With the emergence of so many paranormal television shows which claim to offer an unbiased look into the unexplained there has been a widespread lack of understanding as to the true nature of parapsychology. Many think it is as simple as running around a reportedly haunted area with a bunch of spooky tools that are supposed to detect shifts in electro-magnetic fields.

While this is undoubtedly a small part of it, parapsychology is so much more then investigating ghosts. Parapsychology is the process of using scientific methods to explain paranormal activity. This may be for sake of proving or disproving (also known as 'debunking') a claim, but it always uses a baseline that would be considered an appropriate field test in any other scientific branch. Some skeptics would argue this assessment, as they disagree with any scientific process being applied to something that is, by definition, beyond the realms of logical possibility.

However, more and more who are trained in various official fields within Toronto, Canada have been questioning the wisdom of dismissing parapsychology as a practice with no merits. The belief in ghost, ESP, psychic ability, energy healing, yoga, and various other concepts that used to be considered the far end of New Age extreme just a few years ago have suddenly entered back into the mainstream. More individuals are signing up for local classes on these subjects, tuning into paranormal television programs, and researching matters that would be categorized as 'Occult' in the past.

Parapsychology is finally being recognized for the valid scientific practice it is, and it is being employed by believers and skeptics alike, in an attempt to get to the bottom of these issues that have long since been a mystery.

While some may still scoff at the very idea, the truth is most phenomenon, though not meeting the criteria to become fact, has also never been disproved. This evens the playing field, giving both sides a chance to test their theories for the good of science. One thing is for sure, we are nowhere near understanding the validity of paranormal claims. But with the use of parapsychology, especially on a larger scale within the scientific community, we are one step closer to solving all of life's mysteries. Until then, I am sure we will all have that little spark inside of us that fuels our curiosity, as well as the beliefs of millions on our planet.

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