By far most paranormal investigation teams are science based and looking for proof of the paranormal. Part of this may be because of all the TV shows, and many just emulate these techniques and theories. The one good thing TV has done for this field is it has brought paranormal to the mainstream. It has made it much easier for the general public to talk about experiences, letting go some of the taboo.
On the other hand, if a family or individual is having an issue with paranormal activity in their home; the list of teams, researchers and investigators to sift through is now enormous. Some teams have experience while others do not. Some are purely technical and can only offer proof of a clients claim, while others use spiritual and/or psychics and mediums to try and help resolve the haunting. So how does a member of the general public choose a team for help? Should they automatically think the teams on TV are experts and ask them for help? This is a problem I feel can damage the credibility of our field in the long run.
Coming from a family involved with helping others with the paranormal on a spiritual level (even before "paranormal investigating" was a term). I seriously question the morality of purely technical teams (and those with little experience) getting involved with residential cases in which the family or individual is frightened. Or the nature of the haunting is negative. In these cases what can a purely technical team provide as a positive outcome to help the family? They can capture evidence to validate the clients claims, but how is that going to help with the problem of dealing with the haunting? The family or individual is still scared and has to live in the environment.
I feel it's almost like telling the family "Well, thanks for not lying about your experiences here, and thanks for this evidence we now get to keep and use to promote ourselves. Good luck with that." This has even been portrayed on TV shows, where a family has to go through multiple teams before they find one who can actually help them. This is why unity in our field is absolutely essential...
I'm not saying technical teams should never be involved with residential cases. But I do believe it is paramount if you are a purely technical team, to network with other teams who either have more experience and contacts, or have spiritual tools that may be able to resolve a haunting. I personally wish that paranormal investigating would shift from the objective of proof, to understanding the causes and nature of this phenomena. That might not make great TV, but the focus of an outcome should be on helping others living or deceased, before anything else.
Para Zen Master: Informative and inspirational blogs on various spiritual subjects, the paranormal and the nature of our involvement in the field. Non-judgmental (there are more than enough blogs like that. But rather open-minded, with the main goal being to provoke thought in others.
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Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Why Many Paranormal Teams Do Not Use Psychics
Paranormal research and investigation has become a very fact based and evidence driven field, with a main focus on either debunking or providing solid proof that paranormal phenomena exists. With this being true, many wonder why more teams do not use psychics, sensitives, or mediums to help point investigators in the right direction, and provide helpful insights and information. I'd like to go over some of the reasons teams choose to not use psychics. Which I've discovered much of the scientific paranormal community are hesitant to express openly, not wanting to offend anyone. As a medium involved in paranormal investigating for years, I am a strong advocate for finding a technical and spiritual balance in this field. But the many concerns regarding this subject are valid, and should be addressed.
One of the biggest concerns scientific researchers have is finding a psychic who is able to contribute in a way to help obtain evidence. For example, go into any paranormal chat room and ask "Who here is a sensitive?" Or just log on to Facebook and search psychics. The amount of people claiming to have abilities is enormous, with various and sometimes confusing titles describing what they can do. I believe psychic abilities are inherit in all people, but the skills and caliber of performance can vary greatly. It would also be very naive to think that some are not charlatans or exaggerate their abilities. So how can scientific investigators sort through the seemingly endless list of individuals, to find a psychic who can be of service to them? To try out every claimed psychic would be very time consuming and could also compromise an investigation and the teams reputation. So simply put, it's a chance not all teams are willing to take.
Because of the very nature of psychic abilities, it isn't something that can be proven, measured, or reproduced consistently to the scientific and skeptic mind. This being the case, investigators have no way of proving or disproving the information passed on by the psychic if the insights are vague. A great concern is investigators do not want to go on a wild goose chase following the impressions of a psychic with no physical evidence to back it up. Or to be told a place is haunted, yet absolutely nothing happens during the investigation. It's important to remember that a scientific team's objective is to capture evidence. So the only use they see for a psychic is providing detailed information that can be researched and proven, or leading investigators to capturing physical evidence. But not all those with extra sensory abilities can produce information in this way.
For sensitives of every variety wanting to be involved in paranormal investigating, I feel it is important to soul search and ask oneself, "How can my abilities be used to help an investigation team?" You have to be honest with yourself and consider the expectations of those who may not have a full understanding of your ability. The skills and abilities we posses are all different, and some may not be tailored for this field as much as others. I like to use the metaphor of musical talent when it comes to psychic abilities. For example: I may be great at playing the guitar and piano, but not so good at singing. While someone else may be a great singer, but not so good at the guitar. We both are able to read music, but the skills we have in performing are different. The metaphor gets even deeper when you ask questions like, "How proficient are you at playing the guitar?"
For sensitives interested in paranormal investigating, my advice is to study and learn the technical side of the field. Having a greater understanding of equipment, various techniques, and the data scientific investigators are trying to obtain can make you a great asset. Cross training is so important, because you should be an investigator first, and your abilities can be a great added bonus making you more valuable to a team. Don't let a single aspect of who you are create a one dimensional skill set in the minds of others. Just being involved in a field like the paranormal, most scientific investigators believe in psychic phenomena. Having skeptical minds they just need some working proof of what you say you can do. Showing that there is much more to you when it comes to investigating than your sensitivities is a great start to building trust, and showing your commitment to the field.
To scientific teams who have entertained the thought of utilizing a psychic, but unsure if it would be beneficial to their team, my advice is to not completely rule out what could be a great asset. Look for sensitives who have a good reputation, endorsed by trusted people you know, or can provide testimonials from either the general public or other investigation teams. Ask them for a reading, or simply test by bringing them to an undisclosed location known for activity, or having no activity at all and see what they say. This test doesn't have to be during an actual investigation if you have concerns with clients, it could even be held outdoors. Yes, it may take some time before you discover the right person you believe will work well with your team, but in trying out different psychics you can learn theories and techniques used by the spiritual practitioners in the paranormal field, as well as possibly finding someone who could play a pivotal role in many of your cases.
The line between technical and spiritual investigators does not have to be so defined. It seems everyone has to just pick a side and stick with it. Though the two sides seem to work toward different outcomes of an investigation, there is still a great deal we can learn from one another. Technical teams still have to rely on spiritual resources as solutions to severe cases; and the spiritual investigators rely on technical tools to provide tangible evidence clients want to see. This is a prime example of how we may be different, but still need one another. I believe we will see more unity in all facets of the paranormal community, if our focus shifts from proof and collecting evidence, to understanding the causes and nature of this phenomena. Even though we may never obtain definitive answers to the mysteries of the paranormal, it will take the combined efforts of both the spiritual and technical members of our field to make any true progress.
One of the biggest concerns scientific researchers have is finding a psychic who is able to contribute in a way to help obtain evidence. For example, go into any paranormal chat room and ask "Who here is a sensitive?" Or just log on to Facebook and search psychics. The amount of people claiming to have abilities is enormous, with various and sometimes confusing titles describing what they can do. I believe psychic abilities are inherit in all people, but the skills and caliber of performance can vary greatly. It would also be very naive to think that some are not charlatans or exaggerate their abilities. So how can scientific investigators sort through the seemingly endless list of individuals, to find a psychic who can be of service to them? To try out every claimed psychic would be very time consuming and could also compromise an investigation and the teams reputation. So simply put, it's a chance not all teams are willing to take.
Because of the very nature of psychic abilities, it isn't something that can be proven, measured, or reproduced consistently to the scientific and skeptic mind. This being the case, investigators have no way of proving or disproving the information passed on by the psychic if the insights are vague. A great concern is investigators do not want to go on a wild goose chase following the impressions of a psychic with no physical evidence to back it up. Or to be told a place is haunted, yet absolutely nothing happens during the investigation. It's important to remember that a scientific team's objective is to capture evidence. So the only use they see for a psychic is providing detailed information that can be researched and proven, or leading investigators to capturing physical evidence. But not all those with extra sensory abilities can produce information in this way.
For sensitives of every variety wanting to be involved in paranormal investigating, I feel it is important to soul search and ask oneself, "How can my abilities be used to help an investigation team?" You have to be honest with yourself and consider the expectations of those who may not have a full understanding of your ability. The skills and abilities we posses are all different, and some may not be tailored for this field as much as others. I like to use the metaphor of musical talent when it comes to psychic abilities. For example: I may be great at playing the guitar and piano, but not so good at singing. While someone else may be a great singer, but not so good at the guitar. We both are able to read music, but the skills we have in performing are different. The metaphor gets even deeper when you ask questions like, "How proficient are you at playing the guitar?"
For sensitives interested in paranormal investigating, my advice is to study and learn the technical side of the field. Having a greater understanding of equipment, various techniques, and the data scientific investigators are trying to obtain can make you a great asset. Cross training is so important, because you should be an investigator first, and your abilities can be a great added bonus making you more valuable to a team. Don't let a single aspect of who you are create a one dimensional skill set in the minds of others. Just being involved in a field like the paranormal, most scientific investigators believe in psychic phenomena. Having skeptical minds they just need some working proof of what you say you can do. Showing that there is much more to you when it comes to investigating than your sensitivities is a great start to building trust, and showing your commitment to the field.
To scientific teams who have entertained the thought of utilizing a psychic, but unsure if it would be beneficial to their team, my advice is to not completely rule out what could be a great asset. Look for sensitives who have a good reputation, endorsed by trusted people you know, or can provide testimonials from either the general public or other investigation teams. Ask them for a reading, or simply test by bringing them to an undisclosed location known for activity, or having no activity at all and see what they say. This test doesn't have to be during an actual investigation if you have concerns with clients, it could even be held outdoors. Yes, it may take some time before you discover the right person you believe will work well with your team, but in trying out different psychics you can learn theories and techniques used by the spiritual practitioners in the paranormal field, as well as possibly finding someone who could play a pivotal role in many of your cases.
The line between technical and spiritual investigators does not have to be so defined. It seems everyone has to just pick a side and stick with it. Though the two sides seem to work toward different outcomes of an investigation, there is still a great deal we can learn from one another. Technical teams still have to rely on spiritual resources as solutions to severe cases; and the spiritual investigators rely on technical tools to provide tangible evidence clients want to see. This is a prime example of how we may be different, but still need one another. I believe we will see more unity in all facets of the paranormal community, if our focus shifts from proof and collecting evidence, to understanding the causes and nature of this phenomena. Even though we may never obtain definitive answers to the mysteries of the paranormal, it will take the combined efforts of both the spiritual and technical members of our field to make any true progress.
What Kind of Psychic are You?
With spiritual awareness and acceptance on the rise, it seems that more and more gifted individuals are emerging offering various services. It would be naive to think that there are not some charlatans in the mix, or those that exaggerate their abilities. But I feel it's important to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and those with less than moral intentions will eventually be exposed. The big difference in current times are the various titles sensitives are using to describe what they can do. In the past, simple terms like psychic or fortuneteller were the staple titles; but now the terms have become much broader and can become confusing.
It's human nature to have the need to give names and definitions to everything. This fact also holds true when it comes to defining the various types of psychic abilities. I'd like to give a brief description of common terms you may see individuals use to describe what they can do. I believe intentions are pure, trying to describe in detail how they can help others; but not everyone fully understands this terminology.
Psychic: This is an umbrella term used to describe anyone with extra sensory abilities. All of the other terms described in this article fall under the umbrella of psychic abilities, with the exception of medium (which I will touch on the reasons for this separation). The term psychic often conjures up images of the stereotypical palm readers, fortune tellers, and seems to have some negative connotations attached to it. I believe it's because of experiences and the exposure of charlatans that caused damaged to this name, which may be part of why we have so many different terms now. But regardless, this defines all abilities from aura reading to scrying.
Sensitive: This term is synonymous with Psychic. This is also an umbrella, and it seems more and more gifted individuals prefer this term, possibly because of the negative stigma surrounding the word "psychic". As the word implies, it describes those who can perceive things others cannot through heightened sensitivities. Though the two terms mean virtually the same thing, psychic is often seen as "other worldly", and sensitive simply seen as enhanced natural abilities. Though there is still some taboo surrounding psychic abilities, "sensitive" seems to be considered a more socially excepted alternative to "psychic".
Medium: A medium is simply an instrument or tool for the spirit world to speak through. Mediums are able to sense and engage in back and forth communication with spirits, and pass on that information to the living. The spirits a medium can communicate with range from earthbound souls, to passed loved ones who have moved on to the other side. This ability is seen as being separate from the umbrella of common psychic abilities because of it's specialization working with the spirit world. There is a saying that "all mediums are psychic, but not all psychics are mediums". This basically means that all mediums possess an extra sensory ability, but the gifts of a psychic may be limited to the physical plane. There are also many subdivisions of mediums defining how they receive information. Just a couple examples:
Trance Medium: One who receives information from spirits via a meditative or "trance" state.
Physical Medium: Those who allow spirits to enter their bodies gaining temporary control of the medium. This is so the spirit can communicate in their own words and expressions.
Channeler: Can be synonymous with medium, and seems to be an older term used to describe those who communicate with spirits.One difference is channelers usually open up communication with spirit guides rather than directly with other spirits. Mediums receive information this way as well, but a channeler is more specialized in this method and are said to receive information from a more pure or divine source.
Empath: These are the individuals who can feel and experience the emotions of others. This can be one of the most draining and difficult abilities to manage. It's imperative that empaths focus on self awareness, and learn how to differentiate what is their emotions from the emotions of others. This gift is not only limited to feeling emotions of living persons, but also earthbound spirits. I've seen the term empathic medium used before, describing how they sense and feel the emotions of spirits.Through feeling emotions, sometimes an empath can also gain insights and impressions, giving them a view of details.
Discernment: This is the ability to sense the presence of spirits and often gain insight into it's nature. Regardless of it's simplicity, this gift is very useful in paranormal investigating. This term you will often seen coupled with another title. For example: Discernment Demonologist
Remote Viewer: This is a seemingly rare ability that many may not be familiar with. A remote viewer will go into a meditative state, and allow their consciousness to travel to another location. In doing so, they are able to see from a third persons perspective what is happening at this location in real time. I've heard of many instances where sensitives will receive a flash vision of something taking place. This experience falls into the category of remote viewing,. but gaining conscious control of this ability is extremely difficult. Documents have show the during the Cold War, both the United States and Soviet Union experimented with remote viewers to try and spy on one another. That might sound silly but it's true. Trying to use such a gift for selfish reasons they both had mixed results.
These definitions become even broader, as some use terms of how they receive information to describe their abilities. Examples: Clairvoyant Medium, Clairaudient Channeler, etc. Clairvoyant for example, simply means receiving information visually; Clairaudience through sound, and Clairsentience through sensation. Many gifted individuals use psychometry as well, which means they receive information and impressions through touching objects. It's important to remember that these are not abilities on their own, just descriptive terms used to further explain the nature of one's ability.
The list goes on to those who use specific tools to aid them: tarot cards, pendulums, various scrying devices, and so on. This is not a complete list of abilities as there are many more that are less easily defined. But I hope these brief descriptions help to give a better understanding of the gifts some posses. Personally, I do not care for titles as we are people first and no single term can define us as a whole. So regardless of any titles, when it comes to using our gifts to help others, it is accurately portraying what we can do that matters most of all.
It's human nature to have the need to give names and definitions to everything. This fact also holds true when it comes to defining the various types of psychic abilities. I'd like to give a brief description of common terms you may see individuals use to describe what they can do. I believe intentions are pure, trying to describe in detail how they can help others; but not everyone fully understands this terminology.
