Beyond the Senses: Forms of ESP

         Psychic ability can take on many forms—I’ve experienced some of them myself. And I believe that all of us humans have the potential to perceive what’s beyond the senses. Ironically, it’s the physical senses themselves that are sometimes the vehicle for that kind of perception.
         There’s a form of ESP called clairalience—the ability to acquire psychic information through the physical sense of smell, usually by picking up the scent of something that isn’t physically present. Sounds very arcane, but I’ve experienced it myself. I have a pretty keen sense of smell, and for me a “psychic scent” is unmistakable, because it appears so suddenly and stands out sharply from any of the other smells around me.
         When an unseen presence is around, I’ll sometimes see blue sparkles and white flashes of light in the air. On a few occasions, I’ve picked up a sudden, unfamiliar whiff of cologne along with the visual cues, and I knew the fragrance was associated with my visitor. Another time, on a night when I was having an especially hard time staying asleep, I felt like there might be a disruptive presence around. And then I picked up a whiff of a strong, sulfurous smell that was totally unlike anything in my house—really creepy. But the strangest episode occurred when I was home alone one evening while the man I was dating was out with his friends.
         I was hanging out in the living room, feeling a little spooked—in those days, my life was pretty strange, with a lot of psychic occurrences, and I felt uneasy often. Suddenly I noticed a strong, distinct smell of brewing coffee—which struck me as odd, since I wasn’t brewing any, and I wasn’t even sure we had any coffee in the house. The room was closed up, too, so the smell didn’t seem to be coming from outside. Now I felt even more uneasy, and I wondered if the scent might be a psychic signal of some kind.
         A little later I found out that my boyfriend and his two friends crashed their car right around the time I noticed the coffee scent. To this day, I’m not sure why the warning smell turned out to be coffee, but I feel it really was a warning. And, according to what I’ve read about clairalience, this form of ESP does sometimes occur as a signal that a loved one is in danger. Fascinating.
         As for my seeing sparkles and flashes when an unseen visitor is around—there’s a name for that, too: clairvoyance, the ability to see what’s usually hidden from physical sight. I’ve also sometimes seen, with my peripheral vision, glowing spheres of light or dark, solid-looking human figures that quickly disappear: also clairvoyance. And if, like me, you’ve ever had a hunch or a feeling about something you couldn’t possibly know, and it turned out to be right—that just might be clairsentience. And there are still other forms of ESP, some related to the physical senses, some not.
         To me, all of this proves once again just how amazing we humans are. I really do believe that we’re all born with the capacity for extrasensory perception, and that it does serve a purpose: it’s part of our birthright as humans, just one more tool for acquiring information we might want or need to know. What do you think?

