Submitted by Holbrook PSI on
Dear John, I like to read weird stories so I like your column. I just read a true story about an experiment with a pendulum. This story took place in 1959 and has to do with the US Navy. It said that in a room full of navel officers (as witnesses), a civilian using a pendulum and several maps of the world, identified the location of the entire US submarine fleet and the location of every Soviet submarine in the world. I would like to know what you think about pendulums. Are they really that powerful because if they are, it seems they might also be dangerous. Thanks, Tommy, WI
Tommy first I would like to thank you for your question. Sorry-but I am not familiar with the case you wrote about, so I cant say with any conviction if the civilian was using the pendulum as a tool for scrying the locations of the subs or to assist in remote viewing their locations. If the person was scrying with the pendulum then we are talking about a medium type of scrying. This is very similar to the Ouija boards that almost everyone is familiar with from our child hood and movies. So just like the ouija board the person with the pendulum is asking for help or guidance from the spirit world. This is the dilemma I have with doing this, who or what is giving you the information? The tool in its self is not a problem, I know of a crystal healer that uses a pendulum to see how the energy is flowing on a person that they are working on. But with all tools they can be used in ways that seem harmless but are just the opposite in the long run. Most tools in the world or metaphysics have the ability for being very powerful it is all in accordance to how and who is using them. Think about spies trying to gather information, if they find what appears to be good informant they will take their word for things that may be half-truths or misleading lies. A good thing to remember is that anyone can be wrong and they may have an agenda that is not good for the person asking the questions of the pendulum. I know some out there will not like my opinion about the uses of a pendulum but this is my opinion and I am sorry if it up sets you. If the civilian in your story was using the pendulum as a tool to assist in remote viewing then we are talking about he was using it to help him focus on an area on the map with his own clairvoyant abilities. The United States in 1972 had a program codename "Scanate" that researched remote viewing and the name changed to "Star Gate" in 1991. The CIA was involved and the DOD and many other agencies considering the time and money spent by the government they were getting some results.Tommy to answer your question "yes" they are dangerous, but with all tools that are out there to be used they are only dangerous if they are misused or used with out caution and discernment.
Dear John- I was just wondering if you have any experience with EVP or Electronic Voice Phenomenon? If so, is it really as dangerous as they make it out to be in the movie White Noise? Thank-you, Lynne, NH
Thank you for your question Lynne. Electronic voice phenomenon is said to be a spirits voice that is manifested on an audio recording. EVP is a subcategory of instrumental trans-communication (or ITC), which includes all electronically recorded phenomena, including telephones, televisions, computers and specialized audio equipment. Interest in EVP apparently began in the 1920's in a article in the Scientific American and the perhaps the first documented case of EVP was in June of 1959, so this is not a new idea. I have used tape recorders (before digital came out) on some of the investigations I worked with only one very faint voice that I could not rule as an EVP due to some of the people on the investigation were in the area of the recorder. With the new technology that has came out and more people using all sorts of recording devices as tools in investigations of the paranormal there will be an increase in the information that will have to be gone thru with a discerning mind. In the movie "White Noise" the important thing to remember is that it was a story of what could happen. The players in the movie were drawn in with half truths and bits of hope by evil entities till they were devoting all there time and energies to listing for a message from the other side. They opened every type of channel of communication with no direction just hoping to make contact. They did not use any discernment to view the information they were receiving till it was to late and the trap was sprung. When viewing information of a paranormal investigation or just in day to day life we need not to jump to conclusions with out looking at all the possibilities of what we could be seeing or hearing. On the program Ghost Hunters they show that everything captured on film or tape needs to be put to several test before it is taken on face value. Going back to the movie, if the spirits of good people can be recorded then why cant the spirits of bad be recorded also? The tools used by the modern day paranormal investigator don’t discern between good ,bad, malignant or benevolent spirits or entity it is up to the investigator to take all the information and make a decision based on all the facts(with instinct included) of the case. To answer your question Lynne "yes" if you were to do as the players in the movie did EVP’s could be dangerous. The thing to remember is that with all types of communications if you hear me I most probably hear you so be cautious and do not let the quest for proof or contact rule your life.