Recently I visited the beautiful garden City of Toowoomba, perched on top of the Darling Downs, West of Brisbane, Queensland.

Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland City, Canberra, the Capital being the first. Not only do I like the more Englishy climate there, less sticky humidity and proper seasons, including many deliciously cold nights, I love the sense of history that greets one at every twist and turn.

Toowoomba is home to many old and elaborately designed colonial buildings - all with a tale or two to tell.

I booked into an architecturally interesting (and expensive) guest house for a 2 night break.  Upon phoning, I mentioned to the owner/manager that I was a hobbiest Paranormal Investigator and that I'd like to do a little research during my stay.  No problem he said.  In fact, they'd had several sightings over the years and it would be very interesting to see if I picked up on anything.

Great! This was going to be an excellent and much needed trip away and with a little bit of "ghost hunting" thrown in for good measure, I was really looking forward to it.

The guest house was everything I'd hoped for...a lovely room awaited, antique furnishings, four poster bed, open fireplace, roses in the room and chocolates on the pillow...everything one would expect for this type of price bracket and a special trip away. The room also had a good vibe and was relaxing and homely.

The place was very quiet, there was only one other couple in one of the rooms. I took a few photo's of our charming room and the building/gardens and walked around the hallways with my IC recorder ON, commenting here and there on bits and pieces of decor or the history of the house etc.

The property yielded some interesting results, but was hardly what I call bursting at the seams with paranormal activity...my own cottage is more active.  In the tiny guest lounge-room, which looked like it had been an old scullery area, there was a hostile, cold feeling, misery, haughtiness and brooding moodiness - not an inviting place for guests to use at all. I captured 2 wonderful EVP's in there when I put a CD on (to lift the gloominess) - it was Billie Holiday and soon inadvertently provoked an entity into making itself obvious!

"Um, I'm NOT having that!" a female voice snapped and promptly turned the CD off...Twice! I guess the music was a little too modern for her...

I captured a few more, like, "Get out of MY chair!" when my b/f sat down in the lounge-room and later that night, I did see two female spirits walking up the road opposite in a misty swirl as well as a veranda swing gather momentum whilst apparently "empty" on a broad moonlit windless night...

One EVP said menacingly,  "I could burn you!" as I sat in front of the roaring log fire in our room.  Another called me a "Witch!", very flattering! A few more included "Don't touch me!" "Help me, I love you" "We're not there, we're in here..." (children's voices) and "Come back to bed!"...

We went out to the Toowoomba Drayton Cemetery and took photo's and I recorded quite a few more EVP's. Having been in the funeral profession, I visited the Toowoomba Crematorium and captured even more there. The rest of our time was spent eating too much and catching up with nearby friends and his family.

The time came to return home all too quickly, so upon checking out of the guest house, I mentioned what I'd seen, promised to email them my findings and a copy of a video I would be placing on You Tube as part of my investigative collection. I explained I would have to analyse any recorded data found and then process it so that it would upload on the Internet along with some photo's. The owner seemed happy and chatty enough and I was very impressed with the whole weekend. I paid, thanked him and we made the long drive home, stopping at Marburg Cemetery to see the unusual white pyramid gravestone with "Shine on you crazy diamond" engraved on it's plaque...

I did make a short 3 minute video featuring these EVP's about our stay in Toowoomba, with the backing track by Pink Floyd (Shine on you crazy diamond - Wish you were here) Album, inspired by the pyramid grave (see edited grave plaque above).  It took me an entire 12 hour working day to complete the video. I emailed off a copy as promised to the guest house and also a link to a rave review I had also written about our lovely time there, highly recommending it for romantic weekends and honeymoons etc. 

The thing is, I now have to edit out certain parts, all the good bits in fact...it turns out one of the owners is not comfortable with this after all and I sense regrets having me stay there because the "activity" is proven now.  This is something one should keep in mind...it can be life altering and even shocking when it can't be denied and is caught on tape or film etc. The way one feels about a place can change as it dawns that there is so much more going on than we are usually aware of.

The EVP's were 100% location specific and relevant to what was going on at the time and my comments.  I guess this person really didn't believe the house was active at all and perhaps it challenged some sort of mindset or possibly caused fear... It should go without saying that would never be my intention, I'm pure of spirit and I have better things to be doing than trying to scare people silly!

Well, I'm sorry, but you've got "ghosts" - whether I'm there or not and they've been there a lot longer than you have... Naturally, I removed the "offending" video immediately from my channel view. It was only on-line for a top of 2 hours and in that time it was mainly viewed by the global EVP community and positively complimented upon. Certain well respected fellow EVP translators automatically get an alert whenever I upload a new EVP video... I value their opinions.

The "ghosts" are quite benign and mainly generated from the residual energy from the original family/occupants, when the property was a private residence at the turn of the 1900's.  Energy is everywhere all of the time. Like it or not.  I say benign, EXCEPT  for the poltergeist activity I witnessed and captured on the Billie Holiday recording.  This one, a female energy is responsible for moving things around and the awful feeling in that lounge-room.  She wants it all her way...I feel she is a former head Housekeeper/Nanny who ran a tight ship! 

In an attempt to describe this poltergeist energy to you, the character of Mrs. Danvers comes to mind in Daphne du Maurier's wonderfully haunting novel "Rebecca", (2 films were later made of the book). "My" Mrs. Danvers was in service at this home for many years, even after the early deaths of two children, and was devoted to the original Lady of the house. Her domain was that particular room too. No wonder it's so unappealing now...  Unfortunately, I didn't take many internal photo's, so there is nothing paranormal to show you visually.  I haven't examined the night vision shots I took yet because I can't figure out the format or upload at this time of writing! It's a new Sony Handicam...

It's a shame I can't share this with you in it's original format. I was disappointed by the very sudden change in attitude towards me and I'm not able to go back for further investigations, even if I took along a Minister friend. They should have said they would not be happy if I did find something before they took my credit card details at the time of booking (I would have selected elsewhere to stay)...but that's business I guess. One would have thought, that in this day and age, there would be a little more open mindedness and curiosity about life after life...regardless of whatever spiritual confines or beliefs one follows. Many of the people who are now the "ghosts" were far more zealous and socially self-righteous than we are today and even they are saying, "Hey, think outside your square for just a moment, stop burying your heads in the sand - things are not as they seem".

So, to wrap up this little report, I hope they don't have too much trouble with their grouchy "Housekeeper/Nanny" poltergeist.  They know where to reach me if they wish to have a clearing and blessing conducted at any time... and having been in the hospitality trade myself many years ago, I would have thought that any business savvy establishment would quite enjoy indulging the odd nutty paranormal investigator every so often...bums in beds is the name of a very lucrative game... Haunted or not, ghosts always sell more than they repel!

I would like to return to this wonderful City and conduct further investigations in the near future.  If anyone else in Toowoomba would like me to conduct a professional paranormal investigation of their home, business, hotel, motel or guest house, then I'd be happy to oblige free of charge (just basic travel/accommodation costs need to be covered where applicable - I will pay my flight!), provided you can COPE with the findings which includes digitally recorded EVP's as evidence of survival of energy...  I  only ask that I be permitted to report/post on it via my media choice (blogging/video) for public interest, education and what we have to term "entertainment" purposes, if anything is unusually outstanding, or if you want a record of it, I can make you a short DVD for free. Business names or locations can be included or discretion applied.

Simply leave a note on the Forum Page.

But when it comes to old women with crystal balls conducting seances on Halloween, I'm more likely to roll my eyes and snicker. That is, until today.

Over at A Novel Paradigm we're reading and discussing Opening to Channel - How to Connect with Your Guide. One of the exercises the author gives for preparing to channel involves attuning to the subtle energies in quartz, amethyst, and plants. When attuning to the quartz, I saw very clearly and felt very strongly that it helped create a doorway to move energy and communication between this world and others, including the plane where souls reside after passing over (the astral plane).

It makes sense that quartz is an effective conduit for energy - it can be found in watches and electronics of all kinds, serving exactly this purpose.