Psychic: This is an umbrella term used to describe anyone with extra sensory abilities. All of the other terms described in this article fall under the umbrella of psychic abilities, with the exception of medium (which I will touch on the reasons for this separation). The term psychic often conjures up images of the stereotypical palm readers, fortune tellers, and seems to have some negative connotations attached to it. I believe it's because of experiences and the exposure of charlatans that caused damaged to this name, which may be part of why we have so many different terms now. But regardless, this defines all abilities from aura reading to scrying.
Sensitive: This term is synonymous with Psychic. This is also an umbrella, and it seems more and more gifted individuals prefer this term, possibly because of the negative stigma surrounding the word "psychic". As the word implies, it describes those who can perceive things others cannot through heightened sensitivities. Though the two terms mean virtually the same thing, psychic is often seen as "other worldly", and sensitive simply seen as enhanced natural abilities. Though there is still some taboo surrounding psychic abilities, "sensitive" seems to be considered a more socially excepted alternative to "psychic".
Medium: A medium is simply an instrument or tool for the spirit world to speak through. Mediums are able to sense and engage in back and forth communication with spirits, and pass on that information to the living. The spirits a medium can communicate with range from earthbound souls, to passed loved ones who have moved on to the other side. This ability is seen as being separate from the umbrella of common psychic abilities because of it's specialization working with the spirit world. There is a saying that "all mediums are psychic, but not all psychics are mediums". This basically means that all mediums possess an extra sensory ability, but the gifts of a psychic may be limited to the physical plane. There are also many subdivisions of mediums defining how they receive information. Just a couple examples:
Trance Medium: One who receives information from spirits via a meditative or "trance" state.
Physical Medium: Those who allow spirits to enter their bodies gaining temporary control of the medium. This is so the spirit can communicate in their own words and expressions.
Channeler: Can be synonymous with medium, and seems to be an older term used to describe those who communicate with spirits.One difference is channelers usually open up communication with spirit guides rather than directly with other spirits. Mediums receive information this way as well, but a channeler is more specialized in this method and are said to receive information from a more pure or divine source.
Empath: These are the individuals who can feel and experience the emotions of others. This can be one of the most draining and difficult abilities to manage. It's imperative that empaths focus on self awareness, and learn how to differentiate what is their emotions from the emotions of others. This gift is not only limited to feeling emotions of living persons, but also earthbound spirits. I've seen the term empathic medium used before, describing how they sense and feel the emotions of spirits.Through feeling emotions, sometimes an empath can also gain insights and impressions, giving them a view of details.
Discernment: This is the ability to sense the presence of spirits and often gain insight into it's nature. Regardless of it's simplicity, this gift is very useful in paranormal investigating. This term you will often seen coupled with another title. For example: Discernment Demonologist
Remote Viewer: This is a seemingly rare ability that many may not be familiar with. A remote viewer will go into a meditative state, and allow their consciousness to travel to another location. In doing so, they are able to see from a third persons perspective what is happening at this location in real time. I've heard of many instances where sensitives will receive a flash vision of something taking place. This experience falls into the category of remote viewing,. but gaining conscious control of this ability is extremely difficult. Documents have show the during the Cold War, both the United States and Soviet Union experimented with remote viewers to try and spy on one another. That might sound silly but it's true. Trying to use such a gift for selfish reasons they both had mixed results.
These definitions become even broader, as some use terms of how they receive information to describe their abilities. Examples: Clairvoyant Medium, Clairaudient Channeler, etc. Clairvoyant for example, simply means receiving information visually; Clairaudience through sound, and Clairsentience through sensation. Many gifted individuals use psychometry as well, which means they receive information and impressions through touching objects. It's important to remember that these are not abilities on their own, just descriptive terms used to further explain the nature of one's ability.
The list goes on to those who use specific tools to aid them: tarot cards, pendulums, various scrying devices, and so on. This is not a complete list of abilities as there are many more that are less easily defined. But I hope these brief descriptions help to give a better understanding of the gifts some posses. Personally, I do not care for titles as we are people first and no single term can define us as a whole. So regardless of any titles, when it comes to using our gifts to help others, it is accurately portraying what we can do that matters most of all.
Psychic Development Simplified
I would like to share my core theories on how to get started with developing psychic abilities. I have worked with many individuals who have transformed from being frightened and having no control over their gifts, to being grounded and strong psychics, able to perform readings with accuracy and confidence. It takes a lot time and work, but it is a balance that is attainable by all.
So many individuals have reached out to me for guidance and all of their stories have been very similar. They've expressed experiencing psychic phenomena ranging from intuitive messages to being visited by spirits. Most often they are afraid and unsure of what is happening to them and in many cases, they have had other experiences throughout their lives, but have now come to a point that their senses have intensified and have begun to interfere with their daily life. It has now turned into a very overwhelming experience which is now making them question their own sanity. Psychic abilities are often misunderstood and discounted by so many that these individuals often feel alone, with no one to talk to and help them rationalize what they are experiencing.
I believe that psychic/medium gifts are a natural part of the human consciousness. I also believe that everyone has the ability to develop these gifts. Some people are just born a little more "attune" then others. I also find that is seems to be a genetic trait that runs in families. I cannot say with certainty that I believe it is part of human evolution, but the growing numbers of individuals with psychic gifts makes it a definite possibility in my opinion. Much like the natural talents you see in athletes, musicians, artists, etc., everyone has the capability to heighten their natural abilities with time, practice, and faith in one's self.
Psychic Development - Meditation
First step and possibly the biggest key to psychic development, is meditation. This is how we "exercise" the intuitive mind and learn to keep a calm, focused, and relaxed body and mind. There are many different types of meditations, but it is important to practice clearing, focusing, and opening the mind. For those that have had difficulty with meditation in the past, I suggest using guided meditations to start practicing with. In book stores and online you can find many to choose from. Sometimes it takes some searching to find the right one for you. Meditation helps us in training the mind to receive and feel, rather than think when reading for others. I know it may sound like a huge task, but with regular meditation it becomes easier over time and you will be astonished by the level of focus you can achieve. Eventually, you will learn to bring that calmness and focus into an awaken state of being, allowing information to flow to your mind naturally. It is important to practice meditation as much, and as often as you possibly can. It can also be a useful tool for us in many avenues of life. It helps to promote a balanced mental and emotional state, which is essential for anyone hoping to read for others with a clear consciousness.
Psychic Development - Spirituality
Next step is that one must work on a deep spirituality no matter what it is you personally believe. This goes beyond religion, it's about how you see the Divine and what your personal relationship is with him/her/them. This is so important because this is where we draw our strength, energy and an unshakable faith that we are protected. It is through prayer that we cleanse ourselves before and after readings so we do not end up taking the energies of others into ourselves. Without doing so the energies can actually manifest in many ways including our physical health. True spiritual faith is such a powerful force, and it is an absolute necessity we keep a constant affirmation of our beliefs in our hearts and minds. Faith is our best weapon in battling fears, especially for those hoping to work with spirits and perform mediumship. Some may disagree with me on the need for spirituality to be psychic and to aid psychic development. But I do not see how one can effectively work with spirits and energy without holding some belief system close to their heart. In my opinion, you will not be able to find longevity as a psychic and the ability to perform readings without spiritual faith.
Psychic Development - Faith
Then the last and most important is absolute faith in yourself. You must believe without a doubt in your developing psychic abilities and beyond what rational thought tells you is possible. We have been trained our entire lives on what is possible, and what is not. So we must retrain our minds and come to a point of blind faith in our psychic abilities and a "knowing" that comes from within. This can take some time to work on, but with just a little faith in your developing psychic abilities, you can completely surprise yourself on what you can do. I have witnessed many, who have just begun working on psychic development, completely blow others away with their accuracy. This is simply because they completely believed in what they could do without a shadow of a doubt. How much you can evolve as a psychic/medium is only limited by your own faith.
So meditation, spirituality and faith in yourself are the key components to begin working and developing your natural psychic abilities. Add in time, practice, and patience and you have a great foundation to work from. Fear seems to be what most have the hardest time dealing with in the beginning. If you really think about it, it's the only obstacle and can easily be overcome. Once you really incorporate the 3 key components into your life, your fears will begin to melt away. Practice reading for others as much as you can and don't beat yourself up if sometimes you get some information wrong. It's a learning process just like any other and takes time to perfect. I will stop here at the basics. I've tried to just explain the main concepts briefly of psychic development and give an idea of where to begin. From here I usually go on to energy work with chakras and methods about coming into contact with your spirit guides. I have full confidence that anyone who actively follows this formula will see results in their psychic abilities. For some, I've seen very quick progression in their psychic development, but the time it takes to learn new things varies from person to person and patience is important. Like most things in life it takes some work and dedication, but the rewards in the end can be beyond anything you believe possible. Always remember, your psychic abilities are a “gift” not meant to be feared but to be shared.
So many individuals have reached out to me for guidance and all of their stories have been very similar. They've expressed experiencing psychic phenomena ranging from intuitive messages to being visited by spirits. Most often they are afraid and unsure of what is happening to them and in many cases, they have had other experiences throughout their lives, but have now come to a point that their senses have intensified and have begun to interfere with their daily life. It has now turned into a very overwhelming experience which is now making them question their own sanity. Psychic abilities are often misunderstood and discounted by so many that these individuals often feel alone, with no one to talk to and help them rationalize what they are experiencing.
I believe that psychic/medium gifts are a natural part of the human consciousness. I also believe that everyone has the ability to develop these gifts. Some people are just born a little more "attune" then others. I also find that is seems to be a genetic trait that runs in families. I cannot say with certainty that I believe it is part of human evolution, but the growing numbers of individuals with psychic gifts makes it a definite possibility in my opinion. Much like the natural talents you see in athletes, musicians, artists, etc., everyone has the capability to heighten their natural abilities with time, practice, and faith in one's self.
Psychic Development - Meditation
First step and possibly the biggest key to psychic development, is meditation. This is how we "exercise" the intuitive mind and learn to keep a calm, focused, and relaxed body and mind. There are many different types of meditations, but it is important to practice clearing, focusing, and opening the mind. For those that have had difficulty with meditation in the past, I suggest using guided meditations to start practicing with. In book stores and online you can find many to choose from. Sometimes it takes some searching to find the right one for you. Meditation helps us in training the mind to receive and feel, rather than think when reading for others. I know it may sound like a huge task, but with regular meditation it becomes easier over time and you will be astonished by the level of focus you can achieve. Eventually, you will learn to bring that calmness and focus into an awaken state of being, allowing information to flow to your mind naturally. It is important to practice meditation as much, and as often as you possibly can. It can also be a useful tool for us in many avenues of life. It helps to promote a balanced mental and emotional state, which is essential for anyone hoping to read for others with a clear consciousness.
Psychic Development - Spirituality
Next step is that one must work on a deep spirituality no matter what it is you personally believe. This goes beyond religion, it's about how you see the Divine and what your personal relationship is with him/her/them. This is so important because this is where we draw our strength, energy and an unshakable faith that we are protected. It is through prayer that we cleanse ourselves before and after readings so we do not end up taking the energies of others into ourselves. Without doing so the energies can actually manifest in many ways including our physical health. True spiritual faith is such a powerful force, and it is an absolute necessity we keep a constant affirmation of our beliefs in our hearts and minds. Faith is our best weapon in battling fears, especially for those hoping to work with spirits and perform mediumship. Some may disagree with me on the need for spirituality to be psychic and to aid psychic development. But I do not see how one can effectively work with spirits and energy without holding some belief system close to their heart. In my opinion, you will not be able to find longevity as a psychic and the ability to perform readings without spiritual faith.
Psychic Development - Faith
Then the last and most important is absolute faith in yourself. You must believe without a doubt in your developing psychic abilities and beyond what rational thought tells you is possible. We have been trained our entire lives on what is possible, and what is not. So we must retrain our minds and come to a point of blind faith in our psychic abilities and a "knowing" that comes from within. This can take some time to work on, but with just a little faith in your developing psychic abilities, you can completely surprise yourself on what you can do. I have witnessed many, who have just begun working on psychic development, completely blow others away with their accuracy. This is simply because they completely believed in what they could do without a shadow of a doubt. How much you can evolve as a psychic/medium is only limited by your own faith.
So meditation, spirituality and faith in yourself are the key components to begin working and developing your natural psychic abilities. Add in time, practice, and patience and you have a great foundation to work from. Fear seems to be what most have the hardest time dealing with in the beginning. If you really think about it, it's the only obstacle and can easily be overcome. Once you really incorporate the 3 key components into your life, your fears will begin to melt away. Practice reading for others as much as you can and don't beat yourself up if sometimes you get some information wrong. It's a learning process just like any other and takes time to perfect. I will stop here at the basics. I've tried to just explain the main concepts briefly of psychic development and give an idea of where to begin. From here I usually go on to energy work with chakras and methods about coming into contact with your spirit guides. I have full confidence that anyone who actively follows this formula will see results in their psychic abilities. For some, I've seen very quick progression in their psychic development, but the time it takes to learn new things varies from person to person and patience is important. Like most things in life it takes some work and dedication, but the rewards in the end can be beyond anything you believe possible. Always remember, your psychic abilities are a “gift” not meant to be feared but to be shared.
Psychic Defense and Self Preservation
As psychics, sensitives, and mediums, we often have to deal with a never ending onslaught of energies wherever we go and at any time. In our daily lives we cannot avoid encountering people with their various emotions, locations with energy imprints, or wandering spirits looking to communicate. This can become extremely taxing on us, especially those who have only begun to open up and explore the depths of their abilities. These constant stressors can manifest within us, in the forms of anxiety and depression, even as physical ailments. So how do we adjust and manage our exposure to these energies without sacrificing our health? I'd like to outline ways in which to lessen these stresses, giving us the tools to manage these everyday life encounters with ease.
Meditation
Meditation is not only an essential step in strengthening and advancing our abilities; but can help immensely with psychic defense. Through regular practice we learn to remain calm in stressful situations and how to still the mind. We can bring this relaxation into our awakened state of being, making it easier for our minds to handle anything that comes our way. Through meditation, awareness on all levels will become heightened. Which means we will receive more impressions, feelings and information. But it is the self awareness we gain that is an invaluable tool in our self preservation. We must be able to discern our own emotions and feelings from what is being oppressed onto us. Being able to separate ourself from the energies we are receiving is absolutely paramount. Meditation is elusive for many, and some feel that they just are not able do it. This is not true.. It takes time and practice and the rewards can benefit you in all aspects of life, so keep trying and never give up.
Spirituality
Spirituality is so important because this is where we find our faith in a power beyond ourselves. This is completely separate from religion, and having to do with our own personal relationship with a higher power. The role of spirituality in psychic defense is very simple: protection. When we feel overwhelmed, we should pray and ask for divine intervention, whether it be from angels, white light energy, or even the Divine itself. A great exercise I was taught to ground myself is a simple visualization technique: Envision yourself surrounded by a sphere of the Divine's white light, which nothing can pierce. Plant your feet on the ground and envision roots coming from the bottoms of your feet connecting you with the earth. Take in deep breathes and allow yourself to be free, feeling nothing but peace. This is an easy exercise you can do anywhere and whenever you feel you need it. Another great asset in defense is the presences and guidance of our spirit guides. Even if you have yet to obtain an open communication with your guides they are always with you and watching over you. Ask for their help to guide and protect you. Our minds are sacred, so it's a good practice to give your spirit guides permission to open communication. Their sole purpose is to help us, so we should never be hesitate to call on them for help. Faith in the Divine's power and ability to keep us safe and protected is one of our greatest tools in defense. What could be more empowering than knowing you are never alone, and have heavenly support beyond what we can possibly fathom.
