Metaphysics - Parapsychology - The Bible - And Perceptions - An Interview

I had the opportunity to sit down with a woman who wanted to 'ask me a few questions' about Metaphysics and the work I do as a Parapsychologist. She wanted to ensure that she had things "correct" for her article. My favorite conversations - an interviewer who thinks I am 'nuts'. She was kind enough to send along a transcript for me to 'check' over. Some of the questions were relevant questions asked by many individuals when first looking at Metaphysics and Parapsychology, therefore; I decided to share excerpts of the 'conversation'.

Q. Do you believe in God as a Metaphysics Minister?

A. Absolutely. I also believe that God answers to many names. God, Divine, Supreme Being, Source, I Am, Yahweh, among others.

Q. Are you a psychic as well?

A. Yes, but I also believe everyone has psychic abilities.

Q. Doesn't the Bible say not to seek advice of psychics? So doesn't that conflict with being a Minister?

A. I believe the passage you are referring to is 1 Samuel 28:7 where Saul consulted a medium and got bad advice. The deal, as I see it, is that God says in the Bible be careful who you seek advice from. Good Advice. In Proverbs 20, in fact, it says to seek council from many of faith.

There are as many "bad" or misguided psychics as there are "bad" or misguided people of cloth. It is not the profession nor how the person receives the message to pass along that is inherently "bad" or misguided, it is the individual themselves. The Bible actually gives some pretty good advice to tell the difference between "good" advice and "bad" advice in the book of Isiah

"Good" advice:

• listen carefully to the Divine within
• don't jump to conclusions
• don't act out of fear
• give thanks to the Divine

"Bad" advice

• ignores all things Divine
• allows anger to distort
• leads to trouble and anguish

Q. So how does one tell if a person is a "good" or "bad" psychic?

A. Let's rephrase the question. How does one tell if advice is coming from a Divine place or a misguided place?

I ask myself some questions.

• Does the advice follow what the Divine's will is?

Many times I have to flip the question as I do not always no what the will of the Divine is. I do, however, most definately know what the will of the Divine is not. Sometimes I just have to follow the definately not path.

• Does the advice go against everything I believe in? This can be tricky as it may be that I am being pushed out side my comfort zone.
• Before taking the advice, ask yourself why does it go against my beliefs.
• Remember that there is a cause and effect. When you make a decision it does not only affect you. It affects others around you.

In the Book of Proverbs it talks about this very subject. It says (and again I am paraphrasing here):

• sound advice is part of wisdom
• only a fool doesn't seek counsel
• only a fool doesn't listen to counsel
• many counselors offer safety as more opinions offer greater change in making right decisions
• your own perception can result in conflict, whereas, council offers a new perspective
• look for council who honors trust and doesn't gossip
• look for council who has integrity and good manners

Q. Doesn't the Bible condemn Astrology?

A. As with anything, it is not the following of Astrology in my opinion that the Bible is referring to. It is on the complete extreme dependence upon Astrology as the Babylonians had that is condemned. The Babylonians only depended on the stars for counsil not the Divine. As I have already stated, wise council is not dependent on man.

Q. Animal Totems and spirits are mentioned in your blogs. Do you worship animals?

A. Animals as totems is simply to respect the wisdom that they provide. The Bible talks about this wisdom. It talks about preservance and protection of animals. It talks about ostriches ability to out run swift horses, eagles having sharp eyes, ants discipline and organization, and camels being stubborn and wild. Repeatedly, the Bible uses the traits of animals to show the ways as humans we should be. Animal totems are nothing more than reminders to those character traits.

Q. So you believe you have some sort of special skills?

A. Do you believe God knows your name? If you do then you have to also believe that God has a purpose for you. If He has a purpose for you, don't you believe he has given you the skills or ability to learn the skills needed to fulfill that purpose?