Though probably obvious to many, I understand now why crystal balls are used in seances. I still might snicker at the old lady in the turban, though.  :)

Datuk J. Jegathesan (or Jagadeeshan, as he sometimes signs himself) has a degree in economy. However he is without known qualifications as an educator in human and spiritual values, as he presents himself, not least through the Sathya Sai Organization. His belief in Sathya Sai Baba forms the basis and outlines the limits of what he believes about everything, including 'human values'. However, he writes about mediums, healers, possessed persons and so forth, with whose experiences he is clearly prepossesed.

Having stated early on in his book 'The Fourth Dimension':"I am no expert on the question of mediums and trance situations", he soon begins to make very definitive statements like:-"I am quite certain that these "spirits" are similarly highly evolved souls etc."

In the two excerpts shown below here, the fact that Jegathesan has developed a strong conviction that  many phenomena of this weird and wonderful kind are important - important enough to write up at such length, despite the warning he also quotes from the one who he regards as his infallible guru that "for every true there are a hundred false" (meaning false mediums) and that he discourages devotees from "running after" such phenomena. However, Jegathesan claims - quite inconsistently - that he believes that Sathya Sai Baba has led him into following up on such phenomena.

See also Datuk J. Jegathesan - on Sathya Sai Baba Miracles

In 'Journey to God - The Malaysian Experience with Sai Baba', one the guru's most privileged devotees for decades, Dato' J. Jegathesan, lists various supposedly miraculous cures by Sai Baba which he had investigated, if only superficially (not with any scientific control of alleged 'medical' evidence).
It is instructive to observe here representative examples of the degree of mental acrobatics devotees undertake to explain things Sathya Sai Baba has said to them and to make them appear precognitive.

[caption id="attachment_1519" align="alignright" width="189" caption="Dato"][/caption]

For example, take the case of a Chinese devotee in Malaysia, Mr. Yap Them Siew. He was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx and in the worst prognosis by one doctor was given a 50-50 chance of survival. (Comment: this alone makes one suspicious - he still did have a 50% chance of survival, even on the worst diagnosis!).

However, Sai Baba's close confidant, Prof. N. Kasturi, arranged for Mr. Yap to have an interview. I quote Jegathesan directly from page 85 of Journey To God (Vol. 1):

"After they had entered the second room, Baba looked at Mrs. Yap and said with a gesture, "What is cancer? Don't worry - go for the operation; 11th, 12th, 13th - everything will be all right; I will be with you."
(and Baba even repeated these dates in a later exchange). Later we read:
"The doctors after re-examining Yap fixed the operation on the 7th January. This caused great concern to the Yaps, for Baba had clearly said, 11th,12th,13th. However, it transpired that the operation on the 7th was a minor one and without their request, by "strange coincidence", the major operation was fixed for the 11th January, 1977. Though this pleased the Yaps, considerably, they were perplexed by the "12th and 13th". On the 10th January the meaning became clear to them. Again by coincidence Mr. Yap was shifted from bed No. 7 to bed No. 12 - the 12th bed. On the day of the operation, Mrs. Yap held Bhajans at the house of her brother-in-law, with whom she was staying... the house was No. 13 - the 13th house along Jalan Taman 7/6 in Petaling Jaya. By another conicidence the aggregate of the 7/6 also makes 13."

Need one say more? Yes, evidently, for this is the kind of totally twisted reasoning used time and again - in my wide experience - by many Sai followers. The devotee mind turns every stone - in this case one searched for every possible appearance of the 11th and 12th in whatever connection - so that Baba's words may be made to seem precognisant. When this is not possible, however, devotees give up and the difficulty is never publicised... though I have heard of many such embarrassments experienced by devotees who have been told what amounts to soothsaying rubbish by Sai Baba.

Anyone with a modicum of rationality can tell that most of this really is sheer coincidences and that most of the explanation is sheer wishful thinking. The only apparently 'correct' words were 'the 11th'. This seems 'meaningful' but that depends on one's faith, not on anything resembling proof. However, apparently meaningful coincidences of this kind - which C.G. Jung defined as synchronicities' - certainly do occur, for they are most widely recorded throughout the world quite apart from those recorded by Sai devotees - and most people have experiences them in some form or another.

The prominent VIP whose prestige is invested in his books

Jegathesan has written a series of books which include many stories of healing. His last book is called "The Fourth Dimension - Sai Baba, Journey To God Part 4". As the title suggests it is a highly speculative book. It consists in a farrago of strange experiences, often wild interpretations of them and much hearsay. All of this shows him to be a most naive and uncritical believer in witch doctors, black magic, primitive trance mediums and much else of that kind. This is rather amazing from a man who has been an economic consultant with the United Nations International Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Council on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)! However, remember that there are thousands of consultants to UN bodies, and surely few are as deluded as that.

A mind more prone to unquestioning about spirits of the fourth dimension - with whom he communicates etc.   - would be hard to find among otherwise sane people. Though I once held a tentative view that there might be 'elementals', based on some then inexplicable experiences I had, Jegathesan jumps to many extreme conclusions about them.  All the experiences he claims to have undegone he attributes totally to the guiding hand of Sai Baba (without anything like proof, as usual, but based entirely on his rock-solid belief in Sai Baba's omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence!). His belief was severely tested - yet still clung to desperately - by the mysterious death of his Sai-devoted wife Shanti when he was away visiting Sathya Sai Baba, and the later suicide of one of his sons, also a favourite of Sathya Sai Baba!

The origin of healing - but also of sudden deaths - in Jegathesan's view:

Jegathesan writes in some of his many hagiographic volumes about healing reported to him, attributing everything to Sathya Sai Baba. Now, there is no reason to doubt that healing took place in some cases, at least when attested by doctors. But this does not guarantee the cause of the healing. It could have been natural, it could have been caused by the psychological effects of strong faith - for this occurs all over the worlds and at hundreds of places, among which Lourdes is perhaps the most famous. However, there is nothing remotely like genuine scientific proof of any of these being 'miracles' or as having other than natural causes, even though explanations of the causes are lacking in many cases (due mainly to lack of observational evidence). Quite a few of the accounts are obviously massaged with faith and 'doctored' by wishful thinking to make what often occurs anyway look like the direct intervention of Sathya Sai Baba. If one believes what Sai Baba claims about himself altogether, as jegathesan explicitly does, one has to believe everything (good?) is done by him!

Healing by miracles is, of course, very widely considered to be most controversial by the huge majority of the medical profession throughout the world. Scientific studies trying to prove healing by supernatural causes have almost entirely proved negative, and studies which claim to be scientific and arrive at the opposite conclusions have recently been examined in detail and been shown to have flaws and not to be able to substantiate what they claim.

Consequently, everything Jegathesan writes only adds bunkum to bunkum. One must sympathise to some extent at least with the poor fellow, however, not only for his sheer naiveity but for the personal suffering it has led him into in placing so much of his trust in Sai Baba, over which he agonises in an e-mail he spread around. Firstly, his wife died - allegedly (but disputed) 'by accident' - falling in her bathroom.  Years later on his younger son - a favourite of Sathya Sai Baba (!) -  took his own life by leaping from the 5th floor of a building in Kuala Lumpur. More revelations about these incidents will come in a later posting!

So much for Sai Baba's protection of his great favourite. So much for 'Why fear when I am here?'

See more on healing and Sai Baba here

See here for my paper on 'Elementals' which deals with the hypothesis of 'astral beings' or such disincarnate entities - my original investigation and my refutation of the validity of such beliefs (in the light of modern neuro-science and more).

Another intriguing article from our guest blogger:
AUTHOR MARK IRELAND

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A well-meaning person recently pointed me to a scriptural reference which-according to their interpretation-implied that mediums cannot communicate with the deceased. The passages in question are found in the Gospel of Luke-considered one of the "synoptic" gospels along with Mark and Matthew. The person mentioned a "chasm," referenced in the story, which would purportedly prevent such communications.

