From My Mind to Yours

How to be a happy medium

2010-06-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is a great book! It helped me really focus my energy when I first started doing readings. Check it out.

Simply Spiritual

2010-06-13T00:14:00.000-07:00

I am about to go to bed. Just wanted to offer a quick update and let you know that my new book about spirituality is coming along very well. I am so excited to share my thoughts on how people can easily integrate spirituality in to their daily life with all of you. I am also very excited about the conversations that I know it will provoke.

I need to get some rest, but I am going to leave you with a great new song I just discovered. I do not think it's new, but my cousins (younger and more hip) turned me onto it.

Life is dramatic and that's why I love it

2010-06-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

I had a very stressful weekend. Attending my cousin's graduation party brought up a lot of feelings about family for me. I don't think I dealt with some of those feelings very well. Without going in to too much detail, I will just say that being gay in a predominantly straight world can have its ups and downs. I also felt a bit bombarded by psychic images at her party. Sometimes, it is necessary to put up your defenses before you enter a crowded room. When I was younger I used to feel bombarded a lot. I thought I was mostly beyond that, but I guess I was wrong.

Tonight was a wonderful night. Started the night out by having a drink with my roommate. We proceeded to the Sex and the City 2 movie, which I adored. I also discovered he has a new romantic interest tonight. It's all about knowing how to ask the right questions.

More to come soon! Early morning reading so better get some rest.

Great Weekend

2010-06-10T15:22:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in so long! It's going to be a crunch to get in my 5 posts of the week! But I will get it done.

I want to send a very special thank you to everyone that I met at the Iowa Metaphysical Fair. It was such a fun time. I was so busy that I did not even have time to take any pictures :( I am going to do a post soon about a product that an amazing woman named Lois developed! It is really really cool.

That's all for now! Sorry it's short!

Weekend Goals and Frequent Trips to Iowa

2010-06-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Even though I grew up in the Ice Cream Capital of the World

I haven't visited Iowa much in recent years. The last two weekends in a row have corrected that trend. I spent last weekend in a small dying town in NW Iowa called Hawarden, IA, because it was my Grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary. Over 200 people showed up. Here is a video of me at the event! Special thanks to my younger sister Meggie (Geebs) for helping me video tape it.

This weekend I will be in Iowa at the Iowa Metaphysical Fair. If you are in the area I really hope you will stop by. I have set several goals for this weekend and I thought I would share them with you.

Goal #1: Network, Network, and oh ya, Network

This goal is pretty self-explanatory. I hope to expand the base of paranormal and metaphysical experts and vendors that I know. If I come home with less than 20 new contacts I will be irritated at myself. I am usually pretty outgoing, and the people running the fair seemed nice so I am not too worried about this. Another psychic already sent me an e-mail saying she would look for me at the fair, so at least somebody is reading this blog from time to time.

Goal #2: Don't Get Lost

It's inevitable that I will because I have absolutely ZERO sense of direction, but I thought it was a nice goal (albeit a dream) to post anyway.

Goal #3: Make Some Cash

I am going to make some money. Not planning on getting rich but hoping to at least make enough money to cover the expenses.

I hope to see some of you there!

Job Interviews!

2010-06-02T16:45:00.001-07:00

So I have been looking for a second job to supplement my income. Tomorrow I will upload a picture of me in my brand new suit! I look pretty hot! So make sure to tune in to see that. I have had one interview so far and I have one to go. I think the first one went pretty well. Tomorrow, I am interviewing with a staffing agency. I hope it goes well!

Please tune in tonight to hear me on The All Souls Paranormal Radio Network. It is at 9 PM CST. This is my first appearance on the show! http://www.asprn.com/

The Weekend in Iowa

2010-06-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a really interesting weekend. I traveled to Hawarden, IA for my Grandparents 60th (yes 60th!) wedding anniversary. It was a good time! I am going to write a whole blog about it soon with video. I got to see my whole family which was both good and stressful. I heard a church sermon about how only Christians are going to heaven. And, I got to hear a couple of local bands play! Sorry this is a short entry, but I have to catch up on my work.

