Guest Author - Jaide Norman

Sometimes when I tell people that I am a paranormal investigator, they automatically assume I can communicate with every ghost I come in contact with. I have been asked also if the show Ghost Whisperer on CBS is true at all. Here is my opinion of the show.

Ghost Whisperer is a prime time television show on CBS Friday nights at 8 pm Eastern time. Ever since the main character, Melinda portrayed by actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, was a child she has been able to communicate with ghosts. With her ability to communicate with these ghosts, the ghosts often seek Melinda out to help them convey a message to someone. Sometimes the ghosts want to let someone know what happened to them, some ghosts start out seeming evil and out to hurt those left behind, and sometimes the ghost needs help completing a task before crossing over. In the episodes I have seen, crossing over means “going to the light”.

The show is based on work done by the co-executive producer, James Van Praagh. His work has been met with a lot of criticism. Mention his name around real life psychics, mediums, and paranormal folks and they may cringe. He is sometimes likened to a fraud to a flake only saying things to pacify the relatives of the deceased he comes in contact with. It is no surprise that he would be involved in a show like this.

So, the question is: How close to real life is Ghost Whisperer? There are many people in the world who are truly like Melinda. There are people who have the ability to see a ghost as clearly as you can see me. Many of them help police solve crimes. You won’t often here of this because it is a hush hush subject. Mary Ann Winkowski, who is a paranormal investigator in Ohio, is a consultant for the show. She has been an investigator for 20 years and has the ability like some investigators to communicate with the ghosts she comes into contact with.

When someone discovers they have the ability to communicate with spirits and help them cross over into the light, it can be a scary thing. It often starts in childhood. The sad thing is most mediums and channelers are told at a young age that it is “just your imagination” or to quit talking to our imaginary friends. So the gift gets shut down and tucked away.

Yes, there are people like Melinda out there who can communicate with those who have departed. The gift comes in varying degrees. It can happen as frequently as it does to Melinda or it can be a one time thing.