Modern biblical scholars have concluded that stories about Jesus, including his sayings, survived through an oral tradition for a period of twenty to thirty years after the crucifixion-prior to the arrival of any written accounts. They consider Mark the oldest of the four canonical gospels, dating it to 70-80 CE-about fifty years after the crucifixion, with Matthew and Luke following ten to fifteen years later-around 85-90 CE. As you see, this leaves a gap of roughly twenty to thirty years between the end of the oral tradition and the arrival of Mark.

Researchers eventually deduced the existence of a since lost sayings gospel referred to as "Q," for "Quelle," a German word meaning "source." They also concluded that Matthew and Luke drew from "Q," as well as Mark, implying that the earlier gospels provided a foundation for the latter ones. Obviously, "Q" is thought to pre-date Mark, likely originating between 55-60 CE.

This theory explains why many stories that appear in Mark are also found in Luke and Matthew-and stories not found in Mark, but resident in both Matthew and Luke, are assumed to come from Q. The particular story referenced by the concerned individual has no parallel, however-appearing only in Luke.

[Of the four canonical gospels, it is thought that John was written last-probably around 95-100 CE. For the purposes of this discussion, however, John does not come into play. A fifth (non-canonical) gospel named "Thomas" also exists. Some scholars believe that the Gospel of Thomas may pre-date all the other (canonical) gospels. Some also contend that early versions of Thomas may have served as source material for the other gospels-much like "Q."]

The passages noted by the aforesaid individual come from Luke 16.19-31. This is a story attributed to Jesus regarding a rich man who, "was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day." The rich man's existence is contrasted with that of Lazarus, a poor man "covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table."

The moral of the story comes into play when both men die and the rich man suffers in Hades, while the poor man is "carried away by the angels to be with Abraham." It is then noted that the rich man "looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side" and so he asked Abraham for cool water to quench his thirst.

Abraham responded, essentially telling the rich man that he and Lazarus were reaping the just rewards of their earthly lives. He then followed saying, "Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us."

After realizing that he was destined to remain in Hades, the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers, hoping they might avoid a similar fate.

Abraham then retorted, "They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them."

Undeterred, the rich man beseeched, "If someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent."

Abraham then steadfastly proclaims, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

So, what does this story have to say about the feasibility of mediumship? First, even if one chooses to read the passages literally, there is nothing to suggest that communication between the living and deceased is impossible. While the tale implies that the rich man is restricted from moving from Hades to the "bosom of Abraham," he clearly communicates across the divide-seeing, hearing, and speaking with Abraham. So, while it is said that the chasm prevented the rich man from relocating from Hades to Abraham's domain, it had no bearing on their cross-dimensional dialog.

Also, a traditional / literalist view would hold that Hades (or Hell) is two levels removed from Heaven, while the Earth is one level removed. Using this argument, one could say that an earthly medium should have an easier time communicating with deceased individuals than did the rich man in Hades-who stretched his transmission across two levels.

At the end of the story, Abraham denies the rich man's request that Lazarus be sent to warn his surviving brothers, so they might avoid a similar fate. Despite his rebuff, Abraham says nothing to indicate that the appeal is impossible. Rather, it seems a matter of principle-that they should live rightly without prodding-along with Abraham's apparent opinion that such an effort would be a waste of time, because the brothers would not listen anyhow.

Ultimately, I would suggest that it is best to step away from such literal interpretations. This story fit with Jesus' practice of using metaphor to illustrate his point-rather than literalism. Also, reading this story literally leads to misunderstanding by placing emphasis on the wrong elements. The "moral" of the story seems to be to live life in a caring and giving manner, as opposed to a self-serving one. The other background elements of the story seem intended to dramatize the urgency of living in a just way.

Finally, one must consider the process by which the surviving gospels came to be-a topic I addressed earlier. They are essentially second generation documents which leaned on earlier accounts that are no longer accessible. Also, those first generation scriptures were preceded by a twenty to thirty year oral tradition-and we all know how the "telephone game" works. So, we are left with questions that may never be answered. How can we know if certain passages were popularized stories that evolved within specific communities-taking on a life of their own-or if they were Jesus' actual words?

Scholars believe that the four gospels of canon developed within disparate groups and that some of the differences between the texts may reflect the differing viewpoints of these various Christian communities. Even back then, it seems, Christianity was not unified.

One way of examining scripture in such cases is to look at the differences (or similarities) in stories appearing in multiple gospels.

For example, in Mark 9:40, Jesus says, "Whoever is not against us is for us."

Similarly, in Luke 9:49 Jesus reports, "...whoever is not against you is for you."

Turning the story 180 degrees, Matthew 12:30 has Jesus saying, "Whoever is not with me is against me."

Given that Mark was the source for this story, the logical conclusion seems to be that the account portrayed in Mark and Luke is probably closer to the original story than the version found in Matthew. This is not "proof," but it is one way to look at the issue.

In the case of the story of the rich man and Lazarus, this method of comparison cannot be used because there is only one account-in Luke-and it does not tie to Q or Mark.

Switching to another biblical reference on mediumship, the Old Testament provides a passage where a medium successfully communicates with a deceased individual. In 1 Samuel 28.4, the Medium of En'dor brings through the spirit of Samuel in order to deliver a message to his successor, Saul, at his (Saul's) request.

How could this have happened if the previously mentioned chasm had been a limiting factor-preventing the medium from delivering Samuel's message to Saul?

Once again, I would submit that biblical inconsistencies of this type reinforce the need to read scripture figuratively rather than literally.

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CLICK HERE for more information about Soul Shift: Finding Where the Dead Go.

CLICK HERE to visit Mark Ireland's web site.

]]> http://anonandnutcase3.wordpress.com/?p=11 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:20:37 +0000 nutcase3 http://anonandnutcase3.fr.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/accuracy-fairness-objectivity-and-truth/ See that title above this? Yeah that. Questions: How are those four things realated when it comes to reporter's duty to the people; their adudience? How are they different? How do you identify them in a newscast, newspaper, or anyother type for media? what are the red flags that tell you when they're not there?

Accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and truth...oh how those are jumbled, twisted, or jusyt plain forgotten when the news is finally blared outo in someway to the state/nation/world. Mostly, these 'laws', as some would put for these expectations of reporters, journalists, and newscasters, fall into the newspeoples own personal ethics that 'demands of every journalist accuracy and fairness' (Introduction to the News; page 12, third paragraph.)  but what of when reporters depend on their stories to much for accuracy and not for fairness to the adience. Accuracy is needed so people get the facts right, fairness is needed so people don't get overwhelmed by all the facts, that a lot of the time, they don't want to know. Objectivity keeps people sane by hearing both sides of the storyies, and making their own decisions based on what they think, not what a huge corperation believes or says is the truth. The fourth 'law' listed is just that; truth. How do people know that what they see on the news or read in the newspaper, is what really happened? There are so meny different views, which one happened, or did they all happen?

The truth, for me, falls into three catigories; black, grey, and white. The black truth is the complete, dirty, and bare truth that most people don't want to have to face. A grey truth is the half-truth, certain ideas/events are left out to 'censer' the news. Grey t ruths are often what people read and watch. The truth that is sugar coated and there are no real facts out there is called the white truth.

There are three catigories for lies too. A lie that is so complex, the creators evenually believe it themselves...which, technacly, makes it a truth to them is a black lie. A grey lie is a lie thast incorperates parts of the truth to manipulate a person, persons, or information. A white lie is told/written to 'save' or cover up what people know veagly what's going on but won't or can't look at it. This is basically like the white truth.

