It’s been an interesting decade for paranormal investigators.  Since 1998, the presence of paranormal investigators has slowly resurfaced both in pop culture and within household discussions.  Perhaps it’s due to the peak in popularity over The X-Files?  Mulder and Scully, no doubt, made paranormal investigating cool again.  The Internet, however, allowed the interest to grow at record speed.  Websites for paranormal groups popped up over time, allowing investigators from all over to post photo, audio and video evidence for the world to scrutinize. 

With the turn of a new century, America moved in to a post-9/11 society filled with fear, paranoia and questions.   Interest in horror resurfaced like never before.  The Exorcist was re-released and, despite being over 25-years-old, was a box-office hit.  Other movies followed, such as The Mothman Prophecies, White Noise, Signs, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose.  Television followed suit with shows such as Psychic Detectives, Medium and The Ghost Whisperer.

The Internet, now an important part of our culture, essentially became a new way for paranormal groups to establish themselves. Over time, certain sites and groups became more recognized and influential over others. 

In 2004, Sci Fi released a television series called Ghost Hunters, starring real-life ghost busters who investigate supernatural activity.  Slowly, the show became a cable hit, and a new generation of ghost hunters emerged.  With the continuing success of the series, TAPS grew a dedicated fanbase, spawning paranormal vacations, lecture appearances, book deals and more.  The success of Ghost Hunters and TAPS drove many to feel that they, too, could make it in the field.

Many argue that the latest trend in the paranormal community is to have a television deal.  Popular networking sites such as YouTube and MySpace are littered with groups posting “pilots” and other self-made documentaries of their investigations.

A&E probably added more fuel to that fire in 2007, when they launched a multi-million dollar campaign behind its new documentary series, “Paranormal State,” (co-starring yours truly).  The show made records for the cable network and the series is now filming its second season.

With now two successful television series on air, and promises of more to come (Chris Fleming, Ghost Adventures and other personalities have announced the development of their own series, respectfully), as well as a top-secret paranormal project from filming legend Steven Spielberg, it seems that the ‘paranormal’ is back in a big way.

But where’s the field going with all of this?  Are we hoping to merge the field in to the entertainment business?  What becomes of the rest of the field and the researchers who do not have their own shows?

Essentially, the field must now change.  It is the opinion of this author that interest in the paranormal is about to reach its pop-cultural peak, much like it did in the 1970s followed by a crippling slump in the 80s, where interest in the paranormal drastically declined, as did its respect as being a ‘legitimate’ field. 

If we wish to avoid history repeating itself, then we need not rely on just the media.  Let’s face it; Haunting Evidence, Ghost Hunters and Paranormal State will one day run its course.  Whether it’s next year or five years from now, all things come to an end.  Once the media hype is over, and the fans move on to other interests, where does this leave the paranormal field?

Last year, I had a conversation with a tenured Penn State professor in clinical psychology.  Back in the 60s and 70s, he was heavily involved in parapsychology.  He knew JB Rhine and James Randi very well.  Back then; they were all in the same community together doing respective research on psychical phenomenon.  But then, of course, it all died.  So what happened?

“People lost interest,” he said to me.  “One day we all just asked ourselves, ‘why are we doing this?  What’s the point?’”

And just like that, college-sponsored programs on paranormal research shut down.  Parapsychologists merged in to other departments such as psychology, chemistry and whatnot.  The only major paranormal team to survive this decline was the Warrens, who remained the “go-to” personalities when it came to the bizarre and unexplained.  Even Dr. Hans Holzer got the slight brush-off.

Late last year, parapsychology research took another major blow when Princeton announced it was shutting down its anomalies group.  There are now only a handful of paranormal institutes left in the entire world, and more than half of those are on the brink of collapsing.

So where do we go from here?

That’s the current, hot button topic.  Do we organize as a community, or not?  There are supporters of both ideas.  Go to any online message board and you can see the arguments for yourselves.  Some fear that organizing is the same as conforming.  Many groups have resisted joining “family” groups (loose associations between groups across the country), and often time’s miniature “wars” haven broken out over the Internet between organizations. 

Then there’s the question of legitimacy.  What makes one group more legitimate over another?  How does one measure what makes a proper paranormal investigator/group?