Ann Young
Author—Fantasy, Mysticism, Paranormal Fiction … and Fact

www.annyoungfiction.com

Writing Paranormal: The Universe Responds

         I love how things turn out sometimes! When I started writing my blog and Fact of the Week, my main objectives were to share information, and to build my reputation as a writer on the topics I love most: the paranormal, the mystical, and the unseen. People really have begun to read what I write, and that’s exciting. But I’ve also been reaping some wonderful rewards that I didn’t foresee, and I’m thrilled about that, too. I think it really is true that when you do what you love, the Universe responds, opening the way for the fulfillment of your goals and so much more.
         One of those benefits I didn’t expect: that doing research for my blog and weekly facts would fire up my enthusiasm in such a huge way. There are so many exciting topics to explore! There’s so much in this Universe that’s unexplained—and we humans are so marvelous and complex, capable of a whole range of psychic abilities and unusual experiences. I’m learning even more than I knew before. And opportunities for new adventures are emerging.
         One event in October is already on my calendar: The Julian Teachings Organization’s 15th Gathering of Light in Michigan. This group is dedicated to carrying on the work of trance medium June Burke and the Seraph Julian who spoke through her. I had the privilege of attending one of June’s sessions years ago, and I discovered the organization last year when I was researching her for my blog. (See my blog entry for July 8, 2011, entitled “Extraordinary People”.) This year’s Gathering will include topics such as tarot, astrology, and Julian healing techniques. I’m really looking forward to writing about my experiences there.
         Speaking of writing about experiences—reporting on my own psychic history in my blog, which I’ve been doing since 2011, has brought me another of those unexpected rewards; it has sharply clarified my beliefs about reality, and has helped me see who I am. What I believe is so much clearer to me now. And I realize that even when I’m spinning out a fantasy or paranormal fiction novel, I’m writing about what I truly believe: that we’re all deeply connected beneath the level of ordinary reality, and that we experience many lives; that we have vast potential, and are capable of amazing psychic abilities; that there is life after death, and that those who have crossed over can communicate with us. I wasn’t thinking about those beliefs when I wrote my stories. But now I realize just how deeply those stories reflect who I am.
         I don’t think it’s an accident that I’m reaping any of these benefits. Along with everything else I believe about the nature of things, I’m also convinced that we live in a cause-and-effect Universe that responds to the quality of our thought. When we do what we love, we’re putting out some potently affirmative thought-energy—to which the Universe responds in kind, in even greater measure than we sent out. So I’ll just keep on doing what I love: delving into paranormal fact, and whipping up some tasty fiction stories for my readers to enjoy. And I’ll let the Universe do the rest.

      For more information about the Julian Teachings, go to www.julianteachings.com. To read excerpts from my novels, or browse through my Fact of the Week Archive, visit www.annyoungfiction.com

Ann Young
Author—Fantasy, Mysticism, Paranormal Fiction … and Fact

Hybrid Spirituality--And I'm Not Talkin' About the Car!

        Like many of us in the US, I was raised as a member of organized religion. But, by the time I was 17, I knew the faith I grew up in wasn’t for me. For the next 27 years, I did a lot of spiritual searching, and felt intensely uncomfortable in any kind of church. I did eventually find my way—into a brand of spirituality that really works for me. I’ve come to call it hybrid spirituality: one that incorporates beliefs from more than one faith tradition, and is open to including even more.

         My purpose here isn’t to slam anyone who’s found a comfortable place in conventional religion; everyone has to follow their own path. What I am saying is that, for some of us, a spirituality that incorporates more than one tradition is a beautifully fulfilling thing. And if that kind of spirituality turns out to be the path that nourishes our spirit and opens us up into a relationship with the Divine, I have a feeling God wouldn’t mind. In fact, I think God would be rejoicing with us.

         So many of us in so many faiths have been taught that there’s only one “right way” to believe, only one chosen people or right way to worship. I contend that the only “right way” is the one that works for each individual as a path to a more fulfilled life and a deeper walk with the Divine. There’s nothing wrong with picking and choosing what does work—even if it involves making a different choice than the one you grew up with. Even if it combines elements of more than one spiritual tradition.

         For me, my combination of traditions fulfills just about everything I need from a spiritual system. My traditions are beautifully inclusive: people of every age, race, creed, and sexual preference are truly welcome. My traditions also acknowledge both the male and female aspect of God; they reverence the earth and nature; and they conceive of God as being within us, without, and in all things. They have a moral compass about how to treat other people. They also recognize the tremendous power of thought, and encourage self-responsibility for the thoughts and actions we produce. And, very importantly for me, my traditions recognize the vast potential in us humans, and acknowledge the deeper mysteries underlying our familiar reality.

         Where did I find all this? Primarily in the Science of Mind tradition (also known as Religious Science), in combination with Wicca and a few elements of the conventional church I grew up in. As I continue to learn and explore, I realize I also have some beliefs in common with Spiritualism and Theosophy. And I’m open to incorporating even more.

         So—are you a person with hybrid spirituality? What’s the combination that works for you? I’d love to hear from you.

