The Eternal Dumpster Fire of Rupert Sheldrake’s Wikipedia Biography

Wikipedia is a tragic mess of epic proportions and its crowning dumpster fire is Rupert Sheldrake’s highly contentious biography. It’s been a Wikipedia battleground ever since his TEDx Talk at Whitechapel in 2013. This was all covered in my book: PSI WARS: TED, Wikipedia and the Battle for the Internet. Sheldrake had his video taken down from the main TED website -essentially banned - and there was a big uproar over the whole thing.

ruper

Prior to that time, Rupert had a decent Wikipedia page, but as his notoriety grew, his page became the playground of his enemies, making him look worse and worse as they edited out his accomplishments and plastered the word “pseudoscience” everywhere. It’s got the fingerprints of the Guerrilla Skeptics on Wikipedia all over it. They are an anti-intellectual atheist materialist Wikipedia editing group dedicated to teaching the world that we have brains, but no minds. But first, a little backstory.

At the time, Rupert was talking about his then new book Science Set Free, where he talked about the ten dogmas of science, which are worth repeating here because it clarifies what ideologies are at play:

The Ten Dogmas of Science

1. Everything, including all living things, are essentially mechanical.
2. All matter is unconscious. Subjectivity doesn’t exist.
3. The total amount of energy and matter is always the same.
4. The laws of nature are fixed.
5. Nature is purposeless, and evolution has no goal or direction. Everything happens according to random processes.
6. All biological inheritance is material, carried in the genetic material, DNA and in other material structures. Mind and intent play no part.
7. Minds are inside the head and are nothing but the activities of brains.
8. Memories are stored as material traces in brains and are wiped out at death.
9. Unexplained phenomena like telepathy are illusory. They are a trick of the mind.
10. Mechanistic medicine is the only kind that really works. Natural remedies of any sort are ineffective.

Rupert Sheldrake Has Enemies

The enemies of Sheldrake who control his biography absolutely believe these dogmas as though they were etched in stone. This is what Sheldrake was challenging in his book. He argued that we should question these beliefs and that there were other ways to conceptualize the universe.

Sheldrake is at home with ideas like collective consciousness and telepathy and his most well known theory, morphic resonance, relies on these concepts. Morphic Resonance describes how entire species have a collective mind that they draw upon to spread information. This, of course, runs entirely counter to the beliefs of these zealot editors.

Rupert’s Popularity

As far as Wikipedia goes, what’s interesting about Sheldrake is that he is a popular figure with a lot of very science-literate followers. So naturally, when people see the abysmal state of his biography, they step up to see if they can help. This has been going on for years. You can see it in the talk page right at the top:

How to violate the Wikipedia Neutral Point of View by requiring bias in targeted articles.

Here, let me translate it for you: “A common objection by people with actual scholarship abilities is that this biography is utter garbage. Although we control this page with an iron fist, we need to maintain the pretense that we’re following the rules, so we’re calling it fringe and pseudoscience, a decision you are not allowed to object to. “Any evidence you provide showing that he is not fringe or pseudoscience will be treated as fringe and pseudoscience, thereby proving you wrong.”

Failures Of Skeptics

That banner, in other words, is an advertisement for the Guerrilla Skeptic’s utter failure to be able to intellectually defend their position. Instead, they’ve resorted to a line of reasoning that would be more at home in a Monty Python sketch.

I’m going to use one of Rupert’s favorite methods of cutting through the noise: phrase this as a question. Is he fringe? Is it pseudoscience? If the answer to both is no, then all the other objections to a neutral biography are moot.

The Wikipedia Fringe Label

Is Rupert Sheldrake fringe? By the Wikipedia definition, fringe is defined as: an idea that departs significantly from the prevailing views or mainstream views in its particular field. Is Morphic Resonance fringe by this definition? The answer is no if you stay within the context of how scientific inquiry and exploration normally works. Fringe within the context of science means that the concept won’t pass ordinary peer review within its own field, much less get into more generalized journals like Nature. Fringe, as it applies to science, is usually one person pushing an idea that no one else takes seriously.

Morphic resonance passes the basic test of science in that it is falsifiable. You can run experiments that test the theory, which has been done. There are also references to it from other scientists as early as 1938, (Spemann), (Weiss, 1939).

Morphic Resonance is taken seriously by other scientists and references to it can be found in various journals and some experimental evidence supports it, particularly within its field. This is science that is going through the ordinary process of discovery at the usual snail’s pace. Adoption hinges on some rethinking of the fundamental assumptions that Sheldrake addressed in his TED talk. And scientific testing of Morphic Resonance is part of what is creating the need for this rethinking.

The whole discussion of the nature of the universe is a huge scientific controversy that has been growing. There are consciousness researchers currently making submissions for a $100,000 prize. There are a number of people closing in on theories of consciousness in physics, which has gained momentum due to the 2022 Nobel Prizes in physics.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022 was awarded jointly to Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger "for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science."

Information is a form of consciousness, so this prize is essentially saying that there is consciousness in physics, which in turn makes Morphic Resonance quite plausible. The objection that the theory somehow defies physics is removed here. It isn’t enough to rely on second sources for this topic because there are legitimately competing views. Labeling the theory (and the man) as fringe is a way of taking sides in a debate that Wikipedia editors are woefully unqualified to tackle.

