Some things are better left to the professionals!

I don't know if you've noticed this as well, but there has definitely been a resurgence of interest in psychics and communication with the spirit world of late. All my non-psychic friends seem to be busy either having past lives regressed or lost ones contacted.

This interest has obviously reached the corridors of media power. There are TV stations which seem to be almost wholly devoted to the paranormal. Every day there's another special on clairvoyance and all matters mystic. Just like that, psychic mediums have been elevated to superstar status, filling some of the largest venues in town (when they're not in our living rooms, of course).

So it's no wonder that others have started to sit up and take notice, including Hollywood itself. Now, I know that Tinseltown has had a go at all things spooky before (just think Deborah Kerr in The Innocents ), but such films have tended to focus very much on the supernatural circumstances rather than on any psychic individual involved.

One of the silver screen's latest attempts to cash in on this psychic phenomenon is White Noise , starring Michael Keaton. (A brief synopsis: Michael's character, having lost his wife in mysterious circumstances, sets out to communicate with her by using everyday technology - a television set, a video recorder and a computer. Despite receiving some disturbing feedback and threatening messages, he perseveres, never doubting his ability to understand the messages he receives and to control his ability to receive them.)

Whilst the film ran the usual gamut of spooky effects, from shaky camera-work to darkened interiors, it managed to highlight one very important lesson. At one point, Michael's character consults a trained, experienced clairvoyant about his attempts to contact his wife. She warns him, in no uncertain terms, to stop meddling in things he doesn't understand and isn't able to cope with. Needless to say, and in typical Hollywood fashion, he ignores her with inevitable consequences.

The ubiquity of psychics in the media has somehow made the spirit world and communication with those who have crossed over seem much more approachable, accessible even, to the layman. Of course, there are benefits to be enjoyed from this - many people no longer feel stigmatised or constrained from consulting a psychic if appropriate. A better understanding generally of the fate of our loved ones can also only serve to help us accept what has happened to them and help us to prepare for our own futures.

The downside though is that people might be tempted to "meddle" themselves, like Michael's character in the film. Psychics often undertake years of study and development, sometimes alone, more often under the guidance of, and in association with, others. During this "apprenticeship", the psychic learns how to shield and protect himself from any less benign force he may encounter. This is a crucial skill to have and just one of the many reasons why, if you are interested in finding out more about psychic matters generally or in contacting a loved one, it is always advisable to consult an experienced psychic for guidance.

Until next week,

Kindest regards,

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