The beads from the door draped over my shoulders as I entered her strange domain. I set in the chair and waited for her entrance. A table set before me inlaid with Ouija’s familiar letters and numbers. A crystal ball was positioned in the middle of the table. It was glowing and strangely hypnotic. The smell of incense overwhelmed my nostrils. My head became dizzy and nausea filled me. The drape swept opened and a gust of white vapor rushed in. An ancient gypsy woman stood with necklaces and bracelets jingling with every motion of her body.
I leapt from the chair catching the table with my knee. It slammed back to the floor under it’s on weight and the crystal ball flew across the room. Without looking back, I ran for my very life, shredding the beaded doorway behind me.
Yah! Yah. Well at least that’s my standard idea of physics and mediums. This is the next illustration I’ve completed for the author working on the paranormal book. The painting is done for a chapter about ’ Psychics & Mediums‘.
The definition of psychic is a person who has sensory perception of the paranormal. -Where as, a medium can also communicate directly with the other side or ‘ghost.’
Although I have no doubt there is a paranormal realm, on the subject of psychics and mediums, I always had difficulty believing their claims are anything more than lucky guesses. Their talents might be better listed as keen awareness of body language, masters of trickery or manipulation. My religious upbringing also gave me an aversion to soothsayers early on, so I was never a ‘believer.‘ At least that’s the way I felt until a pretty amazing psychic medium enlisted to do a TV show I was involved with in the early 90’s.The show was called ‘Sightings’ and the director was a man by the name of Steve Kroopnich. World renowned psychic
When Steve picked up Peter James at LAX, the first thing Peter said to him is “You have twins!”
Steve replied, “No. I can assure you I don‘t.”
Steve and his wife only had one daughter.
Peter just smiled, which only validated Steve’s skepticism.
Twins? That was totally absurd and out of the blue! Both Steve and his wife were older and had no plans for more kids.Are you ready? A year to the day Peter arrived in L.A. for the show, Steve’s wife gave birth to twins. It’s true! I promise you.
I know! Really creepy, huh? Anyway, that doesn’t mean all who call themselves ‘psychics and mediums’ are like Peter, but you never know…… now do you?
Anyway, have you ever visited a psychic or medium? And what was your take on the experience?
Vikki
The link for Peter James is a tribute to his memory. He died July of 2007.
Vikki
The link for Peter James is a tribute to his memory. He died July of 2007.
‘Psychics &Mediums’ is 12”x16” acrylic on unstretched canvas. The original painting will soon be in
The Red Chair Gallery..
22 comments:
My mother believed in them. I don't.
Catch an episode of "The Mentalist" sometime.
Hi Douglas,
I love the Menatlist. I know a couple people who work on the show.
Did you see the episode where he actually went up against a 'real' psychic? The psychic answered a question he had told no one about his wife and child's death. It brought the main character to tears and they ended the show on that note.
The writers are actually leaving the possibility open.
But-please note: I agree with you. I think the majority is B.S. and it needs to be approached in the spirit of fun.
Vikki
During a short time during my first marriage both THAT MAN and I were convinced that he could read my mind. Half in fun, with friends he set up a couple of experiments that seemed to confirm his power. Then he began giving orders subliminally - asked me to get him a drink of water.
That broke the spell. I don't take orders from anybody - unless I choose to.
We are all our own masters.
I really think they did that because of the number of complaints they would get from people who believe in psychics. Ever hear of The Amazing Randi? http://www.randi.org/site/
If anyone could bridge the world of the living with the afterlife, one would think it would be Houdini (who promised he would. So far, no sign.
But I am a skeptic in all things.
Hi Douglas,
I think it's very much like 'belief in ghost.' Most everyone has to actually experience it before they can believe in the possibilities.
I've actually seen a ghost. One walked up and attempted to say hello. So I know they exist. But, even still -I'm skeptical of about 98% of the stories I hear. I think most things can be explained by the living.
Vikki
Hi June.-
To funny.
I had one of those husbands also... but it was 'I' that could read his mind validated only by his bossy actions.
Vikki
When I was a kid, perhaps 4 or 5 years of age, my Mother and I went to some type of event with the the smoke, beads, sounds, etc., and it still resonates with me. I do not know her purpose and do not know the results of the session. I do not know what occurred other than the fact that I was scared.
I previously related my experience with someone approaching me coming out of a subway station in a strange part of Los Angeles and speaking to me by my first name, and advising me to leave that part of town. Additionally, around the same time, someone came into my home and immediately indicated that another spirit was in my space. I had experienced earthquake like movements on my bed, but without the blinds, curtains, floor, or anything else moving at the same time.