If you are free tonight at 9 PM CST tonight tune in to Paranormal Talk at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/annette. This is my 4th appearance on this wonderful show.

More to come! Tell me what happened during your weekend in the comments section!

Tough Times: Money and the Psychic World

2010-05-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

I debated a long while about whether or not to make this post. Ultimately, I decided that I promised to be honest with my readers so here goes. I am trying not to cry while I write this. Not because I am embarrassed or even that upset, but because I am not used to sharing some parts of myself with other people. It makes me feel vulnerable which is not something I am particularly good at. A few years back I made some really bad financial decisions. I am still dealing with the consequences of these decisions today. Thankfully, I am on the verge or rebuilding my credit and paying off the irresponsible debt I accrued.

I make decent money as a psychic, but working only as a psychic is not enough to currently support myself. I am going to release a meditation CD later this year, and I cannot wait to share it with all of you. I am developing a meditation CD that will help even the most unintuitive people tune in to their psychic abilities.

It is my deepest hope that someday it will be. I know that I am at my best when I am doing this work. And I also believe in my heart of hearts that eventually I will be pursuing only my psychic profession. Tough economic times have affected my business negatively. I am currently in the process of seeking a second job for additional income. If you could all send some positive thoughts my way that would be great.

For many years, I have avoided working on a site like Keen. At this point, I am going to try working on it. I still recommend that you go to my website http://www.michaelmapes.org and book a full reading if you would like to speak with me. Still, if you want to speak with me immediately you are certainly welcome to call me via Keen.

I will be blogging about my experience in working with Keen. Every caller's privacy will be protected and I will not blog about the specifics of readings as it would violate an ethical tenant of mine. I will not keep callers on the line longer than I am able to help them.

I look forward to sharing this experience with you. Thanks for listening and letting me vent some of my frustration.

From My Mind to Yours,

Michael Mapes

A Psychic Day: The Glitz, The Glamour, and the Truth

2010-05-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

I appeared on a radio program this morning called Celestial Chronicles, well by morning, I mean noon! Anyway, I was asked an interesting question by the host of the show. About halfway through the interview he posed this question to me, "What's a day in the life of a psychic like." Oh gosh, I thought, hectically searching for an answer. The fact that I did not have an immediate answer ready is pretty pathetic especially considering that I get to share in my client's lives every day.

To be honest being a psychic is really really not all that different from any other job, except instead of meeting with clients to discuss more mundane matters, I meet clients to discuss spiritual matters. Oh ya, and to connect them to their dead friends and relatives on the Other Side!

Step 1: Caffeinate

Yes, I admit it. I love coffee. Black, no cream, no sugar. Just pure delicious coffee. This is what really gets me going in the morning. If there is no coffee in the condo then I have to rely on my back-up plan a cold crisp Coke over ice. I know! Soda in the morning! That's embarrassing. But I did promise to be honest with you on this blog. Ok, while I am embarrassing myself here is a picture of me pre-coffee.

Step 2: Answer E-mail

The next step in my psychic day is to answer all e-mails, letters, or phone calls that I have received. I try and get my correspondence done the second thing in the morning.

Step 3: All the Rest

Just to redeem myself here is a photo of what I look like when I am ready to meet clients! Showered, shaved, and beautiful!

No day is exactly the same for me. I spend the rest of the day doing radio shows, readings, and doing whatever needs to get done. Lately I have been working a lot on getting my summer schedule established. If you are in Iowa in June make sure to catch me at the Iowa Metaphysical Fair see MichaelMapes.org for more details. I am also hoping to visit St. Louis very soon as well! So keep checking back for more details on that.