The Wikipedia Pseudoscience Label

Then we move on to the designation of “pseudoscience.” The Wikipedia definition is:

Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable claims; reliance on confirmation bias rather than rigorous attempts at refutation; lack of openness to evaluation by other experts; absence of systematic practices when developing hypotheses; and continued adherence long after the pseudoscientific hypotheses have been experimentally discredited.[4]

Let’s go through this list for Morphic Resonance:

1. Contradictory? No
2. Exaggerated? No
3. falsifiable? Yes
4. Reliance on confirmation bias rather than rigorous attempts at refutation? No
5. Lack of openness to evaluation by other experts? No
6. Absence of systematic practices? No
7. Continued adherence after experimentally discredited? N/A

The term pseudoscience, as applied here, is nothing more than a skeptical dog whistle; a trademark of the atheist materialist Guerrilla Skeptics on Wikipedia. It does not apply to parapsychology, which has a scientific organization, the Parapsychological Association, that is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. There isn’t more an organization can do to establish its legitimacy. But that is ignored in the article. The Guerrilla Skeptics, who clearly have an iron grip on this article, peddle their secular humanist propaganda by manipulating Wikipedia articles and biographies.

Why You Can’t Rely on Sourcing on Wikipedia

This manipulation is most visible in the sourcing: This is important because journalists often skip the article, but then rely on sourcing. That doesn’t work either. The following sources cited in this article are associated in some way with the Center for Inquiry/Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI)/the Skeptical Inquirer/Prometheus Books:

• 5. A book containing articles by fellows of CSI: David Gorski, Chris French
• 6. Skeptical Inquirer
• 8. One of the writers is a CSI fellow: Massimo Pigliucci
• 11. Skeptical Inquirer
• 14. Prometheus Books
• 17. Founder of CSI: Martin Gardner
• 23. CSI Fellow: Jerry Coyne
• 24. CSI Fellow: Susan Blackmore
• 26. Not a CSI Fellow, but aligned with them. Pub. of Skeptic Magazine: Michael Shermer
• 32. See 26. Shermer
• 33. See 26. Shermer
• 60. See 26. Shermer
• 65 CSI Fellow: Robert Todd Carroll
• 66. CSI Fellow: Susan Blackmore
• 68. CSI Fellow: James Alcock
• 69. CSI Fellow: Richard Wiseman
• 82. CSI Fellow: Susan Blackmore
• 84. CSI FEllow: Richard Wiseman
• 90. Skeptical Inquirer
• 91. Skeptical Inquirer
• 92. Skeptical Inquirer
• 93. See 26. Shermer
• 97. CSI Fellow: Massimo Pigliucci

Special mention to Steven Rose, a distinguished supporter of the British organization, Humanists UK. He is cited on: 20, 27, 123, 127, 132.

In case you were wondering, four of these people have a legitimate reason to be cited in some specific situations: Richard Wiseman replicated one of Sheldrake’s experiments where they did testing on whether dogs know that their owner is coming home. Susan Blackmore wrote a couple of specific critiques on specific experiments, and Steven Rose critiqued Morphic Resonance.

They were involved in scientific discussions that are part of the process. Rose’s critique can be found in full on Rupert Sheldrake’s website, but in an act of pettiness, the Guerrilla Skeptics have chosen to cite the Wayback machine, lest anyone be exposed to the horrors of woo. The interaction with Shermer was an unnecessary addition to the biography.

This isn’t a biography, it’s an advertisement for these skeptics, all of whom have well done, complimentary Wikipedia biographies. It’s an example of reward your friends, punish your enemies.

Misrepresentation of Research by omitting Rebuttals

I suppose I should mention that the article makes a hash of Rupert Sheldrake’s work by over emphasizing criticism and leaving out rebuttals and positive attributes. For example, in the section on dogs that know when their owner is coming home, Richard Wiseman replicated the experiment and got the same results as Sheldrake. Rather than admit this, he simply moved the goal posts, adding criteria that were not in the original experiment and then declared the experiment a failure.

https://www.sheldrake.org/files/pdfs/papers/The-Psychic-Pet-Phenomenon.pdf

In the case of Blackmore’s objection, Sheldrake wrote:

https://www.sheldrake.org/files/pdfs/papers/The-Psychic-Pet-Phenomenon.pdf

If you have to cheat, to make someone look bad, you are not winning your intellectual war.

It’s not just Rupert Sheldrake; it’s not just Parapsychology; it’s a whole weird list of things that these atheists object to. They are on a crusade against chiropractors and Santa Claus as well. As stated earlier, they claim that we are just brains and chemical processes and that consciousness is just a brain process and doesn’t actually exist. They truly don’t believe that we have minds.

One cannot help but wonder if this belief in mindlessness isn’t just a bit of self reflection.

Defense UAP Report Suggests Another Cover up

In March 2024, the Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) released a groundbreaking report that comprehensively reviews nearly eight decades of U.S. Government and military encounters with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), a term now preferred over the traditional "UFOs". The 63-page report represents an unprecedented effort by the U.S. military to address a topic that has long been shrouded in mystery, speculation, and, often, skepticism.

The report's release has caused more controversy, with accusations of another government cover-up in response to the recent UAP disclosure that indicates the opposite. The investigation has given no real credence to previous testimony. Whilst science is always looking to explain things with a body of evidence that is empirical in nature, the lack of empirical evidence seems to be the excuse to take the position claimed in the report.

Key Highlights from the Department of Defense UAP Report

An alien and a UFO in a dark forest.

AARO's report delves into historical records and U.S. Since 1945, the government has been diligently implementing programs specifically designed to delve into the realm of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). The primary aim of these initiatives is to meticulously investigate and gain comprehensive insights into our nation's intriguing encounters with these extraordinary phenomena.

