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Tag Archives: Paranormal
The Presence and the Press: Once Again Science Journalists Tell Us Ghosts Explained Away!
OK, I blog very rarely nowadays, but I thought I had best respond to all the press excitement caused by an article from Current Biology, which pretty much everyone (including the authors) seem to think explains away “ghosts”. You should … Continue reading
UK Paranormal Investigation Changes Forever? The ASSAP big announcement
OK, I’m back from the ASSQP Conference, and yes this might change things forever at least for a lot of small paranormal groups. It won’t however effect anyone outside the UK, but basically, from what we were told, ASSAP, the Association for Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena has been recognised by the UK government as the Professional Body of “paranormal investigators”. That does not mean the UK Government believes in the paranormal in any way: far from it, all it means is that it recognises that “paranormal investigators” deal with potentially distressed clients, and that it is in the public interest to allow some form of self regulation of the sector.
Continue reading
Studying the Paranormal: serious online courses in Parapsychology
In fact, sceptic or believer, I would seriously suggest you consider taking the course. I just saw on Twitter that enrollment for the latest run has opened, so please do consider it. Continue reading
Posted in Debunking myths, Fun forthcoming events, Paranormal, Science
Tagged Bath Uni., Dr Caroline Watt, Dr Ian Hume, Dr Tony Lawrence, Edinburgh Uni, KPU, MSc PArapsychology, online courses, online parapsychology courses, Paranormal, parapsychology, Scepticism, Seriously Strange, the Skeptical Inquirer
1 Comment
Psychic News closes down after 78 years — but why?
I am aware of the byzantine politics of the Spiritualist movement, and the complex theological, administrative and personality clashes which sometimes (always?) arise. In this the Spiritualist National Union is much like any other church, or much like any other organisation, be it poetry club or gardening society.
In those two factors, economic issues and doubtless some political manoeuvring we see the immediate reasons for the decline of Psychic News (a newspaper that as long term reader of this blog may recall once featured me on the front page!). It is a shame, but possibly to be expected. And yet… Continue reading
Posted in atheism, Paranormal, Religion, Social commentary desecrated
Tagged Charismatic Christian Churches, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Chat magazine, Colin Fry, Derek Acorah, Derren Brown, Dr Chris French, Dr Richard Wiseman, Dr Susan Blackmore, European Journal of Parapsychology, falling advertising revenues, Fortean Times, ghosthunters, Ghosthunting TV shows, hands-on theological investigation., I'm with the Woolwich, ITN, James Randi, Jane Millichip, John Edwards, John Wesley, Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, JREF, Living TV, mediums, Most Haunted, New Atheists, New Religious Movements, New Sceptics, New Skeptics, Paranormal, Paranormal Magazine, paranormalisation' of our popular culture., Penn & Teller, Prof. Richard DAwkins, psychical research, psychics, Richard Dawkins, S.P.R, sceptics, skeptics, Skeptics in the Pub, Society for Psychical Research, Spirit & Destiny magazine, spiritualism, Spiritualist National Union, spiritualists, Susan Blackmore, teenage Wiccan wannabes, thoughts on spiritualists, Tony Stockwell, UK Skeptics, war and spiritualism, war and the psychic
7 Comments
Thoughts on The Society for Psychical Research
The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) are probably known to many readers of this blog: I first joined back in 1992, was a member for a couple of years, and after a fifteen year hiatus have recently once again become an Associate member. Some of you may still be storing SPR Journals and Proceedings for me – if so thanks! Perhaps some readers would consider joining up? Continue reading
Posted in Fun forthcoming events, Paranormal
Tagged 10 Downing Street, Andrew Mackenzie, Balfour, Becky Smith, Chris Jensen Romer, cj.23, CPRG, EJP, ESP, Ghost Hunters, Ghostbusters quotes, ghosthunters, ghosts, John Beloff, Journal of European Parapsychology, Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, JSPR, LEXSCIEN, Manfred Cassirer, Paranormal, paranormal investigation, parapsychological community., parapsychology, Parasoc, peer reviewed parapsychology journals, Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research, psi, PSPR, Psychic Research, psychical research, Psychical Research Society, S.P.R, Society for Psychical Research, Spontaneous Cases Committee, SPR Journal, SPR Research, The Paranormal Review, www.spr.ac.uk
12 Comments
A Day in the Life of a Paranormal Investigator
I just wrote this on the UK Skeptic’s forum, in response to this article by Chris Sherwood here on the same subject. I think mine is closer to the truth 🙂 And before you panic, it’s not autobiographical – these … Continue reading
Posted in Dreadful attempts at humour, Paranormal, Science, Uninteresting to others whitterings about my life
Tagged a day in the life of a paranormal investigator, Chris Sherwood, JREF, Paranormal, parapsychology, psychical research, Society for Psychical Research, UK Skeptics, want to be a paranormal investigator?
9 Comments
Elliot O’Donnell 1872-1965: the first great ghosthunter?
It’s hard to believe it is fourteen years since I wrote this piece, and it reflects my ideas at that time. I have however, with some embarrassment as some of my ideas have changed, reproduced it here. I hope it … Continue reading
Posted in Paranormal
Tagged Andrew Green, Andrew Lang, apparitions, Arthur Machen, astral double, banshees, Berry Pomeroy, Bristol ghosthunters, Celtic Twilight, Clifton College Bristol, Death Omensm ghosts, Elementals, Elliot O'Donnell, Eric Quigley, folklore, For Satan's Sake, ghosthunters, Ghosthunting, ghosts as recordings, ghosts of the future, Golden Dawn, Harry Price, Irish Ghosthunters, Nigel Kneale, Paranormal, Phantasms of the Living, poltergeists, psychical research, psychism, Queen's Service Academy Dublin, Rev. Wynn Wescott, Society for Psychical Research, Stonetape Theory, werewolves, werwolves
17 Comments
Comforting but not useful? Diagnosis: Sleep Paralysis
OK, we have all been there. A frightened friend tells us of how they woke up, pinned to the bed by an invisible entity, struggled to speak or move but could not — or worse, saw the THING sitting on their chest… and I’ll avoid all the obvious jokes about ex-girlfriends and move on to the point. 🙂 Continue reading
Posted in Debunking myths, Paranormal, Science
Tagged atonia, held down on bed by unseen force, night hag, Paranormal, REM atonia, sleep paralysis, technobabble
3 Comments
"And sometimes he's so nameless" 
The Case Against “Paranormal Unity”; or why Ghost Hunters have become meaningless.
Those who know me probably know that I am a ghost hunter. What does that actually mean, in real terms? Do I wear a pith helmet and shorts, and carry an elephant gun, and like the big game hunters of … Continue reading →