This is my favorite part of the day because it can be so radically different from day to day. No two readings are ever identical, which is one of the main things I love about being able to do readings. Sometimes I get to meet people's amazing pets. Other days I get to connect people with their loved ones. Still other days I spend writing or making a video blog.

Step 4: Meditate and Get Ready to Repeat

I do end everyday by meditating. Meditation is a great stress reliever for me. It also helps me keep my energy and psychic ability focused and honed. There are three meditations that I currently like.

First up, is Healing Meditation by Kelly Howell. Kelly's voice is so relaxing. Kelly explains how our brain is capable of healing any illness that we may find ourselves confronted with. Great for people who are feeling their energy level depleted or struggling with any other illness. I particularly like this meditation because I always wake up feeling refreshed.

Next up is Doreen Blumenfeld's Journey into Deep Relaxation. If you struggle with stress or you obsess about the day when you head to bed this is the meditation for you. I have a lot of trouble sleeping and this meditation always helps me relieve the stress of the day.

Finally, is Instant Astral Projection: An Out of Body Experience Self-Hypnosis. This is the meditation for anyone interested in enhancing their psychic abilities or experiencing astral travel. Even though this meditation is focuses on astral projection, I have found that the exercises contained on this CD/MP3 are excellent for helping focus the mind. These exercises really will help bring your focus and intuition to the next level.

Meditation is linked to improved health and well-being and I recommend it to every one. It's a simple, easy way to integrate spirituality into your daily life, and I promise it will make you feel better and be more productive.

That's all I got readers! I know, you're jealous that you don't get this life, right! Just kidding. Enjoy your life! Hey, why not post in the comments section and tell me what a day in your life is like?

From My Mind to Yours,

Michael Mapes

The Real Fraud: James (The Previously Amazing) Randi

2010-05-24T13:10:00.001-07:00

It has been my long-held belief that science and spirituality will eventually end up in the same place. It has also long been my belief that legitimate psychics and mediums should, when asked and when it is appropriate, try and help advance the legitimate interests of science in anyway they can. Many psychics and mediums have assisted with the goal of advancing psi-research. In the early days, research consisted of seeing weather certain psychically gifted individuals could achieve higher than chance results in various card-guessing games. Today, the research is much more sophisticated. Dean Radin*, Senior Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, has moved psi research forward through his experiments designed to test the limits (or lack thereof) of human consciousness. Gary Schwartz, a Harvard educated scientist, and his colleague Julie Beischel, PhD, have worked to advance the afterlife hypothesis through their peer-reviewed work on psychic mediums.

There are hundreds of studies, in peer reviewed journals, providing evidence about the existence of psychic abilities and psi phenomena. Some of these studies follow the format put forth by the the aforementioned scientists, others follow completely different protocols. The point of this entry is not to belabor the point that there is indeed some scientific evidence of psychic phenomena. Rather, the point of this entry is to expose the angry-skeptic Randi for what he is: an opportunistic fraud.

As many of you know, The Randi has offered a Million Dollars, "to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event." Many have questioned whether or not this money even exists. That's speculation for other blogs. For the purpose of this entry, we will assume that the money does indeed exist. It seems pretty clear that the man who has become a media whore by whoring out The Million Dollar Challenge would never award the money to anyway despite the production of positive results in any study.

For far to long, non-critical thinkers, have used Randi's (pseudo)Challenge to dismiss anyone who claims to have psychic abilities by exercising the quick gotcha strategy of saying, "Has this person applied to take Randi's challenge?" If the person has not, and believe me the psychics and mediums who undergo lab testing have legitimate reasons for not, are dismissed as loons or crackpots.