Exposure and Inner Strength
Time really is the best teacher of all, and as you progress and gain experience, everything will become much easier to handle. This can be likened to the hardened police office, who can walk onto a crime scene undaunted. For those of us that have to endure visions of atrocities, or even deal with feeling them happen. It may never become something you are used to, but with time you will become more and more desensitized. Finding confidence in yourself and inner strength is really what holds everything together. Without it, all the techniques and faith in the world will do little to help you. It's not about being cocky and taking serious things lightly. It's about an inner knowing that you can handle anything and erasing all fears. For those of us who attract spirts, in which some try to force communication relentlessly. If we cannot help them, or their advances are unwanted, we must be able to stand firm without fear and tell them to leave. Just as we would the advances of any human being. Trust in yourself and project confidence, knowing that you have the control of any situation. Self empowerment is the best and most effective defense we have in our arsenal. Just with the sheer will power of our minds and spirits, we can deter the effects of any negative energies,
I hope that these tools and mindsets are found to be as useful and effective for others as they have been for me. The journey of how our gifts evolve is completely individualized, and much of the learning we must do ourselves along the way. For those that have read my article on psychic development, you'll notice that I focus on many of the same attributes like meditation and spirituality. This is because they are the absolute essentials and basics when it comes to managing your abilities, and the ways in which they can help you on your path is vast and not easily defined. My purpose in writing this article, is to give others, whether experienced or new to working with their psychic abilities, defensive tools that are simple in concept, easy to incorporate into daily life, and have shown to be effective. We must take care of ourselves first, so that we are able to use our gifts to help others.
Meditation
Meditation is not only an essential step in strengthening and advancing our abilities; but can help immensely with psychic defense. Through regular practice we learn to remain calm in stressful situations and how to still the mind. We can bring this relaxation into our awakened state of being, making it easier for our minds to handle anything that comes our way. Through meditation, awareness on all levels will become heightened. Which means we will receive more impressions, feelings and information. But it is the self awareness we gain that is an invaluable tool in our self preservation. We must be able to discern our own emotions and feelings from what is being oppressed onto us. Being able to separate ourself from the energies we are receiving is absolutely paramount. Meditation is elusive for many, and some feel that they just are not able do it. This is not true.. It takes time and practice and the rewards can benefit you in all aspects of life, so keep trying and never give up.
Spirituality
Spirituality is so important because this is where we find our faith in a power beyond ourselves. This is completely separate from religion, and having to do with our own personal relationship with a higher power. The role of spirituality in psychic defense is very simple: protection. When we feel overwhelmed, we should pray and ask for divine intervention, whether it be from angels, white light energy, or even the Divine itself. A great exercise I was taught to ground myself is a simple visualization technique: Envision yourself surrounded by a sphere of the Divine's white light, which nothing can pierce. Plant your feet on the ground and envision roots coming from the bottoms of your feet connecting you with the earth. Take in deep breathes and allow yourself to be free, feeling nothing but peace. This is an easy exercise you can do anywhere and whenever you feel you need it. Another great asset in defense is the presences and guidance of our spirit guides. Even if you have yet to obtain an open communication with your guides they are always with you and watching over you. Ask for their help to guide and protect you. Our minds are sacred, so it's a good practice to give your spirit guides permission to open communication. Their sole purpose is to help us, so we should never be hesitate to call on them for help. Faith in the Divine's power and ability to keep us safe and protected is one of our greatest tools in defense. What could be more empowering than knowing you are never alone, and have heavenly support beyond what we can possibly fathom.
Exposure and Inner Strength
Time really is the best teacher of all, and as you progress and gain experience, everything will become much easier to handle. This can be likened to the hardened police office, who can walk onto a crime scene undaunted. For those of us that have to endure visions of atrocities, or even deal with feeling them happen. It may never become something you are used to, but with time you will become more and more desensitized. Finding confidence in yourself and inner strength is really what holds everything together. Without it, all the techniques and faith in the world will do little to help you. It's not about being cocky and taking serious things lightly. It's about an inner knowing that you can handle anything and erasing all fears. For those of us who attract spirts, in which some try to force communication relentlessly. If we cannot help them, or their advances are unwanted, we must be able to stand firm without fear and tell them to leave. Just as we would the advances of any human being. Trust in yourself and project confidence, knowing that you have the control of any situation. Self empowerment is the best and most effective defense we have in our arsenal. Just with the sheer will power of our minds and spirits, we can deter the effects of any negative energies,
I hope that these tools and mindsets are found to be as useful and effective for others as they have been for me. The journey of how our gifts evolve is completely individualized, and much of the learning we must do ourselves along the way. For those that have read my article on psychic development, you'll notice that I focus on many of the same attributes like meditation and spirituality. This is because they are the absolute essentials and basics when it comes to managing your abilities, and the ways in which they can help you on your path is vast and not easily defined. My purpose in writing this article, is to give others, whether experienced or new to working with their psychic abilities, defensive tools that are simple in concept, easy to incorporate into daily life, and have shown to be effective. We must take care of ourselves first, so that we are able to use our gifts to help others.
Only one path to God?
I feel the main issue with humanity is that we look at God in human terms. Most will agree from various religions that God is vast and beyond the comprehension of our minds. We cannot even begin to fathom what God truly is. So how as humans can we say with any certainty that God is one or many, male or female, or all of the above?
The many cultures of the planet have found their own ways to "humanize" God so to speak. Giving God a gender, form or separating into many who act on different aspect of the world around us. The various cultures of mankind have done this out of human nature. Simply to make a relationship with God more personable. It is much easier to worship God with some kind of form in our minds. Not many would worship a formless "great unknown" with no way to relate to it. How we choose to see and worship God is completely up to the individual. One man's view is no greater or lesser than another. Only a different way of seeing...
Most, if not all will agree that man is flawed. With that being said, how can any of us pass judgment on one path holding a higher truth than the other? Because man is flawed, the things man creates is flawed as well... Religion is far from perfect, yet many hold faith through traditions and writings. Stories and scriptures passed down hundreds to thousands of years may not be the same from when they were first written. All these things are and have been open to human error or the wills of man which may not have always been righteous. So how can we possibly trust religion to be an absolute truth?
One thing we can find purity in this world is in spirituality. You wont find it in a book and it can't be given to you by someone else. It only comes from within when you make a true connection and communication with the divine. When this happens there will be no question about your path or the path of others. The words in books and traditions of others will not be the main source of what influences your faith. With spirituality you have your heart and God's direct guidance. Who could possibly make you question that?
"There are many paths up the Mountain, but the view of the moon from the top is the same." - Ancient Japanese saying
The many cultures of the planet have found their own ways to "humanize" God so to speak. Giving God a gender, form or separating into many who act on different aspect of the world around us. The various cultures of mankind have done this out of human nature. Simply to make a relationship with God more personable. It is much easier to worship God with some kind of form in our minds. Not many would worship a formless "great unknown" with no way to relate to it. How we choose to see and worship God is completely up to the individual. One man's view is no greater or lesser than another. Only a different way of seeing...
Most, if not all will agree that man is flawed. With that being said, how can any of us pass judgment on one path holding a higher truth than the other? Because man is flawed, the things man creates is flawed as well... Religion is far from perfect, yet many hold faith through traditions and writings. Stories and scriptures passed down hundreds to thousands of years may not be the same from when they were first written. All these things are and have been open to human error or the wills of man which may not have always been righteous. So how can we possibly trust religion to be an absolute truth?
One thing we can find purity in this world is in spirituality. You wont find it in a book and it can't be given to you by someone else. It only comes from within when you make a true connection and communication with the divine. When this happens there will be no question about your path or the path of others. The words in books and traditions of others will not be the main source of what influences your faith. With spirituality you have your heart and God's direct guidance. Who could possibly make you question that?
"There are many paths up the Mountain, but the view of the moon from the top is the same." - Ancient Japanese saying
Meditation Simplified
Meditation is elusive for many and I have been asked many times on where and how to begin. Common issues range from distraction, discomfort, fear, falling asleep, or just not being able to stop the mind from racing and random thought. These problems are what cause many to give up on meditation all together. They believe it is something they just cannot do. I am going to give a basic outline on where to begin when learning to meditate, and more importantly, things to be aware of in preparation. Like learning anything new it takes time, patience and practice. Despite what some feel, everyone is capable of achieving a meditative state with a proper mindset and environment.
First step is to establish the correct setting for meditation. This is often overlooked by many, but is extremely important to insure complete relaxation. Find a quiet and peaceful place where you know you will not be disturbed for a long duration of time. Turn off all phones, pagers or any other electronic devices that may disrupt you during your session. Many different schools of thought teach certain positions that they say you must sit in, but I have found that this is not necessarily true. You want to make yourself as comfortable as possible, and will not be able to completely relax for a long period of time while having body aches. Although it is important to be seated in an upright position. This will ensure you do not fall asleep and will also promote the circulation of energy throughout your body. Once you have your set environment and have found a nice comfortable sitting position, you are ready to move on to relaxation.
Second step is to bring your mind and body into a relaxed state through breathing. This is another step that is often overlooked, but is absolutely essential. Many think meditation is just sitting down, closing your eyes and instantly meditation will begin. That is simply not the case. With all the mental and physical stresses we deal with in daily life, one must first prepare the body and mind for complete relaxation. To begin, start focusing on your breathing. In and out, keeping the same slow rhythm and concentrate on nothing else but the rhythm of your breaths. Taking air in let your belly expand and then contract on your exhale. Again, some schools of thought teach that breathing needs to be done in a certain pattern. Some teach inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth for example. I also believe this not to be the case. You need to breath in a way that feels comfortable and natural to you. Take your time on this part until you reach a point that the breathing rhythm becomes natural. Soon your body will begin keeping this pace on its, own without concentration.
Third step is to relax the body, one section at a time. Once your breathing is in perfect rhythm, it is time to start focusing on relaxing each part of the body. Start at your head down to your feet. Focus on your head and the muscles of your face. Be in tune with your expression and concentrate on relaxing every muscle. You may have a slight feeling of heaviness which is a good sign that you are becoming relaxed. From you head and face move down to your neck and shoulders. Again, focus on every muscle and let them become completely relaxed. Move down to your arms and chest, to your abdomen, then over your legs and down to your feet. Concentrate on every muscle as you move down your body slowly and feel the calm relaxation throughout your entire self. Take your time and enjoy this process because it feels wonderful and is a great exercise in itself. Once your breathing is set and your body is completely relaxed, you are ready to move on to the next step.
Fourth step is visualization. This is great for beginners because of its simplicity and some even experience feelings of euphoria. Now that your environment and body are in a calm and peaceful state, we can now work with the mind. I like to teach the "sacred place" visualization to beginners because it seems to have a great deal of success and many enjoy it. When ready, see yourself in what will always be your sacred place. It can be somewhere you've been before or straight out of your imagination. Whether it be in a forest, a beach, the mountains, wherever you find the most peace. In your minds eye see and feel yourself there. You are alone here, but being your space there is nothing that could possibly harm you. No stress, fear, anxiety or negative emotions exist while you are here. You are in complete control of this environment and protected. See yourself there clearly, and then begin to feel your surroundings. Feel the heat of the sun, the brush of the wind and the ground beneath your feet. Take in the smells of the area, whether it be flowers, or the air of the ocean. Let yourself go and fully experience this place, which is yours and only yours.
If you follow these steps and reach the point of fully experiencing your sacred place, then you have achieved one of the many forms of meditation. When coming out you should feel refreshed, relaxed and energized. With time and regular practice this feeling will follow you into an awakened state of being, and can benefit you in many areas of your life. This is just a brief explanation on a meditative practice and how to prepare yourself for the experience. Remember, preparation is key and do not allow yourself to become discouraged by any distractions. Just ignore them and continue on. These things are natural and will pass as you become deeper in concentration. Once learned, other meditation practices that interest you will become much easier to adopt. Have faith in yourself and don't try to force the experience... Just completely relax and let it be.
First step is to establish the correct setting for meditation. This is often overlooked by many, but is extremely important to insure complete relaxation. Find a quiet and peaceful place where you know you will not be disturbed for a long duration of time. Turn off all phones, pagers or any other electronic devices that may disrupt you during your session. Many different schools of thought teach certain positions that they say you must sit in, but I have found that this is not necessarily true. You want to make yourself as comfortable as possible, and will not be able to completely relax for a long period of time while having body aches. Although it is important to be seated in an upright position. This will ensure you do not fall asleep and will also promote the circulation of energy throughout your body. Once you have your set environment and have found a nice comfortable sitting position, you are ready to move on to relaxation.
Second step is to bring your mind and body into a relaxed state through breathing. This is another step that is often overlooked, but is absolutely essential. Many think meditation is just sitting down, closing your eyes and instantly meditation will begin. That is simply not the case. With all the mental and physical stresses we deal with in daily life, one must first prepare the body and mind for complete relaxation. To begin, start focusing on your breathing. In and out, keeping the same slow rhythm and concentrate on nothing else but the rhythm of your breaths. Taking air in let your belly expand and then contract on your exhale. Again, some schools of thought teach that breathing needs to be done in a certain pattern. Some teach inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth for example. I also believe this not to be the case. You need to breath in a way that feels comfortable and natural to you. Take your time on this part until you reach a point that the breathing rhythm becomes natural. Soon your body will begin keeping this pace on its, own without concentration.
Third step is to relax the body, one section at a time. Once your breathing is in perfect rhythm, it is time to start focusing on relaxing each part of the body. Start at your head down to your feet. Focus on your head and the muscles of your face. Be in tune with your expression and concentrate on relaxing every muscle. You may have a slight feeling of heaviness which is a good sign that you are becoming relaxed. From you head and face move down to your neck and shoulders. Again, focus on every muscle and let them become completely relaxed. Move down to your arms and chest, to your abdomen, then over your legs and down to your feet. Concentrate on every muscle as you move down your body slowly and feel the calm relaxation throughout your entire self. Take your time and enjoy this process because it feels wonderful and is a great exercise in itself. Once your breathing is set and your body is completely relaxed, you are ready to move on to the next step.
Fourth step is visualization. This is great for beginners because of its simplicity and some even experience feelings of euphoria. Now that your environment and body are in a calm and peaceful state, we can now work with the mind. I like to teach the "sacred place" visualization to beginners because it seems to have a great deal of success and many enjoy it. When ready, see yourself in what will always be your sacred place. It can be somewhere you've been before or straight out of your imagination. Whether it be in a forest, a beach, the mountains, wherever you find the most peace. In your minds eye see and feel yourself there. You are alone here, but being your space there is nothing that could possibly harm you. No stress, fear, anxiety or negative emotions exist while you are here. You are in complete control of this environment and protected. See yourself there clearly, and then begin to feel your surroundings. Feel the heat of the sun, the brush of the wind and the ground beneath your feet. Take in the smells of the area, whether it be flowers, or the air of the ocean. Let yourself go and fully experience this place, which is yours and only yours.
If you follow these steps and reach the point of fully experiencing your sacred place, then you have achieved one of the many forms of meditation. When coming out you should feel refreshed, relaxed and energized. With time and regular practice this feeling will follow you into an awakened state of being, and can benefit you in many areas of your life. This is just a brief explanation on a meditative practice and how to prepare yourself for the experience. Remember, preparation is key and do not allow yourself to become discouraged by any distractions. Just ignore them and continue on. These things are natural and will pass as you become deeper in concentration. Once learned, other meditation practices that interest you will become much easier to adopt. Have faith in yourself and don't try to force the experience... Just completely relax and let it be.
EVP Efficiency
Working with various paranormal investigation teams, I have seen a variety of theories and techniques when it comes to performing an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) session. Some have proven to be quite effective and make the evidence reviewers job much easier. While others seem to make little sense and border on being laughable. I'd like to discuss some of these differences and what I have learned to be the most basic and methodical approach, proven to be effective.
