How Normal is the Paranormal?

The paranormal is interesting; it’s exciting; it’s revealing. It is controversial, mainstream, a way of life for some and something to be avoided by others. The paranormal is a divisive topic - a bit like politics and religion!

Today, the paranormal is popularised by images of ghosts, messages from the dead and reports of objects flying around rooms - but it is so much more than all this sensationalised hype. The paranormal is at the heart of what it means to be human, to be alive and to be dead! It seeks to challenge us to look at who we are, why we are here, and what are our beliefs about life itself, life after death, life before birth, even life between life!

The paranormal challenges us to question what we know about consciousness - not only human consciousness but all living consciousness (very little, apparently). What do we know about death (not much that the experts agree on, least of all when it actually happens)? What about the reports of levitating spirits and unearthly calm that occur at that moment of some deaths (but not all)? Is there a step-by-step process of preparation that takes place before the final encounter (a new area of study)? Do memories pass from one life to the next (reincarnation is widely accepted in some cultures, but not others)? If this is the case, then what is actually transferred, and how (personal genetics and human consciousness spring to mind)?

Yes, the paranormal is exciting but for so many more reasons than those that first spring to mind.

The paranormal is at the very heart of who and what we are. The study of the paranormal embraces the phenomena that cannot readily be explained by the laws of science and in my studies specifically this includes deja vu, apparitions, near-death episodes, out-of-body experiences, psychokinesis, premonitions, auras, mediumship, reincarnation, and telepathy.

So, what do we mean by these phenomena? Recently I completed a Master’s Degree at Monash University in Melbourne Australia and the topic of my dissertation was the paranormal, or more correctly parapsychological experiences. My thesis was based on the results of an online survey and to gather responses I needed to define what it was that I was studying. Here are the definitions I relied upon:

* telepathy is defined as mind-to-mind communication;

* precognition or premonition refers to the experience in which information about the future is obtained without the use of the five senses;

* clairvoyance or remote viewing encompasses the phenomenon whereby current information is obtained without using the five senses (ESP is a general term which encompasses telepathy, precognition and clairvoyance);

* psychokinesis (PK) refers to the ability of the mind to impact living and non-living entities;

* near-death episodes (NDE) are reported by people who have been brought back from the brink of death;

* out-of-body experiences (OBE) occur when the mind’s awareness is external to the physical body;

* reincarnation applies to the recall of events, people and places from previous lifetimes;

* hauntings include apparitions, and unexplained sounds and movements of objects, which are associated with particular locations; and

* poltergeists, which are a type of PK that may depend on the presence of some individuals who unwittingly produce the disturbing effects. More recently, poltergeists have become specifically linked to the presence of adolescents and children.

Some of the earliest reports of parapsychological phenomena are to be found in the ancient spiritual texts - The Egyptian Book of the Dead, and the Talmud, Bible, Koran, and the Kabbalah - and in the writings of the early philosophers such as Homer, Socrates, and Aristotle. Historically, the remarkable events in these texts have tended to be attributed to divine powers but more recently people have begun to question these teachings.

What, for example, is the difference between prophecy and premonition? Are miracles and psychokinesis symptomatic of the same thing? Is hearing the voice of God a type of clairvoyance? Are these the same experiences but under different names?

In some corners of academia, there are quiet rumblings to have these, and other matters involving the paranormal looked at more closely - but be warned. Studying the paranormal is a career-limiting move. Today, there are few parapsychologists in the world (under 50, at the last count) and even fewer who make a living from their expertise. Studying the paranormal is still regarded as more of a retirement hobby than a career choice!

The well-practised tradition of reporting paranormal phenomena continues today - in books, films and the media but with one very powerful addition - the internet. More and more, those who encounter the scientifically unexplained in everyday life are turning to cyberspace to make sense of what has happened to them. Some need reassurance; others are searching for like-minded people. Today, the paranormal is openly and freely discussed across websites, on blogs and in chatrooms. Yet, remarkably, very little formal research has been carried out on these everyday paranormal experiences.

