The Psychic Medium Essay Example
The Psychic Medium Essay Example

The Psychic Medium Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (1085 words)
  • Published: November 28, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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The Psychic Medium is a form of psychic phenomenon that involves an individual using extrasensory perception or paranormal abilities to communicate with spirits or otherworldly beings. It's important to recognize that while all psychics possess mediumistic abilities, not all mediums have psychic abilities. The main objective of a medium is to provide evidence of the existence of spirits after death and help those who are grieving in dealing with their loss. The skills possessed by a psychic medium can have a profound influence on saving lives.

However, there is a downside to the practice, as there are numerous fraudulent individuals who attempt to deceive others for financial gain, offering false hope. Mediums claim that there are three primary methods or abilities to establish communication with spirits or the afterlife, namely clairvoyance, clairaudience, and clairsentience. Clairvoyance represents a medium's cap

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acity to visually perceive the spirit. Clairaudience, on the other hand, is the ability to audibly hear the spirit's messages, while clairsentience involves the medium's capability to sense the presence and thoughts of the spirit. Mediums can possess and employ one or more of these abilities and techniques.

There is a suggestion that anyone can have psychic abilities. Psychic phenomena have been recognized since ancient times, with documented instances and mention of mediums in The Bible. Throughout history, there has been a strong interest in psychic phenomena, including the longing to connect with deceased loved ones and comprehend the mysteries surrounding death. Certain individuals claim to hold the answers to these inquiries, resulting in efforts to blend these phenomena with scientific approaches.

This scientific study of psychic phenomena is known as Parapsychology. Its goal is to use scientific methods t

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prove the existence and explain the reasons behind psychic abilities and the afterlife. Research is conducted in private labs and select universities worldwide, both in controlled settings and real-world environments. However, fewer universities are currently engaged in parapsychological research compared to earlier periods. Prior to 1970, there was a rising interest among intellectuals in parapsychology, leading to the establishment of dedicated institutions solely focused on investigating this field.

During the 1970’s, there was a significant increase in research on paranormal phenomena. Government organizations were established to oversee and support private organizations in this field. Universities across the country started creating departments dedicated to parapsychological research. Moreover, even those outside of parapsychology showed a general optimism towards this research. The surge in paranormal investigation continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s, eventually reaching more than 30 countries by the end of the 1980s. However, claims of psychic phenomena face widespread skepticism and criticism from mainstream science and skeptics.

Parapsychology, despite ongoing investigations, lacks consistency and differs from most scientific disciplines due to the inability to reliably replicate experiment findings. Since the 1970s, parapsychological research in the United States has significantly declined. Initial studies faced opposition and produced inconclusive results. Some supposedly supernatural phenomena disappeared under stricter controls, leading to dead ends in research. As a result of mainstream science's lack of acceptance, university laboratories in the US closed down while private institutions funded by private sources became prominent in parapsychology. The questioning of nature and skepticism towards traditional narratives initiated by ancient Greek philosophers permanently reshaped our intellectual landscape.

The marginalization of ancient wisdom traditions resulted from the scorn and ridicule of sacred experiences caused by the dominance of a

particular type of science. While science has freed us from ignorance and superstition and improved our ability to control nature, it has also fostered the belief that consciousness exists only briefly before permanently disappearing after death. Consequently, this notion challenges ancient myths and makes the idea of an afterlife implausible. The significant societal impact of these occurrences is evident when a parent tragically loses a child; seeking solace from a medium can provide closure for the family and help them move forward if there are unanswered questions about the child's demise. Those grieving over the departure of a loved one often find themselves in a vulnerable state, longing for answers to unanswerable questions.

Conclusively answering these questions would greatly strengthen the human race and provide answers to enigmatic inquiries about life after death. Communication with deceased individuals would offer solace, knowing our loved ones are thriving on "the other side," helping us live each day as if it were our last. It would also provide comfort for families to resume their regular lives. However, the inability to substantiate these phenomena has led to numerous individuals claiming medium abilities exploiting the vulnerable by extracting substantial sums of money in exchange for connecting them with departed loved ones.

Despite the belief that mediums provide accurate readings, they often only offer general statements and rely on body language and previously presented facts to manipulate their clients. This ultimately exposes them as average con artists. However, there is one exception to this stereotype - John Edward. He has gained respect in the field for his willingness to be tested by skeptics and to showcase his work on national television.

John Edward is

a firm believer in his work and wholeheartedly supports it. He considers it his responsibility to demonstrate to the world that his art form is indeed a scientific practice. John Edward particularly enjoys when his clients approach him with skepticism, as it allows him not only to showcase his abilities but also to personally convince someone of their authenticity. I have attended multiple seminars conducted by John Edward at the Capital One Bank Theatre in Westbury, NY.

The content presented at these seminars is incredibly mind-blowing and can make one want to believe in the speaker's abilities. The reactions of the people he reads are fascinating to observe. Sometimes, he provides such specific information that it seems his "science" must be valid. Witnessing someone cry or laugh hysterically because he touched on a topic only they know about can instantaneously convert most skeptics into believers. Additionally, when a skeptic receives a message that could only have come from their deceased loved one, it is an immensely powerful experience. As a man of science, I cannot fully accept the legitimacy of psychic phenomena.

When something cannot be consistently replicated or when findings do not align with science, my skepticism arises. Nonetheless, I want to believe in the existence of these phenomena. Observing mediums like John Edward gives me hope that such occurrences happen regularly. As someone who fears death, I strive to live each day as if it were my last, rather than constantly looking towards the future.

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