As for identifying these four consepts in the news, i'm afraid that's all up to the viewer/reader/listener. No one can tell you that you should believe something just because the do. Make up your own mind about the 'red flags' that tip YOU off that something smells fishy; either literally or figuativily. that's all i gotta say on this subject. Bye!

here in austin, 300 miles inland, we were safe and warm. disconnected. only felt a brief wind. and it's back to normal now. normal, disconnected, apathetic, comfortable, enjoyable. yet there's a lingering sorrow.

there are so many i'm sure, who've discovered that a relative or friend is now dead. they may be wondering where that person is now. if they're in a 'better place'...or a worse; if there is even a heaven or a hell.

but these are some of the most commonly asked questions about heaven & the afterlife:

• do pets go to heaven?
• should Christians be cremated?
• will we be married or have sex in heaven?
• should we try to contact the dead?
• can a person who commits suicide go to heaven?
• will we remember our lives when we're in heaven?
• can people in heaven see what's happening on earth? and the most important question of all,
• is there more than one way to get to heaven?

well, earlier this week, my husband & i watched a really great video by craig groeschel who's studied them all in depth. he gives Biblical explanations, references, answers and opinions for each one of them. i hope this video brings clarity to anyone on their spiritual journey to truth.

but before you navigate away, if you're a praying person, could you agree w/me in this short prayer?

God, forgive those of us who forget so quickly those in need. quicken our hearts to action, giving us the faith needed to step out & use our resources, whatever they may be. show yourself real and your love present in the lives of those who have lost people they care so much about. bring them peace, beyond understanding.

you are still our God, unchanging and trustworthy. and we love you.

(photo taken not in texas, but haiti where the death toll is over 300 after back-to-back storms. read this well-written article about haiti if you can)

It's that time of year again when the first rumblings of the next year's super bowl advertisers come out. (for super bowl 43) I think the companies just ask that their info be released this early to start the buzz cycle and get more mileage out of the media buy. There really isn't any other reason to release the advertiser names now in September when the ads aren't even finished yet.

They say the 30 second ad spots are selling for $3 Million dollars each. That is the going rate for a direct sales pitch into 88 million homes and TV sets all at the same time. (when are they going to start webcasting the game and the ads all together like a second delivery system of the same signal? why wouldn't that work?) Advertisers that actually get a positive ROI from that kind of heavy hitting creative investment are wide appeal mass market companies that have products that are either seasonal at that time of year or products that relate to sports watchers or families watching at home.  Products like snacks, drinks, beer and cars have long been popular categories for Super Bowl Ads.

This year some of the confirmed advertisers are Pepsi and CocaCola, Anheuser-Bush, and a bunch of un-named Automotive, Movie and snack companies. Doritos have done really well the past few years and I wonder if they will plunge in again. I think the trend may be finally waning in the internet sites do ads category since few of them have that kind of money laying around anymore and/or need the visibility.

The timing of your ad during the Super Bowl Game is also crucial. The good spots are probably taken already in Q1 and Q3. Q2 gets boring because people have been sitting a while and just want halftime to start so they can use the bathroom and Q4 may be less well watched if the game isn't almost tied the whole time. Many people just turn it off when the game is a blowout. The ends of pods are also bad because it just leads back into the game and consumers forget the ad pretty quickly. Being first in a pod is best since people have been proven to remember things in chunks and the beginning and end are usually the chunks they remember most.

Sometimes companies get their ads in at the last moment when 1 or 2 ads are left a week or two before the Super Bowl Game but this may not be available this year if companies are paying 300K more per ad willingly and forking over the money (or deposit) this early in the year. I think that marketers are realizing that in a fragmented market you have to be as prominent on every screen as possible to stay top of mind and above the chatter that gets tuned out. But ad placement is only 1/2 of the strategy. The other half is really the most important. It is really about relevance and humor. If you can make your product funny in a way that real people identify with personally, you have a winner and get all the chatter at the watercooler the next day.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/print-friendly.php?ID=cs_20080419_9525

AND http:individual.utoronto.ca/Markfederman/article_mediumisthemessage.htm

Question one: How are these two articles related?

Answer: These articles are related because they both talk about using media/a medium as a way to convey a message. Both talk about some form of media that is used to 'connect' to another person or persons, and to look beyond what we see on the outside of an idea or innovation.

Question two: What is your opinion about these two articles, and what are your questions?

Answer: my opinion of these two articles is... I was wondering about the messsage that the articles are showing in their healines. The first article's headline is 'New Media as the Message', is that the same as or the answer to 'What is the Meaning of The Medium is the Message?' (the title of the other article)? I can't really draw an opinion of the articles that is relevent to what their both talking about, but for the first article, I really agree with Myers, a blogger for Vanity Fair, that the Clinton campaign is based in how and when they approch potental voters on how the Bill Clinton campaign was done because that's what they grew up with. The Obama people are open to new ideas because it was started in 2007, and not in the earily 1990s. Is that really what separates two canidates, their skills at using different and 'with the times' mediums?

COMENTARY: the medium of bloging and my experiences using it.

I love blogging, its a fast and easy way to publish my ideas on the internet, and its accepible anywhere! Blog webpages connect so many people and being able to read others opinions, when the live across the country, at the click of a button is great! This medium is easy, fast, and I hope these never go awway!!!!

Subject's Initial letter:

Brad died 16 years ago while I was pregnant with his daughter. I would
like to know if he, or any other spirits around me, have any messages for

his daughter or myself.

Alison.

Medium's Reading:

This guy is saying, 'How did I end up here?'[1] He is a deep
thinker and seems quiet and reserved with me.[2] He's telling
me about drugs[3] and says there were problems with girls.[4] I hear
the words 'neck'[5] and 'snap'.[6] He says, I'm sorry'[7]

There are two sides to every story.[8] His own story has not
been heard.[9] He says, 'I wanted to make a difference with my
life.[10] I wanted to be someone.[11] I feel broken.[12] I tried to make
it work, but I couldn't.'[13] He says,'Leave me alone,
I don't need your help.[14] People talked about me. It hurt me,
and my family.'[15]

He seems to have a battle inside him about who he was
- about being accepted or not.[16] He is saying the names Ted[17] and
Anthony or Tony.[18] He's bringing in a man who passed suddenly with
a heart attack.[19] He is standing at his side with his hand on his chest.[20]

I'm hearing the word John or Joana.[21] This young lad must have been
tormented a lot at school.[22] He liked i schoolwork but he didn't like beings
teased.[23] He says, 1 have been trying to get through for a longtime, but
no one has been listening to me. It's important to say that I miss my
family and friends[24] and I'm truly sorry for the heartache I caused.[25]

Now he is talking about his funeral. My service was A1. Spot
on with the choices of songs,[26] and I am placed in such a peaceful
environment. Thank you'. He is showing me a lot of young
people at his service.[27] He is talking about being ID'd, Did
someone have to identify him?[28]

Now I'm seeing newspaper photos[29] and a blue trampoline.[30]
I see cricket bats[31] and a goldfish tank.[32] There's a lot of junk here.
His room was cluttered with all sorts of things.[33] He is talking
about technical drawing skills[34] about layout and design.[35]
December is important[36] He showing me a big letter B.[37]
He is saying he is one of three kids[38] and that the person
who sent his photo will have building renovating around
them.[39] He says you are looking nice[40] and also tells me that you
need a new lawn.[41]

Subject's Response:

The photo was probably taken around 17 years ago at a friend's
wedding. At the time of Brad's passing, he was 20 years old
and a big part of my life.

Kelvin's comments about Brad's death being self-inflicted were
right After hearing the reading, some of the things that rang true
included the way that he died.

Brad had a sense of humour once you got to know him, but
normally he was quiet[2] He was one of three children.[38]

He said the name John,[21] which is my father, and the man he is
with is my grandad Charles, who had a heart attack.[19] I don't think
he knew them when he was alive. I wish that he had
said something about our daughter.

He once told me that kids had picked on him at school,[22]
so that part of the reading was right

He also talked about drawing. I have pictures he drew that
he showed me when We first got together.[34] They
were portraits. One was of me sitting on a stool. They were very
good - I still have them.

Welcome to our World and Down on the Farm were the songs at his .
funeral, and they were his favourites[26] He sang them all the time.

He mentioned the letter 'B' [37] and December,[36] which probably stands
for his name and his birthday on Boxing Day

I thought it was funny that he mentioned I needed a new lawn.[41]
There were a lot of weeds in an area of my lawn where I wanted
to put a barbecue, and I recently sprayed it, so now the lawn's dead.

I would like to thank Kelvin for the reading. It was very important
to me to hear that Brad misses his family and friends.