Something else strange happened. My mother gave me a Sony digimatic clock with flipping numbers in 1969. It worked for roughly 20 years, and then I could not locate new motors to replace the old ones. I had all sorts of electronics repairmen look at it. It last worked in roughly 1989. It stopped at roughly 4:23 am.
I continued to use the radio portion thereafter, and gave up on the flipping digimatic clock function. In roughly 2003, at 4:24 am, I heard a click, and instantly awakened to find my clock working once again. It worked without fail, until the day I received a call from my cousin that my Mother's brother had a stroke that day. It has not worked since then.
Considering that I am a logic/science-based, engineering oriented skeptic, my inclination is to think that it is all mathematical serendipity, and can be explained through physical forces.
On the other hand....
Hi Logisitician,
What a great comment! You really made me smile, Reg. Thanks.
It would have be interesting if you could remember what your Mother was doing, but you were so little. Have you ever asked your Dad? In fact it would probably be interesting to get his take on the whole paranormal coming from a different generation.
And the clock is really strange, huh? I do exactly the same thing: No matter how freaky (- if for nothing more than sanity sake)I HAVE TO assume their must be a logical explanation. But as you say… you never know.
In seeing this little ghost - I spent about 30 years trying to convince myself that I hallucinated the whole thing. The people who bought the house from us, sent my mother a curious note wanting to know if we had ever experienced anything ‘odd’ in the house. “Of course not,” my mother said.
When I asked her why she didn’t tell them the truth, she said ‘we don’t talk about those things’ and she didn’t want them to be uncomfortable. To funny.
Vikki
Interestingly, my Father did not accompany us on that trip, and I seriously doubt that he knew what we did. He's 88 now. I told him about the vibrating bed and the clock radio situation, and suggested that theoretically that it might have been my Mother attempting to communicate with me. He did not specifically respond, and yet my sense was that he thought it possible and could not rule it out.
With respect to your ghost, I have this theory, thus far unproven, that since we all consist of particles which have a frequency or vibration, it is theoretically possible for people to experience certain physical phenomenon simultanously as a type of resonance frequency. I recently saw the tail end of a show that appeared to test the concept; however, it was going off before I could gather any real information.
There may be something to the ghost or spirit thing, but explicable in physical science terms.
Hey Vikki,
nice work, it's great! I love it.
You know I don't think it's all B.S. (clairvoyance and the like)I won't go into that here, but I wanted to thank you for sharing the work, it rocks. Happy Holidays!
Hi Logistitician,
The ‘North’ person (ex) was quite the theorist and thought in that same vein. The concept was basically that the paranormal images we see are just lingering energy of people or strong emotional situations (wars, crimes or even joyous situations) like a time stamp recorded then playing back repeatedly. (thus giving way to the energy/particles you mention)
Parapsychology recognize this and call it a ‘residual haunting’. The scene plays out oblivious to the present. (The infamous ghost of Gettysburg is an example ) But here’s the big ‘but‘: It doesn’t explain the intelligent haunt where an entity attempts to interact or actually orally communicate with the living.
I fathom your Dad comes from the same place as my parents. They have no viable answer so why discuss it? We come from a generation where we question and analyze EVERTHING. “WE MUST find logic!”
It’s fun to just fathom the possibilities.
Vikki
Hi Heather,
It's so nice to hear from you. I know you’re a wild and crazy paranormal girl and have great fun with all.
I thought the crystal ball, Ouija Board, and Tarot cards ‘a must include’ even though not considered tools of the serious contemporary psychics and mediums.
I’m so invested in researching how to illustrate the paranormal subjects right now for Chassie’s book. To say I’ve got case of ‘ghosties’ was be an understatement.
Big hugs
Vikki
I am so enticed to wonder into the world you create in the painting. I like the mysterious abstraction that propels the whole concept beyond the literal objects that relate to psychics and mediums. I can smell the mood!
I went to a fortune teller at the Renaissance Fair once. It was expensive. But helpful when I listened to her words as events I need to be open to, or have more of an awareness of, rather than a literal interpretation of my future life. So overall it was fun! :)
~Michael
Hi Michael,
Always enjoy your comments and insight. I think abstract or nondescript backgrounds can create the mood and environment that can some times say more than naturalistic backgrounds. That was my plan here. And more important- it just leaves something to the viewers imagination.