The first thing an investigator should consider is the history of the location. This gives us an idea of time period and what type of people previously inhabited the investigation site, and are possibly still present. One of the biggest mistakes I've seen investigators make, is asking questions as if they are trying to communicate with some other worldly being. Just as we are souls encased in a human form, spirits are no different, other than no longer having a corporeal form. Speak to them as you would to anyone else, asking simple questions in a respectful manner. Never refer to them at "it" or use inappropriate language. The saying "you'll catch more flies with honey" holds true in this instance too. Being polite and respectful, you are more likely to receive intelligent responses than being rude.
Reviewing history also gives us an idea of what languages were spoken by those who lived there. If you are investigating a location where everyone had only spoken French for example, should we expect intelligent responses to our questions in English? This is where preparation comes into play. Through online resources, research and memorize some basic questions in the native language of those who previously dwelt at the location. Even if you receive a recorded response you don't understand at first, with some research you may find an intelligent response to your question. Keeping in mind the culture of spirits you are trying to make contact with can greatly increase your chances of capturing evidence.
During EVP sessions especially in larger groups, everyone should remain aware of all sounds and think from the perspective of the person who will be reviewing the recorder. Probably the biggest yet common mistake investigators make is whispering. It's a human response trying to be quiet to help everyone hear, but it makes the reviewers job so much more difficult. Having to discern who's voice it is, and what is being said. It's important to always speak at a normal tone, and a good practice at the beginning of the session to state where it is taking place, and have all those present state their name so everyone's recorded voice is easy to identify.
A moment of silence between questions is something that seems to vary from team to team as well. A common mistake is when more than one investigator is present, one will ask a question then the other will talk or as a question right after. When going over the recordings looking for EVPs, how can anything possibly be found? Spirit voices can be difficult at times to hear, and we want to make sure we are not talking over them. I feel it's important for the group to discuss and observer a set amount a silence between each question. It doesn't really mater if it's 10 seconds or 20 seconds; what's most important is that there is a consistent moment of complete silence between question.
Depending on the location, environment, and the amount of investigators, there is also the factor of sounds beyond our control. Some of these various noises are dogs barking, a loud truck driving by, an investigator tripping on something, or even someone's stomach growling. Sometimes these sounds are just ignored and left for the person going over the recorder to figure out. To ensure nothing is confused with a paranormal sound, I feel it's important that when these instances occur, someone should make a clear statement right after describing the source of the noise. This is a great practice to try and get into the habit of.
These are just some of the common mistakes, as well as effective methods I have discovered through personal experience. As sessions unfold, keep the mindset as if you are the evidence reviewer. The basics of conducting an efficient EVP session is rather simple, as long as we remain constantly aware of ourselves and our environment. .
The first thing an investigator should consider is the history of the location. This gives us an idea of time period and what type of people previously inhabited the investigation site, and are possibly still present. One of the biggest mistakes I've seen investigators make, is asking questions as if they are trying to communicate with some other worldly being. Just as we are souls encased in a human form, spirits are no different, other than no longer having a corporeal form. Speak to them as you would to anyone else, asking simple questions in a respectful manner. Never refer to them at "it" or use inappropriate language. The saying "you'll catch more flies with honey" holds true in this instance too. Being polite and respectful, you are more likely to receive intelligent responses than being rude.
Reviewing history also gives us an idea of what languages were spoken by those who lived there. If you are investigating a location where everyone had only spoken French for example, should we expect intelligent responses to our questions in English? This is where preparation comes into play. Through online resources, research and memorize some basic questions in the native language of those who previously dwelt at the location. Even if you receive a recorded response you don't understand at first, with some research you may find an intelligent response to your question. Keeping in mind the culture of spirits you are trying to make contact with can greatly increase your chances of capturing evidence.
During EVP sessions especially in larger groups, everyone should remain aware of all sounds and think from the perspective of the person who will be reviewing the recorder. Probably the biggest yet common mistake investigators make is whispering. It's a human response trying to be quiet to help everyone hear, but it makes the reviewers job so much more difficult. Having to discern who's voice it is, and what is being said. It's important to always speak at a normal tone, and a good practice at the beginning of the session to state where it is taking place, and have all those present state their name so everyone's recorded voice is easy to identify.
A moment of silence between questions is something that seems to vary from team to team as well. A common mistake is when more than one investigator is present, one will ask a question then the other will talk or as a question right after. When going over the recordings looking for EVPs, how can anything possibly be found? Spirit voices can be difficult at times to hear, and we want to make sure we are not talking over them. I feel it's important for the group to discuss and observer a set amount a silence between each question. It doesn't really mater if it's 10 seconds or 20 seconds; what's most important is that there is a consistent moment of complete silence between question.
Depending on the location, environment, and the amount of investigators, there is also the factor of sounds beyond our control. Some of these various noises are dogs barking, a loud truck driving by, an investigator tripping on something, or even someone's stomach growling. Sometimes these sounds are just ignored and left for the person going over the recorder to figure out. To ensure nothing is confused with a paranormal sound, I feel it's important that when these instances occur, someone should make a clear statement right after describing the source of the noise. This is a great practice to try and get into the habit of.
These are just some of the common mistakes, as well as effective methods I have discovered through personal experience. As sessions unfold, keep the mindset as if you are the evidence reviewer. The basics of conducting an efficient EVP session is rather simple, as long as we remain constantly aware of ourselves and our environment. .
Ethics of Paranormal Investigating in Cemeteries
The debate on whether or not it is ethical to investigate cemeteries has been going on for some time now. I feel this is a great subject to soul search and discuss in the paranormal community, because to many it can be a very sensitive subject. Burial grounds are one of the most visited locations by paranormal investigators, both experienced and new to the field. As a whole, the paranormal field needs to have the same ethical mindset when it comes to dealing with sacred locations. Entering the final resting place for others, it is important that we maintain a level of respect as well as keep our actions in mind first. The objective of the investigation is secondary.
With so many people making trips through these locations, the question of preservation arises. One of the most visited types of cemetery are the historic ones, with very old and now fragile headstones. With a sometimes large group of people walking around in the dark, there is a potential risk of headstones becoming damaged or destroyed. Every investigator should have a flashlight with them and move at a slow pace through a cemetery. Simply being cautious and aware of your surroundings can make all the difference in the world.
Taking pictures of, or with headstones has been a subject of debate as well. With so many cemeteries being investigated, the number of pictures one can find just online is uncountable. Out of respect for the deceased and their family, some find it offense to take pictures of headstones at all. But most are very offended by those who pose for pictures with a headstone. Ethically, this make a lot of sense. For example: would you be okay with someone standing on your grandfather's burial plot, smiling and posing with hands on his headstone? I think most of us would find this scenario to be offensive. As investigators our actions and demeanor are essential to keep in mind. Just like being in someone's home or a business, we must always act appropriately.
On a spiritual level, some feel that being on burial grounds for any reasons other than visiting a passed loved one is disrespectful to the spirits. I've even heard the argument that investigators can capture activity because the spirits are angry they are there. As a medium, I have to respectfully disagree with these notions. Spirits usually have no attachments to their physical bodies, and the reasons spirits stay in cemeteries vary. Some are simply lost and confused, while others are upset about unmarked graves, and some spirits may even have an attachment to the land itself before a cemetery was put there...and the list goes on. When trying to communicate with spirits, being respectful as you would to any human being is what matters most.
There are those who have an unwavering opinion that cemeteries are not a place for paranormal investigating; and I do respect their views. I personally, feel that there is a respectful and ethical way to continue paranormal research in cemeteries without disturbing or desecrating the environment. It all starts with awareness, respect, and being prepared. No matter how experienced or inexperienced one is; everyone should have the same level of respect, caution, and reverence while stepping onto hallowed land.
With so many people making trips through these locations, the question of preservation arises. One of the most visited types of cemetery are the historic ones, with very old and now fragile headstones. With a sometimes large group of people walking around in the dark, there is a potential risk of headstones becoming damaged or destroyed. Every investigator should have a flashlight with them and move at a slow pace through a cemetery. Simply being cautious and aware of your surroundings can make all the difference in the world.
Taking pictures of, or with headstones has been a subject of debate as well. With so many cemeteries being investigated, the number of pictures one can find just online is uncountable. Out of respect for the deceased and their family, some find it offense to take pictures of headstones at all. But most are very offended by those who pose for pictures with a headstone. Ethically, this make a lot of sense. For example: would you be okay with someone standing on your grandfather's burial plot, smiling and posing with hands on his headstone? I think most of us would find this scenario to be offensive. As investigators our actions and demeanor are essential to keep in mind. Just like being in someone's home or a business, we must always act appropriately.
On a spiritual level, some feel that being on burial grounds for any reasons other than visiting a passed loved one is disrespectful to the spirits. I've even heard the argument that investigators can capture activity because the spirits are angry they are there. As a medium, I have to respectfully disagree with these notions. Spirits usually have no attachments to their physical bodies, and the reasons spirits stay in cemeteries vary. Some are simply lost and confused, while others are upset about unmarked graves, and some spirits may even have an attachment to the land itself before a cemetery was put there...and the list goes on. When trying to communicate with spirits, being respectful as you would to any human being is what matters most.
There are those who have an unwavering opinion that cemeteries are not a place for paranormal investigating; and I do respect their views. I personally, feel that there is a respectful and ethical way to continue paranormal research in cemeteries without disturbing or desecrating the environment. It all starts with awareness, respect, and being prepared. No matter how experienced or inexperienced one is; everyone should have the same level of respect, caution, and reverence while stepping onto hallowed land.
A Medium's Guide to Encounters with Inhuman and Demonic Spirits
It is rare, but working as a medium it is possible to come across inhuman or demonic forces in your work. These experiences can be extremely frightening, especially to those who are new in working with their gifts. The memories of images, voices and feelings can stay with you for a very long time. It's important to remember that as sensitives you are not only more susceptible to feeling the presence and communication with human spirits, but also those which were never human and can have evil intentions. Though it is uncommon, it is essential that you be prepared for these kinds of encounters and know how to handle the situation for your own safety and those around us. Especially if you are considering helping in paranormal investigations, your chances of such experiences are greatly increased and all mediums should have at least a basic knowledge on this subject.
I personally have had a few experiences with demonic entities and I'd like to share what I feel is a good approach for mediums to take. First, I have to say that I hope no one ever has to put this information into practice. I have felt moved to write this in hopes it can help others not only be prepared, but also more aware and self empowered. Even those I have spoken with who are veterans in paranormal investigating or in handling extreme haunting cases have expressed that this is something you will never become fully desensitized or used to. It can take a toll on you as well. It's all in the way you handle the situation that matters most and can make all the difference in the world. These spirits have access to knowledge beyond our understanding, so we must walk a line of controlling our fears yet not being over confident. This should all be handled with caution...
Discernment
The first step in discernment, which can be somewhat difficult if you have never dealt with these types of beings before. There is also the factor of trickery where these entities may show themselves to you in a form that seems very non-threatening, like that of a child for example. As with trying to communicate with any spirit, it's important to really pay attention to everything you are feeling or any messages your guides are passing on to you. In dealing with negative spirits many common physical effects range from extreme nausea and dizziness, which even those with no active psychic abilities seem to experience, to feeling like your skin is burning or feeling cold down to the very bone. Pay close attention to abnormal physical signs in your body that you usually do not experience dealing with other spirits, as well as any imagery your guides are showing you. For me personally, there is a certain phantom smell and a taste I get in my mouth when I've encountered inhuman spirits, This has become a tell tale sign I recognize now. In discernment it seems to go one of three ways. Either the entity does not care that you sense it and makes it's presence clear hoping for panic and fear it can feed off of. Then there are ones that will try to trick you into believing it is something else to gain your attention and communication, which also gives it energy, The entitie's motives can range from self preservation, to a diabolical plan. There are also the ones who you may only feel slightly. This is because they are trying to hide themselves. As sensitives we are seen as a threat to them. Not only because of our connection to a divine source, but also because they know we can sense them and could bring others who can deal with them severely. If something just does not feel right, or like anything you've ever experienced before, just pay close attention to your body, guides, and impressions. The truth will come to you...
Action Awareness
Second step is all about being aware of your actions. Now that you've discerned the presence of a inhuman or demonic being how you act upon it is very important. Some may disagree with me saying this, but demons do not have the ability to read your mind. Even your guides require permission to read your mind and they are the closest spiritual beings to us on this plane of existence. So negative beings can only watch closely and feed off of any negative energy and emotions from you or those around you. Your actions should be the same as it would be dealing with any angry human spirit, except for the action of acknowledgment. Even if you began communication with this being, you should cut all ties and try to shut down on a psychic level as much as possible. Try and have an air of indifference and do not confront or challenge in any way, shape or form. Do not try to perform a cleansing or blessing against this type of entity on your own. Remain completely calm and stand your ground while saying prayers or positive affirmations to yourself. In your mind, call upon God, the angles, your guides or ancestors (depending on your spiritual beliefs) to surround and protect you. See and feel yourself as a beacon of divine light, and thus completely protected. Say nothing to those around you and make an excuse if you must to move away from the area you feel the presence so others do not panic or give off negative emotions.These emotions can give the entity energy to help it manifest and become stronger or even dangerous. Once you have a good distance, then you can tell others what you sensed and tell everyone to avoid this place until help from clergy or a demonologist can be brought in.
Find Experienced Assistance
Third step is simply finding experienced assistance to deal with the negative spirit. As a medium (especially if you are working in the paranormal investigation field) it is a huge asset to network with clergy or others experienced in handling inhuman and demonic beings. If you do not know of any, search for one who is reputable and let them know of yours and others experiences, as well as your impressions. Some mediums are given names telepathically, or hearing words from another language may come into your mind. Take notes of all your impressions, even if they don't seem to make sense and pass that information on as well. From there, all you can do is pray from those going in to handle this entity and do not attempt to connect with the location on a psychic level again. Though the desire to help may be great, it's best to leave this type of situation in the hands of those knowledgeable and best equipped to cleanse the location.
Like I said before, I hope no one has to put this information into practice. I hope this information is found useful by my fellow psychics/mediums and others. Though some disagree about the importance of spiritual faith when working as a medium. Dealing with inhuman and the demonic is a prime example of why I feel it is absolutely essential. Prayers and cleansing yourself is paramount especially before and after a paranormal investigation, It should also be part of your daily practice. By no means am I writing this to scare anyone, I just feel we should be aware of all possibilities and be prepared to handle them with the correct mind set. Hold the power of your faith and spirituality close to your heart. Remain cautious and aware. As a beacon of light, know you are always protected by the divine itself and need not fear...You are empowered.
I personally have had a few experiences with demonic entities and I'd like to share what I feel is a good approach for mediums to take. First, I have to say that I hope no one ever has to put this information into practice. I have felt moved to write this in hopes it can help others not only be prepared, but also more aware and self empowered. Even those I have spoken with who are veterans in paranormal investigating or in handling extreme haunting cases have expressed that this is something you will never become fully desensitized or used to. It can take a toll on you as well. It's all in the way you handle the situation that matters most and can make all the difference in the world. These spirits have access to knowledge beyond our understanding, so we must walk a line of controlling our fears yet not being over confident. This should all be handled with caution...