The effects of Randi's hateful brand of skepticism are dangerous and far-reaching. Randi abandons any type of civility in discussion for red-faced, spit-spewing, angry rants. These rants encourage critical thinkers to shut down and it encourages people being bullied into believing the Skeptics unbelievably simple explanation of the way the world operates. It prevents people from examining the nearly hundred years of scientific evidence related to psychic phenomena. It creates a belief that people who believe in psychic phenomena are stupid or uneducated. Randi is an expert at brandishing extreme-skeptic-rhetorical techniques to try and discredit psychic phenomena. Radin explains,

Extreme skeptics who believe that all psi experiments are flawed have used an effective bag of rhetorical tactics to try to convince others to dismiss the evidence. These include accusations that even if real, psi effects are so weak that they are trivial or uninteresting, statements of frank prejudice, long lists of common but scientifically invalid criticisms, and severely distorted descriptions of psi experiments which make psi researchers appear to be incompetent.

There are several problems with the (pseudo)Challenge itself.

Unrealistic Expectation of Results

The (pseudo)Challenge requires high correlative results in order to ever collect the money. A fellow blogger explains,

First, and perhaps the most important, is the effect size required to win the challenge. While the JREF says that "all tests are designed with the participation and approval of the applicant", this does not mean that the tests are fair scientific tests. The JREF need to protect a very large amount of money from possible "long-range shots", and as such they ask for extremely significant results before paying out - much higher than are generally accepted in scientific research (and if you don’t agree to terms, your application is rejected). In the case of parapsychological research, however, where effect size is often small (though apparently robust), this means most researchers would have to go to extraordinary lengths to win the million dollars.

To further explain, Randi is not concerned with the way the scientific process works or in understanding what statistically significant result in a contemporary Psi study is. Instead, he is merely interested in safe-guarding his assets: All one million assets.

The previously quoted blogger goes on to quote Chris Carter, noted psi author, and I think it is worth re-quoting here because it explains the problem with Randi's unattainable expectations,

If Randi were genuinely interested in testing unusual claims, then he would also not insist upon odds of at least one million to one against chance for the results. Anyone familiar with scientific studies will be aware that experimental results against chance of say, 800,000 to one would be considered extraordinary; but results this high would be, according to Randi, a “failure.”

I understand that it is very much important for scientific advancement to have significant and repeatable results. Still, the field of cultural anthropology is not written off as crack-science or pseudo-science simply because some data may be anecdotal or because the conclusions we can draw from observation is not always immediately repeatable.

And it isn't as if Randi has the correct standard and every other peer reviewed journal has the wrong standard. The conventional wisdom, promoted by The Previously Amazing Randi, is that there are no scientific studies indicating the existence of psychic phenomena. As Dean Radin points out,

Wrong. As we’ve seen, there are a half-dozen psi effects that have been replicated dozens to hundreds of times in laboratories around the world. As another example, conventional wisdom often assumes that professional magicians and conjurers “know better” than to accept that some psychic phenomena are real.

Easy Targets

Randi focuses mostly on easy and soft targets. He ignores most of the legitimate research on PSI and chooses to focus instead on many of the kooks that send him e-mails. He goes after big-named psychics because that is what is most likely to bring people to his website, get people to buy his book, and ensure that he continues to get booked as an expert (despite a lack of any scientific credentials) on major media programs. When asked by an interviewer about how he responds to people like Randi who claim all PSI research is crap Dean Radin responded,

Either do that, or say to him, "yes, with the kind of people that you’re studying, I agree." There’s an awful lot of easy targets out there. But what you don’t find are detailed skeptical attacks against the best research, because then all that is displayed is ignorance and it is basically embarrassing for the people doing the attacks.

'
Randi's Credibility Problem

I am sure some people will call this section nothing more than a simple ad-hom attack against their hero. That is not the case. I believe that Randi has major credibility problems that would give anyone serious cause for concern when deciding whether they were comfortable working with him. Check out "The Myth of the Million Dollar Challenge," in which Randi's multiple distortions and lies are exposed. Randi simply cherry-picks the information that will help promote his religious brand of skepticism and ignore any evidence that contradicts him.

Not to mention the fact that it is insane to think a former magician could produce a test that anyone in the scientific community would take seriously.