The Bible says in Corinthians (I forget I or II), every human being is designed by God and the abilities given are not to be taken for granted. In Daniel, it even says point blank "God gave" four young men unusual abilities. He gave them the ability to have unusual wisdom and insight to be able to interpret visions and dreams.

The real answer to your question is yes. I absolutely do belive I have special talents and abilities. I also absolutely believe that you have been given your own special talents and abilities. I absolutely believe every human being has been given special talents and abilities.

Q. Do you know what your mission is?

A. I think that everyone has the greate question inward "What is the purpose of life, and more importantly what is my mission and purpose?" There are some basics that I believe is true for everyone.

Everyone is "called" to be a minister. What I mean is that everyone is "called" to follow and be an example of how to live life

Everyone whether they call themselves a Christian or not are Children on the Divine

Everyone is "called" to their purpose or vocation. We all have specific abilities for a reason to be used for our Divine purpose. We have a job to do or a mission to fulfill. It may be a specific task that appears so mundane we can not comprehend the true purpose of the ripples from that task

I believe that every task, every job, every form of work is equal in importance. Different people are created to uniquely fit each task, each job, and each "work". The character and conduct of doing the "work" is what is important to the Divine. Every "work" is really a spiritual task.

My personal mission or purpose has shifted with each task that has been gifted to me. I know that in a world full of pain, bitterness, hatred and pre judgement, my purpose has remained steadfast to be a light worker.

Q. Sorry to interrupt, but what is a light worker?

A. The Bible refers to light bearers. Those that go into the darkest places to share the light. Share the love of the Divne. To see the realistic and sober human needs. To share hope. The Bible says that Yahweh could just send an angel, or perform a miracle, but instead prefers to use every day people.

I see myself as an everyday person "charged" with spreading the light in dark places.

Q. So you believe in miracles?

A. Absolutely. You don't? The Bible is full of miracles. The Bible defines a miracle as a supernatural intervention by God into the natural mundane human world in a way that it accomplishes His goal.

These happen everyday, not just in stories of the Bible. Miracles happen every day, it is just we take them for granted and seem to think it can only be a miracle if the Red Sea parts of a person is cured in an instant.

Q. Can you give me an example of what you are calling these modern day miracles?

A. Absolutely. I can only share with convinction my own experiences.

I was diagnosed with a myriad of disease, at more than one point, was told that I was not going to make it. In one case given hours only to, in those same hours, be relieved of the symptoms. Fluke?

Another example, my middle daughter was in a serious car accident. She says her grandfather can as an angel and protected her. The car was totalled. The three teens in the car walked away without a scratch. Since everything from the firewall was sheared off by the truck, the officers at the scene could not believe that there was not even a scratch on any of the teens. Fluke?

I could go on. For some reason in today's society we have to challenge every miraclous thing that happens as being non credible. We have to look for some rationale explanation. Many people even look at the healing in the body is simply a natural healing. Why is it not considered miraculous what the human body can do for itself without our help?

Q. So what do you think of this new age holistic healing that is going on now?

A. Holistic healing is not new age. In Biblical times a priest was concerned with the mind, body, and soul of a person. There are examples in Leviticus where the priest is concerned over reproduction, death, and dietary needs. The primary role of the priest was over both the physical and spiritual needs. They were connected.

Now today people think that reconnecting the physical and spiritual needs is something alternative or new age. It is really just returning to what even the Bible says to be truth. Everything is connected.

Q. Dreams and visions are really prophecy and from God?

A. Let's look at what dreams and visions are.

A dream is an image, thought, or some impression that goes through our mind during our sleep. In the Bible it shows how God spoke through dreams.

A vision is an image, thought, or impression that goes through the mind while awake. In the Bible it shows in many place that God spoke through visions.

In the Bible it shows how both, dreams and visions, were forms of prophecy. Why is it that today it is doubted, thought to be heritcal or evil? There are cases in the Bible where there were false prophets, false dreams, or false visions. Again, it is not the dream or the vision that is the problem - it is the character of them that is at issue.