Discernment
The first step in discernment, which can be somewhat difficult if you have never dealt with these types of beings before. There is also the factor of trickery where these entities may show themselves to you in a form that seems very non-threatening, like that of a child for example. As with trying to communicate with any spirit, it's important to really pay attention to everything you are feeling or any messages your guides are passing on to you. In dealing with negative spirits many common physical effects range from extreme nausea and dizziness, which even those with no active psychic abilities seem to experience, to feeling like your skin is burning or feeling cold down to the very bone. Pay close attention to abnormal physical signs in your body that you usually do not experience dealing with other spirits, as well as any imagery your guides are showing you. For me personally, there is a certain phantom smell and a taste I get in my mouth when I've encountered inhuman spirits, This has become a tell tale sign I recognize now. In discernment it seems to go one of three ways. Either the entity does not care that you sense it and makes it's presence clear hoping for panic and fear it can feed off of. Then there are ones that will try to trick you into believing it is something else to gain your attention and communication, which also gives it energy, The entitie's motives can range from self preservation, to a diabolical plan. There are also the ones who you may only feel slightly. This is because they are trying to hide themselves. As sensitives we are seen as a threat to them. Not only because of our connection to a divine source, but also because they know we can sense them and could bring others who can deal with them severely. If something just does not feel right, or like anything you've ever experienced before, just pay close attention to your body, guides, and impressions. The truth will come to you...
Action Awareness
Second step is all about being aware of your actions. Now that you've discerned the presence of a inhuman or demonic being how you act upon it is very important. Some may disagree with me saying this, but demons do not have the ability to read your mind. Even your guides require permission to read your mind and they are the closest spiritual beings to us on this plane of existence. So negative beings can only watch closely and feed off of any negative energy and emotions from you or those around you. Your actions should be the same as it would be dealing with any angry human spirit, except for the action of acknowledgment. Even if you began communication with this being, you should cut all ties and try to shut down on a psychic level as much as possible. Try and have an air of indifference and do not confront or challenge in any way, shape or form. Do not try to perform a cleansing or blessing against this type of entity on your own. Remain completely calm and stand your ground while saying prayers or positive affirmations to yourself. In your mind, call upon God, the angles, your guides or ancestors (depending on your spiritual beliefs) to surround and protect you. See and feel yourself as a beacon of divine light, and thus completely protected. Say nothing to those around you and make an excuse if you must to move away from the area you feel the presence so others do not panic or give off negative emotions.These emotions can give the entity energy to help it manifest and become stronger or even dangerous. Once you have a good distance, then you can tell others what you sensed and tell everyone to avoid this place until help from clergy or a demonologist can be brought in.
Find Experienced Assistance
Third step is simply finding experienced assistance to deal with the negative spirit. As a medium (especially if you are working in the paranormal investigation field) it is a huge asset to network with clergy or others experienced in handling inhuman and demonic beings. If you do not know of any, search for one who is reputable and let them know of yours and others experiences, as well as your impressions. Some mediums are given names telepathically, or hearing words from another language may come into your mind. Take notes of all your impressions, even if they don't seem to make sense and pass that information on as well. From there, all you can do is pray from those going in to handle this entity and do not attempt to connect with the location on a psychic level again. Though the desire to help may be great, it's best to leave this type of situation in the hands of those knowledgeable and best equipped to cleanse the location.
Like I said before, I hope no one has to put this information into practice. I hope this information is found useful by my fellow psychics/mediums and others. Though some disagree about the importance of spiritual faith when working as a medium. Dealing with inhuman and the demonic is a prime example of why I feel it is absolutely essential. Prayers and cleansing yourself is paramount especially before and after a paranormal investigation, It should also be part of your daily practice. By no means am I writing this to scare anyone, I just feel we should be aware of all possibilities and be prepared to handle them with the correct mind set. Hold the power of your faith and spirituality close to your heart. Remain cautious and aware. As a beacon of light, know you are always protected by the divine itself and need not fear...You are empowered.
Connecting With Your Spirit Guides
In my work, mentoring others in learning to develop psychic/medium abilities, the question always arises on how to effectively contact spirit guides. We all have spirit guides. Some look at them as guardian angels, which is a close comparison. The difference between spirit guides and angels is that our guides have lived many human lives and have access to that knowledge and experience. More importantly, they are a major link for our communication with the spirit world and the wisdom on the Divine itself. The sole purpose of these beings (as in their name) is to guide and help us throughout our life's path. There are two methods which have proven effective in making your first conscious contact with your guides.
The first method is through the "sacred place" meditation. In this meditation, see yourself in what will always be your sacred place. It can be somewhere you've been before or straight out of your imagination. Whether it be in a forest, on a beach, or in the mountains, it should be a place where you find the most peace. In your minds eye, see and feel yourself there. You are alone there, but because this is your space, there is nothing that could possibly harm you. No stress, fear, anxiety or negative emotions exist while you are here. You are in complete control of this environment and you are protected. See yourself there clearly, and then begin to feel your surroundings. Feel the heat of the sun, the brush of the wind and the ground beneath your feet. Take in the smells of the area. Whether it be flowers, or the air of the ocean, let yourself go and fully experience this place. It is yours place and belongs to only you.
Once you have a good handle on this meditation and you are able to let yourself go in this wondrous place, invite your spirit guide and others to join you. Remember that this is your space and you are divinely protected so there is no need to have any fear. Just relax, let your mind be free and the images will begin to flow to you naturally. Do not force an image by trying to think of anyone, it's about letting them come to you. Some have expressed experiencing animals which are likely their totem or a guardian spirit. Others have had visitations from loved ones who have passed on and are just taking the opportunity to interact with you. It may happen your first try or it may take some time, but eventually you will see someone you have never seen before, yet you will feel like you've known them your entire life. In this place, communication does not happen through speech, but through transmission of thoughts to one another. You can ask them their name, where they are from, if you cannot tell from appearance, or any questions you feel moved to ask. At first, communication may be difficult and they may simply want to make themselves known to you. More will come through in time through practicing this meditation.
The second method is through a dream state and this seems to work well for many people. Before going to sleep, take a pen and pad of paper and leave it beside your bed. Lay flat on your back in bed and go into a semi-meditative state like in prayer and repeat this affirmation: "I open myself to a conscious relationship with my spirit guide and invite you to make yourself known to me." You don't have to use the exact words and can add or change them if you wish. The idea of opening yourself to your spirit guide should be made. Once you feel ready, simply go to sleep. It may not happen the first time or the fifth, but like the meditation, you will dream of someone you've never seen before, yet you will feel like you've always known them. This dream will usually be very vivid and sometimes abstract, unlike a normal dream. As soon as you wake up, take the pen and paper and write everything you can remember from the experience. Continue with this practice and your guide will appear in your dreams more often, and may even have messages to pass on to you.
These two methods have proven effective for many and I am happy to share this information with everyone. Coming into contact with your spirit guides is a beautiful experience you will never forget. Once you've made contact, give your spirit guides permission to read your mind so you can consciously communicate with them. It's also important to know that your guides are able to bi-locate as well. This means that they can be on the other side, and with you at the same time when you call upon them for guidance. They are not with you all the time in a physical presence, but they are always watching over you. Guides are not only essential in helping to pass on information to you, but also as protectors. They can help erase fears which many have when first learning to control psychic/medium abilities. Just remember to allow them to come to you, and then let the communication begin.
The first method is through the "sacred place" meditation. In this meditation, see yourself in what will always be your sacred place. It can be somewhere you've been before or straight out of your imagination. Whether it be in a forest, on a beach, or in the mountains, it should be a place where you find the most peace. In your minds eye, see and feel yourself there. You are alone there, but because this is your space, there is nothing that could possibly harm you. No stress, fear, anxiety or negative emotions exist while you are here. You are in complete control of this environment and you are protected. See yourself there clearly, and then begin to feel your surroundings. Feel the heat of the sun, the brush of the wind and the ground beneath your feet. Take in the smells of the area. Whether it be flowers, or the air of the ocean, let yourself go and fully experience this place. It is yours place and belongs to only you.
Once you have a good handle on this meditation and you are able to let yourself go in this wondrous place, invite your spirit guide and others to join you. Remember that this is your space and you are divinely protected so there is no need to have any fear. Just relax, let your mind be free and the images will begin to flow to you naturally. Do not force an image by trying to think of anyone, it's about letting them come to you. Some have expressed experiencing animals which are likely their totem or a guardian spirit. Others have had visitations from loved ones who have passed on and are just taking the opportunity to interact with you. It may happen your first try or it may take some time, but eventually you will see someone you have never seen before, yet you will feel like you've known them your entire life. In this place, communication does not happen through speech, but through transmission of thoughts to one another. You can ask them their name, where they are from, if you cannot tell from appearance, or any questions you feel moved to ask. At first, communication may be difficult and they may simply want to make themselves known to you. More will come through in time through practicing this meditation.
The second method is through a dream state and this seems to work well for many people. Before going to sleep, take a pen and pad of paper and leave it beside your bed. Lay flat on your back in bed and go into a semi-meditative state like in prayer and repeat this affirmation: "I open myself to a conscious relationship with my spirit guide and invite you to make yourself known to me." You don't have to use the exact words and can add or change them if you wish. The idea of opening yourself to your spirit guide should be made. Once you feel ready, simply go to sleep. It may not happen the first time or the fifth, but like the meditation, you will dream of someone you've never seen before, yet you will feel like you've always known them. This dream will usually be very vivid and sometimes abstract, unlike a normal dream. As soon as you wake up, take the pen and paper and write everything you can remember from the experience. Continue with this practice and your guide will appear in your dreams more often, and may even have messages to pass on to you.
These two methods have proven effective for many and I am happy to share this information with everyone. Coming into contact with your spirit guides is a beautiful experience you will never forget. Once you've made contact, give your spirit guides permission to read your mind so you can consciously communicate with them. It's also important to know that your guides are able to bi-locate as well. This means that they can be on the other side, and with you at the same time when you call upon them for guidance. They are not with you all the time in a physical presence, but they are always watching over you. Guides are not only essential in helping to pass on information to you, but also as protectors. They can help erase fears which many have when first learning to control psychic/medium abilities. Just remember to allow them to come to you, and then let the communication begin.
A Medium's Guide to Soul Harboring
As mediums and psychics involved in paranormal investigations, cases we become involved with can run the gambit from very peaceful and uneventful, to leaving us completely drained at the end. With some of the more draining cases, there is a phenomena which is somewhat rare to encounter, and it's nature can vary greatly. What I'm referring to are cases involving soul harboring. If you are unfamiliar with the term, soul harboring is when multiple spirits are present at a location, but there is one stronger entity holding the others there. I'd like to give a brief overview and examples of the many reasons soul harboring occurs, as well as solution strategies from a medium's standpoint.
At times these instances have sinister leanings, where one entity may intimidate, torment, and overpower another, keeping them trapped at a location. It's important to remember that the personality and demeanor of someone will not change after death, especially when remaining earthbound. If one was a sadistic and controlling person in life, so will they be in death. Most often the angry entity refuses to move on to the next state of being out of fear of judgment, and rather than be alone, he or she selfishly harbors other spirits. There is truth in the saying "misery loves company." Although this is very rare, when it comes to soul harboring, this is a worst case scenario. The best solution to this type of case is to discover and work with the spirits he or she is harboring first and get them to move on, but you have to be ready for resistance. Sometimes the spirits in which the angry entity is harboring are not even from the same time period or have any relation in life. But once the harbored spirits are helped to move on, the now alone entity can be dealt with and either helped to move on, or removed by spiritual methods.
In contrast, there are instances in which the dominant entity is not negative or malevolent at all. These spirits usually have strong but benign personalities, and often had some kind of leadership role in life with the spirits it is harboring. Instead of trapping souls against their will, the stronger entity is simply influencing and convincing them to stay, often out of a sense of loyalty or duty. A haunted ship could be used as a prime example of this type of situation. The soul of a commanding officer keeps his crew with him, not by force but influence. Though the nature of this example is seemingly benign, it cannot be ignored that these others souls would have likely moved on if not for the attraction to the harboring spirit. For this case, it is a good idea to try and work with the dominant energy first. If you can pursued he or she move on, then the subordinate spirits are likely to follow suit. Trying to work with the harbored spirits first can incite anger and make the situation similar to a sinister cases, so a little patience and caution is needed.
Yet another soul harboring example is what I call an innocent harboring. These are the instances of parent and child (or children), and most often involves confusion in the involved souls. The spirit of the parent will not let go of their child, leaving them both trapped on the earth plane. Sometimes this is a case of not fully understanding or accepting that they are no longer alive, so clinging onto their child is completely understandable. But unwittingly, the spirit of the parent is harboring their child, and letting go will help them both to move on. In this case, we should try and gain the trust of the parent and convince them a better place is waiting for her and the child. With a spirit highly confused or unwilling to accept death, this can be difficult and take some time.
I hope these examples help to give a better understanding to this rare but serious phenomena we may encounter. No matter how rare, being prepared and having at least a basic understanding of any type of situation you may find yourself in is of extreme importance. As mediums, our role in paranormal investigating is twofold. Providing information to help the investigation, and more importantly to help spirits. Regardless of the understanding the technical side has for what we do, it is our duty to use our gifts to help others, living or deceased.
At times these instances have sinister leanings, where one entity may intimidate, torment, and overpower another, keeping them trapped at a location. It's important to remember that the personality and demeanor of someone will not change after death, especially when remaining earthbound. If one was a sadistic and controlling person in life, so will they be in death. Most often the angry entity refuses to move on to the next state of being out of fear of judgment, and rather than be alone, he or she selfishly harbors other spirits. There is truth in the saying "misery loves company." Although this is very rare, when it comes to soul harboring, this is a worst case scenario. The best solution to this type of case is to discover and work with the spirits he or she is harboring first and get them to move on, but you have to be ready for resistance. Sometimes the spirits in which the angry entity is harboring are not even from the same time period or have any relation in life. But once the harbored spirits are helped to move on, the now alone entity can be dealt with and either helped to move on, or removed by spiritual methods.
In contrast, there are instances in which the dominant entity is not negative or malevolent at all. These spirits usually have strong but benign personalities, and often had some kind of leadership role in life with the spirits it is harboring. Instead of trapping souls against their will, the stronger entity is simply influencing and convincing them to stay, often out of a sense of loyalty or duty. A haunted ship could be used as a prime example of this type of situation. The soul of a commanding officer keeps his crew with him, not by force but influence. Though the nature of this example is seemingly benign, it cannot be ignored that these others souls would have likely moved on if not for the attraction to the harboring spirit. For this case, it is a good idea to try and work with the dominant energy first. If you can pursued he or she move on, then the subordinate spirits are likely to follow suit. Trying to work with the harbored spirits first can incite anger and make the situation similar to a sinister cases, so a little patience and caution is needed.
Yet another soul harboring example is what I call an innocent harboring. These are the instances of parent and child (or children), and most often involves confusion in the involved souls. The spirit of the parent will not let go of their child, leaving them both trapped on the earth plane. Sometimes this is a case of not fully understanding or accepting that they are no longer alive, so clinging onto their child is completely understandable. But unwittingly, the spirit of the parent is harboring their child, and letting go will help them both to move on. In this case, we should try and gain the trust of the parent and convince them a better place is waiting for her and the child. With a spirit highly confused or unwilling to accept death, this can be difficult and take some time.
I hope these examples help to give a better understanding to this rare but serious phenomena we may encounter. No matter how rare, being prepared and having at least a basic understanding of any type of situation you may find yourself in is of extreme importance. As mediums, our role in paranormal investigating is twofold. Providing information to help the investigation, and more importantly to help spirits. Regardless of the understanding the technical side has for what we do, it is our duty to use our gifts to help others, living or deceased.
Simple Spirituality
Spirituality or "being spiritual" is on the rise especially in the western world, and could even be called a buzz word in today's society. More and more individuals are choosing this path over traditional religions, or still follow a certain belief system yet do not involve themselves with particular "house of worship" or set of traditions. Instead, they simply practice on their own and follow the moral and ethical teaching of their faith to the best of their ability. So what exactly is spirituality? There are many schools of thought with various answers to this question; but I'd like to explore the complexities of this subject.
