Paranormal or Not?

There is a discussion going on in the wider community - and it has been ongoing for a few years now - involving numbers. Apparently there are websites and email trails dating back years on this and the matter has not been satisfactorily resolved. My attention was drawn to this by a reader, Marianne, who asks:

Why do people keep seeing 444 all over the place? I've been seeing them for years and when I meditate on "why" I get no clarity. I've been seeing 4s everywhere for years. On licenses plates. Bills. Telephone numbers. DVD & VCR players, route markers, stamps, sales slip at grocery markets, etc. Absolutely *everywhere* - is there a rhyme or reason to this??  I would love a simple (good?) explanation if you have one. Thank you (smile).

Is this just a matter of where we put our attention is what we notice - like when we decide to buy a blue car and suddenly that's about all we see on the roads? Is this to do with the paranormal? I don't have an explanation? Do you?

In the following discussions under the Comments link below there are a number of recommended books. Here are some links.

So, lets’s keep the conversation going - leave your comments and questions below

Put your Paranormal Experiences on the Record - complete the anonymous survey now 

If you use the services of psychics, tarot card readers, astrologists etc, then you may be interested in completing this survey

Karma and the Paranormal

From Laura: Hi I feel like I have bad karma or some sort of negetive (sic) energy around me. It seems that I have the tendency to be impulsive, I get paranoid, then I lose friends. I let the best get to me, my feelings so easily hurt. I don't want to lose the people I love in my life.

I'm wondering if this really is karma as you suggest Laura. There are many more things at play in our lives than karma. I'm thinking there's our own genes; upbringing; the lessons we learn from others and from our own life experiences. The list is quite long.

Have you thought about talking to your friends or family about this? Often those closest to us can give insights on how we come across in life - and even if we don't want to hear what they are saying - if they know us well they can have good insights to share.

I'm certainly not an expert on karma but my intuition tells me this is something that you could tackle head on in this life - and with the help of those who love you. If there isnt anyone, then think about talking to a professional. It may only be a case of learning a few new life skills - nothing too heavy. And who knows, by doing this you may actually contribute to your karma balance!

I'll leave this open for insights from others ....

Put your Paranormal Experiences on the Record - complete the anonymous survey now http://bit.ly/pVh5D

If you use the services of psychics, tarot card readers, astrologists etc, then you may be interested in completing this survey http://bit.ly/b1d6v

Ghost Blogging or Ghost Blogging?

It occurred to me today that you my readers may be interested in following the fortunes of other start up bloggers like myself. It's not often that we start our journeys in life together - but that is near enough to what has happened with me and 2MG. 

Who (or what) is 2MG you may ask. Well they are fellow bloggers (although one of them has yet to show up for work!) who have their own take on the paranormal. They aren't skeptics as such, more 'curious and out there' where apparitions in life (or should that be death?) are concerned. You can check them out here.

I love their artistry. There is certainly some talent here - and their lighter take on the paranormal is a good foil to my more serious approach. See what you think and even leave them a message here or there. 

Unlike Mike and Andrew at 2MG (the G definitely does NOT count at this point in time), many of the respondents in my original have seen apparitions - in fact multiple apparitions. Maybe it is the case that once we get the hang of it (whatever that means) we are able to see ghosts almost at every turn. Keep going Mike and Andrew. The world needs more ghost hunters - just don't scare them away please. I was going to say that the world needs ghosts. But does it? What do you think?

So, lets’s keep the conversation going, please leave your comments and questions.

Put your Paranormal Experiences on the Record - complete the anonymous survey now http://bit.ly/pVh5D

If you use the services of psychics, tarot card readers, astrologists etc, then you may be interested in completing this survey http://bit.ly/b1d6v

The Paranormal and Schizophrenia

From Stephanie: Schizophrenia runs in my family, I believe that if doctors would study the spiritual aspects of schizoprenia they would find a cure. I know people need meds also. What do you think?

Great question Stephanie! Throughout history, many brilliant minds have had one form of mental illness or another and some of them have also been intimately involved in the study of the paranormal. Even today, I know of at least one very high functioning parapsychologist who has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.

As far as the medical fraternity is concerned there is still along way to go before we will see the study of paranormal experiences being included in the curriculum. Having said that, however, inroads are being made in this area. One hundred years ago psychology was regarded with deep suspicion - today it is totally mainstream. 

Change takes time - lots of time! From the encounters I had during my paranormal studies with eminent academics (including senior post holders in the medical faculties), parapsychological studies are usually regarded as something to be undertaken in the twilight years. This has its good and bad points. On the plus side, there are well credentialed academics such as Dean Radin  

who have made a name for themselves in the so-called hard sciences before turning to studying psi. The fact that they have established credibility in another field adds to the credibility of their paranormal work. The downside is that it takes decades to become credentialed elsewhere!