Q. So can we go back to being psychic again, the real question of psychic's then becomes what is the character of the psychic?

A. The real question is the character and ethics of the individual seeking and the psychic is it not? What is the ethical values of the person in question fogetting their own vocation? Do they change their story whenever they are under test or trial? Do they turn to spiritual for wisdom or use it only as a pinch hitter? Do they walk as they talk? Do they give or just take? Do they listen or only speak? Do they stand for what they speak?

The questions go on and on, but the responsibility of whether to trust someone regardless of what their vocation is on you the questioner - not on them.

You are responsible for your choices. We were given free will for a reason and it applies to trust as much as it does to driving intoxicated. We all have the same choices. We can choose wisely, quickly, or blindly.

You asked about prophecy. So many talk about the prophecies and trying to mold them into what is happening today. When looking at any prophecy instead of modling them - ask yourself what is the purpose. A prophecy is not necessarily to inform of coming events (that is a vision). It is really to warn about consequencies of actions - to show how we are suppose to live. Look at the prophecies in the Bible, they were to show that God is in fact God. To show omnisciepence or to proclaim His word or the way to live and the consequences if did not live in accordance with that word.

Q. Do you believe in After Life?

A. What do you mean by After life? Beyond death? Other realms of existence?

The Bible talks about after life. Is not "heaven", the Kingdom of God, what Christians believe in after life? So what do we know? We know it exists. We know some variation of existence other than what we experience here on Earth exists. We know there is a place referred to as Hell. We know angels, spirits, and some variation of "deomon" spirits exist. We know they can affect humans on Earth. We know it goes on, according to the Bible, eternally.

The Bible gives glimpses of each of these things, yet tells of no details. So everything outside of its existence is perception, judgement, or blind faith. If your experience has not been such that you have felt, heard, seen or experienced a Dviine presence in some form, perception will be it does not exist.

If, on the other hand, your experience has been that you have heard the voice of an angel, felt the overwhelming love of the Divine, seen an occurance of a miracle, your perception will be it exists.

It is the same with after life. If you have experienced a near death experience, an experience with some one having left htis physical existence, or had a dream or vision of something beyond this physical existence, that you perceive it exists. If you have not, you perceive it does not exist.

Here is the key - perception. There are as many descriptions outside the Bible of afterlife, other realms or the otherside as their are people who have had the experiences. The Bible talks about perceptions when something challenges our accepted thoughts and ideas, we doubt the reality.

Q. Let me shift slightly here - what about your Ghost Busting so to speak? What is that?

A. Ghost Busters are tv and movie creations. I am a Parapsychologist. Some of what I do is removing entities or negative spirits. The Bible speaks of what I do. Although many today think of demons or negative spirits as something in fantasy stories or horror movies, the Bible talks about how real they are. Ironically, the Bible does not speak in detail about where they come from, or even how they came into existence. It only states that they exist.

There was a time that priests were intrincisically involved in demon possession. Psychology has tried to explain the event as some unconscious drive that is projected onto the external world and Satan as nothing more than a personificationof deep, dark emotions. Another example of the complete separation of physical and spiritual needs I was speaking of earlier.

These negative influences (demons) are recorded in the bible over and over. It also records casting them out of a person.

Angels are spoken of in the bible in many places. They are spirits sent by God for specific purposes. In the Bible they are protectors, encouragers, give warnings, give prophecy, give strength and courage and havbe struck man down where he stands.

They are veiled in mystery in the Bible. We are told only that they exist and what service they provide to God. They are revealed in form in many instances to humans. In the book of Zechariah alone they are described from "the angel of the Lord" all the wayto Satan. This leads one to ascertain there are positive or good angels and negative or bad angels.

So we know that spirits or angels exist. We know that they give messages. We know that they give visions or prophecy. We know that the Bible says they are real spiritual beings. So my question is if the Bible talks about all of these things, why is it that someone who believes in them, works with their messages is considered "bad" or "evil".

