The United Kingdom really knows how to rock the whole Spiritualism thing. In Part 1 of my Mediumship in the UK series, platform medium Marion Hover shares a bit about her background with Spiritualism, two very cool experiences involving her mediumship, and her work with development circles and the Ouija.
Get to this episode in iTunes!
Direct Download Link
My dad called me about this one. “Hey! Turn it on SyFy. There’s a new show and they’re talking about séances!” This seems to be a goofy show that tastes a little like Unsolved Mysteries to me. Maybe it’s the reenactments that give me that vibe, because it’s certainly not the goofiness. And that’s not horrible, I guess… because I love me some old school Unsolved Mysteries. To this day the old theme song can make me pull the covers over my head, but musically I just love it! But Weird or What? is hosted by William Shatner (which explains the goofiness).
William Shatner hosting Weird or What?
The particular episode that I watched was episode #2 and titled “Life After Death”. In this episode, Mr. Shatner makes his entrance on a Segway…. ??? I was delighted to see that the séance material ended up being about the Scole Experiment, which I’ve discussed on this blog quite a bit (see related links below). Most of the information was watered down to fit a small segment, but it was nice to see some fresh discussion on the topic with people involved. Other segments include a man who has been told and is convinced that in a past life he was a general in the Civil War Battle of Antietam, and a man who comes back from the dead after 18 years. That last one, of course, is trying to take advantage of the huge zombie craze that the American culture is going through right now.
Some of the interviews in this episode include a scientist who discusses his theory about the soul and quantum physics (that’s when I started seeing chickens out of the corner of my eye and thought about going downstairs for a snack), a photography expert that analyzes some of the Scole evidence (even though it has already been done), and a Harvard psychologist and a scientist who both play the part of skeptics. The scientist sets up an almost insulting and fake séance for unsuspecting sitters. Of course, this is his way of saying it’s all an illusion.
So what did I think? It’s the only episode I’ve watched and my DVR is not set to record anymore episodes.
I used to not like the boys from Ghost Adventures at all. In fact (as if I knew it all), I would roll my eyes and tell you all about why I thought they were giant asses (though they have been in the past). I’ve talked to other GA fans who believe that they’re softening up a bit and getting more serious. That might be true, but I think I just didn’t really give them a chance before because of the first impression. I began really checking them out in preparation for my Fort Chaffee Prison investigation with JPRS. They had investigated that location a year or so before and I studied that episode. Some people turn their noses up and pretend that all paranormal television (Ghost Hunters, etc.) are nonsense and had nothing to do with why they do whatever it is they do in this field, but I’ve learned to appreciate them for what we can get out of them. I suppose there are pioneers out there who have been at it for years, but the vast majority of people in this field joined AFTER the great paranormal craze of the early 2000s. (Warning: Completely random comment. I think we need to start using the term “ott” or “ot” again when referring to the first ten years of the century. Thoughts?) I can’t pretend Ghost Hunters wasn’t one of the biggest inspirations for why I do what I do.
The Goldfield Hotel
Anyway… (Look! There goes another chicken!) I’ve been watching more Ghost Adventures episodes recently. The episode of their most recent visit to the Goldfield Hotel was outstanding, but just the other night I watched the Glen Tavern Inn episode. What fascinated me about this one? Not only did they get some really great EVP, and they gave us plenty of shots of the beauty of the hotel, but they conducted a séance! I was pleased to see Zak and the boys be open to doing that. The fact that they (like Ghost Hunters) have been having celebrity guests lately has been getting on my nerves, but I guess they gotta do what they gotta do.
Has anyone else been watching?
Glen Tavern Inn
I Still Watch Ghost Hunters… So What?
Video Highlights from our 9/15/12 Séance
Exciting News! Beyond the Scole Experiment!
The Scole Experiment… My Review…
The Scole Group’s “A Basic Guide”
More Random Bits and Thoughts on Scole
Some Random Bits and Thoughts on Scole
My last post about Scole discussed creative energy, music and vibrations, and light. Here is my final post about my thoughts on The Scole Experiment: Scientific Evidence for Life After Death by Grant and Jane Solomon.
Photograph from 28 February 1994 of the front page of the ‘Daily Mirror’, 16 December 1936. A copy of the original was obtained. It was almost identical to the photograph, with some minor differences which indicated it might have been from another edition on the same day. The newspaper was tested and proved to be genuine wartime paper. (Caption taken from the book) This showed up on sealed photographic film after a sitting.
During a session, instructions for building a Germanium receptor (for better communication) manifested on sealed photographic film. This signature appeared at the end and is thought to be that of Thomas Edison, since compared to existing documents, his signature from life seems to be identical.
All of the color photos of phenomena and apports that are included in the book can be found on the Scole Experimental Group’s page, or you can click on the photos above.
The spirit team answered many of the Scole group’s questions, which are included in the book. Here are some of the shorter question/answers that I find interesting.
I’ve always found it interesting how many people insist on there being a heaven and a hell, angels, devil, demons, dark side, etc. My current opinion is that it’s all nonsense, but I’m always open to learning and changing my opinions. It felt good to read this first question/answer. Is the spirit team saying there’s no evil outside of us? No hell? No devil?
Is there a negative side that fights this very positive energy?
No. It is man in his ignorance that causes problems. If man lives his life without aspiring to a spiritual awareness, he lives in ignorance. Ignorance breeds negativity and negative thoughts create a negative force as, in a similar way, positive thinking creates a positive force, so we have to work on the negative forces. Not, however, those outside of man, but those within man.
