It’s official – the paranormal has become mainstream!

It didn’t happen overnight and most in the field would say that it’s centuries overdue. But there’s been a quiet revolution taking place since the 1990’s. I guess things really took off with the American television programmes Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. These series clearly struck a chord, gaining massive cult followings and popularising witches, magic, spells and, of course, ghosts.

Suddenly being spiritual was cool. No longer did believing in astrology, ESP or tarot automatically make you weird or crazy. In fact, it was as if the tables had been turned and not believing became the stigma of the “poor, unenlightened soul”.

But out of all the areas of interest, life after death seems to capture our attention like no other. So, I suppose the increased popularity of mediumship and its treatment in modern culture shouldn’t come as a surprise. Yet, I continue to wonder whether it all isn’t a double-edged sword:

Is this the path to acceptance or abuse?

For most people, the closest they ever got to mediumship was playing with their Ouija board. And then along came a man called John Edward to our television screens. He would stand before a studio audience and pass on messages from those who had “crossed over”. He was soon followed by James Van Praagh. The British responded with Colin Fry. And just like that platform mediums moved from the confines of the local Spiritualist Church to our living rooms.

As people tuned in, the formats expanded and mediums left the television studios for ghostly communication in actual haunted houses where we became acquainted with Most Haunted’s inimitable Derek Acorah. There have even been special broadcasts where Derek and Colin are joined by fellow medium Tony Stockwell to deliver messages from those in spirit to thousands in packed theatres around the UK.

Each of us is free to form our own opinion about these programmes, the mediums and spirit communication in general. But it’s important to remember that these psychic mediums are real people. They are professionals who have been doing this sort of thing away from the spotlight for years. And while the networks will do their part to present it in a way that secures ratings, all in all what you see is a direct representation of mediumship.

Series after series, Most Haunted continues to draw in the viewers. Tony is now speaking with victims of crime who are now on the other side in Psychic Detective. With our appetite whet, it’s like we now can’t get enough of hearing from the dearly departed. And so the networks are all too happy to oblige. It remains to be seen how happy we ought to be with their own fictional offerings.

Network television is increasingly incorporating mediums into to dramatic storylines. Here we meet fictional characters that to varying degrees of accuracy reflect what a medium does. One such programme currently airing in the UK is called Afterlife. And let me say from the outset that I am a huge fan and think it’s wonderfully engaging. But after each episode I find myself wondering whether it sends the right message about what being a medium is all about.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, accomplished actress Lesley Sharp plays a woman who can communicate with the dead. That’s what a medium does, isn’t it? Well, yes and no. In Afterlife, she portrays someone who is unable to control the messages, actually receiving them involuntarily. She is also an outsider who is struggling with some fairly heavy emotional baggage. Additionally, she feels obliged to pass on what is passed on to her, like it or not. And when it gets tough, she finds comfort in a bottle.

To be sure, it’s great television. But if this was your first introduction to a medium, would you want to live next door to one? Would you want your son / daughter in a relationship with one?

I completely appreciate that when popular culture integrates those who had been previously segregated or victimised we are introduced to them as stereotypes or caricatures. Before we had the fully-formed and well-rounded characters in The Cosby Show, we had Prissy from Gone with the Wind. And before Will & Grace we had the flamboyant personages of La Cage Aux Folles.

I hope that in the long term we are truly seeing an increased awareness, openness and acceptance of life after death and spirit communication. I fear, however, that in the short term mediums could become the latest victims of pop culture – “they can be very entertaining, never really happy and definitely not in my backyard”.

I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.

As always, feel free to email me with any comments, suggestions or feedback on PsychicBridges.

Thanks again for all your support and until next week,

Kindest regards,

Top