So, for a start lets count up the hits. In fairness I'll admit that what I counted was somewhat arbitrary, but I don't think I'm more than two or three out in either the predictions (for lack of a better term) or confirmed hits. Tallying up what the subject responded to gives us about 10 hits. Out of 40 predictions (he threw them out thick and fast once you broke it down) that's 25% right. Not bad I think. lets take them in the order he gave, I will rate the predictions as Hit, Miss or Indeterminate based on the subject's responses:

[1]. I included this one as it speaks to the deceased's state of mind after death and as such may find resonance with the subjects' sense of loss or the speed of the passing of the deceased.

Rating: Miss

[2]. This is a good one, people are seldom 1 dimensional characters, they have facets of personality and the subject hints at this in her response "Brad had a sense of humour once you got to know him, but normally he was quiet". If you know someone intimately you will eventually see all of these sides and be able to recognise almost any characteristic as relating to your loved one. Indeed, judging from the reply here the reading could have made the complete opposite claim and still have been a hit in the subject's eyes.

Rating: Hit

[3]. This one is trickier as the drugs are not specified, they could be prescription, illicit or over the counter. Thus there is a wide net being cast here. In any case the subject does not confirm any drug related issues, nor if true would I expect her to.

Rating: Indeterminate

[4]. Again this is vague and could refer to almost any situation involving a female.

Rating: Indeterminate

[5]. [6]. [7]. I've grouped these together as the subject at least seems to interpret them as refering to her loved one's death. However I numbered them separately as thy are all distict claims. The subject appears to be fitting the prediction to the facts as there are a number of interpretations that could be made and self inflicted death is not one that immediately springs to mind for me.

Rating: Miss

[8]. [9]. [10]. [11].  Again, this is banal to the point of ridiculousness. Of course there are multiple sides to a story and of course a private individual has much of their life which isn't made public, basically by definition. Also, everyone wants to have made a difference and to be considered to have been worthy and appreciated, to "Be someone" if only to our friends and family.

Rating: Miss

[12]. [13]. [14]. Through the vicissitudes of life who hasn't felt these emotions? Once more, these could apply to anyone.

Rating: Miss

[15]. Here we have a slightly more substantial claim, that of possible controversy around the family. The subject is mute on this point.

Rating: Indeterminate

[16]. Another platitude about life.

Rating: Miss

[17]. [18]. No mention of the owners of these names, given the stretching to find a connection with other parts of the reading this does not bode well.

Rating: Miss

[19]. [20]. [21]. The subject matches these to her father and grandfather even though her loved one never had any connection with them. I really hope the afterlife isn't one long family reunion.

Rating: Hit

[22]. [23]. I'm sorry but who likes being teased? And to my mind once metioning that "kids had picked on him at school" does not constitute being tormented. I was teased at school, I suspect a large proportion of the population also were.

Rating: Hit

[24]. Another comment on the normal human experience, I would have been surprised if he said he didn't miss his family.

Rating: Miss

[25]. Who hasn't caused heartache that they regret? Even the most careful person can't please everyone all of the time.

Rating: Miss

[26]. If my family don't play songs I like at my funeral then I refuse to participate in the after party.

Rating: Hit

[27]. Come on, the guy didn't die in a nursing home, of course there are going to be young people at his funeral. Way to go Sherlock.

Rating: Miss

[28]. I think that often if people die away from their family and friends they would need to be identified. The subject does not mention the circumstances surrounding his death so this one can't be judged.

Rating: Indeterminate

[29]. No mention of a media presence in the deceased's life but newspaper photo could also have refered to obituary postings. In either case no response from the subject.

Rating: Miss

[30]. Everyone loves trampolines! No? oh well.

Rating: Miss

[31]. [32]. Not hitting a six with these two it would seem.

Rating: Miss

[33]. Clutter? Really? That's you're great psychic insight? Sorry.

Rating: Miss

[34]. [35]. I'm sorry, but portraits are art, not design. Have to go against the subject on this one.

Rating: Miss

[36]. [37]. Suddenly, after speaking clearly all this time (trampoline?) the deceased is reduced to spelling out his name? The subject to obviously undergoing some contortions to make this fit. It was a luck break that his birthday is on Boxing Day but I can think of at least one other reason why December might be considered important and I don't think it's limited to this one individual.

Rating: Hit

[38]. Ok, this is the best of the bunch. Very impressive. Spot on. What can I say, well I can reasonably assume that the magazine was privy to the subject's last name and address and possibly passed this on to the medium with the letter. Along with the length of time given since the death he now has information that could be used to track down further details from obituaries with a little effort. But still quite good.

Rating: Hit

[39]. Another good specific one, even if the delivery is a little formal considering the intimate connection, but no follow up from the subject. I'm tempted to label it a miss but let's be generous.

Rating: Indeterminate

[40]. Who doesn't like complements from beyond the grave. A picture was given of a woman who is probably the subject but I don't think I can really comment on the accuracy of this one.

Rating: Indeterminate

[41]. A new lawn, what the meaning of life too difficult? OK, this one ain't bad either but really, unless you're a grass obsessed freak this can apply to anyone.

Rating: Hit

Now frankly I consider this guy and his ilk the scum of the Earth, feeding on the grief of others and prolonging pain for their own benefit. This particular medium also has a TV career as one of the resident psychics on the Australian/New Zealand show "Sensing Murder". Where the family members of murder victims, where the case is unsolved, are exploited by the production company and these so called psychics for ratings an publicity. But I digress, to the matter at hand. The remarkable thing about this reading is how unremarkable the topics covered were. They were more generic observations of the human condition instead of the distillation of a lifetime of knowledge gleaned from peering through the veil of death. Teased out and displayed one by one as here it is almost trivially easy to show that this is the case and yet people by their thousand flock to those that spew these inanities. I can't blame them, who if given the chance would pass up the opportunity to communicate with a loved one just one more time? I'm lucky enough not to have lost a close family member or friend but the temptation to think of them as looking down at me from on high, that their life had not simply been snuffed out would be great I think. In the end I'm not fooling anyone here, if you belived in psychic mediums before reading this, you still do, if not, you still don't. I just hope I've given everyone something else to think about.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Today, I filled in for another psychic at Cornerstone Bookstore, in Englewood, CO. Cornerstone has a psychic type doing readings from noon to 5 pm Monday through Friday. I'm there whenever someone can't be there. People drop in for readings, though some make appointments in advance, especially with the regular readers. 

When I'm at Cornerstone either filling in, or working it's metaphysical fair, I usually do psychometry or "photo readings." What I do is tune into the person's energy contained within a personal object or photo. Once I do this, it's like a movie starts running through my head and I tell the person what I'm seeing. Often the "movie" shows me the person's past, present, and even their future. I tend to see these sessions as a form of "spiritual direction" as opposed to fortune telling. 

I not only do these readings at fairs, but as part of my private practice. I just don't emphasize it. The reason is that even though I refer to myself as a "psychic medium," as I pointed out in the beginning of this post, "psychics" and "mediums" are not one and the same. I'd like to explain the difference. 

Psychics rely on intuition to gain information. In order for a medium reading to happen, two elements must be in place. The first is a soul who wants to communicate messages to a loved one. Secondly, there must be someone to receive the messages being passed along. Otherwise, it's similar to you picking up a phone, making a call, and no one answers the phone. There isn't any communication taking place.  

The souls use mediums such as myself to disclose their thoughts, feelings and messages to their loved ones who otherwise can't see, feel or hear them. By passing the information on, I essentially become their "voice," or "mouthpiece," for the length of time that my energy, and theirs, holds out. 

I refer to myself as a "psychic medium" in order to describe the way that the communications take place. I don't "channel" spirits, nor do I go into a trance. I'm fully with the person who is in front of me, while at the same time a part of my brain is receiving messages from those who have passed away. The information coming into my brain is perfect. It's once it hits my fragile psyche that things get mixed up. But I'll save that for another post.

http://www.anthonyquinata.com

Copyright, Denise Lescano 2008

Anger…strong emotion excited by a real or supposed injury; wrath; rage.  Excite to wrath; enrage- Webster’s. 