In a statement released on March 8th 2024, the Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated the following in the release;

‘To date, AARO has found no verifiable evidence for claims that the U.S. Government and private companies have access to or have been reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology. Also, AARO has found no evidence that any U.S. Government investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology. All investigative efforts, at all levels of classification, concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification. AARO assesses that all of the named and described alleged hidden UAP reverse-engineering programs provided by interviewees either do not exist; are misidentified authentic national security programs that are not related to extraterrestrial technology exploitation; or resolve to a disestablished program. The report unequivocally states there is no verifiable evidence that any UAP sighting is linked to extraterrestrial technology or that the U.S. Government or private entities have ever accessed such technology. This finding challenges a core belief held by many in the UAP community about the government's possession of alien technology​​.’

What has caused further controversy is not only what is in the report but when you read the above statement you can quickly read between the lines. What is not being admitted to could be construed as not admitting it, but also not claiming it does not exist. The words are chosen carefully. As an example, “no verifiable evidence” can be understood in more than one way, and it does not seem to be a blatant denial. Yet the investigations in the report remain questionable.

Government UAP Programs

The investigation also looked into claims of secret government programs dealing with UAPs that were not reported to Congress. It concluded that such programs, if they ever existed, were likely misidentified projects unrelated to extraterrestrial technology​​.

Public Safety and Health Implications

Reflecting on the safety concerns, the report acknowledges the flight risks posed by UAPs but states that there have been no known collisions. It also notes the potential health implications of UAP encounters, though no direct adverse effects have been confirmed​​.

Increased UAP Reporting

The report notes an uptick in UAP reporting, attributing it to the reduction of stigma around the topic and the establishment of formalized reporting mechanisms by military personnel​​.

Controversies and Reactions

The report's release has not quelled the controversy but rather stoked the flames of an ongoing debate regarding the nature of UAPs and how the government handles their investigation. Critics argue that the report's dismissive tone towards the possibility of extraterrestrial origins for some UAP sightings does not align with numerous credible reports from military personnel and pilots. They also contend that the report's findings seem to preclude, without sufficient justification, the possibility of non-human technology being observed in our airspace.

Elizondo and Grusch's Stance Against the Pentagon

Prominent figures like Luis Elizondo, a former Pentagon official who ran the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), and David Grusch, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, have been at the forefront of advocating for transparency and rigorous investigation into UAPs. Their united front against the Pentagon's handling of the UFO phenomenon underscores a significant rift between government bodies tasked with national security and those who have been part of the investigative process but seek more openness. Elizondo and Grusch argue that the government's approach to UAPs, as reflected in the report, lacks the comprehensive and open-minded investigation that the phenomenon warrants. Their contention is that the phenomenon's potential implications for technology, national security, and understanding of physics are too significant to dismiss or simplify as misidentifications or prosaic aerial objects​​​​.

Impact and Future Directions

The Department of Defense report, despite its detailed analysis and conclusions, has opened new avenues for debate and inquiry. It highlights a growing need for transparency and collaboration between the military, government bodies, and the scientific community in investigating UAPs. The report's call for improved data collection and analysis methods points towards an ongoing effort to understand the phenomena better.

Moreover, the report has implications for national security, aviation safety, and scientific inquiry. It emphasizes the importance of developing sophisticated sensors and data analysis tools to enhance the identification and understanding of UAPs. Additionally, the inclusion of provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, aimed at improving government transparency on UAPs and providing protections for whistleblowers, signifies a legislative acknowledgement of the importance of the UAP issue​​.

Final Considerations

While the 2024 Department of Defense UAP report has provided valuable insights into the government's understanding and handling of UAPs, it also highlights the complexities and challenges inherent in studying phenomena that defy easy explanation. It is not about empirical evidence and this goes way beyond scientific analysis. It is important to tackle the UAP issue with balanced research that spans personal experience and personal testimony. These should be approached from an evidential perspective and considered experiential in nature. This is very reminiscent of William James who posits a ‘Pragmatic Theory of truth’ which asserts that truth can be understood from an experiential approach. This means that weight should be given to relevant experience as potential evidence.

The controversies and discussions it has spurred are indicative of a broader societal and governmental grappling with the unknown, underscoring the need for continued investigation, open dialogue, and a willingness to confront the mysteries that lie at the fringes of our scientific understanding and aerospace defense capabilities.

“Just because you can’t see the air that you breathe, does not mean it does not exist” Jock Brocas

My personal opinion is that it is not cut and dried, and there’s no definitive stance from the department of defense. The way that it is portrayed leaves it open to interpretation. One particular interpretation falls into the realm of skeptical belief and the DOD has perhaps fed that animal. However, the other interpretation whilst not founded on empirical evidence will be weighed against experience and evidential patterns as found in Near-Death Experience research.

References:

Statement From The Department Of Defense

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)

AARO Report

James, William, 1907 [1975], Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking, New York and London: Longmans, Green & Co.; reprinted Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1975.

What You Need to Know About Energy Vampires

Energy vampires wander among us but most of the time, we are unaware of them. So, how can we tell them apart? And more importantly, how do we protect ourselves from energy vampires?

Identifying Energy Vampires

Energy vampires are usually extremely friendly, meaning most people draw to them. So, they can come across as being very popular and have lots of friends. However, as you get to know them, you will notice that people quickly change towards the energy vampire. You will see people trying to avoid them or looking worn out once they spend time with them. People who aggravate you may also be energy vampires.