Traveling Without the Body

         Human consciousness, I’ve come to realize, is such a fluid thing. I never would have believed it was possible for the consciousness of a living person to separate from the body, sometimes traveling to places in other realities and our own—astral projection. But it is possible. I know this because I’ve tried it myself—and because I had an amazing friend who could travel astrally and bring back proof of what she had seen.
         Some occultists believe that we all project naturally during sleep. I’ve also heard of cases where people separated from their bodies during surgery, and were actually able to see and hear the surgery being performed on them. (I’m so glad that never happened to me!) It’s also possible to project from a waking state, but for me, that wasn’t so easy to do. Practicing the same method my friend used, I had many failures and “partial lift-offs”—times when I would feel a part of me rocking up and out of my body. A very distinctive sensation. Then I would get so excited that I’d drop right back in!
         There was one night, however, when I finally stayed relaxed enough to rise up out of my body. Next thing I knew, I was looking up at the ceiling from a vantage point just a few inches below it. And then I saw a powerful, luminous-white energy that seemed to be drawing me upward. I rose up and merged into it, and that’s the last thing I can recall. I ended up feeling like the best part of my experience was probably the part I couldn’t remember—and I still wonder exactly where I went after I merged into that beneficent glow. But I did feel really pleased that I’d finally made it out of my body.
        This incident was enough to prove to me that separating the consciousness from the body really is possible. But it was my friend’s experiences that convinced me of the traveling part. Amazingly, she was able to consciously project to other locations in our reality—sometimes far away—and bring back information about what she saw. Which would turn out to be correct. On one occasion, she made a sketch of a building she had seen during one of her projections, in a place she had never visited during her waking life. We were later able to verify that there really was a building of that description there. Another time, she projected to a gathering at a nightclub, and later gave me a detailed list of who had been there—which again proved correct. The person who corroborated my friend’s account didn’t even know her, so the two of them couldn’t have conspired to pull off a hoax. Fascinating.
         The other thing that amazed me was that my friend seemed to be able to travel to other levels of reality as well, sometimes bringing back conscious memories of it. She described sights and sounds that were totally outside familiar reality; she talked about hearing unearthly cosmic sounds as she "traveled". And one of the “places” she visited was a vast, luminous expanse of white energy. While she was there, she was able to interact with, even merge with, other people, getting a glimmer of the deep connections that existed between herself and them from other lives they had shared. There’s really no objective way to validate these experiences. But in my mind, since my friend was able to successfully project to places we could verify, maybe these other experiences had validity, too—suggesting some interesting possibilities about the nature of reality and the interconnectedness of us all.
         Maybe ordinary reality isn’t the only one—and maybe all of us truly are connected in deep and mysterious ways: through interactions we’ve shared in other places and times, maybe even beyond time. So many unusual experiences in my own life have seemed to point to this. And my friend’s glimpse into a deeper reality seems to be just one more indication.
          Have you ever stepped out into another reality, and brought back an insight you wouldn’t have had otherwise? I’d love to hear your story, and I invite you to share it with me. Leave a comment for me here on Blogger, or contact me at info@annyoungfiction.com.

Satanism and Wicca: the Same?

         Years ago, when I first started exploring the paranormal, I promised myself I’d never have anything to do with negative magic; I believe very firmly that those of us who know how to use the power of the mind have a responsibility to use it in a positive way, never for harming or manipulating anyone. So I never wanted to know about, hear about, or read about any philosophy that favored negative magic.

         But a funny thing happened to me recently; I found myself wanting to learn more about Satanism. Not because I wanted to do what Satanists do—but because I wanted to help clear up a common misconception: the idea that Satanism and Wicca are the same. The only thing I knew about Satanism was the negative magic part—and I realized that, to do a good job of comparing, I needed to know more. So I did a little research.

         I discovered, first of all, that Satanism isn’t populated only by psychopaths and angry teenagers; there are some intelligent, serious adults who are Satanists. It's a philosophy that embraces stern justice and "an-eye-for-an-eye", also emphasizing self-responsibility, knowledge, and self-reliance—for some, an appealing combination.

