Ahhh, Halloween, the time of year, when paranormal becomes just plain normal for a spell.  Therefore, I’m dedicating this special Halloween edition of my blog to the sixth sense.

No, not the film, but that mysterious sense we all have, but just ignore.

Why do I say this?  I’ve always had keen interest in the paranormal.  In 2007, I began researching the subject in earnest for an article I wrote entitled, “Could you Be Living With a Ghost?”

http://bayweekly.com/old-site/year08/issuexvi44/leadxvi44_1.html

My research began on a ghost tour in Annapolis, Maryland, which led to digging into the local ghosts and perusing several books by Psychics, Echo L. Bodine and John Edward and then to Sidney Kirkpatrick’s book about “Edgar Cayce, An American Prophet”.

On the side of science, I discovered, “Tracks in the Psychic Wilderness:  An Exploration of ESP, Remote Viewing, Precognitive Dreaming and Synchronicity”, by Dale E, Graff, which references the Stargate research program:  NOVA episode about Stargate

And because of synchronicity, I stumbled on Carl Gustav Jung’s “Selected Writings” compelling, including theories on “Synchronicity”, “On the Nature of Dreams” and “On Life After Death”.

There’s a long history of questions, theories, beliefs in the field but hard proof is still difficult to come by.  Still, I had way too much information rattling around in the attic of my brain to stop at one article and I’m intrigued by the notion of finding a connection between paranormal psychology and science.

What I have found, is a consensus among the “experts”, psychics and mediums suggesting we all have psychic abilities that are either undeveloped or just at different stages of development.

This sparked my interest in writing a novel, “Secret Agent of…God?”  The premise:  young protagonist, Janice Morrison’s discovery of foresight, leads to the upheaval of her ordinary life, a frightening interlude with terrorists and the ultimate struggle of faith.  

I plan to finish it by January, however, as there is no seeming end to research material, I continue my meandering study, one book or reference leading to another.  My current bedtime reads include:  “Questions from Earth, Answers from Heaven”, by Char Margolis and Victoria St. George and “The Power of Premonitions “ by New York Times bestselling author, Larry Dossey, M.D.

Dossey presents a well-researched, scientific argument for PSI or parapsychology, using case studies and examples including those by well-known physicists.  He references great thinkers such as Albert Einstein and authors Upton Sinclair “Mental Radio”, John William Dunne “An Experiment With Time” and “Nothing Dies” a book about immortality.

Margolis, a Psychic Intuitive, suggests ways to enhance your own psychic abilities and includes examples of everyday psychic events, suggesting much of what we call intuition is actually psychic ability.

So, are some scientists now seeing the light once reserved for Psychics?

According to Dossey, The Stanford Research Institute and the Science Applications International Corporation are among those conducting studies to build scientific evidence.  Perhaps quantitative data will be the key that unlocks the door to the other side.

So what are your thoughts?  Could psychic ability be like any other genetic or inherent gift, such as artistic or musical ability?  Could PSI be laying dormant, just below the surface of our consciousness, waiting for us to awaken it?

Assume for a moment this is true, but that some are more talented or have had more time to perfect their ability, like Theresa Caputo, The Long Island Medium.  Theresa Caputo Website

What would cause one person to tune in, but not another?

When someone loses their ability to hear or see, the other senses intensify, filling in the gap.  By that same token, can you train your brain to awaken your sixth sense by focusing on mind over matter and mentally shutting down your other senses?  Or, as Dossey suggests, use the five senses to enhance the sixth.

Whoa, shut the front door!  Perhaps, all you have to do, is believe.

Happy Halloween!