Their biggest target are introverts, who have little or few friends around them. The energy vampire can sense their inability to set boundaries. They can also sense weakness, and those who try to avoid conflict or want to get on with everyone, are also targets.

How Do You Get Rid Of An Energy Vampire?

Unfortunately, there is no one simple solution but some of the following suggestions may work; however, you must be ready to use your energy against the energy vampire.

Block out energy vampires

While blocking them out sounds quite extreme, it may be the best solution, depending on how much they attack your energy.

Create your own energy shield

We are all energy sources and can use our own energy to build shields around us. This will help to block any attacks. If you do this daily, you will notice that energy vampires will soon leave you alone.

Please don't give in to them

Energy vampires will constantly call you, text you and turn up unannounced. Only answer the calls a few times a week and not daily. This will eventually help them realise that they are not wanted and encourage them to start looking for another energy source.

Stand your ground

Try to avoid getting involved in a long conversation with an energy vampire. Or, get into giving them advice on their vented emotional problems.

Body language awareness can help because your body language constantly emits signals about the way you feel:

• Try to avoid eye contact with energy vampires.
• Stand or keep moving about like you are busy. This will create a sense of urgency.

Could You Be An Energy Vampire?

A big clue is that people try to avoid you. They don’t respond to your emails or messages. You may constantly try to make arrangements or speak to people, but they are not responsive. Some people tend to avoid situations rather than be confronted by having to speak up in a negative form.

How To Correct he Behavior of Energy Vampires

Take control of your communication and try to send only a few messages and emails daily or weekly. If you get no response from the person, it is better to leave it a few weeks before retrying. Otherwise, you are just carrying out the behavior you need to eradicate.

Only stop past someone's house uninvited, once every so often. Some people do not like uninvited guests. If you need to speak with them or want to make amends, try to arrange it via a phone call. Ensure that you listen to their requirements and accept their answer if they don't wish to .

Why Is It Important To Recognize An Energy Vampire?

It is not always easy to recognize vampire energy in someone else or yourself. But for the sake of protecting your mental health, it is essential to be aware of the signs.

If you are constantly tired, everyday matters become overwhelming, and you struggle to achieve the tasks, it may not be apparent that energy vampires are causing your energy depletion. This is why it is advisable to use protection on an everyday basis and also set your boundaries daily.

Turning these five-minute activities into daily ones will help to alleviate the risk that energy vampires may bring to your standard of living.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/24/health/energy-vampire-in-person-work-wellness/index.html

Marples.M (2022 March 22) workplace energy vampires can drain your life force. Stop them with these tips, CNN, USA

The Haunting of Hales Bar Dam

Editorial Note: PDN is proud to welcome Conner Gossel to the Team. He will be heading our historical research into haunted homes and places. You will be seeing much more of his haunting work from now on. Welcome, Conner!

Welcome Conner

Tennessee has always been a deceptive destination for those involved in the paranormal community. Shrouded in a sprawling expanse of forestry that is the Rocky Mountains, and divided by the seemingly endless network of rivers that dissect the land, the state has a tendency to appear untouched by civilization. If one takes the time to look closer though, beyond the facade of a state covered in uninhabited wilderness, a darker reality exists.

The grim truth of the matter is that Tennessee houses some of the country’s, and the world’s, most dangerously paranormal locations. For our purpose, however, we need only concern ourselves with the eerie building that sits on Lake Nickajack, Hales Bar Dam.

The Haunting Of Hales Bar Dam

When construction on the dam began in 1905, thousands of workers were brought into the area to help complete the project. Temporary homes were built on the water's edge to serve as living quarters for them all, but as time went on these temporary homes became far less crowded than they began. This fact is entirely due to the fatality rate of the dam's construction. Hundreds of men perished in the process of erecting the building and many, if not most of their bodies, are still entombed within the foundation to this day.

Believe it or not, though, the death toll associated with Hales Bar Dam isn’t to blame for its severe supernatural happenings.

The Haunting Of Hales Bar Dam

The Hales Bar Dam Curse

Long before the dam was even theorized, back when the territory was a part of the Cherokee Nation, an Indian War Chief named Dragging Canoe cursed the land, condemning it to be unproductive and uninhabitable because of its “dark and bloody” nature. The dam's construction was society’s first glimpse of the power of the curse.

Those who didn’t lose their lives building the structure gave accounts of what they experienced. Their accounts told of dark figures seen walking around inside the dam at all hours of the day, inhumane screams, floating apparitions, whispering voices, moving tools and equipment, and the spirits of numerous children whose bodies are said to be buried underneath the water.

Paranormal Activity

Such paranormal activity continues to persist to this very day, driving the current owners of Hales Bar Dam to begin allowing paranormal investigative teams to visit the property in hopes that they might be able to shed light on the haunting. Over the years, many investigators have corroborated the claims of the staff, of general visitors, and of the original construction crew members. A number of investigators and experts in the field have also offered a warning, saying that the little girl who claims to be buried in the water could very likely be a malevolent spirit. While we certainly hope that’s not the case, it is worth mentioning that dark forces have a tendency to mask themselves as the innocent in order to fool the living.

Needless to say, if you venture to Hales Bar Dam, keep your wits about you and prepare to experience the afterlife like never before.