We do not have to look far to find the expression of anger all around us.  Have you are ever noticed the constant stream of anger that is expressed and pumped into our lives everyday through our Televisions and radios?  We can flip thru a multitude of channels that project a constant stream of angry energy from people who are outraged about everything and anything, arguing about everything and anything…simply for the sake of arguing and being angry!  We are bombarded with anger expressed through violence every minute of every day in the news, TV, movies, music, video games and the world around us.  Anger is one of the most destructive forces on the planet.    It is one of the most powerfully moving and motivating emotions that we feel.  It can also be one of the most toxic and debilitating emotions that we experience as humans, if not expressed in a healthy way and released.  Please understand that I am not suggesting we should never get angry, there is certainly plenty in life to be angry about and rightfully so!  However, I am suggesting that it is important to consciously channel our anger in a healthy way, and at some point, to let it go and release it. 

It seems that in the past few months I have found myself deeply immersed in the study of “Anger.”  Personally, I hate to be angry.  It takes a lot to make me angry and I will not usually stay angry for long.  I am a creative person and I prefer to channel my energy in to the direction of my creativity and the people and activities that I love in my life.  To be angry, uses too much energy and leaves me drained with out the energy I need for the things that I feel passionate about.  However, it is impossible to avoid feeling angry some times living in this world.  We all feel angry; it is an unavoidable part of the human condition. 

You may ask why would a Medium, why would I… be studying anger?  Well first to explain why, it is necessary to tell you about the not so glamorous side of the work of a Medium.  I find that many people think that it would be very exciting and very cool to be able to see and speak to dead people.  To be able to

know things before other people or know things that are going to happen before they do.   It is important to understand however, that many times I am working with those who are deeply grieving and in great pain, who many times have suffered unspeakable and tragic losses.  Anyone who works with grief, or has experienced it first hand, knows that it is very common that after getting over the initial shock of the loss, anger will set in.  In my experience as a Medium, I am probably exposed to more anger than most, through the types of work that I specialize in.  I specialize in working with Grief Support Groups and people who have lost loved ones by sudden death, accidental death and suicide.  I have been involved in this type of work extensively, for the past 4 years.

In these circumstances, I am quite often working with people who have never been to see a Medium before and would never have even considered going to a Medium or Psychic for that matter, prior to the loss of their loved one.  They come to see me because some one has told them that I can help them, that I can give them one last conversation with a loved one lost suddenly, and they come with the hopes that I will be able to answer some of their questions and help them to have closure and peace.  Many of these clients come from traditional religious backgrounds, bringing with them preconceived ideas and misconceptions about death, life after death and God.  It is also not uncommon that some of these people will come to me feeling fearful or skeptical about seeing a Medium.  However, desperate for peace, relief from unbearable pain, and some times guilt…they come to see me anyway.

This type of work for me is very rewarding, as I am fortunate to have an opportunity to help people in a very special, profound and life altering way.  I am always grateful and humbled to be a part of such a truly miraculous process.  Spirit reminds me that the real heroes in this process, the spiritual warriors, are those who choose to wake up every day and try to keep moving forward, one day at a time, to overcome the great loss and tragedy in their lives. 

I must admit however, being only human, that the expectations that people sometimes bring with them to see me, can be a little overwhelming.  It can be a daunting task to deliver very sensitive, personal and some times painful messages to some one who is in such a vulnerable state.  The truth is not always easy to hear.  I am always mindful of that fact when I am working, and do my very best to have compassion and empathy for those that I am working with. 

There are many times that I will encounter a lot of resistance from a client who is not ready to hear a message that I am being asked to deliver.  In spite of the resistance and some times even anger about the message being delivered, I persist, because I know that ALL messages that I receive are for the healing and growth of my client.  I KNOW without a shred of doubt that if spirit is giving me the message, it is always from love, and for the purpose of helping the person that I am delivering it too

So with all of that being said, I do occasionally encounter days that try my soul, and clients that test my patience and compassion.  Those days where I feel damned if I do and damned if I don’t.  If you have had a reading with me, you know that I do not make a career out of telling people “what they want to hear.”  I ethically cannot do that, no matter how much you pay me!  I am spiritually obligated to tell you the truth and I am not allowed to edit the messages given to me by the spirit world.  If spirit gives them to me, I have to give them to you.  This requires that some times I have to deliver a message that I know my client does not want to hear

In stark contrast to our fascination with scary ghost stories, I rarely encounter angry spirits.  I do occasionally encounter angry people, who may be angry during the course of a reading for a number of different reasons.  Some times the person that I am reading for, has unresolved and unexpressed anger with the their loved one who has passed, anger with the person responsible for their loved one’s death or even anger with God.  Some other people seem to just be angry about everything, everyone and life in general.  We have all encountered these people.

In the course of a reading, if a person has unresolved anger with their loved one passed, I may find myself right in the middle of a conflict, acting as a mediator between the person and the spirit.   In one such case, a living wife could not express her anger directly to her husband for his marital infidelities in life, so as I was translating their conversation back and forth, she began yelling at me!  In another reading, I had another woman who was furious with her husband for canceling his life insurance right before he passed.  Talk about angry!  Sometimes I feel more like a marriage counselor or mediator than a Medium!

In a recent reading, I encountered a more serious example of unresolved anger and grief.  A mother had come to see me whose son died of suicide only a few months earlier.  This particular woman was a rather stern, skeptical older woman who came in with a guarded and defensive attitude.  I knew before she came she was going to be difficult to read for, as spirit had already given me a heads up….I had no idea how difficult until I started the reading. 

As I began reading, the woman was very resistant to everything that I said and very reluctant to validate any information that I was giving her.  I quickly began to feel very frustrated working with her.  I proceeded to explain to her that if she would not validate the information I was giving her and be honest with me, I would have to end the reading and send her on her way, something I rarely ever do.  I considered just ending the reading there, however, I knew she had a son passed who died of suicide that was waiting to speak with her, so for her son in spirit...I decided to continue on.  She had given me absolutely no details of why she came to see me or of having a son passed.  I began to tell her I had her son with us, who died of suicide by taking pills and alcohol, as well as, some other details about the circumstances of his death.  The woman validated that what I gave her was correct.  The son was a man in his 30’s when he died with a family of his own.  He began to tell me that he had suffered from mental illness, mild schizophrenia and depression since his teens and that he had begun abusing drugs at a young age in an attempt to cope with his illness.  The reading went on with many messages and very personal details from son to mother.  Midway through the reading, when the son began speaking about his mental health problems, the mother immediately got very angry.   She told me, very abruptly, that she did not want to talk about that anymore.  However, it was very important to her son that his mother really understand and most importantly acknowledge his mental health problems.  I also knew that these issues were very important for the mother to hear and accept, so that she could release feelings of guilt and anger that she had not been addressing at all.  I reminded her that I am only the messenger, translating her son’s words from the spirit world to her.  I tried to explain to her that I am only telling her what her son is asking me to say and that I have to honor his wishes as well.

The mother, who was feeling a great deal of guilt and pain, was also in a very strong and unyielding state of denial about her son’s mental health condition which eventually led to the suicide.  She insisted to me that her son was fine and had no mental health problems and that I was wrong and that I was not really speaking with him.  I was quite certain that I was.   With that, the session quickly went down hill as the mother proceeded to lash out and engage in a personal attack against me, my legitimacy and competency, even so far as demanding her money back. 

Although she came to see me to find out the truth and find some peace, she simply was not ready or able to hear and accept the messages that her son brought through to her.  This had been a huge issue between them in life, as she would never acknowledge his mental health problems while he was alive.  Unfortunately while he was alive she had been embarrassed and ashamed of her son’s illness, especially as he was growing up with her.  So, the only way for the mother to stay in her state of denial was to invalidate the whole experience with me, to attack, my credibility and legitimacy.   She became very nasty and angry and I had to ask her to leave my office. 

