Psychology – Intriguing Phenomena of the Mind
December 13, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
John W. Martin asked:
Psychology – Intriguing Phenomena of the Mind
http://www.yallways.com
Strictly defined, psychology is the study of mental processes and behaviors. Psychologists study everything from interpersonal relationships to unconscious habits of the mind. They also attempt to relate behaviors and thoughts to neurological processes. While most professionals in this field work within the realm of mainstream science, some have adopted a focus on “paranormal psychology,” commonly referred to as parapsychology.
Parapsychology first developed as a field in the 19th century. In 1882, the Society for Psychical Research was founded in London to promote the critical evaluation of paranormal psychic phenomena. Three years later, psychologists in the United States created the American Society for Psychical Research. Both organizations still exist today and continue to conduct prominent research. They are now joined by other interested institutions, like the Parapsychological Association, and sections of major universities.
Parapsychology focuses on several key phenomena. One of the most heavily studied is extrasensory perception (ESP). ESP refers to the ability to garner information without using any of the known physical senses. This can include precognition, telepathy, and clairvoyance. A key method of ESP study has involved sensory-deprivation. When unable to use other sense, subjects are able to test supposed ESP abilities. Results from these so-called “ganzfeld experiments” seem to prove the existence of some ESP phenomena. However, such findings have not been confirmed by the general scientific community.
Some parapsychologists specifically focus on the survival of consciousness beyond the death of a person’s physical body. Most research in this area involves exploration of near-death experiences. These refer to instances where a person has come close to death or been revived after cited as medically deceased. In many such cases, subjects describe an “out of body experience” in which he or she was able to observe the situation from outside their physical self. Other subjects have reported communicating with deceased loved ones or spiritual figures. Today, this phenomenon is widely studied in universities, such as at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and by the International Association for Near-Death Studies.
A more obscure segment of parapsychology is the study of psychokinesis, or the ability of the mind to influence physical matter. Although claims in this area are numerous, scientific study of such phenomena is difficult. One popular method of studying this phenomenon involves using computers as random number generators. A subject is then asked to try and influence the outcome of the device. Some results from these experiments seem to show that a person can influence a random event. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to determine whether data is accurate or simply the result of chance success.
Despite some empirical findings, most scientists still consider parapsychology to be a pseudoscience. They do not support supposed experimental findings, and continue to debate the credibility of parapsychologists. However, this has not deterred researchers, and parapsychology continues to be studied by scholars around the world. Some projects have even received government funding and media support. However, more experimental findings are necessary before even a single parapsychology claim can be verified.
Psychology – Intriguing Phenomena of the Mind
http://www.yallways.com
Strictly defined, psychology is the study of mental processes and behaviors. Psychologists study everything from interpersonal relationships to unconscious habits of the mind. They also attempt to relate behaviors and thoughts to neurological processes. While most professionals in this field work within the realm of mainstream science, some have adopted a focus on “paranormal psychology,” commonly referred to as parapsychology.
Parapsychology first developed as a field in the 19th century. In 1882, the Society for Psychical Research was founded in London to promote the critical evaluation of paranormal psychic phenomena. Three years later, psychologists in the United States created the American Society for Psychical Research. Both organizations still exist today and continue to conduct prominent research. They are now joined by other interested institutions, like the Parapsychological Association, and sections of major universities.
Parapsychology focuses on several key phenomena. One of the most heavily studied is extrasensory perception (ESP). ESP refers to the ability to garner information without using any of the known physical senses. This can include precognition, telepathy, and clairvoyance. A key method of ESP study has involved sensory-deprivation. When unable to use other sense, subjects are able to test supposed ESP abilities. Results from these so-called “ganzfeld experiments” seem to prove the existence of some ESP phenomena. However, such findings have not been confirmed by the general scientific community.
Some parapsychologists specifically focus on the survival of consciousness beyond the death of a person’s physical body. Most research in this area involves exploration of near-death experiences. These refer to instances where a person has come close to death or been revived after cited as medically deceased. In many such cases, subjects describe an “out of body experience” in which he or she was able to observe the situation from outside their physical self. Other subjects have reported communicating with deceased loved ones or spiritual figures. Today, this phenomenon is widely studied in universities, such as at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and by the International Association for Near-Death Studies.
