But must we always rely only on science to guide us in our quest for answers? Make no mistake, ghost hunting (ghost investigating if you prefer) is nothing more than a search for answers.
With this in mind I have reevaluated my stand on seances. And since that time, I have taken part in a few seances. Granted, nothing spectacular occurred at most. Ah, but there is one séance that I shall never forget....
It was during a ghosthunters weekend I was presenting at the haunted St. Mary's Art Center in Virginia City. A group of twenty of us sat in a circle in the large room where activity has been reported. Our hands were touching. A tinge of excitement filled the air. Would we make contact with someone on the other side? If so, who would we contact? We closed our eyes and listened as the mediums led us into the séance and asked that we share anything we might be seeing or hearing.
They had opened the floodgates and participant's statements ran the gamut. One person saw an angel hovering lovingly over us. An icy chill filled the room as another felt compelled to talk to the children he saw running through the room. Someone heard a woman crying. It was a clear night and yet I distinctly heard thunder and lightning, and saw rain slapping against the building. In front of the building a woman was standing in a glowing white dress in the rain beckoning me. Who, I wondered was she. More importantly, what did she want of me?
Had we all allowed our imaginations free expression to the point that mine was running rampant? I said a name aloud. Two participants gasped. I had spoken their grandmother's nickname. Was she near? I honestly don' know.
An interesting experience to be sure. But certainly this was by no means a scientific experiment. Nor was it meant to be. Séances are not scientific. Never have been, and never will be. Parlor tricks to be back boredom when a ghost investigation turns up nothing? Perhaps. Then again, a séance may well be one more tool at our disposal in our efforts to learn more about the paranormal.
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