Séance at the Ramada Inn
My wife, Tina, had a connection with Troy Parkinson and his wife Chandra, who were natives of Fargo. Together, they frequently participated in gatherings of alternative healers held at the Civic Center in this vibrant city of North Dakota. Troy was well-known for his gift as a medium, which allowed him to communicate with people who had passed away. Tina told me about an upcoming group séance event led by Troy at the Ramada Inn hotel. She suggested that we should go. Intrigued by the idea, I agreed. We entered a large conference room joining about a hundred other people who were seeking a connection with their loved ones.
When Troy arrived, he exuded confidence and charm. It was clear that he had done these types of gatherings many times before, based on his introduction and demeanor. He began by talking about his ability to communicate with the departed. He explained that he first attended a spiritualist meeting when he was a college student in Boston. After receiving a message from his great-grandmother's spirit, he pursued mediumship training through the First Spiritual Temple of Boston. Throughout the introduction, Troy continued to move around the room, forging connections with various individuals, and relaying to each of them what he was experiencing.
As he walked up to Tina, he let her know that her grandmother's spirit was there. But Troy also mentioned that the spirit seemed surprised like it didn't expect to appear in this location. Nonetheless, there was a message for Tina to indulge in eating treats. Tina, initially overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, embraced the spirit's message to enjoy delicious treats.
Later, Troy approached me and started talking about fires he said he had seen around me. He seemed uneasy, and I noticed that he quickly moved away. While I can't remember exactly what he said about the fire, I do remember how he treated me differently compared to other people he talked to. I'm not sure why he acted strangely; maybe he sensed that I was doubtful or perhaps there was another reason for his behavior. Regardless, I was curious about it because it made a stronger impression on me than any verbal exchange I had with Troy during that encounter.
Troy eventually wrote a book detailing his abilities (1). At a later time, he was invited by my wife and her circle of female friends to conduct a group reading specifically for them. Although I wasn't present at that gathering, my wife informed me that it turned out to be somewhat disappointing for them.
From Guilt to Healing
Another experience we had was with Kathryn Harwig, a medium who had previously worked as a lawyer (2). Although we didn't get a reading during her presentation, Tina approached her afterward. She was struggling with feelings of guilt because a close friend had recently died by suicide. The tragedy unfolded unexpectedly while we were attending a conference in San Diego. Consumed by grief and a sense of responsibility, Tina found herself trapped in a web of self-blame, questioning why she hadn't recognized the signs of her friend's deepening depression.
At that moment of vulnerability, Tina turned to her for help. She was nervous but eager to find answers, so she shared her inner turmoil with Kathryn, hoping for understanding and closure. With empathy and kindness, Kathryn quickly tapped into her connection with the spirit world. She told Tina that the spirit of her departed friend was there. She passed on a message from the other side, a message of regret from Tina's friend’s spirit who wished he hadn't done what he did.
This revelation relieved Tina of the heavy burden of guilt she had been carrying. Suddenly, she found comfort in knowing that her friend's actions were not her fault or a reflection of her own shortcomings. The communication from another realm suggested that the battle her friend faced concerning mental well-being was very personal, something that even he himself couldn't fully grasp.
Mediumship Through the Ages
Mediums, like Troy Parkinson and Kathryn Harwig, are individuals who claim to possess the ability to communicate with spirits. They facilitate connections between the living and the deceased, aiming to provide comfort, closure, and guidance.
The origins of mediumship can be traced back to ancient times, with accounts of spiritual communication found in various cultures and religions. In more recent history, the practice gained popularity during the rise of Spiritualism in the 19th century. Spiritualism became a prominent movement, and mediums played a central role in its practices.
Mediumship has been subject to skepticism and scrutiny. Skeptics argue that the experiences reported by mediums can be attributed to psychological factors, such as cold reading, where the medium uses general statements and cues from the audience to make seemingly specific revelations. They also point out that some mediums may employ various techniques, including subtle cues and body language, to gather information about the person they are reading.
From a scientific standpoint, there remains no compelling evidence or broad consensus supporting the existence of spirits or the ability to engage in communication with them. The experiences people talk about during séances and readings can be better explained by various psychological and personal factors, like our natural inclination to find meaning, favoring information that confirms our beliefs, and the power of suggestion.
Mediums, Experiments, and the Possibility of Life After Death
I recall coming across a book written by Gary E. Schwartz, a Harvard-educated professor of psychology and psychiatry who is currently affiliated with the University of Arizona in Tucson. In this book (3), Schwartz describes a series of experiments aimed at exploring the possibility of life after death through the utilization of mediums. One series of experiments was even filmed and reported as an HBO documentary special.
Schwartz approached these investigations with rigorous scientific methodology, ensuring that the mediums involved in the experiments were reputable. These mediums were tasked to provide unique and specific information to their clients, also known as "sitters," that they allegedly obtained through contact with the sitters' deceased loved ones. The experiments were conducted over several years and were extensively documented not only in this book but also in various other publications.
