July – 2009 – Paranormal Magazine

The only area of the paranormal that has attracted serious scientific research is Extra Sensory Perception. Parapsychologist James Lumsden explains the techniques used to quantify ESP.

Anecdotal support for Extra Sensory Perception is not uncommon. It is estimated that just under half of the UK population will experience what is believed to be an ESP episode during their lifetime, with telepathy proving most likely.

These self reports, however, do not satisfy those who are sceptical of psychic phenomena. Human beings are fallible, they argue. ESP episodes must be due to misperception, self-delusion, coincidence and even fraud. If ESP is real you should be able to create it upon demand, and measure it under laboratory conditions.

So how do researchers go about measuring ESP? As you would expect, the aim is to create experimental conditions which limit any opportunity for the problem outlined above to manifest themselves. In turn it is also desirable to conduct studies where the outcome is unambiguous. You want to identify whether participants provide information that can be judged as accurate or inaccurate – straightaway. Accordingly, many studies employ what’s known as a formed choice protocol where there a fixed number of options to choose from. Heads or Tails? is forced choice.

The ancient Egyptians were highly superstitious regarding death and burial. Carrying out the elaborate rituals incorrectly could result in a haunting or possession by very angry spirits. Egyptologist Bridget McDermott explores the afterlife beliefs of this fascinating civilization.

In ancient Egypt, the death of an individual was met with ritual and superstition. While public mourning was fashionable, the corpse was removed from view. It is rarely referred to in Egyptian iconography. Crafted by the gods from clay or tears, the Egyptians understood the perishable nature of the human body. They abhorred the thought of decomposition, and after death, the body was quickly distanced from living.

In view of the heat, a corpse required immediate treatment or burial, although there were a few exceptions. Embalmers were known to take liberties with their clients, so young women were left to decompose a little. Executed criminals were deprived of an afterlife: they were left above ground where their remains were devoured by animals and birds.

MICHAEL Jackson fans are in a frenzy over a possible sighting of the star’s GHOST at Neverland.

An eerie shadow resembling Jacko’s figure appeared on a wall in the singer’s former home during a live television programme last week – and walked across the corridor. It moved quickly from left to right before disappearing.

The spooky sighting came during CNN’s ‘Inside Neverland’, which featured an interview between interviewer Larry King and Michael’s brother Jermaine.

Neither the presenter nor the cameraman noticed the spectre. But after it was posted on YouTube fans picked up the shadow and rumours spread across the internet like wildfire.

During the programme – aired a week after his death – Miko Brando, Marlon’s son and a long-term friend of Jackson’s, takes a film crew on a tour of Neverland.

At one point their camera is pointed down a long hall-way when the shadowy figure appears at its far end.

Chat forums were flooded with messages from fans last night who insisted the shadow was Michael’s ghost.

Check out the footage below and let us know what you think:

Paranormal Magazine

Exploring the world of the unexplained

Jazz Publishing

Can the lab prove ESP?

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Ghosts and Gods in Ancient Egypt

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Is this Michael Jackson’s ghost?

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

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