The Blood Curdling History of Haunted Souter Lighthouse

Whenever people think of creepy hauntings or grizzly tales, references to decrepit graveyards or famous war sites are often made. Other popular locations for all things spine-tingling are Victorian manors and desolate farmhouses. Unsurprisingly, medieval castles and eerie forests are also favorites for housing a spook or two. All over the world, morbid history and blood-chilling tales have been attached to homes of all shapes and sizes and even land. But what about lighthouses? Most people will struggle to think of a haunted lighthouse; it isn’t difficult to see why.

Lighthouses sit quietly, peacefully governing the shores below. Comforting beams of light give guidance and hope to tormented sailors whose ships thrash among unforgiving waves. Lighthouses are helpful. These beacons of light are a far cry from the rotten inventions and structures carved by man’s hand to wreak havoc upon the world. Despite this, haunted lighthouses do exist. Prepare to have your eyes opened and blood curdled as you digest the haunted history of Souter Lighthouse...

From The Darkness Came the Lighthouse!

The majestic structure that is Souter Lighthouse sits proudly atop the clifftops of South Shields and keeps a watchful eye over the beautiful surrounding coastline. South Shields is a town famous for innovation in shipbuilding and boasts an array of other maritime successes.

Once a bustling shore packed with merchant vessels, fishing boats, and the occasional Royal Navy fighter ship, accidents were never far away. In 1860, at least twenty shipwrecks were reported. The loss of life was intense and South Shields quickly gained notoriety as the most dangerous coastline in Britain. The jagged rocks, relentless storms, and fogs as thick as curdled milk sat like giant webs, ready to decimate anything that dared to venture too close.

Sinking Ships

One famous incident that defied the monstrous shores, was the sinking of the Forfarshire passenger ship. in 1838, Grace Darling, a 26-year-old local woman, whose father was a lighthouse keeper, heroically battled the storms in a fishing boat and fought her way toward the floundering wreck, and saved the lives of 62 people. Grace was honored with a silver medal and became a local hero.

Although Grace’s actions countered the negative reputation of the disastrous coastline, a dark cloud of despair remained. The overbearing list of deaths and destruction weighed heavy upon the town’s shoulders. As a result of these horrifying catastrophes, trade began to dwindle but this economic concern became the catalyst for the existence of this wonderful lighthouse that sits there today. Construction was completed in 1871.

The 75-foot-high structure was built by an accomplished engineer called Robert Allison and would become the first lighthouse in the world to be powered by electricity. It was thought that this innovative technological advancement would bring popularity, respect, and a higher flow of trade to the town and surrounding shores. More importantly, lives would be saved.

The constant glaring light would act as a beacon of warmth and warning, preventing ships in the night from floating into death’s eternal clutch. The main hope was that South Shields could finally eradicate its reputation of coastal disasters and revamp itself as a significantly less formidable place of trade. In the coming years, Souter Lighthouse justified its construction and money spent, and tumultuous incidents became sporadic. Trade boomed once more and local well-being was restored.

Madness Within The Haunted Lighthouse Walls

Souter Lighthouse was working well. Manned with an experienced lighthouse keeper, the glaring light comforted and guided every vessel and sailor for miles around. While locals slept soundly, the isolated keeper monitored the huge light all hours of the night while his family slept in the quarters close by. The light was made from 4.5 tonnes of glass that sat upon 1.5 tons of mercury. The shores remained tranquil for a while but it wasn’t long before bad luck and destruction returned.

As the days and nights passed, the lighthouse keeper slowly began to change. His moods became erratic and bizarre behaviors began to ensue. Before long, the keeper was gnawing at his flesh, tearing handfuls of hair from his scalp, and mercilessly pounding his face and head against the windows of the watch tower. One evening, a fisherman witnessed these events and ran to investigate, thinking the keeper was being attacked. Upon inspection, it was clear that the keeper and the keeper alone was responsible. He was moved to a local asylum and certified insane. Later inspection revealed that the seeping mercury below the light had been responsible for the lightkeeper’s brush with madness.

To this very day, people have reported shrill cries emitting from the lighthouse watch tower and some have reported witnessing the transparent figure of a man mutilating himself before disappearing into the darkness.

A Mysterious Death

Many years ago, a man known as John would regularly visit the lighthouse. He could be seen sitting outside on the grass, staring aimlessly out to sea. He would occasionally leave his grassy spot to wander the gravel paths outside the lighthouse and the keeper’s lodgings. The lighthouse grounds were a dedicated right of way for the general public with a museum inside, so nobody ever thought to question the strange man.

Those who saw the man would report darkness in his eyes and an unusual energy seemed to penetrate the air whenever he was near. One staff member recalled walking past the man and as she brushed shoulders with him, she felt a dark and evil presence engulf her. All the hairs raised on the back of her neck and arms. When she looked at him, his eyes were as black as night, his grin wide and evil.

Eventually, things took a sinister turn. One morning, the lighthouse keeper was conducting his rounds. Upon entering the engine room, he found the man dead. An investigation was launched and no foul play or suicide was determined. The reason for the man’s death remains unknown. Even after an autopsy, no solid conclusion was passed. Many people are convinced that an evil presence that lurks in the lighthouse is responsible. Whatever the cause, we will never truly know.

The Phantom Haunted Lighthouse Keeper

For decades, a tall man has been seen wandering the lighthouse grounds. He is always described as wearing a blue peaked cap and a thick blue trench coat with chunky brass buttons fastened from the bottom right up to the collar. This was the common uniform worn by lighthouse keepers in the 1800s. He is said to have a long, drawn, pale face, wearing an expression of tiredness and grief. He makes no sound and only walks a few steps before disappearing silently into thin air. Staff and visitors have reported that just before the lighthouse keeper appears, an eerily still and creepy vibe penetrates the area.