Religion vs. Spirituality
There is a definite separation of spirituality from any religion, but they do run parallel to one another. This line of separation can become blurred to many, and there are certain things we should keep in mind. One can follow a set of rules with unwavering conviction, attend each and every religious function of their faith, and be able to recite uncountable quotes word for word from religious texts. Even so, this does not necessarily make this person spiritual. The main difference between being religious and spiritual, is the application of beliefs and teachings into daily life. What good is following a belief system so strictly if you cannot understand it's true message? Religious texts and traditions are man made and just a small part of the big picture. So many groups argue relentlessly over minute details of interpretation, sometimes taking these writings far too literally. This, and the fact that many religions have not changed at all, adjusting to modern times is just part of the reason many have turned away from organized religion. One who is spiritual is able to follow the teachings they choose and can read between the lines of religious texts understanding and adopting it's message first. We should never allow ourselves to become limited on our paths of learning and spiritual discovery by the words of other men, no matter how long ago they were written. What is good, just, and moral should not be dictated by a set of texts and traditions, but by our own minds and insight.
Communication
The most beautiful part of spirituality is that the focus is on your personal relationship with the Divine. No matter how you see and choose to worship him/her/them. This communication should be two way, and we should not only pray for what we want and need, but also listen. This requires being able to look into oneself unselfishly and openly, asking for guidance and enlightenment. Allowing the Divine to provide you with insight and answers, which can come in many ways. It could come to you like an affirmation, from a conversation with someone, or even a reading. When it comes to communication, a question was posed to me once which I found very interesting. Being in Western society I'll use Christianity as an example. "If you were reading the Bible and God himself appeared before you with a message, would you turn him away or ask him to wait?" This may seem like a silly question and I'm sure everyone would answer emphatically "No." But this does happen quite often to those who are not open to listening. Having an open line of communication with your higher power is of the utmost importance, and really is the heart of spirituality. Just be sure to keep it an ongoing two way conversation.
Spirituality in Daily Life
Doing all we can to live a spiritual life really is key and it can be much easier than we think. Keeping a strong personal connection with the Divine and following moral values is really the cornerstone of spirituality. We are but human beings and we all make mistakes. We should learn from them to become better people, instead of letting regrets weigh us down. Some perceive living a spiritual life as having to let go completely of the material world, being completely selfless, and allowing nothing else but your faith to govern your life. This is simply not the case at all. Whether you are going to work to provide for your family, cooking dinner for your children, helping out a friend, giving advice to someone, and so on... These are not only human acts, but spiritual ones as well. They may seem like just a mundane part of everyday life, but these are the acts of goodness the Divine has put you on this planet to do. I love the saying "You may only be a person in this world, but for someone, you're the world." In daily life, it's all about having positive intentions to help ourselves and others. What could be more spiritual than that?
Religion vs. Spirituality
There is a definite separation of spirituality from any religion, but they do run parallel to one another. This line of separation can become blurred to many, and there are certain things we should keep in mind. One can follow a set of rules with unwavering conviction, attend each and every religious function of their faith, and be able to recite uncountable quotes word for word from religious texts. Even so, this does not necessarily make this person spiritual. The main difference between being religious and spiritual, is the application of beliefs and teachings into daily life. What good is following a belief system so strictly if you cannot understand it's true message? Religious texts and traditions are man made and just a small part of the big picture. So many groups argue relentlessly over minute details of interpretation, sometimes taking these writings far too literally. This, and the fact that many religions have not changed at all, adjusting to modern times is just part of the reason many have turned away from organized religion. One who is spiritual is able to follow the teachings they choose and can read between the lines of religious texts understanding and adopting it's message first. We should never allow ourselves to become limited on our paths of learning and spiritual discovery by the words of other men, no matter how long ago they were written. What is good, just, and moral should not be dictated by a set of texts and traditions, but by our own minds and insight.
Communication
The most beautiful part of spirituality is that the focus is on your personal relationship with the Divine. No matter how you see and choose to worship him/her/them. This communication should be two way, and we should not only pray for what we want and need, but also listen. This requires being able to look into oneself unselfishly and openly, asking for guidance and enlightenment. Allowing the Divine to provide you with insight and answers, which can come in many ways. It could come to you like an affirmation, from a conversation with someone, or even a reading. When it comes to communication, a question was posed to me once which I found very interesting. Being in Western society I'll use Christianity as an example. "If you were reading the Bible and God himself appeared before you with a message, would you turn him away or ask him to wait?" This may seem like a silly question and I'm sure everyone would answer emphatically "No." But this does happen quite often to those who are not open to listening. Having an open line of communication with your higher power is of the utmost importance, and really is the heart of spirituality. Just be sure to keep it an ongoing two way conversation.
Spirituality in Daily Life
Doing all we can to live a spiritual life really is key and it can be much easier than we think. Keeping a strong personal connection with the Divine and following moral values is really the cornerstone of spirituality. We are but human beings and we all make mistakes. We should learn from them to become better people, instead of letting regrets weigh us down. Some perceive living a spiritual life as having to let go completely of the material world, being completely selfless, and allowing nothing else but your faith to govern your life. This is simply not the case at all. Whether you are going to work to provide for your family, cooking dinner for your children, helping out a friend, giving advice to someone, and so on... These are not only human acts, but spiritual ones as well. They may seem like just a mundane part of everyday life, but these are the acts of goodness the Divine has put you on this planet to do. I love the saying "You may only be a person in this world, but for someone, you're the world." In daily life, it's all about having positive intentions to help ourselves and others. What could be more spiritual than that?
Fate of the Paranormal Field
A thought came to me recently that I feel very moved to share, even though some may not agree with what I have to say. But regardless, looking at the current path of the paranormal field I think this deserves some attention.
Due to the countless charlatans, fakes, and frauds, those of us with "psychic" abilities are all lumped into one group and discounted by the majority of society. This stands true even by many in the paranormal field. We can ask for no money, uphold a solid reputation, and have the greatest of intentions to help others, but the negative stigma surrounding all psychics is still there.
With the ever growing trend of fraudulent paranormal teams; over time this fate is destined to befall the paranormal field as well. Just as it is with psychics, it won't matter how experienced, skilled, or ethical you portray yourself. The air of distrust will loom over everyone involved in the field. The mudslinging between rival groups calling each other fake, not for ethical reasons, but jealousy, just adds to this as well. Just as it has happened with psychics, it will appear that everyone is just trying to make money by getting on TV and/or becoming famous. Do we really want greed to be seen as the main motivation behind what we all do? The TV craze will eventually fade away, and those of us that love this field will want to continue our work... but by then, what credibility will be left?
For myself, like many others in the psychic community, we have to live most of our lives with a taboo of even talking about our heightened senses with most of society. No matter what we do or how righteous our intentions, we still have to endure notions of being "fake", "frauds", or even "crazy". For those of you involved in the paranormal field, no matter how scientific and technical your practices, these terms may become the bulk of society's impression of you as well. Though it would be quite ironic for those involved in the paranormal field who bash psychics to see what it's like to be treated that way... But investigators have the option of walking away from the field, psychics cannot walk away from what we are.
If this field becomes completely discredited, and all paranormal investigators and researchers are treated much the same as the psychic community, how many of you will remain involved? I'm sure there will be a mass exodus from the field and only a fraction of those involved today will stand up to the constant scrutiny. I'm not saying this will be an overnight process, but with the current state of the field and the direction we are heading, I can see things beginning to spiral out of control.
Due to the countless charlatans, fakes, and frauds, those of us with "psychic" abilities are all lumped into one group and discounted by the majority of society. This stands true even by many in the paranormal field. We can ask for no money, uphold a solid reputation, and have the greatest of intentions to help others, but the negative stigma surrounding all psychics is still there.
With the ever growing trend of fraudulent paranormal teams; over time this fate is destined to befall the paranormal field as well. Just as it is with psychics, it won't matter how experienced, skilled, or ethical you portray yourself. The air of distrust will loom over everyone involved in the field. The mudslinging between rival groups calling each other fake, not for ethical reasons, but jealousy, just adds to this as well. Just as it has happened with psychics, it will appear that everyone is just trying to make money by getting on TV and/or becoming famous. Do we really want greed to be seen as the main motivation behind what we all do? The TV craze will eventually fade away, and those of us that love this field will want to continue our work... but by then, what credibility will be left?
For myself, like many others in the psychic community, we have to live most of our lives with a taboo of even talking about our heightened senses with most of society. No matter what we do or how righteous our intentions, we still have to endure notions of being "fake", "frauds", or even "crazy". For those of you involved in the paranormal field, no matter how scientific and technical your practices, these terms may become the bulk of society's impression of you as well. Though it would be quite ironic for those involved in the paranormal field who bash psychics to see what it's like to be treated that way... But investigators have the option of walking away from the field, psychics cannot walk away from what we are.
If this field becomes completely discredited, and all paranormal investigators and researchers are treated much the same as the psychic community, how many of you will remain involved? I'm sure there will be a mass exodus from the field and only a fraction of those involved today will stand up to the constant scrutiny. I'm not saying this will be an overnight process, but with the current state of the field and the direction we are heading, I can see things beginning to spiral out of control.
Psychic Abilities: Natural or Supernatural
There are different schools of thought when it comes to the source of psychic abilities. Many argue their beliefs and theories, whether it's based on religion or personal beliefs. Is there a definitive answer to the question? Like many other things beyond our current human understanding, this is also shrouded in mystery. It really comes down to personal belief and faith to find the answer that speaks truth to you. I'd like to explore these two concepts, and maybe help those who are impartial to the subject gain some insight.
Supernatural
Those who believe the source of psychic abilities are supernatural, see these abilities as a "gift" from a higher power only given to a select few. The information they receive is seen to come directly from a Divine source, similar to the prophets or various religious texts. The degree in which someone is "gifted" varies, with some having stronger abilities then other and you can only work with what you are given. Why some people are gifted while others are not is not entirely clear, and perceived as simply being the will of the divine. With that being said, the use of one's gift is meant to be used in service to divine, when it comes to this school of thought.
Natural
In contrast, those that believe it is natural, see psychic abilities as something all human beings are capable of through development. Everyone has a "6th sense" to some degree, with some individuals having a stronger natural affinity to consciously gain control of it. This is compared to other natural talents, i.e. sports, singing, playing an instrument, etc. Anyone can learn to hone these skills with time and practice, but for some it just comes more "natural". The source of the information a psychic receives varies depending on beliefs, but some common theories are: being able to read energy, perceiving another plane of existence, or simply use of another part of the brain we are yet to understand.
Evolution
This falls into the natural explanation category, and I find this theory to be very intriguing. Some believe that mankind is continuing to evolve, expanding the use of our brains, increasing our senses, and possibly gaining new ones. Living in modern times, what better ability could mankind develop than being able to access information of the unknown. The evolution theory could also explain why more and more individuals with abilities are surfacing, and why it seems to run in families. I'm not too sure what I think about this theory, but it is interesting indeed.
My purpose in writing this is not to sway anyone's personal beliefs on this matter, as this is really a subject of faith. I simply hoped to enlighten on the two sides of the coin, and let anyone who reads this come to their own conclusion. I personally believe psychic abilities are a gift, in the sense that some are more attune to these abilities than others. I know there is some controversy with using the term "gift" as some see it as pretentious, denoting you possess something beyond what any others have. This simply is not true... For example, what do we call people who have natural talent in sports or music? We call them gifted athletes or gifted musicians. The principal is exactly the same when it comes to psychic ability. Speaking for myself, I see a balance between both natural and supernatural. I believe psychic abilities are something we all have access to and can harness through development, time and practice. As a spiritual person, I feel that it is part of the divine's will (no matter how you see or worship him/her/them) to use the abilities and talents you are given to the best of your ability, and for the greater good.
Supernatural
Those who believe the source of psychic abilities are supernatural, see these abilities as a "gift" from a higher power only given to a select few. The information they receive is seen to come directly from a Divine source, similar to the prophets or various religious texts. The degree in which someone is "gifted" varies, with some having stronger abilities then other and you can only work with what you are given. Why some people are gifted while others are not is not entirely clear, and perceived as simply being the will of the divine. With that being said, the use of one's gift is meant to be used in service to divine, when it comes to this school of thought.
Natural
In contrast, those that believe it is natural, see psychic abilities as something all human beings are capable of through development. Everyone has a "6th sense" to some degree, with some individuals having a stronger natural affinity to consciously gain control of it. This is compared to other natural talents, i.e. sports, singing, playing an instrument, etc. Anyone can learn to hone these skills with time and practice, but for some it just comes more "natural". The source of the information a psychic receives varies depending on beliefs, but some common theories are: being able to read energy, perceiving another plane of existence, or simply use of another part of the brain we are yet to understand.
Evolution
This falls into the natural explanation category, and I find this theory to be very intriguing. Some believe that mankind is continuing to evolve, expanding the use of our brains, increasing our senses, and possibly gaining new ones. Living in modern times, what better ability could mankind develop than being able to access information of the unknown. The evolution theory could also explain why more and more individuals with abilities are surfacing, and why it seems to run in families. I'm not too sure what I think about this theory, but it is interesting indeed.
My purpose in writing this is not to sway anyone's personal beliefs on this matter, as this is really a subject of faith. I simply hoped to enlighten on the two sides of the coin, and let anyone who reads this come to their own conclusion. I personally believe psychic abilities are a gift, in the sense that some are more attune to these abilities than others. I know there is some controversy with using the term "gift" as some see it as pretentious, denoting you possess something beyond what any others have. This simply is not true... For example, what do we call people who have natural talent in sports or music? We call them gifted athletes or gifted musicians. The principal is exactly the same when it comes to psychic ability. Speaking for myself, I see a balance between both natural and supernatural. I believe psychic abilities are something we all have access to and can harness through development, time and practice. As a spiritual person, I feel that it is part of the divine's will (no matter how you see or worship him/her/them) to use the abilities and talents you are given to the best of your ability, and for the greater good.
Paranormal Respect
The subject of unity in the paranormal community has been a hot topic for some time now, with various views on it's possibilities. At first, this was something I did not feel moved to address, because it has been covered by so many others mostly with an air of negativity. But I do have a perspective I'd like to share that I believe simplifies the heart of the matter.
Is unity possible in any field as a whole? The short answer to this question is of course "no", but it's important to remember that regardless of field, we are individual human beings first with our own thoughts and views. Looking at the paranormal field specifically, the diversity of those involved is absolutely incredible. Between age ranges, educational backgrounds, belief systems (spiritual & scientific), demographics, and the various walks of life, we are without a doubt one of the most eclectic group of individuals in a singular field. With that said, having differences with one anther is bound to happen from time to time. But what is important is in how we treat one another, trying to put our personal differences aside.
It seems that the line between debate and argument has become blurred for many. In a field dedicated to studying the unknown, so much of what we do is based on nothing more than theory. Regardless of that fact, sometimes groups or individuals argue to the point of creating animosity over what is basically no more than an opinion. This is the disease of ego that plagues humanity, and in trying to create a legitimate scientific field, this must be left behind. Nobody has all the answers no matter what level of experience, and there is so much we can learn from one another if we will just take the time to listen. For example, I personally am a very spiritual person and I know many will not agree with all that I have to say. If out of an entire theory, just a single statement provokes thought, or rings true to someone, that is a breakthrough and we should be satisfied with that.