A more obscure segment of parapsychology is the study of psychokinesis, or the ability of the mind to influence physical matter. Although claims in this area are numerous, scientific study of such phenomena is difficult. One popular method of studying this phenomenon involves using computers as random number generators. A subject is then asked to try and influence the outcome of the device. Some results from these experiments seem to show that a person can influence a random event. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to determine whether data is accurate or simply the result of chance success.
Despite some empirical findings, most scientists still consider parapsychology to be a pseudoscience. They do not support supposed experimental findings, and continue to debate the credibility of parapsychologists. However, this has not deterred researchers, and parapsychology continues to be studied by scholars around the world. Some projects have even received government funding and media support. However, more experimental findings are necessary before even a single parapsychology claim can be verified.
“sparkling” Spirits Surround Miranda Since Childhood
Martha Jette asked:
Miranda Clearwell of southeast Missouri was just a child when she first heard voices in her head and realized that there were “sparkling figures” around her or following her.
As she grew into a young girl, it became so natural to her that she thought everyone experienced these kinds of things.
“I just thought they were extra friends for me that I couldn’t see or talk to directly,” said Miranda.
But she soon learned that her friends at school didn’t have similar experiences and she found it very upsetting. In fact, her friends warned her that such entities must mean trouble and she should be careful.
“For a time, I thought I must be crazy,” Miranda explained. “None of my friends knew anything that could help me.” In fact she added, many of them “became upset with me.”
Her experiences began as a youngster, when she realized the presence of the entities and that things in her room would move around as well. Miranda said she could also sense a lot of negative energy in the family home and it would grow unusually dark.
“Even when the sun was coming through (a window), the house could become dark,” she explained adding that this frightened her. “That was when I started feeling a presence very strongly and then there were multiple presences.”
While most of the house gave her an eerie feeling, she said her own room felt “warm and safe.”
The first time Miranda actually saw a “sparkling figure,” she was 19 years old and it sat right on her bed!
“I could see his outline,” she said adding that he appeared to be about six feet tall and “wearing clothing that fit somewhat close to his body. It looked like smoky water,” but was easily recognizable as a man. It also looked like he was “radiating some of it… I couldn’t see anything within the outer lines of the body, so I didn’t see a face or eyes or colors. He was all clear.”
Miranda said he walked like a normal person and then “sat on the edge of my bed facing me, while I was standing up in the center of the room. Once I spotted him, I moved close enough to sit on the bed in front of him.”
At this point, she was very excited, because she had never actually seen a spirit before. She was also quite afraid.
“Of course, my heart was beating out of my chest because it was a little bit scary, but in a miraculous way.”
“When I raised my hands in front of me, he raised his own and touched them to mine.”
Miranda said his hands felt “almost like fuzzy liquid.”
“He stayed like that until my eyes blurred with tears and he was gone.”
Miranda said she was “surprised by the experience, but his simple gesture was very touching…”
Since then, she has seen as many as seven of these figures in her room at one time, but the problem is: she isn’t sure what or who they are or why they keep coming around her. Miranda said she has spoken to the entities and upon a number of occasions, asked questions and received the answers in her mind – answers that were later confirmed.
Miranda explained that as a child, there was only the foundation of a house sitting on the property next to her home. She often played in that area and did not know at the time that the house had burned down.
“Me and my little brother used to walk around that lot all the time and we’d find useless things like rusted washers, metal silverware and plenty of burned things.”
Just this past week, she learned from her mother that an elderly couple had lived there.
“The wife was considered an invalid and was stuck in a wheelchair. Her husband set the fire and left her inside knowing that she couldn’t get out. My mother said she died in that fire and that the man went to prison for murder.”
I suggested that perhaps these two people might be among the many spirits that seem to cling to her. Perhaps that dark entity is the husband. However, Miranda’s story suggests that she may also have spirit guides or even angels close to her. Not only do they help her with her problems, but they also bring her comfort.
“I feel so attached to these spirits now,” she said.
Her only desire is that she would like to learn to communicate more effectively with her visitors from the other side. If anyone has suggestions for her, please let me know.