One of the more recent terrifying incidents involved an office worker. At 10 pm, she began to lock up for the evening. She heard a succession of taps on the window behind her. Knowing she was alone, she turned around and was startled by what she saw. Staring at her through the class, was the face of the lighthouse keeper. He fitted the descriptions of all who had seen him over the years. Frozen with fear, the office worker watched in horror as the drab face slowly faded away, leaving her alone once more.

The Ghost Of Isabella Darling

Isabella Darling was the niece of Grace Darling, the maritime heroine mentioned earlier in the article. Her father was the keeper of Souter Lighthouse for ten years from 1881 to 1891. Could the phantom lighthouse keeper be the spirit of Isabella’s father? Scores of people have reported seeing the spectral image of Isabelle roaming around the lighthouse gardens and picking flowers as she did in life.

Isabelle’s spirit has also been seen and heard wandering up and down the lighthouse staircase, accompanied by the swishing of her long flowing dress. Isabelle’s spirit is non-threatening and it is said that she remains to keep a watchful eye over her beloved lighthouse. Isabelle was said to have been an avid cook in life and loved concocting a wide array of delicious food for her friends and family in the lighthouse kitchen. In the dead of night, anybody walking past the kitchen can sometimes hear the clanking of pots and pans, gleeful whistling, and the smell of cooking. When people investigate further, all the noises and smells cease, leaving the kitchen quiet once more.

The Playful Poltergeist

After recent building work took place, paranormal activity increased throughout the lighthouse and lodgings. Personal belongings and objects such as tools, clothing, and cutlery would mysteriously disappear and reappear in inconspicuous places, sometimes weeks after they had vanished. Cold spots would appear around the lighthouse and many staff and visitors likened the coldness to ‘walking into a freezer’.

The poltergeist has never been described as malevolent but rather immature and ‘irritating’ in nature, very much like a bored child seeking attention at a busy family party. Staff and visitors have also reported a feeling of being watched. Invisible hands regularly grab arms and clothing and pull people’s hair. A lot of poltergeist activity is witnessed in the kitchen area and involves the levitation of spoons, and the opening and closing of drawers and cupboards. Taps mysteriously turn on and off by themselves and the coal fire has been known to ignite itself.

The engine room is also rife with poltergeist activity. Machines are reported to turn on and off by themselves and banging on the windows and doors can be heard by engineers who are trying to work. One Engineer reported seeing a dark figure standing to his right. When he turned, he saw the short, dark figure quickly scurry out of view behind the machinery. When the engineer investigated further, nobody was found. Many people think the poltergeist could be the spirit of a child who lived at the lighthouse many years ago and was tragically killed by falling off the nearby cliff while playing with friends. Whatever or whoever is responsible for the activity, is keeping a stern but friendly eye on the lighthouse.

Personal Experience

The Souter Lighthouse is now owned by the National Trust and daily tours allow visitors to see the preserved lodgings and lighthouse. Everything remains largely unchanged and many visitors liken their visit to ‘stepping back in time’. I was lucky enough to enjoy such a visit when I was eight years old. I remember walking into the keeper’s lodgings and listening to the guide telling our group about the daily duties of the lighthouse keeper and how his family would spend their lives in those rooms.

The impressive old living room had an open coal fire, stone floors covered with rugs, a kitchen table, and a cooking area adorned with brass pots, pans, and cooking utensils. In the center of the room, an old rocking chair faced the fire. It was easy to imagine a weary lighthouse keeper sitting in the chair, rocking back and forth as he stared into the glowing embers of the fire on a cold winter night.

The Haunted Rocking Chair

When the tour guide had finished talking, he gestured to the next room and the group slowly made their way out. Being the last person in the room, as I began to leave, I saw the old rocking chair tip forward slightly, roll backward, and then halt in a stationary position. My blood ran cold and an overwhelming sense of dread washed over me. Without thinking, I charged out of the room and joined the rest of the group in the next room. The experience shook me terribly and I shared what I had witnessed with my parents and the tour guide. The guide explained that the ‘rocking chair movement’ was a regularly reported phenomenon and that he had witnessed it many times himself.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, a trip to Souter Lighthouse is highly recommended. You will enjoy an important part of Northern England’s maritime history that has been wonderfully preserved. If you do happen to see the spectral lighthouse keeper, remember to thank him for his hard work!

Purdy and the Paranormal: A Tale of Two Controversies

I’m a fan of American professional football. Last year I was following my home team when the team experienced a huge shift in their scoring late in the season due to the sudden emergence of a very talented young player. And suddenly I was looking at the type of controversy I normally only see associated with the paranormal. Things weren’t the way they were supposed to be. Expectations had been shattered. And the kind of reactions I witnessed were all too familiar to me.

So here’s what you need to know in order to understand the controversy. (I’m addressing a very specific time frame here, up to game thirteen out of 17 games in a season) of 2023.

A Controversy is born

Brock Purdy plays quarterback. If you don’t know the game, all that matters here is that at the professional level this position requires not just an athletically gifted player, but also someone who remains calm in the face of intense pressure. Teams spend an enormous amount of effort and money to get the very best players for this position. It’s the difference between success and failure in this game. Either they pay millions of dollars for someone who has proven themselves or they take a risk with young, untested players. Elite quarterbacks are highly prized.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Once a year, after the college sport season is done, the 32 professional teams line up to select 262 players out of all the college players that want to play professionally. In 2022, Brock Purdy was the 262nd selection. He was picked dead last. Every single team had a chance to review him and no one thought he had much of a future in the NFL.