Why limit yourself to the confines of your own personal beliefs and knowledge? Listen to your colleagues with an open mind and ask questions in a respectful manner to gain understanding. It seems that many also limit themselves to a particular clique of friends who hold the same beliefs as they do, and are unwilling to expand or see beyond this small group. It's great to make friends with similar interests, or those in which you would enjoy doing hands on field work with. But to see all others involved in the field as less than equals, or incorrect in their practices or theories is ultimately a disservice to the field and yourself. We may have to simply agree to disagree at times, but that does not mean that our minds should become rigid and closed to ideas beyond our familiarity. Don't be afraid to broaden your horizons and network with others... you never know what you could be missing.
Personally, I feel that it all comes down to respect for one another.As a whole, I feel the instances of immaturity, competition, and falsehood are actually a minority, but gain a lot of attention which does make them seem more common. We should all stand firm against these acts, but remember this is not so much a unity issue, as it is a human one. We all do not think exactly alike and this should be seen as a positive rather than a negative. For the growth of any field, it takes the various thoughts and beliefs of many to be examined and explored, so we can make real progress. The key to all this, is that we treat each other with the utmost respect on our journey of discovery. Respect across the board in the paranormal field may not equal complete unity, but it's really one of our only viable solutions to our current issues. Holistically, respect for one another is really all we need.
Is unity possible in any field as a whole? The short answer to this question is of course "no", but it's important to remember that regardless of field, we are individual human beings first with our own thoughts and views. Looking at the paranormal field specifically, the diversity of those involved is absolutely incredible. Between age ranges, educational backgrounds, belief systems (spiritual & scientific), demographics, and the various walks of life, we are without a doubt one of the most eclectic group of individuals in a singular field. With that said, having differences with one anther is bound to happen from time to time. But what is important is in how we treat one another, trying to put our personal differences aside.
It seems that the line between debate and argument has become blurred for many. In a field dedicated to studying the unknown, so much of what we do is based on nothing more than theory. Regardless of that fact, sometimes groups or individuals argue to the point of creating animosity over what is basically no more than an opinion. This is the disease of ego that plagues humanity, and in trying to create a legitimate scientific field, this must be left behind. Nobody has all the answers no matter what level of experience, and there is so much we can learn from one another if we will just take the time to listen. For example, I personally am a very spiritual person and I know many will not agree with all that I have to say. If out of an entire theory, just a single statement provokes thought, or rings true to someone, that is a breakthrough and we should be satisfied with that.
Why limit yourself to the confines of your own personal beliefs and knowledge? Listen to your colleagues with an open mind and ask questions in a respectful manner to gain understanding. It seems that many also limit themselves to a particular clique of friends who hold the same beliefs as they do, and are unwilling to expand or see beyond this small group. It's great to make friends with similar interests, or those in which you would enjoy doing hands on field work with. But to see all others involved in the field as less than equals, or incorrect in their practices or theories is ultimately a disservice to the field and yourself. We may have to simply agree to disagree at times, but that does not mean that our minds should become rigid and closed to ideas beyond our familiarity. Don't be afraid to broaden your horizons and network with others... you never know what you could be missing.
Personally, I feel that it all comes down to respect for one another.As a whole, I feel the instances of immaturity, competition, and falsehood are actually a minority, but gain a lot of attention which does make them seem more common. We should all stand firm against these acts, but remember this is not so much a unity issue, as it is a human one. We all do not think exactly alike and this should be seen as a positive rather than a negative. For the growth of any field, it takes the various thoughts and beliefs of many to be examined and explored, so we can make real progress. The key to all this, is that we treat each other with the utmost respect on our journey of discovery. Respect across the board in the paranormal field may not equal complete unity, but it's really one of our only viable solutions to our current issues. Holistically, respect for one another is really all we need.
Post-Cleansing Responsibility
As one who performs home cleansing ceremonies for families and individuals; I have the great honor and rewarding experience of helping others to release negativity from their surroundings. I am involved in many facets of the "paranormal field", but I personally feel cleansings stand independently from all other aspects of the field, and to me, it is by far the most rewarding part of what I do. Before I am to perform a ritual, there are certain things to be aware of that I believe are imperative for the client to understand to ensuring the cleansing has a lasting effect for all. I'd like to briefly discuss the importance of these beliefs, to hopefully help promote understanding and erase misconceptions.
It seems to be a common belief that if one is plagued by negative energy in their home whether it be from a spirit or even the imprint from a traumatic event; a clergy member, shaman, demonologist, or others experienced in performing a ritual can just come in and make it all go away permanently. With absolutely nothing having to be done afterward. This simply is not the case. To help create a lasting effect, help from the client, post cleansing, is absolutely required. What we project as individuals is so important If one lives a negative life, they will attract negativity as well. The power of a cleansing comes from the Divine itself, through the direct faith of the practitioner. All negativity will be removed through the ritual, but if the client conducts negative thoughts and behaviors on an ongoing basis after the cleansing, this will be severely counter productive.
The school of thought that only we can truly help ourselves stands true in this situation as well. By asking for help from others we are helping ourselves, but to do nothing with the help we've received can leave us right back where we started. As a cleansing practitioner, I feel it's important to look at clients holistically and make suggestions on how to enhance or repair their lives if it appears it is something they also need. No matter what level of spirituality the cleansing practitioner possesses, we cannot pass that positive outlook and faith onto another. We can help to inspire, but the individual must find the strength and walk that journey by themselves and for themselves. The positive energies invoked during a ritual have such a greater and lasting effect if those who dwell in the location are also projecting positivity.
There have been many, many cases of homes and locations inhabited by spirits that have been cleansed, yet eventually the spirit(s) eventually return. No one has a definitive answer as to why this happens, and it is very possible that some cleansings just don't have enough of a lasting energy imprint to release these spirits indefinitely. It is imperative to discuss with clients how immensely important their mindsets and actions are after the cleansing, as well as checking in with them periodically to see how they are doing. The rules of the spirit world do not differ much from the natural world. It's so wonderful to know we can take part in something to truly help others, and we should do all we can. But like everything else in our existence, one must also want to help themselves, and make a conscious effort to do so.
It seems to be a common belief that if one is plagued by negative energy in their home whether it be from a spirit or even the imprint from a traumatic event; a clergy member, shaman, demonologist, or others experienced in performing a ritual can just come in and make it all go away permanently. With absolutely nothing having to be done afterward. This simply is not the case. To help create a lasting effect, help from the client, post cleansing, is absolutely required. What we project as individuals is so important If one lives a negative life, they will attract negativity as well. The power of a cleansing comes from the Divine itself, through the direct faith of the practitioner. All negativity will be removed through the ritual, but if the client conducts negative thoughts and behaviors on an ongoing basis after the cleansing, this will be severely counter productive.
The school of thought that only we can truly help ourselves stands true in this situation as well. By asking for help from others we are helping ourselves, but to do nothing with the help we've received can leave us right back where we started. As a cleansing practitioner, I feel it's important to look at clients holistically and make suggestions on how to enhance or repair their lives if it appears it is something they also need. No matter what level of spirituality the cleansing practitioner possesses, we cannot pass that positive outlook and faith onto another. We can help to inspire, but the individual must find the strength and walk that journey by themselves and for themselves. The positive energies invoked during a ritual have such a greater and lasting effect if those who dwell in the location are also projecting positivity.
There have been many, many cases of homes and locations inhabited by spirits that have been cleansed, yet eventually the spirit(s) eventually return. No one has a definitive answer as to why this happens, and it is very possible that some cleansings just don't have enough of a lasting energy imprint to release these spirits indefinitely. It is imperative to discuss with clients how immensely important their mindsets and actions are after the cleansing, as well as checking in with them periodically to see how they are doing. The rules of the spirit world do not differ much from the natural world. It's so wonderful to know we can take part in something to truly help others, and we should do all we can. But like everything else in our existence, one must also want to help themselves, and make a conscious effort to do so.
Paranormal Reality Check
In the ever growing and evolving field of paranormal research and investigations, the schools of though and philosophies can differ quite a bit from person to person. Healthy debates and dialogs have been opened between teams and individuals, in hopes of trying to better understand each others methods of finding answers to the unknown. But sometimes these conversations become heated which leads to animosity and pointing fingers of who is right and who is wrong. Having such a wide array of personality types, from the completely skeptical scientific minds, to the religious and spiritual practitioners and everything in between, these disagreements are bound to happen. Seeking answers to the details of the unknown is like posing any other question. Would it be correct to assume there must be a right or wrong answer? If so, who do we believe, and who holds the answers?
The first and greatest realization all those involved in the field should have is that no one has all the answers. We have no experts, and even the most experienced individuals in the field cannot provide us with definitive answers. In no way am I saying we should not trust the wisdom the greatest experienced members of our community can pass on to us. As far as research methods, techniques, and experience their are different levels from person to person. But in overall understanding and answers to what we are all seeking, we are all on the same playing field. So why argue over what no one can possibly answer? We are all novices in a sense, regardless of time spent investigating. We should always share what we have learned without fear of ridicule and compare with one another openly and objectively. In supporting one another we can advance much farther and faster than working against one another.
What methods are good for the advancement of the field seems to be a topic of great controversy with many different views. Some believe we can only advance through scientific means, others through spiritual, and some a combination of the two methods. How do we know which direction we should go to get closer to the answers we seek? The short answer to that question is that we do not. Personally, I wonder why it seems so difficult to simply experiment with any methods we choose to try. Even if something seems unorthodox why not try it? This is how discoveries are made, by thinking outside the box. All current methods used today, whether scientific or spiritual leaves us with mixed results at best. Why use the same equipment over and over, or the same techniques everyone else is using? Wanting to conform or out of fear of ridicule... Being on an even playing field with discovery, we all should have the freedom to openly experiment with the methods that interest us as individuals.
The diversity of individuals in the field is extremely extensive, and some question who should and should not be involved. Young people seem to take the brunt of this way of thinking, but I feel there are a few things that should be considered. Because of the popularity of paranormal TV shows, some young people and others are said to only be emulating what they see on these shows and nothing more. Which is frowned upon greatly by the majority of paranormal community. Because of age or not knowing anyone in the field, they choose to venture on their own or create a group of their own to experiment. Excluding those that vandalize, trespass, are disrespectful and other unethical practices. What harm is in that? It's important to remember that this is a field where no one is getting paid, with no regulations or restrictions. It is in fact more of a hobby than anything else. So who can say who should or should not be involved in a hobby? Would it be better for these young people to be involved in unsavory activities many other young people find themselves in rather than something constructive? Other than obvious frauds and what not, instead of laughing at what we see as mistakes these young people are making, why not try and pass on our wisdom. We are all on an even playing field, even with the young people. But we can share our experience to help them along the way. Here is an example just to show how even the playing field is: If you were to send "George", a 30 year veteran of paranormal investigating into a known haunted location with an audio recorder, have him perform an EVP session then leave. After, send in "Billy" to the same location, on his first investigation ever knowing only what he's seen on TV to do the same thing. Because of experience, is it a guaranteed fact George will capture more EVPs than Billy? Of course not... everything right now is by chance. Capturing evidence is at the forefront of this field, but as human beings we have very little influence as to if, or how much evidence we can capture.
The entertainers of the paranormal field and those that want to become entertainers, seem to be a huge target by the majority of the paranormal community. Terms like "fame seekers" and "just looking for your 15 minutes of fame" are throw around and considered some of the most vile insults one can say to another. The connotation that paranormal TV is ruining the field is a widespread belief that is openly professed. I think the community as a whole will agree that these shows have brought the paranormal to the mainstream making it easier for people to talk about experiences or seek help if the need it. Other than that, all of these entertainers are seen as glamorizing the paranormal and involved in fraudulent activities to make money. My question is, how do we really know what motivates these people or what goes on behind the scenes? I take into account that being on TV they are in fact entertainers, and with that said, their shows need to be entertaining. Does that mean that anything and all that they do on or off camera in the paranormal field is faked or exaggerated? What happens in the editing room is often out of the control of those who appear on TV. So putting all the blame on those who appear on screen doesn't seem entirely fair. But the biggest problem everyone points out, is that the TV craze has sprouted copycats wanting to get on TV too. This is similar to garage bands trying to make it big, but a million to one will only play small venues. My stance on this is let people dream... Even if someone wants to become an entertainer, that is completely up to them. The problem lies in those who use underhanded means by promoting fabricated and acted out scenarios to gain attention. But I also wonder, if they are not getting involved in residential cases that involve families, how much harm are they really doing? These people only want to become entertainers, and when questioned about the authenticity of what they do you will likely just be ignored. More importantly, do you think a family needing help would see one of their videos and think they should be called in to help? We all know when the TV fad ends all the entertainers and those that want to become entertainers will leave the field completely. In the mean time, if you do not agree with these people it's probably best to just ignore them or simply change the channel.
It's quite puzzling why so many groups and individuals point fingers at one another claiming the other is damaging the field. Why is everyone so worried about everyone else? It seems that it's almost come to a point of being political, where teams and individuals feel they have to walk on eggshells to maintain a good standing reputation. Disagreements can range from having to do with evidence to direct personal issues. But how and why do these disagreements turn into what is good for the field and everyone else? It really makes little sense, and if we are watching each other for chances to ridicule rather than to learn, what good is that for anyone? One thing to consider is that most teams handle either commercial, public, or benign residential cases. As long as teams aren't engaging in illegal or immoral activities, what harm are they doing? So the watchdog mentality really is counterproductive and serves little purpose other than an individual's agenda. The only instance I can see a teams moral standing should be questioned, is if they handle residential cases in which a family is frightened and needs help. Which is a very rare occurrence, and that family would likely seek help through clergy, reputable word of mouth, or the most tenured and experienced team they can find. Do you think they will care who is most liked in the paranormal community or who is fighting on Facebook or any other internet forum? Why not focus on what you are doing or can do in the field and make friends instead of rivals? We're not all on opposing teams which seems to be the mentality for many. We are all segments of the same team.
The clash of people and personalities will always be an issue in everyday life and in every field on this planet. The ego and the competitive nature of people is something that will never go away, so we might as well except it for what it is. Except the veteran, those new to the field, and even the entertainers as people just doing what they enjoy. What's important is that we stand true to who we are, and allow others to be who they are as well. In this hobby profession, we are all on an even playing field as far as finding answers to the unknown. No real professionals and no experts... Focus on yourself first, and place absolutely no limit on what you feel compelled to experiment with.. Who with absolute certainty can say what you are doing is wrong? Most importantly, stand up for what you believe, but also be open minded to really listen and learn from what others have to say. That is how this field and we as individuals can truly grow and evolve...
The first and greatest realization all those involved in the field should have is that no one has all the answers. We have no experts, and even the most experienced individuals in the field cannot provide us with definitive answers. In no way am I saying we should not trust the wisdom the greatest experienced members of our community can pass on to us. As far as research methods, techniques, and experience their are different levels from person to person. But in overall understanding and answers to what we are all seeking, we are all on the same playing field. So why argue over what no one can possibly answer? We are all novices in a sense, regardless of time spent investigating. We should always share what we have learned without fear of ridicule and compare with one another openly and objectively. In supporting one another we can advance much farther and faster than working against one another.
What methods are good for the advancement of the field seems to be a topic of great controversy with many different views. Some believe we can only advance through scientific means, others through spiritual, and some a combination of the two methods. How do we know which direction we should go to get closer to the answers we seek? The short answer to that question is that we do not. Personally, I wonder why it seems so difficult to simply experiment with any methods we choose to try. Even if something seems unorthodox why not try it? This is how discoveries are made, by thinking outside the box. All current methods used today, whether scientific or spiritual leaves us with mixed results at best. Why use the same equipment over and over, or the same techniques everyone else is using? Wanting to conform or out of fear of ridicule... Being on an even playing field with discovery, we all should have the freedom to openly experiment with the methods that interest us as individuals.
