paranormal activity. ‘Tis nobler a group to search for the evidence of paranormal activity behind every door then just a few doors, and that is our answer.
Comments
Les and Greg (Jan 11, 2010)
Your right that most of the GH, GHI and GHA is done for the TV audience. Who are they to be such experts in this field to make such a stand against using mediums? We both feel that both the scientific and psychic communities could gain a lot more in this research if they were combined in their efforts. Fighting it out in both communities is just a head banger and gets paranormal research no where, let alone help those who are in need of understanding activity in their home etc.
Those shows have put more fear in people who have actual activity. They never really seemed to be out there to help anyone, just get viewer ratings for their reality shows.
We want to thank your group for taking a stand in this way.
Les and Greg
Atrueoriginall (Jan 11, 2010)
I think they burned their bridges with the paranormal community last season.
To them, it matters not because they didn’t burn their bridges with the general public whatsoever – never will either since the general public is least informed about all things of the paranormal.
First of all, what Steve did I’m sure he did with Jason’s blessings. Jason most likely pushed the issue – wanting her out. Then again, one of them is going to GHI now so who’s to say.
You can tell that this was not a Syfy decision but rather one of their own based on the tone of voice and facial expressions. Steve’s and Tango’s facial expression read, no way jose will we use ‘psychics, mediums, empaths’? So obviously they don’t believe in their worth.
Then again, there’s Paranormal State who I feel has given mediums a bad rap due to choices. And of course, peeps such as Derek Acorah sit in the back of the minds of GH programming.
I’m not a fan of Chip Coffey’s but check out this video. One of his psychic kids is talking about “oops” and either she’s a damn good actress or a real psychic. I was very impressed when I saw this.
It’s on A & E so when you go in it might say there is no video but then it pops up a few seconds later.
Trailer for tomorrows psychic kids
RTPS (Jan 12, 2010)
Thank you for the comments. Unfortunately the public does take to heart how shows portray researchers in the field of the paranormal. They are shows, they don’t just film as the teams investigate. They stop and start, they redo scenes. I think it would be very hard to investigate under these conditions or to be a medium under these conditions. I can see a medium being told, “Cut, that doesn’t sound right, go back in and find something paranormal that’s more appealing to our viewers!”.
TAPS influence on the public has been overwhelming. It has opened the field up for many, many people and even though many shows implant fear into the viewers there is education that is being done for the general public. We can now go to work and discuss paranormal activity as a PI when before we would have been deemed as crazy. This we will give them credit for. But you are right, the last year has been horrible for their shows. The Meatloaf episode was laughable and set the paranormal fields back because they actually faked the window opening scene. It was so blatant you really have to wonder why it was broadcast and not cut out. As long as they have been in the business this makes no sense to air this.
TV psychics are so different from the psychics we have met. I have yet to meet one who talks about a spirit being evil or demonlike. This will be the biggest obstacle to clear in the future for the public. How do you help the public understand that it’s not Lucifer hiding in the attic but Uncle Bob who didn’t really like people much in his lifetime? Les and Greg you put a realistic face on the spirits in the Cunningham’s house and this helped. Instead of being afraid of going upstairs the Haslems have placed a rocking chair infront of the windows for Jacob to sit in to watch his street. Maybe one family at time is what it’s all about for paranormal investigators and psychic mediums.
Atrueoriginall (Jan 12, 2010)
“Unfortunately the public does take to heart how shows portray researchers in the field of the paranormal”
Yes, and that’s every paranormal investigator’s complaint. The public expects to see or get results too. Fortunately GH teams do a fair share of debunking where as GA and PS never do. GL does but….
“We can now go to work and discuss paranormal activity as a PI when before we would have been deemed as crazy. ”
Ohhhh so true. Understated. Doors were certainly opened.
I can’t handle the word psychic since it’s been in the garbage so many so I’ll just say I’m an enlightened individual – anyway, I live and breathe the paranormal in my home on a daily basis. This isn’t just one home, it’s all of my homes. There is a variation of individuals hanging around both myself and my daughter. My conclusion is that they are what they were and nothing more. There’s a lot to be said about the human spirit being unchangeable at death. You get what you make kind of thing so yes, if there’s a demon in ones life then he could have been a grumpy ole cantankerous individual or a murderous gang banger with an attitude. How about a Jeffrey Dahmer? Ewww
On that note, I find it as important to investigate prisons as well as hospitals.