Physical Mediumship Experience

Thanks,
I am curious about this point:


I find it interesting that the medium wouldn't agree to use a seal on the spur of the moment. How would it be different, considering that he's supposed to be bound anyways?

Alternatively the seal could be agreed upon prior to the session, but the "data" that would mark the seal would be at the researcher's discretion.
In other words each seal could be labeled with a non decipherable code, such as bar code or similar, so that it would be very hard to reproduce on the spot and could only be read with an appropriate decoder.

What leaves particularly perplexed about your report is the fact that the medium apparently got rid of his restraints at some point.  If that's the case then there's really little to no room for any control given the darkness, hiding in the cabinet and having free hands etc..

The cabinet in particular is a big turn off for me. They claim is a "sacred space" but most of those I've seen in pictures are just really clunky hand made boxes made of cheap wood and fabric. They certainly don't inspire any sacredness whatsoever

Given the rather generic information that has been provided and the very loose controls in place it seems to have been quite an underwhelming seance. Did you talk to any of the other participants? What did they think?

Cheers

The other participants did not share my objections. Most (at least publicly) said they were amazed, perhaps a few didn't comment much or at all.

BTW: I did not share my concerns as I didn't want to be "that guy" and wreck everyone's experience.

I decided that I would take my concerns home with me and deal with them in whatever way I wished, without burdening the others. Perhaps others were doing the same.. ? 

I did NOT however claim to anyone that what I saw was otherworldly.

Thanks,
I am curious about this point:


I find it interesting that the medium wouldn't agree to use a seal on the spur of the moment. How would it be different, considering that he's supposed to be bound anyways?

Alternatively the seal could be agreed upon prior to the session, but the "data" that would mark the seal would be at the researcher's discretion.
In other words each seal could be labeled with a non decipherable code, such as bar code or similar, so that it would be very hard to reproduce on the spot and could only be read with an appropriate decoder.

What leaves particularly perplexed about your report is the fact that the medium apparently got rid of his restraints at some point.  If that's the case then there's really little to no room for any control given the darkness, hiding in the cabinet and having free hands etc..

The cabinet in particular is a big turn off for me. They claim is a "sacred space" but most of those I've seen in pictures are just really clunky hand made boxes made of cheap wood and fabric. They certainly don't inspire any sacredness whatsoever

Given the rather generic information that has been provided and the very loose controls in place it seems to have been quite an underwhelming seance. Did you talk to any of the other participants? What did they think?

Cheers

Oh, regarding your point about not agreeing real time to changes in protocol. This is not odd in the PM world. They are VERY rigid about their protocol. They say it is because they are protecting themselves and the sitters from danger. You will seldom, if ever, see them playing with their process real time. It is quite rigid, and we were literally told, if that doesn't suit you, you can leave now.

I mean they were inspecting our glasses and even contact lenses for cameras. Yes, even contact lenses can apparently hide a camera. We were allowed to bring nothing, I mean nothing, into the room. Wallet, jewelry, watches, everything, must be left behind. And if anything were to be found on you during a frisk, you would be asked to leave immediately.

Its a tough one isn't? The need for protocol with vague explanations as to the detailed "why", etc.

I'm glad we can discuss this stuff here neutrally without folks slamming the door shut.

jkmac, again, really appreciate your sharing and thinking here!

Its a tough one isn't?  The need for protocol with vague explanations as to the detailed "why", etc.

I'm glad we can discuss this stuff here neutrally without folks slamming the door shut.

jkmac, again, really appreciate your sharing and thinking here!

Hey, no problem. 

Enjoying the opportunity to do so, without a big argument ensuing.

Looks like you enjoyed yourself.

Looks like you enjoyed yourself.

I enjoyed finally seeing a PM.

I was obviously left with way less hard evidence than I wanted to have, which was a big disappointment.

I enjoyed finally seeing a PM.

I was obviously left with way less hard evidence than I wanted to have, which was a big disappointment.

What was the cost?

What was the cost?

hundred bucks

and worth every penny for a chance to get the evidence I'm looking for.

I was obviously left with way less hard evidence than I wanted to have, which was a big disappointment.

What evidence were you looking for?

What evidence were you looking for?

I was looking for examples of things that were unambiguous. Something that couldn't be faked, or at least would be hard to fake. 

I'm not suggesting that what I experienced WAS fake, just that it would not have been very hard to do so, given the conditions.

I gave a list of several things in my original post that I would have considered "hard to fake".

The link you provided earlier (the My 50 years excerpt) included several examples of exactly what I am talking about:
A close up well lit chance to see a manifested partial body
A full manifestation of a person
Objects flying around distant from the medium at high speeds
The ability to touch a manifested entity, feel the hair etc

I can think of lots of ways to put these questions to rest. Unfortunately none of them happened.

I'm sure you must have read my post about the event. I described everything as accurately as I can. I'm not casting any aspersions, or making any claims (positive or negative). I think everyone should draw their own conclusions. And I haven't named a person or place of the demonstration because I don't want any of these people to be negatively affected by the accounts I have made. These are very possibly well meaning, or even exceptional people, that deserve not to be the subject of negative or mixed press.

As I've also said- I believe most of the people there that night went away totally satisfied. So there's that.

I honestly don't think my expectations are extreme or unreasonable. I'm bending over backward to have that not be the case anyway. And if they are, so be it: I can't pretend to myself that I am satisfied with what I've experienced. If I could, I would, because being in the position of believing this stuff is real, and not having the experience to support that belief, is exactly the place I don't want to be. 

Honestly, I would rather not believe at all, and then this lack of satisfaction wouldn't bother me a bit. Unfortunately that's not the case.