As well, Miranda said the presence of spirits around her has caused her to re-evaluate her personal beliefs. As a child, she was raised as a Christian to believe that with death, one goes to either heaven or hell.
“That was what everyone wanted me to believe,” she said. “I was never raised to believe that souls could still wander the earth after death, so it was startling to see that something was following me around.”
Now, Miranda says she believes strongly in life after death.
“I do believe that the soul is eternal and I also believe that if a person still has something they need to accomplish, God could allow them to remain behind for a while.”
She also thinks God might allow certain souls to remain earthbound for a time “to watch over their relatives or friends that still live. Nothing is impossible with God, so my faith allowed me to accept this possibility of spirit helpers without much trouble.”
Although she admitted that the spirit realm is still somewhat of a mystery to her, Miranda said she knows that everything “happens for a reason and that not one living person can place rules on how a human soul must behave after death.”
To sum it up, the 21-year-old added, “I still believe in a final resting place, but maybe some spirits are allowed to make a few stops along the way.”
************************************************
STORIES NEEDED:
If you have had a paranormal experience or know someone who has please contact me, as I would love to hear about it and perhaps feature the story in an upcoming issue of my monthly newsletter entitled Glimpses of the Paranormal. Please write to: marthajette@gmail.com. Aside from ghosts and hauntings, I also accept stories on related subjects such as witches, UFOs and crypto zoology, ESP, angels, past lives and reincarnation. Please put “Story for Newsletter” in the subject line.
**************************************************
Miranda Clearwell of southeast Missouri was just a child when she first heard voices in her head and realized that there were “sparkling figures” around her or following her.
As she grew into a young girl, it became so natural to her that she thought everyone experienced these kinds of things.
“I just thought they were extra friends for me that I couldn’t see or talk to directly,” said Miranda.
But she soon learned that her friends at school didn’t have similar experiences and she found it very upsetting. In fact, her friends warned her that such entities must mean trouble and she should be careful.
“For a time, I thought I must be crazy,” Miranda explained. “None of my friends knew anything that could help me.” In fact she added, many of them “became upset with me.”
Her experiences began as a youngster, when she realized the presence of the entities and that things in her room would move around as well. Miranda said she could also sense a lot of negative energy in the family home and it would grow unusually dark.
“Even when the sun was coming through (a window), the house could become dark,” she explained adding that this frightened her. “That was when I started feeling a presence very strongly and then there were multiple presences.”
While most of the house gave her an eerie feeling, she said her own room felt “warm and safe.”
The first time Miranda actually saw a “sparkling figure,” she was 19 years old and it sat right on her bed!
“I could see his outline,” she said adding that he appeared to be about six feet tall and “wearing clothing that fit somewhat close to his body. It looked like smoky water,” but was easily recognizable as a man. It also looked like he was “radiating some of it… I couldn’t see anything within the outer lines of the body, so I didn’t see a face or eyes or colors. He was all clear.”
Miranda said he walked like a normal person and then “sat on the edge of my bed facing me, while I was standing up in the center of the room. Once I spotted him, I moved close enough to sit on the bed in front of him.”
At this point, she was very excited, because she had never actually seen a spirit before. She was also quite afraid.
“Of course, my heart was beating out of my chest because it was a little bit scary, but in a miraculous way.”
“When I raised my hands in front of me, he raised his own and touched them to mine.”
Miranda said his hands felt “almost like fuzzy liquid.”
“He stayed like that until my eyes blurred with tears and he was gone.”
Miranda said she was “surprised by the experience, but his simple gesture was very touching…”
Since then, she has seen as many as seven of these figures in her room at one time, but the problem is: she isn’t sure what or who they are or why they keep coming around her. Miranda said she has spoken to the entities and upon a number of occasions, asked questions and received the answers in her mind – answers that were later confirmed.
Miranda explained that as a child, there was only the foundation of a house sitting on the property next to her home. She often played in that area and did not know at the time that the house had burned down.
“Me and my little brother used to walk around that lot all the time and we’d find useless things like rusted washers, metal silverware and plenty of burned things.”