I had another similar encounter with a mother who came to see me in a Grief Support group for loss by Suicide whose child died of suicide and was gay.  That mother also was not able to accept that her child was gay, even as he came thru from the spirit side.  She also became angry with me and the reading, insisting that I was not real.  She was embarrassed in the group to admit that her daughter was gay.  These are moments when my job can be very difficult delivering messages that some one just does not want to hear.  These are times in my work that I can be confronted with anger, denial and even hostility.

In closing I would say that if you have a reading with a Medium, it is very important that you be open to any and all messages that are being delivered.  Those messages that may not make sense to you in that moment, or that maybe you do not want to hear, have real significance…they are important or they would not be coming through.  Please do not dismiss or disregard those messages.  Your loved ones in spirit have to work just as hard as I do to bring those messages through, and we need to always remember that all of those messages come from a place of love and concern for us. 

Many of us carry around our own unprocessed and unreleased anger.  I hope that by sharing these experiences and observations that you may be inclined to examine how anger affects your life, whether it is your own anger or the anger of others in your life. 

At the root of all messages that illuminate feelings of unresolved anger, is a message about Forgiveness.  Spirits constantly come through in readings speaking of the importance of Forgiveness in our lives.  Forgiveness is the only way to release feelings of anger which keep us emotionally bonded to people in unhealthy and self-destructive ways. 

Forgiveness is NOT forgetting.  Forgiveness is NOT condoning.  Forgiveness does NOT absolve the other of responsibility for their actions.    Forgiveness is NOT for the person that hurt you…although you may certainly “give it to them.”

Forgiveness IS a decision, IS to decide to let go and move on, IS a process of healing. 

Forgiveness IS a gift that you give yourself and a pathway to freedom and peace. 

**If you need help dealing with anger or angry and toxic people in your life I highly recommend Bob Riley at www.bobrileycoaching.com. 

Een overpeinzing of redenering over de meest logische gang van zaken in een gegeven situatie.

Een dergelijk experiment begint meestal met een vraag en een hypothetische situatie ("...stel:" of "...als...") Het is de kunst om "de meest logische gang van zaken" in die situatie te achterhalen door het verloop van de gebeurtenissen onder te verdelen in kleinere stappen die op zo logisch mogelijke wijze in elkaar overvloeien. Vaak zijn er meerdere wegen mogelijk, maar de uiteindelijke conclusie blijft meestal gelijk of bijna gelijk.

Vandaag werd ik plotseling overvallen door een ingeving over de bizarre situatie die ontstaan is met mediums en paragnosten - hierna "paranormalen" genoemd - aan één kant en sceptici aan de andere kant; met name de sceptici die de openbaarheid zoeken (James Randi, Richard Dawkins, Penn & Teller, de mensen van Stichting Skepsis en op veel kleinere schaal ook Logates met zijn irriterende artikelen). De situatie is als volgt op te sommen:

- sprekers en schrijvers van beide kanten "preken toch vooral voor eigen parochie"; er worden maar weinig mensen van het andere "kamp" bereikt en dat lijkt met name voor sceptici spijtig aangezien zij vaak proberen andersdenkenden te overtuigen van hun standpunten.

- sceptici roepen dat paranormalen hun claims moeten bewijzen onder gecontroleerde omstandigheden

- paranormalen antwoorden dat ze niets te bewijzen hebben: de reacties van de cliënten is afdoende

- beide kampen proberen mensen die nog niet beslist hebben waartoe ze behoren voor zich te winnen, de paranormalen winnen denk ik op dit moment (ook al is het geen wedstrijd...of wel?)

Al met al denk ik niet dat men snel tot een gemeenschappelijk gedachtegoed zal komen. Alles wijst op een patstelling maar dat is slechts schijn: de patstelling bevestigt namelijk het "logische gelijk" van de sceptici. Een simpel gedachtenexperiment leidt tot die conclusie:

Het gedachtenexperiment

Paranormalen willen de sceptici doen geloven dat paranormale fenomenen overal zijn en bovenal volstrekt normaal: de zielen van overleden dierbaren zijn altijd om ons heen en ze verlangen ernaar met ons te communiceren. Bovendien zijn ze alwetend over het leven hier op aarde en kunnen vaak zelfs een blik in de toekomst werpen. Iedereen zou in staat moeten zijn de communicatie met gene zijde te bewerkstelligen maar blijkbaar zijn er weinig mensen die de "gave" echt hebben ontwikkeld.

Uit bovenstaande alinea zou je logischerwijs kunnen concluderen dat het zaak is voor de gestorven zielen de geloofwaardigheid van de paranormalen te waarborgen, immers: als de mediums niet geloofd worden kunnen ze hun boodschappen niet naar ons overbrengen.

En nu de sleutelvraag: wat is de makkelijkste manier voor de zielen om die geloofwaardigheid te waarborgen?

Overtuig de meest prominente sceptici van hun ongelijk!

Als je een gestorven ziel zou zijn die een belangrijke boodschap heeft voor een sceptisch familielid zou je hem nooit kunnen bereiken. Als slimme ziel zou je er dan werk van kunnen maken om James Randi te verrassen: je zou bijvoorbeeld een medium kunnen helpen glansrijk voor zijn test te laten slagen of je zou een willekeurig persoon het voorwerp doorgeven (in een droom?) dat Randi heeft gestopt in een kistje in zijn huis. Je zou op kleinere schaal ook een medium op Logates kunnen afsturen en hem vertellen hoeveel tegels zijn badkamervloer telt of de eerste twintig namen en telefoonnummers van de telefoonlijst in zijn mobiele telefoon of de precieze omschrijving van de bank die hij van plan is te kopen; je kan erop rekenen dat daarover geschreven zal worden en wat is overtuigender dan een "die-hard" scepticus van mening doen veranderen omtrent het paranormale? Als je Randi op die manier weet te overtuigen zal je zelfs een wereldwijde schok veroorzaken die uiteindelijk kan leiden tot de algemene acceptatie van paranormale fenomenen! Zou dat niet de wens zijn van onze overleden dierbaren?

Juist omdat deze dingen nog nimmer gebeurd zijn zou je de volgende drie conclusies kunnen trekken:

a) de overleden zielen interesseert het allemaal niets en zijn niet van plan een kleine moeite te doen om ons allemaal te bereiken

b) de zielen van onze overleden dierbaren bestaan niet

c) de zielen van de overledenen bestaan wel maar zijn niet in staat met ons te communiceren

Conclusie B is de simpelste oplossing met de minste aannames (Occam's Razor*) en daarom vooralsnog de juiste. De omschreven patstelling aan het begin van dit artikel wijst dus wel degelijk op het gelijk van de sceptici. Ik vermoed dat paranormalen hun ogen én geest sluiten voor deze gedachten, maar het "probleem" dat de conclusie van dit gedachtenexperiment voor paranormalen veroorzaakt valt moeilijk te ontkennen. Mocht dat wel zo zijn: laat het weten in een reactie, ik ben benieuwd! Ondertussen houd ik morgen mijn ogen open voor mensen die me benaderen met informatie over mijn badkamervloer...

LOGATES

*Voor meer informatie over Occam's Razor lees De complexiteit van eenvoud

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Williams tells her story in the form of an autobiography, from her first impressions as a child to her later readings with famous people and her discovery by Merv Griffin as a TV personality.  It's interesting because it is told as an ordinary person with ordinary problems, except that dead people keep whispering in her ear.

Intrigued, I googled Lisa Williams and found that her television shows can be watched online.  I watched some of them and found them interesting and intriguing, though not definitive proof of her ability to communicate with the dead.  It is good to be skeptical, but not so skeptical that you lose an open mind.  I feel that Williams is sincere and not a charlatan, of which there are many in the psychic business.  I will continue to follow her career with interest.

While looking for Williams' TV episodes on the net, I also came across a television show called "The Psychic Challenge," where sixteen self-described psychics are put to a series of tests of their abilities, then graded by the persons they encounter in the tests.  I couldn't help but feel that there is something to it -- that some people do indeed have a sensitivity or six sense of some sort that enables them to see bits and pieces of the lives of deceased persons, or other facts not accessible by ordinary means .  This was particulary interesting in the investigation of crime scenes, where psychics have sometimes played key roles in solving murder cases or locating missing persons.

