HELP ME, JAMES VAN PRAAGH
Disclaimer: I have no interest in what lies beyond this world and whether we can communicate with spirits (other than what I've seen in The X-Files), for two main reasons: I can hardly keep track of what's going on in this world and communicate with the whackjobs on this plane of existence; the people who purport to have these abilities are usually difficult to keep track of, and are total whackjobs. So there's that.
HOWEVER, that won't stop me from reading the literature and attempting to understand what they're trying to tell me without making me sit still to summon my spirit animals. I snapped up (that's code for "borrowed for free from the library because I'm a public employee") Looking Beyond by James Van Praagh, allegedly a foremost authority on spirit communication.
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| Comparing himself to John The Baptist, or covering for falling into the pool? |
BEYOND BELIEF
First impression: I'm pleased that this guide exists. Most adolescents don't know how to look beyond the thought in their brain at a particular moment, or beyond their own image in the mirror. [Note: when smartphone technology kills the mirror industry, don't come crying to me. Sell your stock now and sail to Cuba.] The kids need to know what they're getting into when the real world approaches. Not that being a medium or believing in the spirit world will land them a job (exception: maybe here); there is merit in some of the generalities of spiritual guidance in terms of setting priorities, centering one's thoughts, and creating an attitude that does not accept self-defeatism. In some regard, Van Praagh does this better than the secular and non-ghosty self-help books.This begs one question, which has dogged me for ten seconds and (presumably) mediums for years: How does one bridge the connection between adolescents and the spirit world? The answer, of course, is popular culture. In the first four pages of the book, JVP (I'll call him that for brevity and because we're both down with the cause) references The 6th Sense, Men In Black, and The Matrix. JVP says of The Matrix, "the movie struck a chord in everyone who saw it." True. Mine was, "I hope they don't ruin it with a a couple of sequels." Anyway, he supplements the movie references with mentions of Britney Spears, Allen Iverson Reeboks (What?!) and most ironically, Marion Jones. JVP cranked this book out in 2002, so the references make sense in that context, and it was long before Jones admitted to doping for much of her track career, including the 2000 Olympics. JVP uses her as an example of someone to aspire to emulate. He may want to print a redacted version.
After the pop culture well runs dry quickly, JVP retells It's A Wonderful Life in a compact fashion. [Why can't old movies be made into 15-minute short films? They'd get to the point much faster and then I can go back to complaining about modern things.] Then he says too much TV rots your brain and kills your creativity.* At that point, lots of adolescents might call this well-meaning man a hypocrite and leave the room. Or maybe just me. Then, he digs into endless analogies: Your brain is computer. Your mind is like a radio. Your soul is a blender and your soulmates are toasters. Sorry, I'm writing in my kitchen.
*JVP writes about positive energy being the sole catalyst for creativity. Oh yeah? Edgar Allen Poe. I rest my case.
I SUPPOSE I COULD DISCUSS THE ACTUAL CONTENT
In a scant 180 pages, JVP zips through souls, spirits, heaven, karma, dreams, energies, ghosts, meditation, intuition, soulmates, yet makes time for self-help strategies for establishing goals and meeting them. He also has a story for EVERY SITUATION IMAGINABLE. I have to wonder how many of these are made up. There's one that clearly takes place in a fantasy world: a teenage boy develops a gambling problem and steals from his mom's purse to buy in and/or cover his debts. After denying the crime three times (!), the kid confesses and his dad grounds him for a month. I'll say that again. For stealing hundreds of dollars from his mom and lying for weeks, he is GROUNDED FOR ONE MONTH. My dad would have me polishing doorknobs with my face and march me into gambler's anonymous meetings until I was thirty. I'm pretty sure I grew up with some kids who never faced dire consequences for their behavior, and they're now either in prison or politics.
JVP provides "signposts" for the reader to think about after every small section, such as to trust one's hunches, because they are often right; it's a version of foresight, I suppose. For all of the topics he covers, there is very little development of content, which I found disappointing. Further, the key to all of this is belief, which he rarely discusses. I suppose that wouldn't be too "groovy," like in Austin Powers (joke). At one point he writes, "You picked your parents in order to learning something about yourself." I don't know where to start with this one. Definitely not starting with MY parents; you're not my counselor and I recently signed a gag order forbidding me from discussing them in public. (Joke...for now.) To his credit, JVP discusses people born into abusive or neglectful families, but once again, there is little depth. Not that I want to sit down and debate him about the fate of crack babies and children who are tortured by their families and surroundings, but the claim that "each soul has a particular task to complete" doesn't sit well with a soul "choosing" their parents. That's where we differ, and I'd rather not argue the point. Rather, let's watch him have a weird conversation with Chelsea Handler:
I do commend JVP for wanting to help adolescents. He repeatedly tells them that the power to do what's right comes from within. Why can't we seek help from outside ourselves? I mean, other than JVP? Oh, he agrees with me in the last chapter. Good. Because I'm right!
MEDIA-LOATHING MEDIUM
Funny to watch people who make their living by appearing on talk shows to promote their products trashing the media. Hey, now HE'S right! Not only does popular culture/media help us understand the spirit world while destroying our minds, it also gives airtime to people who do strange and disturbing things, such as kill other people, exploit and shame others, advertise spray-on hair...or claim to be psychic mediums. Right on, JVP! 100% See you on TV never again! Just say no to appearances on talk shows and infomercials! Don't tell those disturbing stories about teenagers being tempted to steal CDs (Remember, it was 2002; the correct answer now: tell your friend to illegally download it like everyone else).
I don't actually want him to leave TV, nor do I find him a hypocrite or a fraud. He's harmless, really. Maybe I can finagle a free reading out of this and become a believer.
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| Mulder! Scully! JVP! I see dead people! I know Kung Fu! |
NEXT TIME, I YELL ABOUT
A master storyteller, better know for his children's books than the stories for young adults who must learn the ways of the world, and older adults, who have been broken by the ways of the world. Let's just say it's time for JVP TO STAND ASIDE FOR THE BFG!
BORING STUFF
James Van Praagh
2003 Touchstone
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