Just this past week, she learned from her mother that an elderly couple had lived there.
“The wife was considered an invalid and was stuck in a wheelchair. Her husband set the fire and left her inside knowing that she couldn’t get out. My mother said she died in that fire and that the man went to prison for murder.”
I suggested that perhaps these two people might be among the many spirits that seem to cling to her. Perhaps that dark entity is the husband. However, Miranda’s story suggests that she may also have spirit guides or even angels close to her. Not only do they help her with her problems, but they also bring her comfort.
“I feel so attached to these spirits now,” she said.
Her only desire is that she would like to learn to communicate more effectively with her visitors from the other side. If anyone has suggestions for her, please let me know.
As well, Miranda said the presence of spirits around her has caused her to re-evaluate her personal beliefs. As a child, she was raised as a Christian to believe that with death, one goes to either heaven or hell.
“That was what everyone wanted me to believe,” she said. “I was never raised to believe that souls could still wander the earth after death, so it was startling to see that something was following me around.”
Now, Miranda says she believes strongly in life after death.
“I do believe that the soul is eternal and I also believe that if a person still has something they need to accomplish, God could allow them to remain behind for a while.”
She also thinks God might allow certain souls to remain earthbound for a time “to watch over their relatives or friends that still live. Nothing is impossible with God, so my faith allowed me to accept this possibility of spirit helpers without much trouble.”
Although she admitted that the spirit realm is still somewhat of a mystery to her, Miranda said she knows that everything “happens for a reason and that not one living person can place rules on how a human soul must behave after death.”
To sum it up, the 21-year-old added, “I still believe in a final resting place, but maybe some spirits are allowed to make a few stops along the way.”
************************************************
STORIES NEEDED:
If you have had a paranormal experience or know someone who has please contact me, as I would love to hear about it and perhaps feature the story in an upcoming issue of my monthly newsletter entitled Glimpses of the Paranormal. Please write to: marthajette@gmail.com. Aside from ghosts and hauntings, I also accept stories on related subjects such as witches, UFOs and crypto zoology, ESP, angels, past lives and reincarnation. Please put “Story for Newsletter” in the subject line.
**************************************************
Millions Flock To The Paranormal Paradox On Paranormal Tv Shows
November 11, 2009 by admin
Filed under Art And Entertainment
Dror Klar asked:
The question of where dead people go when they die is one that many people think they already know. According to some they do not go anywhere. At least some of them do not. It seems that many of the dead choose to remain right where they were. Here with us. Now that is a real scary thought that has been truly believed by some throughout history.
The idea that there are living people among us that can actually communicate with the dead is considered a fact by some and ridiculed at the same time by others. It all comes down to whether you believe that there is some sort of life after death or not. There are many things about life and death that are as yet unable to be proven one way or the other and whether there is life, ghostly or otherwise, is still considered a mystery to most.
Despite the fact that this age old question can not be factually answered for sure, the number of people who watch the many popular paranormal television shows are millions. Evidently whether we believe or not, we still enjoy entertaining the possibility of life after death.. Paranormal shows about ghosts and those who communicate with them are some of the top ranking at the moment.
Recently the top two network programs, Ghost Whisperer and Medium have a tremendous viewing audience. These shows are strictly fictional and everyone who watches them knows this. They are loved simply for their entertainment value and the people who play the main characters on the shows, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Patricia Arquette.
There are other shows that are supposedly based on real encounters that people claim to have had with the dead. Psychics and mediums that are believed to have the ability to communicate or locate these spirits are commonly used in these shows.
Some of the most watched shows are on cable and satellite channels. If you watch the Biography channel, you can watch The Unexplained. This show deals with paranormal stories and other topics of interest such as alien life forms and unidentified flying objects.
On the Science Fiction channel you can see Ghost Hunters. These seekers of the dead visit places that people are reportedly having encounters with ghost. These places they visit can be historical ones or more ordinary residences where paranormal activity is believed to be taking place..
On the Travel channel, the places where their spiritual activities take place are usually in a historical setting of some sort. Most Haunted is also one of the most watched paranormal shows on television right now. There are other ones that have not been mentioned here that you might want to check out as well if you like these type of programs.