Ironically, paranormal investigator Dr Stephen Braude agrees with Ray Hyman about the merits of the Challenge: “The very idea that there could be a conclusive demonstration to the scientific community of psychic functioning is fundamentally flawed, and the suggestion that a scientifically ignorant showman should decide the matter is simply hilarious.“

Additional Causes for Concern

Rule #4 of the challenge states, "Applicant agrees that all data (photographic, recorded, written, etc.) gathered as a result of the setup, the protocol, and the actual testing, may be used freely by the JREF."

This is hardly typical for most scientific studies in which the identity of the participate is often heavily guarded. It appears, that instead of wanting to advance scientific inquiry Randi is more interested in playing GOTCHA with famous psychics and mediums. This rule is obviously a major cause of concern for anyone considering the challenge. Especially, if you believe, as I do, that Randi's interest lies in making money through personality assassination.

Rule #8 requires you to sign away your right to any legal action against Randi even in the event of physical harm. Refusing to accept any legal liability raises serious questions about the types of tests Randi is prepared to engage in.

James Randi is doing nothing more than repeating age-old (and now disproved) skeptical adages. Unfortunately, many people are willing to listen to this man, which is depressing. As Dean Radin concludes,

Most of the commonly repeated skeptical reactions to psi research are extreme views, driven by the belief that psi is impossible. The effect of repeatedly seeing skeptical dismissals of the research, in college textbooks and in prominent scientific journals, has diminished mainstream academic interest in this topic. However, informed opinions, even among skeptics, shows that virtually all of the past skeptical arguments against psi have dissolved in the face of overwhelming positive evidence, or they are based on incredibly distorted versions of the actual research.

So what can we conclude?

I would like to note that for anyone who wants to read a brilliant and in depth article about the fallacies employed by modern angry skeptics check out Winston Wu Debunks the Skeptics.

The Randi is not the famed skeptic dedicated to improving our lives through exposing psychic frauds. Instead he is an opportunistic media whore who would do well to listen to the worlds of Charles Honorton,

The distorted history, logical contradictions, and factual omissions exhibited in the arguments of the critics represent neither scholarly criticism nor skepticism, but rather counter-advocacy masquerading as skepticism. True skepticism involves the suspension of belief, not disbelief. In this context we would do well to recall the words of the great nineteenth century naturalist and skeptic, Thomas Huxley: “Sit down before fact like a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly to wherever and to whatever abysses nature leads, or you shall learn nothing.”

*Check back for an entry that I am going to write about the Stupidity Hypothesis Check the Facebook page for a video about the Stupidity Hypo from Dean Radin.

Psychic Updates

2010-05-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

I have so many exciting things going on including this new blog, several personal appearances during the summer, and much more. I decided to make a quick video on my Youtube page sharing these updates with you. If you aren't a subscriber go to my Youtube page and click subscribe. Here is the video.

From My Mind To Yours,

Michael Mapes

Water Color Layout: Thoughts?

2010-05-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

So I spent a lot of time looking for a layout that would be perfect for the blog. I really like the one I chose. I am not sure if I will keep it forever, but I definitely am happy with using it for now. Let me know your thoughts.

If you aren't my friend on Facebook you should be! The same goes for following me on Twitter. I am going to work on the James Randi blog now. Expect the Ear Candling blog to be up this week as well I just have to upload the photos.

It's going to be an exciting week for me. This weekend my Grandparents are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in Hawarden, IA. I can't wait to attend and see all of my family. Expect a second blog later today.

Thunder in my Soul: Stormy Days and Why I Love Them

2010-05-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Today in Minneapolis it looks like this outside

And I have to say far from being angry that the sun isn't shining I am absolutely loving the stormy day so far. Sure it means no enjoyable happy hour on some downtown Minneapolis patio, but I can deal. I will be just as happy sipping my vodka whatever while observing the beautiful storm through the window.