In stark contrast to the abundance of paranormal self-reports on the web there is a noticeable shortage of contemporary research on spontaneous parapsychological phenomena. Unlike most academic research, my paranormal study was open to everyone aged 18 years and over (according to university ethical guidelines). Participants were self-selecting - believers, non-believers, paranormal experients and sceptics - all were welcome. All that was needed was an ability to speak English, access to the internet and a willingness to participate. As this was the first time such a study had been conducted it was impossible to know at the outset how many participants there would be. Fifty? A hundred? A thousand? Maybe more?

Over 4,000 people stormed the survey website to document their paranormal experiences and while the majority of the participants were from the United States of America, Australia, United Kingdom, and Canada nearly 60 countries were represented. More women than men participated, but that ratio was closer than most people would have guessed - 60/40. The majority of the participants were in the 18-35 year age range but they were closely matched by the 36-55 year olds.

Some results were predictable: spontaneous parapsychological experiences appear to be universal, and not limited to adulthood; deja vu was the most widely reported experience; and very few people reported experiencing near death episodes. Other results were far more surprising including the (statistically significant) tendency for women to report experiences of deja vu, apparitions, out-of-body experiences, auras, mediumship, reincarnation, and telepathy. Conversely, why do men and women equally report incidences of psychokinesis? Why did some countries report more of certain types of phenomena than others? And, why all the references to the female bloodline?

The survey raised as many questions as it answered! So, what could I do but listen to the requests to reopen it. My aim is to gather the largest database of information on spontaneous paranormal experiences. Would you like to contribute anonymously? Click here http://bit.ly/pVh5D

I believe the study of the paranormal is the study of the essence of life. Do you agree?

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 Psychic Realms

Who IS Controlling the Psychic Realms?

By: Rosemary Breen

Every year millions of hours are spent in private psychic consultations. People choose their clairvoyant, make an appointment or speak on-line immediately, and all this is done often and without much thought. Why do users turn to clairvoyants? The list of reasons is long and wide. Some seek solace in times of grief; others are looking for excitement and fun. While the motivation for the consultation is rarely discussed, it is the outcome of the transaction (for that is what it is) that interests me more. Clients are unlikely to prepare themselves for their sessions by asking such questions as "what do I hope to get out of this?" or "how will I get value for money?" but these are just the questions, I suggest that should be asked. Who owns the psychic realms? Who are the gatekeepers and are they charging a fair price for access? Generally, the supernatural planes are not discussed in such terms and yet I think it is for this very reason that so many charlatans are allowed to flourish. The question of whether all psychics are equal is a question for another time. that’s a different issue. What I’m calling for is more accountability and guarantees regarding quality of service. Is it too much to ask? With the advent of on-line psychic websites it is now possible to choose from a smorgasbord or talent. Photos, audios, bios and even testimonies are the order of the day. But have you ever looked behind these sites, at the small print? It makes for interesting reading, or not, depending on whether you are a user or non-user, skeptic or believer. Some disclaimer statements refer to on-selling personal information (I wonder what that means, given we are talking about oftentimes very personal information, not only about the client but also those who are drawn into the session, from the metaphysical spheres?) There is even the legal requirement in some countries for psychic sessions to be classified as being for entertainment purposes only. This is a whole issue in itself and one that has been hotly debated in the last year or so in the UK especially. This use of language certainly doesn't help the the grieving widow or the distressed parent. I doubt if they’ve signed up for a round of diversion and amusement and hopefully they are able to look past the wording to the service they require. Such people are oftentimes vulnerable and lacking in objective judgment. Is this a case for more openness in the industry? Websites can reserve the right to edit or omit any feedback items which they consider inappropriate, whatever that means. Seemingly this allows them to control the image which they project. Not very reassuring I would suggest. I’m not talking about content here. Where are the regulations and consumer protection? There is always the old dictum ‘buyer beware’ but that is not enough. The psychic industry is huge. It involves numerous people - on both sides of the transaction - and yet it’s almost impossible to get any data on the industry. How much money is ‘invested’ in this type of ‘entertainment’? How many individuals derive their income from this source? How many people use the services of psychics and how often do they outlay their cash? And just as importantly, are the end users satisfied customers? Sure, feedback is subjective. Sure, it is open to misinterpretation but what is the alternative. Silence! It’s been the only option for too long. I don’t know the answer to these questions but I’m going to try and find out. Someone has to.