I’d like to argue that Paranormal State has brought that question in to light like never before.  It injected a much-needed different perspective for both the paranormal community and mainstream to consider.  Paranormal message boards, radio shows and writers spent months talking about the show.  And through it all, one thing became certain: there is a slight divide amongst the community over religious and spiritual tolerance. 

It’s somewhat ironic that investigators who spend time trying to document proof of the afterlife, spirits, poltergeists and the demonic are so quick to dismiss spiritual/religious tones.  But the bottom line is that there are just as many groups out there who strongly believe that spirituality and paranormal investigation go hand-in-hand.

So what we have now is a division between faith and science.  And that’s something that isn’t new to the world at all.

In short, the paranormal community has yet to sit down and lay everything out across the table and say, “let’s make some decisions.”

It is essentially a chaotic bunch of individuals, with many believing that they have the correct way of doing things.

Some investigators have told me that the reason they’re so cynical about spirituality and even organizing is their fear of fraud and a monopolizing viewpoint.  After all, there are many psychics out there who charge for their services.  How do we regulate who is legit and whose not?   How do we determine which course of action is the best?

Essentially, their fear of organizing is exactly what hinders this community.  Yes, there will be disagreements and power struggles.  But if you observe the field at its current state, isn’t that already going on? 

Let us not be jealous and petty over one’s successes.  Instead, let’s celebrate together our accomplishments.

It is time for the field to ask themselves, both individually and collectively, if they’re ready for a change?

The community needs to organize and that requires people working together.  Even if a large chunk of the community refuses to participate, the part of the community that wishes to organize should do so.  Change is never easy.  And it won’t happen overnight.  Those wishing to change will come under great scrutiny and pressure.  But that is the least of their concerns.

This renewed interest in the paranormal has an end-date, ladies and gentlemen.  Fads will come and go.  The key in all of this is to turn the paranormal from fad to phenomenon before it’s too late.  From unprofessional, squabbling hobbyists to professional and respected individuals.

It’s time for us to think about what matters most.  It’s the timeless questions that we all have and the answers we all so desperately want.   Let us not forget what drives us in to doing this research.  Let us not ignore our fears, for you can’t have courage without it.  Let’s not overlook science for faith and vice versa. 

I challenge this field to look at itself and ask: are you happy with the way things are?  Are we doing the best that we can do?  Can we not do better?

Have we already reached the peak of our ingenuity?  I don’t believe that we have.  There are those who are trying to make a difference: groups and institutions that are struggling for funding and resources.  Most importantly, they are struggling for moral support from their peers. 

Since 2001, I’ve dreamt of a day where we could come together under one roof to present new ideas and perspectives.  A place where we could challenge each other, not as enemies, but as colleagues who are only looking to better the field, its research and the people who need help.  The paranormal community is a diverse field, with many perspectives and subdivisions.  But nevertheless, we are one field, one group.  We must learn to co-exist on a common ground.

This year at UNIV-CON, I am hoping for my dream to come true. This is not the PRS or “Paranormal State” convention.  It is meant to be a conference that challenges the field.  This year, we will do our part to set the bar to new heights.  We will offer grants and scholarships.  We have spent months assembling some of the best speakers to offer thought-provoking and challenging lectures.  We will unveil new research and equipment.  We will also offer a series of “congressional” sessions; a body of representatives from every makeup of the paranormal field to address some of the biggest concerns and challenges this field faces.  And then, of course, we will offer some of the finest entertainment ever assembled at a paranormal conference.  Are we raising expectations?  You bet.  Will we succeed?  That depends on you.  This conference can no longer solely be controlled by a small group of individuals.  It must be a joint effort by many.

Therefore, by 2010, UNIV-CON is planning to become a non-profit entity.  Its planners will consist of many respected individuals across the country.  If you want to get involved, if you’re ready for a change, here is an opportunity to help us make that change. 

UNIV-CON is just the first step.  In order for the paranormal community to improve and move forward in to bold new directions, we need more than just an outstanding conference.  But at least this is a step.  We realize that there are many other groups out there who are already trying to bring about a change.  I say to you, let’s work together.  How can we help you with your endeavors?

The time has come to strip away the cynicism and passivism.  It’s time for us to be aggressive and supportive.  Is it possible?  That depends on you. 

This year, at UNIV-CON, I invite all investigators to come prepared to share their views on this subject.  This is the mission of this year’s conference: to put everything on the table and evaluate the field.  To see where we’ve come from, where we are and where we’re headed.

My friends, are we ready to take the next step?