A Forgotten Player Gets His Chance

Neither did the team that selected him, the San Francisco 49’ers, but he did win the 2nd backup position in the preseason. He was the third in line and not really expected to play, but the starting quarterback and the back up quarterback got injured very badly and in the 13th game of the season (out of 17), they had no choice but to put him in a game that was already underway. Normally when this happens, the whole team performs noticeably worse. And now, late in the season, with everyone else in top form, on a talented and winning team against another equally talented and winning team, this young, inexperienced rookie stepped in to play.

Although I rarely watch the games anymore, I was at a friend’s house watching this one. Brock Purdy looked . . . calm. This was his big moment. Everything about the situation he was in screamed for him to be wound up tighter than a cocaine addict out of money. The opposing coach, Mike McDaniels, tried to take advantage of his inexperience, hoping to rattle the young man. Nope, nope and nope. Nothing seemed to bother him.

For a rookie backup player suddenly thrown into his very first professional game at the most difficult position in an important situation against a very good team, his calmness was . . . disorienting to me. In all the 40 years I have been watching the game, I had never seen anything like that. My gut feeling was that I was watching a future hall of fame player.

He did a pretty good job and his team won. From a statistical point of view, he did ok. But if you took his performance completely in context, it was nothing short of mind blowing.

His team did not lose another game until he was injured in the semi finals, after having won his first two playoff games.

Now, in the 2023 season, he is healthy and as I write this, his team is dominating and has lost three games out of thirteen, which is very good. He is pretty much the same person, but now with additional practice time and training, he has improved quite a bit. He appears to be very good at his job.

That’s the backstory, but this is not about American football. It’s about how polarizing this young man was.

The Boggle Threshold

There has been a ridiculous level of disagreement over whether he is actually that good. What I think has happened is that his zero to hero story hit the boggle threshold for some people. This is a term used in parapsychology (the scientific field studying psychic ability) which describes when someone encounters a situation so far outside of their expectations that they refuse to accept it, regardless of the evidence.

I’ve seen this time and again with the paranormal and this particular situation appeared to be no different to me. There are people who shut down when things become unpredictable and their expectations are blown out the window. They dig in their heels and simply insist that the rest of us have been looking at it all wrong.

What Brock Purdy has done is mind-boggling to be sure. To go from very last in the draft to not only successfully starting for an elite team, but doing it extremely well is unprecedented in the sport. It seems like after about 100 years of the sport that someone would have recognized this level of elite talent. What happened?

His background did not suggest that he was, or could be, elite. He’s 6’1”, which while tall, isn’t as tall as most elite quarterbacks. He can throw well enough, but doesn’t have an elite arm. He is very accurate, but not a lot more so than many other quarterbacks. He can run well enough, but again, he’s not elite in that category either. If you were to only look at his physical abilities, he doesn’t look like anything special.

What he does have is mind-bending for calmness under duress and a nearly preternatural level of rapid decision making. He is off the charts elite with those two qualities. And it turns out that these two fuzzy things -that are harder to track- are far more important to his job than purely physical skills.

It’s Not All About What You Can Measure

And this is where the controversy comes in. If you’re obsessed with the things you can easily measure, then he can’t possibly be that good. Those people derisively call him a “system quarterback.” It’s a term that’s meant to imply that the players around him are so good that he can’t help but succeed. And they point to the games he lost as proof.

But if you watch how he plays, his body language and his demeanor suggests someone who is playing with more maturity and confidence than his youth would suggest. He looks elite when he plays. As with the paranormal, if you start digging into the more obscure details, the naysayers are exposed as being overly superficial. This is, by the way, exactly what happens with the paranormal.

This is a textbook example of how holistic thinking is different than linear, logical thinking.

The linear thinking goes something like this:

• If he were that good, someone would have seen it.
• He isn’t big enough or athletic enough.
• He isn’t the reason for his team’s success. There must be other reasons.
• Any half decent player would succeed in his position.

Now compare this to the reaction of the head coach of his team, Kyle Shanahan. He’s the type of person who readily admits to using his instincts with players. Arguably the person closest to the problem, he made Purdy his starting quarterback and traded away his previous starter and the back up. He had no problem assigning very high value to Purdy’s state of mind and a lower value to his overall physical skills. Purdy’s teammates, the people most affected by his abilities, think that the controversy is stupid.

This happens with the paranormal as well. It is full of fuzzy data with no clear cut answers and it often requires looking at a particular event very closely to come to any conclusions. With a few exceptions, you can chart opinions based on how familiar people are with the subject.

Using your instincts is a holistic skill. It’s combining information in novel, unconscious ways to reach a conclusion.

The Paranormal has similar problems

The similarities don’t stop there. If, like Purdy’s detractors, all you look for is a certain set of easily identifiable and measurable data and ignore the things that are harder to measure, you’re going to reach one type of conclusion and you won’t trust things that are novel and outside of those factors.

But for those who are good with their instincts, there is more data to be had, but it won’t necessarily be as easy to quantify. This ability to rate evidence that is more difficult to quantify is at the heart of this controversy and many others, the paranormal included.