The writer has recently graduated from Monash University, Australia with a Master's degree in Education. The subject of her dissertation was parapsychological experiences and this work, which was based on an online survey, is still referenced in Wikipedia. Rosemary is currently writing a book on psychic experiences and how to go about choosing a clairvoyant. She can be contacted through her blog sites.http://rosemarybreen.blogspot.com/ and http://howtochooseapsychic.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

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How To Choose A Psychic - Or Not

Every year millions of hours re spent in private psychic consultations. People choose their clairvoyant, make an appointment or speak online immediately, and all this is done often and without much thought. Why do users turn to clairvoyants? The list of reasons is long and wide. Some seek solace in times of grief; others are looking for excitement and fun. While the motivation for the consultation is rarely discussed, it is the outcome of the transaction (for that is what it is) that interests me more.

Clients are unlikely to prepare themselves for their sessions by asking such questions as "what do I hope to get out of this?" or "how will I get value for money?" but these are just the questions, I suggest that should be asked. Who owns the psychic realms? Who are the gatekeepers and are they charging a fair price for access? Generally, the supernatural planes are not discussed in such terms and yet I think it is for this very reason that so many charlatans are allowed to flourish. The question of whether all psychics are equal is a question for another time. that’s a different issue. What I’m calling for is more accountability and guarantees regarding quality of service. Is it too much to ask? With the advent of online psychic websites it is now possible to choose from a smorgasbord or talent.

Photos, audios, bios and even testimonies are the order of the day. But have you ever looked behind these sites, at the small print? It makes for interesting reading, or not, depending on whether you are a user or non-user, sceptic or believer. Some disclaimer statements refer to on-selling personal information (I wonder what that means, given we are talking about oftentimes very personal information not only about the client but also those who are drawn into the session from the metaphysical spheres). There is even talk of psychic sessions being for entertainment purposes only. Tell that to the grieving widow or the distressed parent. I doubt if they’ve signed up for a round of diversion and amusement. Such people are oftentimes vulnerable and lacking in judgement. Is this a case for more openness in the industry?

Websites can reserve the right to edit or omit any feedback items which they consider inappropriate, whatever that means. Seemingly this allows them to control the image which they project. Not very reassuring I would suggest. I’m not talking about content here. Where are the regulations and consumer protection? There is always the old dictum ‘buyer beware’ but that is not enough. The psychic industry is huge. It involves numerous people - on both sides of the transaction - and yet it’s almost impossible to get any data on the industry. How much money is ‘invested’ in this type of ‘entertainment’? How many individuals derive their income from this source? How many people use the services of psychics and how often do they outlay their cash? And just as importantly, are the end users satisfied customers? Sure, feedback is subjective. Sure, it is open to misinterpretation but what is the alternative. Silence! It’s been the only option for too long. I don’t know the answer to these questions but I’m going to try and find out. Someone has to.

Article Source: How To Choose A Psychic - Or Not About Author: The writer recently graduated from Monash University, Australia with a Master of Education degree. The subject of her dissertation was parapsychological experiences, and this work was based on an online survey which is still referenced on Wikipedia. Rosemary is currently writing a book on psychic experiences and would also like tips on what to look for when choosing a clairvoyant. Rosemary can be contacted through her blog sites. http://rosemarybreen.blogspot.com/ http://howtochooseapsychic.blogspot.com/