Lately, there has been an ongoing conflict between scientific methods and psychic methods in the ghost hunting community. The two do not have to be completely separate, but some common sense must be used to combine them.

 I come from a scientific background, due to the fact that my major was life science in college. I am also a former infantry officer, so I have also been trained to observe with an impartial eye. I have always been one to say, "show me" to someone who wants to prove his or her point. This is where I have a problem with "psychics". I believe that there are people who are truly psychically gifted, people like Peter James. I have seen places that Mr. James has been taken to without any prior knowledge. Once there, he has related the history of the location, history that he could not possibly have known. The information was not available to him in any form, except for his own abilities. I have also seen a segment from "Sightings" where he pointed to a wall and said that someone was there, a thermal camera was directed at the location and showed an anomaly. This is different than "psychics" who ask you to take their word for what they "see".

Tangible vs. Intangible

Ghost hunting with scientific methods produces tangible results. We go to an investigation with various pieces of equipment; that monitor physical changes in the environment around us. The EMF meters detect changes in the electromagnetic field. The thermal scanners detect temperature changes. The Night Shots see into the infrared spectrum. The digital and 35mm cameras capture things that the human eye cannot. The micro-cassettes record sounds that we cannot hear. These are all tangible results. I can take a photograph of an orb or an EVP and present them to someone that was not at the investigation. That independent person can see and hear the evidence for themselves and form their own opinion about what it is, that is tangible evidence.

Ghost hunting with psychic methods produces intangible results. Go to an "investigation" with a psychic, and they will tell you they see someone there. Can you see it? No, but the psychic expects you to believe them. What proof do they offer you that there is something there? When someone collapses and claims that their energy was drained, could it not be that they just tripped over a shoelace? I have fallen down on a site before, but it was due to a narrow step on an unlighted stairwell. Did some ghostly entity cause it? No, I was just too lazy to dig out my flashlight. Can these "psychics" show independent observers, or anyone for that matter, proof of what they see? No, that is because it is intangible.

Reality

In the real world of paranormal investigations, scientific methods and psychic methods can be combined. I have always relied on the equipment to detect anomalies on an investigation. I claim no psychic abilities at all, that is why I have been called the "psychic brick". If I can’t see it on a camera or hear it on tape, I have no way to know if anything is there. Psychics say that there is something there, but they have no way to show it.

The best combination possible is a psychic who is willing to work under scientific protocols. I would love to work with someone who is psychically inclined. Their impressions in conjunction with the equipment to back them up, would not only validate the psychic, but could yield tangible evidence as well.

I would think a person that has genuine psychic abilities would welcome a chance to prove them with scientific confirmation. It is for this reason that I will distance myself from a "psychic" that eschews scientific validation. Our methods may not be as exciting as "Crossing Over", but they certainly stand up to independent inspection. I find it very interesting that some groups that had started out trying to be scientific have now abandoned it in favor of the psychic. On last year’s trip to Antietam Battlefield, a member of another group picked up unusual EMF readings inside the Dunker Church. He seemed to be ready to believe that this was the result of paranormal activity. Reluctantly, he agreed with me that it was probably caused by the high quantity of iron ore in the rock beneath the church and also the large power transformer across the street. All possible sources must be eliminated before we consider the possibility of paranormal activity. It is much easier to abandon scientific methods and accept the psychic ones. Scientific methods require much time and study to find the true cause of anomalies, psychic methods do not.

I must say again that I believe there are some truly gifted psychics out there, but they are few. I believe the majority is nothing but publicity seekers that will do anything to get attention. Scientists have traditionally received less publicity than actors, but scientists have made the tangible accomplishments in our world.

I know that we have all had impressions and feelings during investigations. This is normal. We are human. These feelings are our own and we know we experienced them. Unfortunately, we can’t share them. This is why we adhere to scientific protocols. By doing this, we can share tangible evidence with others. When someone sees one of our photographs or listens to one of our EVPs, and I see the amazement in their eyes, that is all the reward I need.

Scott Crownover