Hi Rasputin
I think this man would be very interested. Thats all I'm saying
http://www.randi.org/joom/challenge-info.html
After about 10 years, it still has not been clamed.
Best wishes
Eddie
Hi Rasputin and Eddie,
I haven’t been on the forum for a while for various reasons, but was ‘catching up’ a bit last night and saw your post. ...
Now ... this is going to be a long one, so kick off your shoes, make a cup of coffee, Eddie - nip out for a smoke, etc., etc.,
In the 1990s we sat in some physical séances where Stewart Alexander was the Medium. I certainly experienced some very interesting things, which would not convince a sceptic in the slightest!
One of the problems with ‘prooving’ physical Mediumship is that physical séances usually take place in the dark. You may know that an accepted reasoning for this is that ‘ectoplasm’ produced by the medium and often also by the sitters, is harmed by ‘white light.’
In these physical séances with Stewart Alexander a few things stick in my mind. At one of the séances I was positioned in the back row of two rows, on the end, nearest to where Stewart was sitting. (We were sort of arranged in a horseshoe shape with the open bit of the horseshoe where the Medium was sitting) During the séance a figure had apparently materialised – I say apparently at this stage because I couldn’t see anything – it was pitch dark. Then I felt my hands stroked by what felt like a young child’s hands. There was certainly no room between my knees and the chair in front for a person to stand. I think I would have been aware if the person in front had stood up, as it was very quiet, and their chair was actually touching my knees. Neither a child nor indeed an adult could have reached over the person in front and touched my hands in my lap without being a contortionist, or the person in front of me being aware of this. Of course, this isn’t actually proof, as the person in front of me could have stood up, or they could have been ‘in on it’ in some way. I will say that I knew and trusted them and trusted that wasn’t the case – but I accept that my trust is not actual proof! ‘They’ then moved on to Paul who was sitting on my right. First they traced their finger gently along his moustache and then picked up his hands – he could feel the tiny fingers and even the nails. We were both sure that no-one was leaning across over the front row, and certainly no physical body had climbed over me to get to Paul. As an experiment when we got home we tried to recreate the ‘moustache tracing’ in complete darkness to see how easy it was. It was actually a lot more difficult than I expected. I tried to trace his moustache with my finger whilst standing in front of him. After several attempts we weren’t successful – but I did poke him in the eye, and give him a sore nose!!
Another incident was at a separate séance in Dorset. We were in a large cellar, (probably about 30 feet long) and above us the central heating pipes ran along below the cellar ceiling – approx 18 inches down, with several pipes running alongside each other and at different heights. The ceiling was very high – it’s quite a few years ago but I would guess around 12 feet. The article you linked to mentioned the trumpets moving. On this occasion there were two aluminium trumpets (for anyone who doesn’t know these are not actual trumpets – they are a bit like a large cone, made of aluminium – probably around 18 – 20 inches high). They had luminous tape around the bottom and the top – the idea being that you charge up the tape by holding it under a light before you start, and you can then see the two lines of tape once the lights are out. The trumpets often move, and are used to direct the voice of the Spirit to a sitter – sort of like a funnel you could say. The reflective tape on the trumpets showed them lifting off the table they were on, and initially sort of swaying to the classical music which was playing gently. They gradually got faster and higher, and eventually they were weaving in and out of the area where the pipe-work was above us, and weaving around each other at the same time – sometimes incredibly fast, other times ‘dancing’ – they sort of reminded me of dolphins (although that is a bit poetic I know!) At one point they stopped ‘dead’ – no pun intended! While they hovered in the air you could see from the glow of the tapes the edge of the pipe next to them. They then nipped through the gaps between the ceiling and the pipe-work, and started the ‘dancing’ again. Several times they sped from one end of the cellar to the other – crossing past each other in the middle. They occasionally moved down and tapped people lightly on the head – I think that Alan Crossly, who is mentioned as a Spirit in the report, was one of them, although he was living at that point. When this happened you could hear the noise of the trumpet hitting their head! Before the séance started Stewart Alexander had been tied in his chair with cable ties and masking tape over the cable ties that had been signed by one of the sitters. He also had some of the luminous tape on his knees to indicate where he was. At the end of the séance when the lights were raised, his jumper was folded neatly by his feet, and the cable ties and tape still intact.
So, is this proof of Physical Mediumship? Well I have to lay my cards on the table and say that I am a ‘believer’ but those who know me will testify that I am not prone to attacks of the vapours, and I have also sat in my fair share of séances with supposed physical mediums where nothing of any consequence (in my opinion) has happened, and where I have sadly been convinced the person was deluding themselves. The trumpet movement was hard to explain – the way that the trumpets moved in and out of the pipes was fascinating, and I can not see how this could effect could have been reproduced by other means. I did wonder about lasers – but apparently there would be a visible light source, and there was none, and a laser would not tap you on the head! They certainly weren’t on long poles, strings, elastic or magnets! So I would have to conclude that ‘something happened.’ Does it prove that a discarnate Spirit source caused it to happen? Well even as a believer I would have to acknowledge that by itself it doesn’t actually prove the existence of Spirit – even if we could categorically prove that the trumpets moved totally independently of any other physical means, by itself it doesn’t prove that Spirit moved them. There were other things that happened in both séances with people receiving accurate messages, and for me, this is more ‘proof’ of the survival of a spirit than the trumpet moving. At the time, and still now, I am of the opinion that the séance was genuine. However I acknowledge that my opinion is not proof.