The diversity of individuals in the field is extremely extensive, and some question who should and should not be involved. Young people seem to take the brunt of this way of thinking, but I feel there are a few things that should be considered. Because of the popularity of paranormal TV shows, some young people and others are said to only be emulating what they see on these shows and nothing more. Which is frowned upon greatly by the majority of paranormal community. Because of age or not knowing anyone in the field, they choose to venture on their own or create a group of their own to experiment. Excluding those that vandalize, trespass, are disrespectful and other unethical practices. What harm is in that? It's important to remember that this is a field where no one is getting paid, with no regulations or restrictions. It is in fact more of a hobby than anything else. So who can say who should or should not be involved in a hobby? Would it be better for these young people to be involved in unsavory activities many other young people find themselves in rather than something constructive? Other than obvious frauds and what not, instead of laughing at what we see as mistakes these young people are making, why not try and pass on our wisdom. We are all on an even playing field, even with the young people. But we can share our experience to help them along the way. Here is an example just to show how even the playing field is: If you were to send "George", a 30 year veteran of paranormal investigating into a known haunted location with an audio recorder, have him perform an EVP session then leave. After, send in "Billy" to the same location, on his first investigation ever knowing only what he's seen on TV to do the same thing. Because of experience, is it a guaranteed fact George will capture more EVPs than Billy? Of course not... everything right now is by chance. Capturing evidence is at the forefront of this field, but as human beings we have very little influence as to if, or how much evidence we can capture.
The entertainers of the paranormal field and those that want to become entertainers, seem to be a huge target by the majority of the paranormal community. Terms like "fame seekers" and "just looking for your 15 minutes of fame" are throw around and considered some of the most vile insults one can say to another. The connotation that paranormal TV is ruining the field is a widespread belief that is openly professed. I think the community as a whole will agree that these shows have brought the paranormal to the mainstream making it easier for people to talk about experiences or seek help if the need it. Other than that, all of these entertainers are seen as glamorizing the paranormal and involved in fraudulent activities to make money. My question is, how do we really know what motivates these people or what goes on behind the scenes? I take into account that being on TV they are in fact entertainers, and with that said, their shows need to be entertaining. Does that mean that anything and all that they do on or off camera in the paranormal field is faked or exaggerated? What happens in the editing room is often out of the control of those who appear on TV. So putting all the blame on those who appear on screen doesn't seem entirely fair. But the biggest problem everyone points out, is that the TV craze has sprouted copycats wanting to get on TV too. This is similar to garage bands trying to make it big, but a million to one will only play small venues. My stance on this is let people dream... Even if someone wants to become an entertainer, that is completely up to them. The problem lies in those who use underhanded means by promoting fabricated and acted out scenarios to gain attention. But I also wonder, if they are not getting involved in residential cases that involve families, how much harm are they really doing? These people only want to become entertainers, and when questioned about the authenticity of what they do you will likely just be ignored. More importantly, do you think a family needing help would see one of their videos and think they should be called in to help? We all know when the TV fad ends all the entertainers and those that want to become entertainers will leave the field completely. In the mean time, if you do not agree with these people it's probably best to just ignore them or simply change the channel.
It's quite puzzling why so many groups and individuals point fingers at one another claiming the other is damaging the field. Why is everyone so worried about everyone else? It seems that it's almost come to a point of being political, where teams and individuals feel they have to walk on eggshells to maintain a good standing reputation. Disagreements can range from having to do with evidence to direct personal issues. But how and why do these disagreements turn into what is good for the field and everyone else? It really makes little sense, and if we are watching each other for chances to ridicule rather than to learn, what good is that for anyone? One thing to consider is that most teams handle either commercial, public, or benign residential cases. As long as teams aren't engaging in illegal or immoral activities, what harm are they doing? So the watchdog mentality really is counterproductive and serves little purpose other than an individual's agenda. The only instance I can see a teams moral standing should be questioned, is if they handle residential cases in which a family is frightened and needs help. Which is a very rare occurrence, and that family would likely seek help through clergy, reputable word of mouth, or the most tenured and experienced team they can find. Do you think they will care who is most liked in the paranormal community or who is fighting on Facebook or any other internet forum? Why not focus on what you are doing or can do in the field and make friends instead of rivals? We're not all on opposing teams which seems to be the mentality for many. We are all segments of the same team.
The clash of people and personalities will always be an issue in everyday life and in every field on this planet. The ego and the competitive nature of people is something that will never go away, so we might as well except it for what it is. Except the veteran, those new to the field, and even the entertainers as people just doing what they enjoy. What's important is that we stand true to who we are, and allow others to be who they are as well. In this hobby profession, we are all on an even playing field as far as finding answers to the unknown. No real professionals and no experts... Focus on yourself first, and place absolutely no limit on what you feel compelled to experiment with.. Who with absolute certainty can say what you are doing is wrong? Most importantly, stand up for what you believe, but also be open minded to really listen and learn from what others have to say. That is how this field and we as individuals can truly grow and evolve...
Avoid Spirit "Hitchhikers"
Having involvement in paranormal investigations, there are certain dangers all investigators should be aware of when going out into the field. In dealing with forces we do not fully understand, these dangers go beyond physical safety precautions we must be aware of in locations. What I am referring to are the spiritual implications in our attempts to communicate with the deceased and inhabiting the locations earthbound spirits reside. The most common danger and phenomena paranormal investigators experience are what is commonly referred to as "hitchhikers" or "tag-a-longs". Some spirits are not bound to a location, and can attach themselves to an investigator following them home. This is something we must be cautious and aware of as some of these spirits may have some negative intentions or could even be a malevolent spirit. I'd like to discuss some methods investigators can use to protect themselves and thwart these "hitchhikers" from being able to follow us.
Prayer
Prayers before and after investigations I feel is extremely important and empowering to us as human beings, even if it's silent and to ourselves. We have to remember that in dealing with being on a spiritual level, our best protection is finding our defense on the spiritual level as well. The exact belief system or any theology you follow doesn't matter, as basically ever religion has some prayers for protection. But most importantly is not the words that are spoken in prayer, but rather your faith in these words. You must believe wholeheartedly in the strength of your higher power's ability to transcend anything that may try to harm or follow you.
Relics and Symbols
There are some physical objects that can effect the spiritual realm as well, and we should definitely utilize them when needed. Whether these items be a Catholic rosary, Buddhist mala, Native American medicine bag, or any sacred symbol from any religion; these items hold power to protect us. What makes these objects so effective are both the spiritual vibration and power of faith they symbolize and hold within them. Many of us wear various symbols on necklaces, but we can carry these symbols anywhere on us to keep us safe.
Pictures
One method I often teach to everyone I know in the field is carrying a picture of a loved one who has passed on. Many involved in the field are very technical and scientific based individuals, so the traditional spiritual methods just don't feel comfortable to them. Most of us have lost a loved one whether it be a grandfather, grandmother, parent, etc. and there is power in asking for them to watch over us. The spiritual power of our ancestors seems to be lost in western culture, but is embraced in many belief systems. Before going on an investigation, ask for your loved one to be with you, watch over and protect you while carrying their picture. This method is so effective because of the sense of empowerment it gives us, but more importantly it gives us a very personalized connection to the Divine and the other side.
Salt
A personal favorite method I use is carrying some salt in my pocket. Salt is seen as a powerful symbol of purity and life in just about every belief system which makes it a universal cleanser of sorts. Simply carry some salt in your pocket whether in some kind of container or just loose in your pocket. When the investigation is complete, everything is packed away and you are about to get into your vehicle. Take the salt out of you pocket and cast it on the ground before you and either say a prayer, or make some kind of empowering statement. Just like with the prayer method, what is said is not nearly as important as your belief in the words that are spoken. Even a simple statement along the lines of "nothing is allowed to follow me", or "I am protected" is sufficient and can be effective.
"Hitchhikers" can be encountered in any investigation setting, from cemeteries to residential cases. So this is a real danger for all investigators no matter what we do. I hope these methods and explanations are found to be helpful and informative to others. I know there are other methods, but I just wanted to share the ones I personally use and have found to be effective. Those of us taking part in the paranormal field do so because of a passion and love for the field. But we must also be aware of all the dangers we may encounter and ways we can keep ourselves and our colleagues safe.
Prayer
Prayers before and after investigations I feel is extremely important and empowering to us as human beings, even if it's silent and to ourselves. We have to remember that in dealing with being on a spiritual level, our best protection is finding our defense on the spiritual level as well. The exact belief system or any theology you follow doesn't matter, as basically ever religion has some prayers for protection. But most importantly is not the words that are spoken in prayer, but rather your faith in these words. You must believe wholeheartedly in the strength of your higher power's ability to transcend anything that may try to harm or follow you.
Relics and Symbols
There are some physical objects that can effect the spiritual realm as well, and we should definitely utilize them when needed. Whether these items be a Catholic rosary, Buddhist mala, Native American medicine bag, or any sacred symbol from any religion; these items hold power to protect us. What makes these objects so effective are both the spiritual vibration and power of faith they symbolize and hold within them. Many of us wear various symbols on necklaces, but we can carry these symbols anywhere on us to keep us safe.
Pictures
One method I often teach to everyone I know in the field is carrying a picture of a loved one who has passed on. Many involved in the field are very technical and scientific based individuals, so the traditional spiritual methods just don't feel comfortable to them. Most of us have lost a loved one whether it be a grandfather, grandmother, parent, etc. and there is power in asking for them to watch over us. The spiritual power of our ancestors seems to be lost in western culture, but is embraced in many belief systems. Before going on an investigation, ask for your loved one to be with you, watch over and protect you while carrying their picture. This method is so effective because of the sense of empowerment it gives us, but more importantly it gives us a very personalized connection to the Divine and the other side.
Salt
A personal favorite method I use is carrying some salt in my pocket. Salt is seen as a powerful symbol of purity and life in just about every belief system which makes it a universal cleanser of sorts. Simply carry some salt in your pocket whether in some kind of container or just loose in your pocket. When the investigation is complete, everything is packed away and you are about to get into your vehicle. Take the salt out of you pocket and cast it on the ground before you and either say a prayer, or make some kind of empowering statement. Just like with the prayer method, what is said is not nearly as important as your belief in the words that are spoken. Even a simple statement along the lines of "nothing is allowed to follow me", or "I am protected" is sufficient and can be effective.
"Hitchhikers" can be encountered in any investigation setting, from cemeteries to residential cases. So this is a real danger for all investigators no matter what we do. I hope these methods and explanations are found to be helpful and informative to others. I know there are other methods, but I just wanted to share the ones I personally use and have found to be effective. Those of us taking part in the paranormal field do so because of a passion and love for the field. But we must also be aware of all the dangers we may encounter and ways we can keep ourselves and our colleagues safe.
The Technical and Spiritual Balancing Act of Paranormal Investigating
I'm a firm believer that the best paranormal research and investigation strategy is a balance of not only using scientific tools and experiments, but also utilizing spiritual methods. The most important point as in all teamwork, is working together and keeping everyone's roles in mind. When I do a walkthrough, during a paranormal research, of a location, I give information as it's coming to me but also keep in mind the instruments my team members are using that may be able to capture and/or measure information validating the impressions I am getting. Remembering this during paranormal investigation is not only a good way to validate experiences from a medium stand point, but also helps the team in capturing possible evidence.
A big part of the mediums job during a paranormal investigation is knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, regardless of what may be coming through at the moment. If the team is in the process of an EVP (electronic voice phenomena) session for example or trying other forms of communication through scientific methods, it's important to learn to wait and take a mental note of what you are feeling at that moment. and share it with the team at an appropriate time. This is to not only ensure the balance of the paranormal investigation, but also that even in the role of a medium you are helping the technical side by not getting in the way so to speak.
It would be a disservice to everyone if a medium just walked through a location talking the entire paranormal investigation disregarding the roles of his/her teammates. Just as it would be if the scientific side was to disregard their spiritual tools which can provide insights and information as well. Some teams have trouble finding this steady balance or choose to not use mediums at all, while other just seem to "click" naturally using all methods. Finding the right team to work with is important, and it can take some time, practice, and learning from one another on how to be the most efficient. Most importantly, everyone should feel equally involved in a paranormal investigation regardless of role.
Another great asset in having a medium as part of a paranormal investigation team is having one experienced in helping spirits to cross over, or can perform a blessing/cleansing if needed or requested. Especially in handling residential cases when most often a family is frightened and not sure what to do, which is why the call upon an investigation group to help in the first place. Even if the team captures scientific evidence for the client to review, what is really being done to help other then validating the family's claims? This is where the spiritual side of a team comes into play as well, providing not only information, but also a solution to the haunting.
On the flip side, I feel it is extremely important for mediums involved in paranormal research to be well versed in the scientific methods and uses of different instruments. Cross training mediums not only makes them an asset in being able to pick up instruments and help in scientific investigating. But also gives them a better knowledge of what his or her teammates are doing and what indicators they are looking for. A deep understanding of everyone's role and method of research is the key to success. I personally, find the use of scientific tools to be fascinating and enjoy going over evidence with the eye of a sceptic. It helps keep our field honest, and mediums should take part and become experienced in all avenues of paranormal investigation.
This is a brief overview of what I feel are great mind sets and methods for mediums as well as others, to insure a paranormal investigation has a healthy balance of spiritual or scientific aspects of research. When individuals performing various duties work in unison as a cohesive team, the outcomes are most often a smooth and wonderful paranormal investigation with all goals being achieved.
A big part of the mediums job during a paranormal investigation is knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, regardless of what may be coming through at the moment. If the team is in the process of an EVP (electronic voice phenomena) session for example or trying other forms of communication through scientific methods, it's important to learn to wait and take a mental note of what you are feeling at that moment. and share it with the team at an appropriate time. This is to not only ensure the balance of the paranormal investigation, but also that even in the role of a medium you are helping the technical side by not getting in the way so to speak.
It would be a disservice to everyone if a medium just walked through a location talking the entire paranormal investigation disregarding the roles of his/her teammates. Just as it would be if the scientific side was to disregard their spiritual tools which can provide insights and information as well. Some teams have trouble finding this steady balance or choose to not use mediums at all, while other just seem to "click" naturally using all methods. Finding the right team to work with is important, and it can take some time, practice, and learning from one another on how to be the most efficient. Most importantly, everyone should feel equally involved in a paranormal investigation regardless of role.
Another great asset in having a medium as part of a paranormal investigation team is having one experienced in helping spirits to cross over, or can perform a blessing/cleansing if needed or requested. Especially in handling residential cases when most often a family is frightened and not sure what to do, which is why the call upon an investigation group to help in the first place. Even if the team captures scientific evidence for the client to review, what is really being done to help other then validating the family's claims? This is where the spiritual side of a team comes into play as well, providing not only information, but also a solution to the haunting.
On the flip side, I feel it is extremely important for mediums involved in paranormal research to be well versed in the scientific methods and uses of different instruments. Cross training mediums not only makes them an asset in being able to pick up instruments and help in scientific investigating. But also gives them a better knowledge of what his or her teammates are doing and what indicators they are looking for. A deep understanding of everyone's role and method of research is the key to success. I personally, find the use of scientific tools to be fascinating and enjoy going over evidence with the eye of a sceptic. It helps keep our field honest, and mediums should take part and become experienced in all avenues of paranormal investigation.
This is a brief overview of what I feel are great mind sets and methods for mediums as well as others, to insure a paranormal investigation has a healthy balance of spiritual or scientific aspects of research. When individuals performing various duties work in unison as a cohesive team, the outcomes are most often a smooth and wonderful paranormal investigation with all goals being achieved.
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