Although it is beyond this text to go into the details of Schwartz's book, it is noteworthy to mention his conclusion, drawn from a myriad of reported experiments. According to him, there exists strong evidence of the continuity of consciousness after death. Naturally, such a conclusion has sparked controversy and invited expected criticism. One serious and balanced reviewer concluded that the experiments give strong proof for some form of anomalous communication that cannot be attributed to lying, accidental revealing, personal biases, or faulty analysis of data (4). I also believe that Schwartz’s work deserves serious consideration.
Throughout the years, I have had the opportunity to engage with mediums in various settings, both in groups and on an individual basis. While these encounters were interesting and thought-provoking, I have refrained from forming a definitive opinion and instead maintained an open mind.
During my most recent experience with a medium, I sought the assistance of a friendly neighbor who possessed an exceptional sensitivity to the energies that surround us. I wanted to connect with my late father’s spirit and was hoping for some insights from her. However, I must admit that the outcome left me unconvinced because the specific messages relayed during the “reading” failed to resonate with me as authentic.
Integrating Psychiatry and Mediumship
The Sedona area, where I currently live with my wife Tina, is a hub for people with extra-sensory energy perception. As a psychiatrist working there, I have the chance to study how these phenomena and mental health relate to each other. Especially, if different psychiatric medications affect my patients’ psychic or mediumship abilities.
I provide therapeutic support to assist individuals who face various challenges stemming from their heightened sensitivities. Through my work, I not only help my patients navigate these difficulties but also gain valuable insights into the workings of the human psyche.
During my practice, I have noticed that certain medications tend to hinder or block the mediumship capacity in some individuals. On the other hand, there are medications that seem to have little to no effect or even enhance their unique abilities. By working closely with my patients, I strive to find a balance between alleviating their mental health issues and preserving their propensities.
I must acknowledge that there have been instances where my efforts to alleviate the complex and enduring grief in certain patients proved unsuccessful. In such situations, I made a conscientious choice to refer them to highly regarded mediums as an alternative avenue for healing their emotional pain.
Seeing the good results that came from these recommendations convinced me that including spirituality and supernatural elements in the treatment process can be helpful. While it is important to approach such experiences with an open mind and a critical eye, the utilization of reputable mediums can be useful as an adjunct to traditional therapy.
Mediumship as a Path to Understanding the Afterlife
In the realm of exploring the supernatural and attempting to comprehend the mysteries of life beyond death, mediums hold a role alongside scientific and scholarly research. These individuals possess unique gifts that enable them to connect with energies that exist beyond the confines of the physical world. Acting as intermediaries between the living and the departed, mediums provide a channel through which communication can occur.
While scientific and scholarly research uses rigorous observation and analysis of data, mediums offer a different perspective. Through their special abilities, they bring forth messages supposedly from the spiritual plane. These abilities cannot be easily explained by conventional scientific means, but their impact on individuals who have experienced their services cannot be dismissed.
It is important to approach mediumship with a balanced perspective, recognizing that not all claims made by individuals professing to have mediumistic abilities may be genuine. Skepticism is a crucial aspect of scientific inquiry and critical thinking should be maintained in the exploration of the supernatural. While some mediums may indeed possess genuine gifts, others may rely on tricks or deceptive practices to create an illusion of communication. Therefore, it is essential to exercise discernment and rational assessment of factual evidence when engaging in the field of mediumship. The reputable researcher in this area Gary E. Schwartz promotes the notion of embracing logic, even when it leads us into uncomfortable or unsettling realms (3). At the same time, I am reminded of the popular phrase attributed to Carl Sagan, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"(5).
In addition, the famous theoretical physicist Richard Feynman warns us not to fool ourselves in the search for truth because we ourselves are the easiest person to fool. That is why it is important to know that our psyche has a lot of tools for deception. The most basic one is the confirmation bias, which can be described as “seek and you shall find.” Second, the power of expectation can easily lead us down a rabbit hole due to the activation of the parts of the brain that process emotions and rewards, while quieting the reasoning and error-detection parts of the brain.
This cautionary message highlights the importance of critical thinking, self-awareness, and the need to actively challenge our biases and expectations. By acknowledging and addressing these cognitive biases and understanding how they can influence our perception of truth, we can strive for a more objective and evidence-based approach to seeking knowledge and understanding the afterlife domain.
1. Bridge to the Afterlife: A Medium's Message of Hope & Healing, by Troy Parkinson, Llewellyn Publications, 2009
2. The Return of Intuition, by Kathryn Harwig, Llewellyn Publications, 2010
3. The Afterlife Experiments: Breakthrough Scientific Evidence of Life After Death, by Gary E. Schwartz, Atria, 2003
4. Review of G. E. Schwartz’s The afterlife experiments: Breakthrough scientific evidence of life after death, by Daryl J. Bem, Journal of Parapsychology, 69: 173-183, 2005
5. The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, by Carl Sagan, Random House, 1996
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