Every academic study that adds to the database of knowledge on the paranormal helps move psi towards becoming mainstream. The current study being carried out by Sam Parnia in the UK, while not directly linked to mental illness, is another example of how credible medicos are bridging the gap between mainstream medicine and non-traditional approaches.

So, I guess that's my long answer Stephanie. My short answer is it will happen. Indirectly, it is happening already. It is just that the nature of science requires that progress be made in a careful and measured manner.

Put your Paranormal Experiences on the Record - complete the anonymous survey now http://bit.ly/pVh5D

If you use the services of psychics, tarot card readers, astrologists etc, then you may be interested in completing this survey http://bit.ly/b1d6v

Paranormal Energies

From Nikki: I went to a psychic/tarot care reader/clairvoyant years and years ago and she told me I had a gift and that I already knew this. Which I did. I am sensitive to certain energies. But I never/forgot to ask if my gift had a name to it. How would I find out what that is? If that's possible.

Nikki We will need more info to answer your question. Can you describe what you mean by "sensitive to certain energies"?

So, lets’s keep the conversation going, please leave your comments and questions.

Put your Paranormal Experiences on the Record - complete the anonymous survey now http://bit.ly/pVh5D

If you use the services of psychics, tarot card readers, astrologists etc, then you may be interested in completing this survey http://bit.ly/b1d6v

Get Your Paranormal Surveys Here!!

People have been asking me to clarify the surveys I have running at the moment.

Essentially there are three.

The first is the reopened thesis survey on Spontaneous Paranormal Experiences. This is open to everyone - believers and non-believers, skeptics and experiencers. 

The next is a market research survey I've got running for those who have used the services of Paranormal Consultants such as psychics, clairvoyants, tarot card readers etc. This survey is aimed at gathering information on what people like and don't like about current services - those that are delivered face-to-face and those which are delivered via the internet. This survey can be accessed here.

The third survey is for Paranormal Consultants. This is particularly relevant to those practitioners who charge for their services.

Question: how many surveys is enough?

Put your Paranormal Experiences on the Record - complete the anonymous survey now http://bit.ly/pVh5D

If you use the services of psychics, tarot card readers, astrologists etc, then you may be interested in completing this survey http://bit.ly/b1d6v

From Got-a-Question: Dreams

From Roderick: I often had dreams of snakes chasing me, but never biting me.  Sometimes the snakes are as large as buildings and sometimes they are small.  I also have dreams of someone, or something chasing me, but I can never see what it is.  It's always dark.  What do these dreams mean?

Hi Roderick

I'm not a dream expert - except from the viewpoint of experiencing them myself. And of course, opinion differs on whether dreams are paranormal of not.


There are a couple of things you might like to look at.

First, if you feel the images are symbolic then check out a few books on the subject - Amazon perhaps.

Secondly, however, if you feel that you actually have the answer inside yourself (and who knows ourselves better than us?) then perhaps go inward and see what you come up with.

I guess another option is that you may actually be frightened of snakes.

Has anyone more to add that could help Roderick?

Put your Paranormal Experiences on the Record - complete the anonymous survey now http://bit.ly/pVh5D

If you use the services of psychics, tarot card readers, astrologists etc, then you may be interested in completing this survey http://bit.ly/b1d6v

The Universal Nature of the Paranormal

As my thesis confirmed, experiencing the paranormal seems to be a universal possibility. This is not limited to any country in particular, and I suspect it crosses every divide - race, age, gender, language - but with variations (more on this later). While the online survey was written in English and it did attract the largest number of respondents from the expected countries, it was the responses from the residents of the unforeseen countries that really caught my attention.

First, to the major contributing nations. Overwhelmingly, it was the Americans who checked in and contributed the most (62%), followed by the Australians (15%), British (8%), and Canadians (7%). One notable, and indeed unfortunate omission from the survey was the Chinese. Their absence was presumably due to the Government's tight controls on the Internet, rather than a language barrier or a lack of spontaneous paranormal experiences to report.

The small remaining balance of responses came from residents of 55 other countries. And what a list that is!

The second largest group of contributors were from South Africa, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand, and India with smaller numbers emanating from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and Zambia.

There were also contributions from Croatia and Cyprus, Hong Kong and Hungary, Macedonia and Malta, Nepal and Nigeria, and Tanzania and Turkey. Antarctica was the only continent not represented (anyone know someone based down there? Let them know that the survey is now live once more.)

I must admit that it was surreal to see my Explanatory Statement translated into other languages including Russian and Finnish. Such a buzz!

Summary: the data supports the notion that spontaneous paranormal experiences are widely encountered. 

Question: Do you agree? Have your say here.

Put your Paranormal Experiences on the Record - complete the anonymous survey now http://bit.ly/pVh5D

If you use the services of psychics, tarot card readers, astrologists etc, then you may be interested in completing this survey http://bit.ly/b1d6v