         Satanism also appears to have a moral compass regarding the treatment of children and animals; the tales of ritual murder don’t seem to be true. And Satanism does have at least a few things in common with Wicca. Both are alternative religions, outside the mainstream; both involve the use of magic; and neither have a single, central authority to establish doctrine or “make the rules”. There are different “denominations”, so to speak, in both Wicca and Satanism, and many lone practitioners as well—meaning that beliefs and practices in each philosophy can vary. Still, when I looked at the most basic characteristics of each, I discovered that, in most ways, Satanism and Wicca really are virtually opposite philosophies.

         Satanism seems to have evolved as a rebellion against what was perceived as the dogma, hypocrisy, and false values of Christianity; Satanism’s focus, readily admitted to, is on personal gain, ego, and the pursuit of lust and other “sinful” pleasures. Wicca, on the other hand, is a recreation of ancient ways of aligning with deity and the rhythms of nature; the Wiccan focus is on alignment, balance, and reverence for nature. One system seems to have originated as an opposition to something, the other as a return to something nature-centered and metaphysical. Very different.

         Another difference: Satanism’s concept of deity ranges from atheism to a belief in a dark force, or a dark lord such as Christianity’s Satan, the Egyptian God Set, or others. Wiccans believe in a God and Goddess that are part of a larger Power that unites all things, and also resides within us. As for the use of magic: Satanists use it to help themselves and their friends, but also to harm their enemies—something I still disagree with entirely. Wiccans use magic for problem-solving and healing, and their magical work is carefully crafted to bring about change that harms or manipulates no one. To me, that’s one of the truly beautiful things about Wicca.

         What we have here, quite obviously, is one religion that focuses primarily on the dark, and one that embraces the opposite. I believe that Satanists, and everyone else, have the right to worship as they choose—as long as they don’t try to impose their beliefs on me, and their practices don’t bring me any harm. But Wicca is still the philosophy I really resonate with. To me, our world has such a need for healers, and for people who are working on alignment and balance, which benefits us all. This isn’t to deny the darker side of our nature or the dark side of our world—it’s about choosing to focus our energy on the positive, for our individual good and for the good of all. That’s the thing I want to be working on and striving for.

         Thanks to http://www.spiralnature.com/, http://www.religioustolerance.org/, www.detoxorcist.com, and www.angelfire.com/alt2/darkmatter/ for the information about Satanism.

"Fact or Faked" Takes On The Ice Man

         “Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files” is a TV show I really enjoy; I’m always interested to see how the team goes about testing the authenticity of various paranormal claims. In the recent season premiere entitled “The Grim Sleeper/The Real Mr. Freeze”, the team went to extraordinary lengths to test the claims surrounding Wim Hof, the “Ice Man”. And their tests did seem to substantiate his amazing abilities.

         Wim Hof earned his nickname by performing such incredible feats as running a half-marathon in the snow (in shorts and bare feet!), and holding the world record for longest ice bath—challenges that would prove fatal for most people. The “Fact or Faked” team first tried a couple of preliminary experiments, to see if Hof’s accomplishments could be faked or duplicated; then they tried the ultimate test.
         A member of their team, along with Hof, were each immersed in an ice bath, while their heart rate and body temperature were monitored to see how long each man could last without serious harm. After about 20 minutes, the team member was showing dangerous signs of hypothermia—while Wim Hof’s heart rate was normal and unchanged, and his body temperature was still holding at 98.6!

         This man has certainly accomplished something remarkable: direct, focused command over the functions of his body, to the extent that he is able to survive in situations where most of us wouldn’t. This, to me, points out once again the incredible power of the human mind—a power which, I believe, lies in all of us. We are capable of so much more than most of us realize; the key, I think, is in recognizing our power and being motivated to use it. Wim Hof certainly seems to have those qualities.
         When interviewed, Hof revealed that, for him, normal was boring—so he set out to train himself to do something different! He didn't seem to question his power to rise above the ordinary, and he had the motivation and persistence to reach his goal. Talk about utilizing potential ...
         What would happen if more of us began to claim at least a small piece of our own potential? Our world could change in such exciting ways. And that’s something I’d love to see.   