Do the Akashic Records exist and can we have access to them?
It is true to say that much information is stored in other realms and spheres. But again, perhaps not as much as you are led to believe. Some of the records are accessible to higher beings. There are also some on Earth who claim to have access to them, but I do not know if this is true.
As always, any thoughts?
I’ve read a lot on paranormal and spiritual topics, but for some reason most of the books I read avoid the topic of “table tipping”. Or, at least they don’t get into the subject very deeply. Along with discussing séances, mediums, etc., the book I’m reading now (which is not necessarily spectacular) discusses table tipping a bit. If you’ve followed my Scole Experiment posts recently, you’ll know that some of the major phenomena for them involved the table in the room. Apparently, in one sitting, the table levitated completely off the floor, turned on its side, and spun around like a fan. Can you imagine? It was recreated and dramatized in the introduction of the Scole documentary video I posted.
Can you spot the trickster in this photograph?
But table tipping has roots way before Scole. Beginning in the middle to late 1800s, table tipping was just one of the phenomena being experienced by the Fox sisters, most famous for spirit “rapping” and really introducing modern Spiritualism to the world. Along with some EVP (electronic voice phenomena), I tend to get a lot of rapping in my home. Table tipping sometimes happens in a séance, usually involves a medium, and requires all sitters to gently place hands (sometimes just finger tips) on the top of the table. Usually a smaller, lighter table, and made out of solid wood. The idea is that spirits use your energy to rock or tip the table, making it easy to communicate.
Of course, this form of spirit communication involves a lot of trust. All the sitters must be able to trust that their fellow sitters are not causing the rocking or tipping themselves. I think this is probably why the practice has a lot of skeptics.
I’ve never been involved in table tipping. Have you? Thoughts? Feelings?
Enjoy these videos (there are also many others online) and discuss.
In my last post, where I reviewed the book The Scole Experiment: Scientific Evidence for Life After Death by Grant and Jane Solomon, I wrote that in some future posts I would tell you about some of the more interesting parts. I’ll discuss these first few in the order that I flagged or highlighted them in the book. Here are just a few, and all from Chapter 3… (and forgive me for finding this to be a great excuse to dig up some old photos :-))
Two of the meters that are commonly used in paranormal investigation to identify or locate EMF.
The spirit team (through Manu, the kind of gatekeeper) describes the energy they use in the sittings. They refer to it as a “blend of creative energy from three specific sources”, which include “spiritual energy”, “human energy”, and “Earth energy”. Grant and Jane say that “the effect created by the energy was explained to the group as being akin to an electromagnetic field.”
This should be interesting to most paranormal investigators or “ghost hunters” (another term that I despise) because it is commonly believed that spirits can sometimes let themselves be known and even communicate via an electromagnetic field (commonly referred to as EMF). It is also commonly believed that spirits may be able to manifest more easily when there is a source of EMF near for them to draw from. For those of us believing this theory, this should tell us we may be on the right track. On the other hand, there are currently experts in the field that believe that EMF doesn’t play a role in this specific area of the paranormal.
Me conducting a choir many years ago.
As a musician and music teacher, I found this next part to be absolutely fascinating. I wish I had known this for a discussion a while back on this blog.
“At the end of December 1993, Manu also asked the group to be more careful in choosing the music played throughout the sessions as any tunes that were too mournful hindered the work. Apparently, progress depended on creating the right environment, which included the ‘vibrations’ caused by the music. Mournful music lowered the vibrations while jolly music raised them.”
My Dad and I during an investigation… very much in the dark.
There is often a debate in the paranormal investigation field of whether or not it is nonsense to turn the lights out and investigate in the dark. In the Scole experiments, the spirit team insisted on using or creating their own illumination most of the time. Here is how the spirit team explains it.
“The reason we need to provide our own lighting in the future, rather than the electric lighting which you could provide, is not due to the artificial light itself. The problem is essentially with the electric current used to produce the artificial light. Regrettably, this serves to dissipate the very special energy we employ, without which there can be no phenomena.”
I am about halfway through The Scole Experiment, a book that documents a 5-year investigation into life after death by The Scole Experimental Group. It all started in 1993 in a cellar in Scole, a Norfolk village in England. I don’t think there’s ever been anything quite like it since.
Below is a documentary of the experiment. If you’re not familiar with The Scole Experiment, be sure to at least watch the introduction. It’ll give you a good idea of what I’ve been reading for a few days now. I have another outpatient surgery tomorrow with some recuperating time this week, so I’ll get it finished in no time and report back.
Peace!
*The filmmaker has requested that I remove the link to the video. If you’d like more information on the documentary you can go to http://www.theafterlifeinvestigations.com/#! or simply search YouTube for several videos that are there.
Exciting News! Beyond the Scole Experiment!
The “Scole Hole”
A few days ago I got some exciting news through a comment right here at The Big Séance. Grant Solomon, one of the authors of The Scole Experiment: Scientific Evidence for Life After Death, informed me that the two mediums from the Scole Experiment were not only active again, but getting results. I was also informed that another book that follows the current experiment is in the works. How exciting is that?!
Grant suggested we all check out the following two sites (both on Facebook) to stay updated.
The Scole Experiment
Beyond the Scole Experiment
I’ve already found a ton of things there to keep me busy for a while.
Thank you, Mr. Solomon, for stopping by and keeping us informed!
Related Article
The Scole Experiment: My Review
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