The question of where dead people go when they die is one that many people think they already know. According to some they do not go anywhere. At least some of them do not. It seems that many of the dead choose to remain right where they were. Here with us. Now that is a real scary thought that has been truly believed by some throughout history.
The idea that there are living people among us that can actually communicate with the dead is considered a fact by some and ridiculed at the same time by others. It all comes down to whether you believe that there is some sort of life after death or not. There are many things about life and death that are as yet unable to be proven one way or the other and whether there is life, ghostly or otherwise, is still considered a mystery to most.
Despite the fact that this age old question can not be factually answered for sure, the number of people who watch the many popular paranormal television shows are millions. Evidently whether we believe or not, we still enjoy entertaining the possibility of life after death.. Paranormal shows about ghosts and those who communicate with them are some of the top ranking at the moment.
Recently the top two network programs, Ghost Whisperer and Medium have a tremendous viewing audience. These shows are strictly fictional and everyone who watches them knows this. They are loved simply for their entertainment value and the people who play the main characters on the shows, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Patricia Arquette.
There are other shows that are supposedly based on real encounters that people claim to have had with the dead. Psychics and mediums that are believed to have the ability to communicate or locate these spirits are commonly used in these shows.
Some of the most watched shows are on cable and satellite channels. If you watch the Biography channel, you can watch The Unexplained. This show deals with paranormal stories and other topics of interest such as alien life forms and unidentified flying objects.
On the Science Fiction channel you can see Ghost Hunters. These seekers of the dead visit places that people are reportedly having encounters with ghost. These places they visit can be historical ones or more ordinary residences where paranormal activity is believed to be taking place..
On the Travel channel, the places where their spiritual activities take place are usually in a historical setting of some sort. Most Haunted is also one of the most watched paranormal shows on television right now. There are other ones that have not been mentioned here that you might want to check out as well if you like these type of programs.
Savannah Georgia – America’s Most Haunted City
October 24, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Deb Bunting asked:
In 2003, the American Institute of Paranormal Psychology named Savannah America’s Most Haunted City. And Savannah is able to support the title. Ghosts, apparitions or paranormal activities have been reported at many of Savannah’s inns, restaurants, private residences, and of course, cemeteries.
There are many magnificently restored buildings nestled around Savannah’s twenty-one squares. Many of these buildings are stately homes supposedly still occupied by former owners. James Habersham has been known to roam around the Olde Pink House, now a restaurant, but formerly his home. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, was born and raised in Savannah. Her parents, long deceased, are said to still roam Juliette’s childhood home.
Savannah’s Sorrel-Weed House, visited by The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) in 2005 as part of their SciFi Ghost Hunters Halloween special, is supposedly haunted. The story goes that Mrs. Weed caught her husband in a compromising position with one of the Weed’s many slaves. Mrs. Weed, very distraught, ran back to her second-floor bedroom. After a long argument with her husband, she either threw herself (or was thrown) to her death from a second floor balcony. Soon after Mrs. Weed’s death, the slave found with Mr. Weed was found hung in her slave quarters. Both women are said to be still roaming the grounds.
The Hampton-Lillibridge House was said to be so haunted, that Jim Williams (of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” fame) had an exorcism performed at this former boarding house. On countless occasions, residents and passersby have heard the sound of jazz coming from inside the home.
The Kehoes were a very prominent family in Savannah, as Mr. Kehoe owned the ironworks on the riverfront. The Kehoes built this fireproof, all-iron home and lived there with their 10 children. The Kehoe’s heirs sold the house in 1930 and the property changed hands many times to include use for 65 years as the Goette Funeral Home. It is now a beautiful bed and breakfast where many of its visitors report supernatural occurrences such as a woman screaming, a nurse shushing visitors, the Lady in White making appearances, and several instances involving ghosts of children.
The list goes on and on!
So, what is it about Savannah that makes it so attractive to ghosts and ghost stories? Many people start with the fact that Savannah is literally built on its dead. Savannah was the first city in Georgia founded in 1733. It was established in the same location as the Creek and Choctaw maintained their burial grounds.