Why is it that I find thunderstorms so exciting and calming at the same time? Whenever there is a stormy day I feel so completely energized. It's raining and lightening and thundering like mad today and I am loving every minute of it. That's all. Not a long post I know! Deal with it!

Time to enjoy the weather.

What's Better to Discuss Than God?

2010-05-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Last night I appeared on one of the best, and most thought provoking, internet radio shows: God Discussion. Hosted by a good friend of mine and wonderful woman named Deborah. She runs a website dedicated to promoting civil (and lively) discussion about metaphysical, spiritual, religious, and secular topics called...you guessed it...God Discussion.

This is my second time appearing on this show. It was a great two hours. I could not have been more pleased about the readings that we had time for. There is also a chance to win a Free reading with me. Check out Deborah's site for more details, it isn't too late to try and win one of the readings. If you missed it you can check out the archive here.

Interestingly, a few people in the chat room of the show, that I got a chance to speak with later, brought up one of my favorite subjects: The Magician. To those of you who don't know who The Magician is, he is famed skeptic (an refuser of beard shaving) James Randi. So keep checking back because I am going to write an entry about my thoughts on the biggest fraud of all, The Magician. Research started, writing not.

God Discussion does a great job of encouraging civil disagreement. So often we lose that basic sense of civility when trying to get our point across. I'm fairly certain my crotchety neighbor left his civility somewhere back in the Mesozoic Era. It seemed that way when he yelled at me for not closing the door as quietly as he required.

Enjoy the show and hopefully I will get to be back on the show soon. Thanks to God Discussion and for that matter thanks to God.

From My Psychic Mind to Yours: The Experiment Begins

2010-05-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

The number one thing you need to know about living life as a psychic medium is that you face an awful lot of discrimination when you show up at your local Super Target dressed like this!

Which is only one of the reasons I would never show up to Super Target dressed like a costume. In reality this is what I look like when I go shopping, with my enviro-friendly bags, at Super Target.*

Where was I going with this..Oh ya! Welcome to my new blog From My Mind to Yours.

This first post, on my new blog, begins a psychic experiment and a new Chapter in my life. I have moved from, "Ok, can I really be a professional psychic medium, and give readings with the accuracy of the psychic greats! Ya know the Sylvia's and Cayce's of the world." To, "I can really be a professional psychic who gives readings with a high degree of accuracy! So maybe one day people will say they want to be like the Sylvia's, Cayce's, and Michael's"

I know a lot of you have read my blogs at The Medium Channel, but I have decided to move over my blogs to The Spot (aka Blogger) in an attempt to push myself to write more. I hope this blog will give you a better sense of what life is like for me on a daily basis as well as give you a base of understanding about what being a psychic and a medium means.

I wanted to make this a fun adventure for all of us! I asked my roommate who said he wasn't much into blogging. I tried to be irritated, but got distracted by him buying my Chinese food and being a good person! Damn those kind and gentle souls!

Next, I decided to steal an idea that had already work. So as of tomorrow I will begin cooking my way through Julia Child's Cookbook circa Julie & Julia. Ya right! While I actually did consider this two slight hiccups arose! First, I wasn't willing to stop storing clothes in the oven. Second, I refuse to touch raw meat, and I believe lobsters are best left to be friends with Ariel.

Instead, I decided to launch The Psychic Experiment. Ok that was dramatic! I have decided to let everyone who reads this blog experience my life along with me. In order to accomplish this goal I am committing to several things:

Stuff I Will Do aka The Psychic Experiment
1. Save the World**
2. This blog will be up and maintained for at least 1 year.
3. I will make a minimum of 5 postings a week. These postings will occur regardless of any ups or downs in my life
4. This will be a multimedia forum including videos, music, pictures, musings and more!
5. I will be honest with all of you.

If you have any ideas about how to make this Experiment more fun let me know!

*This may be a picture of me enjoying a vodka/oj not shopping at Super T.
**Objective Already Accomplished. See picture below.