It’s entirely possible that Purdy endures an entire career of having detractors who never attribute his success to his personal skills, pointing to every failure he has as proof of his mediocrity and his success to having good players around him. There will always be reasons to doubt because he will have bad days or even bad seasons.

Like investigations into the paranormal, he won’t be perfect and mistake free; he will have times when he struggles and those looking for a reason to doubt will find their ammunition. Through no fault of his own, he is challenging people’s beliefs.

And this is where the similarities end. The paranormal will always leave a lot more room for doubt, while Purdy’s detractors will eventually look ridiculous. He’s now in the running for most valuable player in the league, so enough people have seen his abilities to take him seriously.

The fact that there is a controversy at all is a lesson in how people react to their expectations. The evidence isn’t always easy to quantify; isn’t easy to measure and often depends on uncontrollable variables that can never be fully accounted for. That doesn’t mean though, that there isn’t enough evidence.

The Legendary Crystal Skulls

Native American, Mayan, Aztec and many other indigenous cultures tell us of the legendary 13 crystal skulls that are believed to be scattered throughout the world and possess important information for humankind. It is prophesied that when the 13 skulls are reunited, this significant event will mark a transformational turning point for humankind. But it will only happen if the human race is developed enough to receive this information.

Most crystal skulls that have been found are carved from whole quartz crystals and are either clear, smoky, or colorful in appearance. The skulls vary in size, shape, and refinement with technique and are thought to originate from ancient Mesoamerican cultures.

Indigenous Spiritual Points of View

Pueblo Spiritual Advisor Patricio Dominguez: “The crystal skulls are complete depositories of knowledge and each skull contains a particular specialist area of information - like a living library [each skull is like one volume in a set of encyclopedias]. And the people who will in the future be able to 'read' the crystal skulls will only be able to extract all the knowledge from the skulls once they are all assembled together...

Of course, the knowledge that is going to come out from the skulls is quite unimaginable to our current minds. But that it is definitely going to come out at a certain time is already foregone. It has been prophesied. But whether we humans then use that knowledge for good or for our own destruction is really down to our preparations."

13th generation Quiche Maya spiritual leader Grand Elder Don Alejandro Cirilo Oxlaj Perez, head of the National Council of Maya Elders: "The prophecy says now is the time of the awakening. This is your job now, to awaken. The Vale of the Nine Hells is past and the Time of Warning has now arrived. It is time to prepare for the Age of the Thirteen Heavens. The time of 12 Baktun and 13 Ahau is fast approaching, and they shall be here among you to defend Mother Earth. The prophecy says, 'Let the dawn come. Let all the people and all the creatures have peace, let all things live happily', for the love must not only be between humans, but between all living things.”

The Mitchell-Hedges Skull

One of the better known crystal skull mysteries involves the Mitchell-Hedges skull, discovered in 1924. Frederick Mitchell-Hedges claimed his daughter, Anne, found the skull in Mayan city of Lubaantun but critics allege that it was planted there by Mitchell-Hedges. This heavy and perfectly carved natural quartz skull is anatomically correct and looks like it wascreated with modern-day tools but there is no evidence to support this. To date, nobody has been able to prove that the Mitchell-Hedges skull is a fake.

No matter how, the process was clearly sophisticated, even by more modern standards of creation, and its conception is a mystery, since quartz has the tendency to shatter. Said to have psychic amplifier abilities and can transmit information through the quartz crystal, it is unknown where the Mitchell-Hedges skull quartz came from, although it is similar to Californian quartz. Determining its origins is made even more difficult because quartz does not age and is formed in various geologic settings.

The skull is said to do many things: induce trances, cause some people to go insane in its presence, emit strange smells and mysterious sounds manifest images of the past and future and even create a fire if the light is just right. It was likely used for healing and has supposedly cured people of deadly diseases.

Knowledge is also said to be imparted from the Mitchell-Hedges skull through channeling. Some channelers say that inter-dimensional beings created the skull. It has also been claimed that the skull was not made by anyone's hands, but channelled into being by thought alone, which makes it a thought-form. Others claim that the skull tells us explore the oceans because evidence of a previous culture is there and that the feeling of separation that humans suffer is the source of all problems in our world. It also claims we are our messing with our world through radiation and atoms and that this is causing all the weather, climate and axis issues.

Another theory about the Mitchell-Hedges skull is that it might have been rescued before the destruction of Atlantis or that it hails from extraterrestrials, who may have had much more sophisticated tools. Either that, or the extraterrestrials showed the Aztec people how to carve this amazing skull. It’s hard to say if this could be true, but it is interesting to think about the skull’s mysteries.

Faked Crystal Skulls?

It is possible that many of the crystal skulls found in the world were faked. During the 1800s, the public was very interested in acquiring pieces from ancient cultures, so it is possible that many of these items were made to meet that need and sell to whomever wished to own them. Unfortunately, crystal skulls have never been found at an officially documented archaeological site but that could be because archaeologists had not yet begun to use more scientific methods at that time. It would be difficult to replicate the Mitchell-Hedges skull even with today's tools, but the others could be fakes. Whether you believe in the crystal skulls or not, that's up to you.

References

https://www.crystalskulls.com/mitchell-hedges-crystal-skull.html

Judith Joyce. 2010. The Weiser Field Guide to the Paranormal: Abductions, Apparitions, ESP, Synchronicity, and More Unexplained Phenomena from Other Realms.

Chris Morton and Ceri Louise Thomas. 2012. The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/crystal-skulls

https://www.crystalskulls.com/13-crystal-skulls.html

Images: Canva