Q. So you cast out demons?

A. Cast out and show how protection and defense prevents the possession in the first place. The Bible refers to Spiritual Warfare. Much of this warfare is choices in responding to circumstance. Do we choose faith? Divine Intervention? Or do we do for ourselves following the adage "God is not going to do for us, what we can do for ourselves". Meaning, we have skills and abilities that we were given to use in order to complete the tasks set before us. Wehave to choose to use them not ignore them.

Q. Do you pray?

A. Yes. Prayer takes many forms. I think anyone who spends time getting quiet, reflecting, mediating, and listening is actively prayering.

Q. Are your prayers answered?

A. yes, aren't yours? Remember just because we pray for something it doesn't mean if we don't get it our prayers were not answered. A person's motive for asking comes into play. A person's perspective comes into play.

Q. What do you mean by motives and perceptions?

A. If you pray to win the lottery, what is your motive? To be rich? Even though the Bible says all are to be abundant and wealthy that does not mean money. Perception - you don't win the lottery so you go to work. You participate in life and spread love. Three years down the road you get ill and your co-workers come and take care of you, bring you food, and clean your hosue. You won the lottery in the sense that you are overflowing with love - abundant in friends. Perception and motives are what hinders many people in prayer.

Q.You talk about Shamanism and Paganism. Doesn't the Bible say these things are evil?

A. The Bible says "pagan" idols are not acceptable. Le'ts look at what the basic principle's of Paganism and Shamanism live by are:

• Harm none
• Respect All including Earth and all inhabitants
• Ethical living in balance
• Integrity in All

Those are the same principles talked about in the Bible. The Bible speaks of rituals that are so judged by today's stands. What is a ritual? A set method of operating many doctrices spell out how to practice faith. They spell out holidays specific for celebration and even tell which person is to be celebrated. Take for example Easter season. People fast, put ash on their foreheads, use palms as symbols and re enact events.

Anything different in a Pagan ritual wehre they fast, use items as symbols and re enact events. Some where along the lines many have determined that their perception of what the Bible says is the only perception. Every other perception is evil or wrong. Is not this perception the reason behind so many different Christian churches, doctrines and faiths?

Q. So you are saying the differences in churches is .. is what exactly?

A. In today's society we are so fond of using double standards. I am not here to judge but I do believe there are double standards that result from perception. these double standards lead to hypocrisy. It is easy to point the finger at others and critize/condemn their religious practices and spiritual lives.

It is much more difficult to measure your own self and the patterns / practice you participate in. Ask yourself am I the ideal self or do I have work to do?

Q. What do you mean by ideal self?

A. Ideal self is multi faceted. We know that we can not be perfect, but we can strive ot be the ideal self.

• Do you honor self as sacred?
• Do you honor all beings as sacred or do you have prejuidce against race? (Remember even Jesus was multi ethnic in heritage)
• Do you accept you can be vulnerable or do you think you are some how immune?
• Do you affirm others, teach them, help them, support them or do you pick and choose hwo you help?
• How are you doing in sharing your beliefs in both word and action?
• What about defects of character? Are you working to change them or ignoring them?
• How are you being of service today?
• When was the last time you took time out to reflect on your own path, your own faith?
• Do you live in love?
• Do you give of self or self seeking?

These questions can go on and on. It boils down to be accountable and responsible for self. When you do this there is little time to judge others and you begin to work towards your ideal self.

There were a number of other questions not included here regarding subjects such as ecology (Gulf Oil Spill and Amendment 4), occult beliefs, spiritual growth and warfare, and personal opinions on local subjects.

The ones shared here are what I "perceive" as those relevant to Metaphysical questions most often asked. It is always a humbing experience to be interviewed and questioned on my own beliefs and thoughts. I always learn more about myself in the process and second guess my original answers. It is my hope that this answers others may have thought and not asked.