Ghost Hunting Forum

2017 Michigan Paranormal Convention

http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/2017-Michigan-Paranormal-Convention-441792903.html

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (WLUC)- Ghost hunters, psychics, U.F.O. researchers, Bigfoot enthusiasts, haunted objects, Ouija boards... all of this and more is at the 8th Annual Michigan Paranormal Convention. The event is being held at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie this weekend, and it's brought some of the biggest names in the paranormal industry to the Upper Peninsula, like Stanton Friedman, one of the world's top U.F.O. researchers, or UFOlogists.

"We have to assume that there's loads of civilizations out there," Friedman says. "The latest numbers indicate that there's between 1 and 1.6 planets per star, within a hundred light years of here, which is (figuratively) down the street."

As for those who are skeptical to claims of the existence of extraterrestrials, Friedman says, "The trouble with the skeptic is he's not a skeptic, he's a debunker. A skeptic says, 'well, I don't know, let's see'. The debunker says, 'I do know, there's nothing to this', even though he hasn't studied the evidence."

Also at the conference is Jeff Belanger, a writer and researcher who works on the Travel Channel show "Ghost Adventures", and is the host of the PBS program "New England Legends".

"I've had ghost experiences," Belanger says. "In the last 20 years of doing this, I can count on one hand how many times I've seen something where I say, 'I can't explain that'."

There's also Laurie Stimpson, a psychic medium who says she's often asked by people to contact their deceased loved ones, and claims a success rate of at least 75%

"I've always had it," Stimpson says, of her abilities. "I didn't recognize it and understand it until I was an adult, and I went to a psychic medium myself and he told me, 'you're a psychic medium'."

And Christine Larson, a paranormal investigator for more than a decade.

"Every experience is new and different," Larson says, "so you never know what to expect when you're out on an investigation... you have to be open-minded."

And Robert Murch, Chairman of the Talking Board Historical Society. Talking boards are commonly referred to by the most popular brand name of talking board, Ouija boards.

"There's about 3 main beliefs," Murch says. "Scientists believe you're asking a question, (and) that your subconscious answers the question. Other people believe there's some type of psychic link, there's telepathy that's happening. Then there's the very popular belief that it's spirits... that the Ouija board allows you to part the veil and talk to someone from the other side."

The Traveling Museum of the Paranormal & Occult is also at the convention.

"We travel from coast to coast and bring haunted objects to people," says Greg Newkirk, the museum's founder and curator. "We let them hold them, touch them, experience them for themselves. The idea is to just give people a paranormal experience."

The Michigan Paranormal Convention continues through Saturday, with an impressive lineup of guest speakers, vendors, and merchandise. For more information, visit the "Related Links" section of this article.