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.