Of the three books I have read or am reading, I notice that all three authors express a belief in reincarnation.  It will be interesting to see what beliefs and impressions various psychics and mediums have in common.

 My first experiences were in my dreams as a young girl, before I had learned to "tune in to my abilites".  I remember, to this day several very vivid dreams about current and future events.  I also had many, as my family referred to them,  "imaginary" friends as young as 5 years old, that I now realize were spirit friends.  I actually preferred playing with my spirit friends more than my people friends which worried my family a bit.  As a young child, I also remember just "knowing" things about people and events.  When I would tell my family about what I "knew" they would normally get rather upset by it and tell me their was no way I could know that and that I should not say such things!  I had a reputation at home and in school as quite a precocious child because of that ability.  I learned very early on that it made the people around me very uncomfortable!

As a psychic, I also have the ability to tune in to the energy (aura) of the person I am reading for and gather information about that person "psychically" through their energy field.  The medical information that I receive about a clients health, many times I am receiving by tuning in"psychically".

What is the difference between a psychic and a medium?

All Mediums are Psychics...it is just that not all Psychics are Mediums.  In the same way that all Surgeons are Doctors but not all Doctors will go on to be Surgeons.  A Medium is a specialist, so to speak. 

A Psychic tunes into the "aura" or "energy field" of the person that they are reading for to gather information, while a Medium can also do this...

A Medium is also able to tune into the energy field of a person no longer in the physical body.  This is because once the physical body drops away, the energy is much more subtle and of a much higher frequency than the physical world. 

I am actually able to connect with both "spirits crossed over" and spirits still "Earthbound" or typically called Ghosts.  In most cases, a Medium can usually only connect with those who have crossed over.  A true Medium should be able to communicate with your friends and loved ones who are crossed over and deliver to you very specific and detailed information from and about your loved ones and their lives, who are now crossed over. 

Does everyone have guides, how do you recommend people get in touch with
them.

Yes, everyone has guides whether they are aware of them or not.  Some people/books will tell you that their is a certain number of guides for each person, in my experience I do not find that their is one set number of guides for everyone. 

I know that everyone has one "Life Guide" who is with us from birth to death.  This soul is responsible for keeping us on task in this incarnation and in accord with our souls purpose and learning. 

Loved ones who cross over will also become guides and guardians to us to some extent. 

Then we have a multitude of other guides (different amount for everyone), who come and go at very specific points of our life, to help us with very specific things we are doing or learning.

The most important thing in connecting with your guides is to learn techniques to become more "receptive to them" like doing regular meditation and intuitive development work.  I always encourage people to start a dialogue with your guide.  Talk to them regularly in meditation or prayer..even if you cannot yet hear them.  Keep talking, because they here you in thought and in words.  Ask for their help and guidance and be open to receive it. Sooner or later with patience, practice and persistence you will become aware of them.  Some people may "see" them while others will "hear" them in thought, or maybe just "sense their presence".  Be open to receive them in what ever way they express themselves to you. It is not necessary to "see" them to know them and that they are there.

I would often read for my friends and by word of mouth.  However, I became increasingly aware over the years how special, unusual and important these gifts were for helping others.  I had a very specific event that occurred in my life when a friends son was murdered, that changed my mind and set me on this course.

It is a tremendous responsibility and sometimes can be overwhelming in many ways.  It is not a path to be taken lightly or with out serious consideration of the commitment and life "in service" it requires.  I am motivated now by all of the people and spirits who's lives this work has touched in profound ways and who's lives have touched mine.  I feel honored to have shared their experiences and be a voice for the spirit world.  At this point, I feel, how could I not do this??

Do you believe that criminals will some day be prosecuted based on
information given by psychics or mediums?

No, I do not, nor do I think they ever should be.  Why?  For several reasons.  First off, we can all makes mistakes, we are merely human, even the best of us.  Second, unfortunately their are some people claiming to be psychics and mediums who are not, their are frauds.  Also, as in any other profession, we all also have varying degrees of psychic talent and ability.

 I have worked on many missing persons, unsolved homicides and accidental death cases extensively over the past 4 years.  What I am hired to do, and the best that I can do, is to provide unknown information, validation and point detectives in the right direction.... to find the evidence they need to support prosecution.  I believe any prosecution must be based on evidence. A Psychic is just a tool, a very valuable tool,  to help detectives find what they are looking for and need.

Besides giving psychic readings, what other work do you do in this area
like seminars, radio, teaching?

I do extensive work with non-profit groups.  I read for Grief Support Groups who have lost loved ones by sudden death, accidental death, homicide, suicide and overdoses.  Being a medical intuitive, I also read for Alcoholics Anonymous and Over Eaters Anonymous Groups, for the purpose of giving the members insight in to their particular addiction issues and how to proceed to over come them.  All of this work is done with group counselors present, so that any information can be validated and assimilated in to the healing and recovery process of the member.

 I also teach classes and seminars on intuitive development, personal growth and the spirit side of life all over the country.  I have co- hosted a radio show "The Spirit Side of Life" and am currently co-producing a TV Show which we hope will air in 2009.  I have a DVD out with another medium, write a weekly Blog and am working on a book.

Yes, occasionally I have. No, I do not call the authorities.  Contrary to what we see on TV, unfortunately my personal experience has been, that the vast majority of law enforcement is not open or enthusiastic to working with psychics and mediums. 

I have had many families over the years hire me to work on a missing person or unsolved criminal case, because the police have nothing and they are at a dead end.    In all of these cases I was able to bring through previously unknown information and validation.  I have been able to fill in many missing pieces, verifiable pieces of information such as; where bodies were discarded right down to street names. make/model and color of cars involved etc.   It is sad and discouraging to find  that in most cases when the recording of the reading was offered to police it was not taken seriously or even considered at all!  I work with several agencies now who take referrals directly form law enforcement and I have been told by my own contacts in law enforcement that they cannot endorse or comment on my work openly.  If I am contacted by a detective directly, they are not able to even say they are working with me....it has to all be done very discretely.  I am hopeful that will change in the future as more and more of us do very credible work. 

Life after death.....  can you give me your interpretation of what it is
like?

 "Death is not the end of life..but merely a part of life".  Their are two great books that I recommend to people who ask this question, that explain life on the spirit side very well.  In my experience with the spirit world, and what the spirit world tells me about it, these books depict very accurately what life is like there.

Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls, by Michael Newton PhD.

In short...It is in many ways a different experience for all souls, I will give you are very brief glimpse. 

I can tell you that I know...it is what ever we imagine or want it to be. You can live in the Mountains or at the beach, for example.   We will be met by and reunited with all of our loved ones and pets there.  We have work that we all do there.  All work is based on helping others grow and learn in some way.  We can create or have what ever we desire by thought.  We go to school there and continue to grow and learn.  We plan our next life experience there based on the lessons that we still need to learn.  Their are many different spiritual "levels" or "neighborhoods"- Where we reside is based on our spiritual awareness, as well as, our likes and dislikes.   Just as we live in different parts of the world and neighborhoods here, so do we there.  People of ALL religious faiths and beliefs go there, even athiests.  You do not need to believe in God or life after death to go there...all you have to do is die!  There is God...but God does not exist in the limited and linear way that we imagine him to be while we are here in human form.  God is much more expansive than what we are able to imagine while here in the physical world. God is Love.  The more you live your life in the energy of love, the closer you are to God.   Where you end up on the spirit side, what neighborhood and with which other souls you live, depends on how you live your life here.  It has nothing to do with prestige, power, success, money, race or religion.  Where you end up and with who, depends on your spiritual awareness, how you treat others, your priorities...how you "lived your life".  Did you live your life in love and compassion or anger, judgement and manipulation?? 

There is absolutely NO judgement, prejudice, hate, anger, illness, punishment or fear in the spirit world. There IS ONLY unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness for everyone.