As the colony began to grow and thrive, it needed more room. Buildings were erected on the burial plots of the original colonists. Tombstones in cemeteries were moved to make room for sidewalks and roads. Places of worship were erected on the graves of slaves.
Second, Savannah has a very violent history. Many bloody battles and skirmishes were fought in Savannah. One of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution, the Siege of Savannah, where about 1200 men lost their lives in one hour, was fought in Savannah.
Also, the city has been victim to many city-wide fires, at least two yellow-fever epidemics and several hurricanes.
Third, Savannah has been a major port city since the days of King Cotton, so many a sailor has ventured through Savannah spinning a romantic tale or two.
Fourth, Savannahians are (proudly) an eccentric bunch, as were their ancestors, which adds history and volume to the ghost stories. Take the
Lastly, I blame the large amounts of Spanish moss hanging from the majestic oak trees. The blankets of moss look like ghostly shrouds and give the entire region an eerie look.
Whatever the reason, the ghost stories are endless, earning the Savannah the right to the title of America’s Most Haunted City.
In 2003, the American Institute of Paranormal Psychology named Savannah America’s Most Haunted City. And Savannah is able to support the title. Ghosts, apparitions or paranormal activities have been reported at many of Savannah’s inns, restaurants, private residences, and of course, cemeteries.
There are many magnificently restored buildings nestled around Savannah’s twenty-one squares. Many of these buildings are stately homes supposedly still occupied by former owners. James Habersham has been known to roam around the Olde Pink House, now a restaurant, but formerly his home. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, was born and raised in Savannah. Her parents, long deceased, are said to still roam Juliette’s childhood home.
Savannah’s Sorrel-Weed House, visited by The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) in 2005 as part of their SciFi Ghost Hunters Halloween special, is supposedly haunted. The story goes that Mrs. Weed caught her husband in a compromising position with one of the Weed’s many slaves. Mrs. Weed, very distraught, ran back to her second-floor bedroom. After a long argument with her husband, she either threw herself (or was thrown) to her death from a second floor balcony. Soon after Mrs. Weed’s death, the slave found with Mr. Weed was found hung in her slave quarters. Both women are said to be still roaming the grounds.
The Hampton-Lillibridge House was said to be so haunted, that Jim Williams (of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” fame) had an exorcism performed at this former boarding house. On countless occasions, residents and passersby have heard the sound of jazz coming from inside the home.
The Kehoes were a very prominent family in Savannah, as Mr. Kehoe owned the ironworks on the riverfront. The Kehoes built this fireproof, all-iron home and lived there with their 10 children. The Kehoe’s heirs sold the house in 1930 and the property changed hands many times to include use for 65 years as the Goette Funeral Home. It is now a beautiful bed and breakfast where many of its visitors report supernatural occurrences such as a woman screaming, a nurse shushing visitors, the Lady in White making appearances, and several instances involving ghosts of children.
The list goes on and on!
So, what is it about Savannah that makes it so attractive to ghosts and ghost stories? Many people start with the fact that Savannah is literally built on its dead. Savannah was the first city in Georgia founded in 1733. It was established in the same location as the Creek and Choctaw maintained their burial grounds.
As the colony began to grow and thrive, it needed more room. Buildings were erected on the burial plots of the original colonists. Tombstones in cemeteries were moved to make room for sidewalks and roads. Places of worship were erected on the graves of slaves.
Second, Savannah has a very violent history. Many bloody battles and skirmishes were fought in Savannah. One of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution, the Siege of Savannah, where about 1200 men lost their lives in one hour, was fought in Savannah.
Also, the city has been victim to many city-wide fires, at least two yellow-fever epidemics and several hurricanes.
Third, Savannah has been a major port city since the days of King Cotton, so many a sailor has ventured through Savannah spinning a romantic tale or two.
Fourth, Savannahians are (proudly) an eccentric bunch, as were their ancestors, which adds history and volume to the ghost stories. Take the
Lastly, I blame the large amounts of Spanish moss hanging from the majestic oak trees. The blankets of moss look like ghostly shrouds and give the entire region an eerie look.
Whatever the reason, the ghost stories are endless, earning the Savannah the right to the title of America’s Most Haunted City.