This isn’t an answer as such to your question, just my observations.
Regards,
Pat
Hi Pat
Yes I did need a smoke after all that. Giggle
I will have to say that it sounds very interesting, from what you experienced.
I must say that if I had this gift & it was real, I would be very interested to give Mr Randy a call.
Some of the top mediums have been asked why they have not aproached Mr Randy. They have replied that they have nothing to prove.
So I would guess that in this case, its is the same story. That is if he knows of Mr Randy.
I do have trouble seeing how people can do this though. Cable ties going through flesh blood & bone, without leaving a mark on the mediums wrists & legs.
As you know, I fully believe in spirit, mediums & reincarnation but getting my head around this one is more difficult.
One has their breaking point, some have trouble with reincarnation. Some have no belief in spirit. Some have no paranormal beliefs at all
So its a tricky one. One that has to be experienced.
Possibly with night vision gogles.
That would be interesting. I wonder if he would alow this.
If so, wonderful. If not, I would have to remain sceptical but interested.
Hi Eddie,
Yes - I know what you mean - even after having experienced these things and more I still find myself thinking 'Well, it is a bit weird isn't it? Why make things dance around the room? Isn't there a more 'useful' purpose to which that energy could be put?' (Like doing my washing up ;) ) Seriously though, I doubt that anyone will ever be able to satisfy the criteria set by the Randi challenge - if they wanted to. I'm not sure that we should have to 'proove' ourselves or our beliefs to anyone anyway. There is a strong part of me that feels it is a bit like prostituting a belief.
Also, the whole TV/Media set up is a minefield for Mediums/Psychics (well the serious/genuine ones anyway) Many programmes do not take a great deal of effort to include a balanced view (and I include the ones that purport to be 'for' the topic - such as the 'Psychic TV Channels.') I have tuned in to them from time to time for a look, but have to turn over 'cos I end up getting angry. If I hear too many more responses that include the line ... I really feel you need a full reading, do call into Christangel or Forever Goldenwings (or whatever the name of the day is!) for your one to one session, I think I'll scream!!
Re the cable ties etc going through flesh - well the accepted wisdom is that the Medium or the cable ties de-materialize and then rematerialize. There is a famous story about a Physical medium who was dematerialized from her circle and then rematerialized at another circle miles away - complete with her chair I believe! It was a lot of years ago, and I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the Medium. Now that I would like to see!
The night vision goggles is a good point. After all physical mediumship should be something that can be seen, heard etc by anyone in the vicinity - you could drag a complete stranger in off the street, and for true physical mediumship they should be able to experience exactly the same as everyone else. Obviously night vision doesn't have a lot of use in a situation where 'mental mediumship' (love that term!) is taking place - but for physical mediumship it could be valuable. I can't personally see any reason why it should be a problem - unless there is another light source from the goggles etc - like an on/off light.
It was a lot of years ago that I sat in these seances, and I probably would go again if I had the chance now. I don't even know if Stewart Alexander is still sitting - I have lost touch with quite a few people who I knew at that time.
I think the answer to Rasputin's question - 'Is it real, or is it rubbish?' is probably 'Yes sometimes, and yes - sometimes!'
Best Wishes
Pat wrote:
“I think the answer to Rasputin's question - 'Is it real, or is it rubbish?' Is probably 'Yes sometimes, and yes - sometimes!'”
Well I feel the answer to Rasputin’s question is –
Yes, on very rear and extremely exceptional occasions, and ‘Yes most of the time’
I would warmly welcome the chance to ‘test’ any alleged psychical or even mental mediums for that matter.
Would you allow a person who had never sat in a car to give you a driving test and comment and make a judgement on your proficiency?
Would you allow say a builder for example to advise you about your health, or allow them to amputate a limb? ( the images here are very funny... chain saw in hand )
Or a car mechanic to work on your dental problems
How can someone... anyone, test anyone else about anything at all they have absolutely no knowledge or experience of whatsoever?
Just because a person is a celebrity (whatever that is) does NOT mean they are knowledgeable or even an expert in a particular topic or subject... sadly here, even in the field of work or study they are involved in.
George Bush springs to mind here... bit of an extreme example I know but I’m sure you get my picture
That old adage ‘It takes one to know one is so so true!’
Paul
The rather ample medium who was asported (from her bed), then apported into another circle (in her night attire) the other side of London was a certain Mrs. Guppy.
The point raised about night vision is very valid it has been used at several circles to both prove and disprove the ability of the medium in question.
I have several infra still shots of some very interesting phenomena...
A photograph or video or audio recording in and by it’s self will not convince (and indeed should not convince) any hardened sceptic... or even a true believer like myself!
There really is no substitute for personal experience.
As I was not present at the circle when Mrs Guppy simply appeared out of thin air I would have to view this account with certain air of scepticism myself... However I would not rule it out.
Both Pat and myself have seen things that certainly defy the know laws of physics.
For example apports (an apport is where an object really does just simply appear literally out of thin air) and levitation to name just a couple
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