I’ve never been brave enough to go to a serious (or good) psychic like you did. But- about ten years ago, I went to an event with a friend where 20 psychics and mediums (of every sort) were set up at tables. (The cost was the entrance fee and it was a charity benefit)
One psychic took a liking to me and told me I was an ‘old spirit.’ It was also obvious she didn’t like my friend and told her she was ’young spirit.’ Of course I thought this hysterical- but my friend wasn’t pleased. Regardless- it was pretty interesting to meet people in all the paranormal specialties.
Vikki
Vikki
I thought I'd better let you know I've posted episode 7 of 'Paternity' on Journeys. It's not fair to keep you on the edge of your Red Chair for too long.
Enjoy!
June in Oz
Hi June,
Horray!- I'll check it out.
Vikki
Hi Vikki,
The last one to comment again! Anyway, I love the painting. It truly befits the book. I hope the author is happy with it because it looks amazing. The colors give it mystique appearance. Your painting captured the essence of Psychic and Mediums.
Part of me believes and part of me doesn't. If I follow my religious upbringing completely, then never whatsoever. But if I follow my naked self, free of religious, scientific, mathematical, or political influences, then yes all the time.
I know, I'm probably not making any sense with these statements. Are these what you consider Paradoxical statements? I've never used this term before, so I hope it's correctly used. LOL.
I'm not sure whether you remember me relating to you about my weird experiences at your "Paranormal" post or not. Anyway, I likened them more to coincidencies more than anything.
Have a great week,
Tasha
Hi Tashabud,
You state your comment beautifully and brilliantly as always.
Illustrating is much like the 'challenges' that Michael and I do. The goal is just to define a subject in image. In this case I went to elements we’re all familiar with and relate to representing psychics and mediums.
And you’re right. I think most of us find ourselves in a ‘paradox’ trying to define what we think about the paranormal. Even our religious upbringing is contradictory on the subject. On one had it tells us to not entertain such matters, - yet the basis of all religion is the ‘belief in a spiritual realm.’ It never fails to challenge our logic.
Vikki
Vikki, I believe we all have some psychic abilities, which we could develop if we wanted to. Most of us choose not to.
Notice I said "I believe" because I can't really prove it, except to say that I've had rare sudden awareness of family members and friends passing away, or the moments of a baby's birth, only to find out later that that was close to the time they actually took place.
And who hasn't thought of someone far away and immediately the phone rings and it's that person on the other end?
I've always found those things a little unsettling, so I don't really care much to explore it any further than that.
Love your illustration!
Hi Martha,
I completely agree with you and can identify with all you mention. Most of us deal with paranormal as just ‘fun’ but it can be disconcerting when it peeks into our lives. I think we’re reluctant to understand or even investigate the possibilities simply out of what is humanly innate: ‘fear of the unknown.’
That’s okay. Our business is dealing with the living and that in itself is a hand full for any lifetime.
Vikki
Beautiful painting Vikki as always. So mysterious as well.
As for the paranormal, well won't say much, but I see it everyday, feel it, smell it and hear it, so yes, I do believe, and no, I'm not looking for it, it's been like this since I was a very young child, I just learned to live with it.
There are many charlatans though in this particular field, way too many! taking the money of people who just want to believe and a last chance to communicate with their passed loved ones. So sad they take advantage of this.
The Catholic church particularly believes in ghosts much more than they want to admit it, so much the church has a specific branch to deal with entities and even demonic ones, and every case or almost every case where demonic apparitions are manifested generally a priest from a catholic church is sent to the rescue... sort of. Not every priest is prepared to deal with it, it requires a specific training so the church says, so if they believe there is something beyond what we see and touch I guess we should be more open.
Of course is always a good thing to find the logical explanation to everything, but in some cases there isn't a logical explanation.
MV./
Hi Manuela,
Thanks and great comment.
I’m Catholic also so I’m familiar with what you‘re talking about.
What’s interesting is the many parishes or priest actually refer (keep a list of) psychics or ghost busters for the everyday ghost complaint. But I agree- The church must come from the ‘our ignorance is bliss’ mindset thus don’t get involved if they don’t feel it’s a malicious or evil entity
I went to our parish priest (Father Malone-major drunk) post the ghost that visited me. After telling him what happened his only response was, “ If you want to bring those things into your life- you’ll sure get them!” And then he shoed us out of his office.
He was just a total ass, but I was teenager and terrified seeking his solace. My mother was so terrified herself she didn’t confront him.
Vikki
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