           

A Haunting at The Lake Club

Enjoy the Paranormal Day Party!

May 3, 2016

http://www.hauntjaunts.net/paranormal-day-party-invite/        

         One of my guilty pleasures, I’ll admit, is watching “Ghost TV”. I’m always on the hunt for credible accounts of hauntings and other phenomena, and I occasionally find a story that really grabs my attention. The tale of The Lake Club is one of them.

         The first time I ever heard about The Lake Club was in an episode of “A Haunting” that aired recently on Planet Green. Several of the people involved in the story were interviewed during the show; it was their credible, coherent manner, along with the incredible details of the story, that captured my interest. So I did a bit of research.

         The Lake Club, in Springfield, Illinois first opened as a nightclub in 1940, gaining a reputation for big-name entertainment—and an illegal gambling operation as well. The club was raided in 1958, and the gambling was shut down, bringing a decline in business. The club finally closed in the 60’s. But: during the 1970s, with Bill Carmean and Tom Blasko at the helm, The Lake Club experienced a revival as a popular nightspot. The paranormal events that occurred during that time would also earn the club a reputation as one of the most haunted sites in the state. So: what exactly did happen at The Lake Club?

         The haunting began in 1974, with Bill Carmean being the first to notice strange happenings—such as a piano playing in another room when he was alone in the club; a door near the office opening, followed by footsteps, even though no one was there; and a glass flying off a table and hitting a wall during a visit by an unfortunate salesman. Over the next couple of years, the disturbances intensified, with employees and musicians reporting unusual occurrences—such as feelings of being “poked and prodded” by invisible hands, a drink lifting off a table and pouring into a customer’s lap, office equipment operating on its own, and more. Bill Carmean’s partner Tom also had some strange experiences, which he initially kept to himself. And then employee Barbara Lard had the most intense encounter of all.

         She saw an apparition—just the head of a man with snow-white hair—and he spoke to her, warning her that one of the club owners was going to die. Accounts differ as to whether or not she shared this warning with Carmean and Blasko—and there’s disagreement over the name of the owner who did die of a heart attack a couple of weeks later. But one of the owners of the property apparently did die. And, with the help of The Lake Club’s longtime caretaker Rusty, the identity of the spirit who gave the warning was determined.

         He was Rudy Cranor, a bartender during The Lake Club’s heyday as a nightclub and illegal gambling spot. Barbara Lard identified him, from an old photo, as the spirit who had spoken to her. It turns out that, in June 1968, after the club had fallen on hard times, Rudy Cranor had committed suicide there, shooting himself with a high-powered rifle in one of the back rooms. Rudy was now assumed to be the source of all of the disturbances at the club.

         After all that, Tom Blasko felt that something had to be done about Rudy, for the safety of everyone working at the club. Ultimately, Gary Dilley, a priest who was an old friend of his, came to The Lake Club with two other priests to bless the site and send Rudy’s spirit on its way. Did the blessing work? Apparently so. The paranormal occurrences stopped. But the club’s business declined as well. Within 6 months, The Lake Club closed. From 1980 to 1988, it was operated under a different name by a new lessee, before finally closing for the last time. And then, in a strange ending to a strange story, the building burned to the ground in August 1992. Investigators believed the fire had been deliberately set.

         What do I think about all this? As I said, the accounts of the people involved did seem very credible. And, from my own experience, I know that the kind of phenomena reported at The Lake Club really can happen. I’ve seen it myself. I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that a site for illicit gambling was later the location of a suicide, a long string of paranormal disturbances, and a destructive fire. Energy, I believe, attracts like energy; dark activities lead to more of the same. So it’s not surprising how The Lake Club’s history turned out. The one good thing is that the spirit causing the disturbances does seem to have been released. A very good thing.

         Thanks to “A Haunting” on Planet Green, and to www.prairieghosts.com/lakeclub.html for their information on The Lake Club.