James Van Praagh

James Van Praagh
James Van Praagh was born in New York, to a Catholic family. He was the youngest of his three siblings. At the age of fourteen he was to serve as an altar boy, which acted as a catalyst to enhance his interest towards spiritualism thus leading him later in his life towards the unusual profession of being a medium.

He graduated with the degree in Broadcasting and Communication from San Francisco State University. After graduation he moved to Los Angeles where he turned his curiosity towards metaphysics and psychic phenomena.

With the facility of five senses ? sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell; James Van Paargh had the gift of Sixth Sense which we can also term as psychic ability, intuition or gut feeling that cannot be explained logically. Everyone is psychic to some degree or another, but a medium needs to fine-tune his or her extrasensory perception to be receptive towards higher frequency or energies on which spirit world vibrate.

In mediumship the sharpened Sixth Sense works with any of the other five senses to bridge the gap between two planes of existence, i.e. the living and the dead. James Van Paargh although communicates via his feelings and sense of sight, as he calls himself a Clairsentient and clairvoyant.

James realized his talent during his early days in Los Angeles when he met a medium and was informed that he would follow same vocation. With the augment of his sensitivity, he began doing psychic readings for friends. Though at first these activities seemed bizarre but the more he learned he could not deny the fact that he had the gift to reach beyond the common plane of existence; life. Today, James is known as one of the leading mediums in the world.

James Van Paargh shared his unique paranormal experiences in his best-selling books to amaze the readers and to enhance their abilities and interest towards psychic world. He wrote seven books to guide the readers practicing these activities in mundane life.

His first book, Talking To Heaven talks about spirit communication through his personal encounters with the dead and there are guided exercises of meditation conveying the message; death is not the end, there is an existence of after life. Thus it offers a means of how to deal with sorrow and loss in a positive and healthy manner. This book also inspired a mini-series; Living With The Dead starring Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen broadcasted on CBS in April 2002.

His second book Reaching To Heaven takes the reader on a soul journey to reveal what happens at death, the stance of spirit world and the process of reincarnation. His Third book Healing Grief is a guide to assist in recognizing and coping with the heart rending losses, which one way or another we all experience in our life.

Everyone experiences loss in one way or another. In order to experience a loss and transform it, this book includes personal stories and guided exercises and meditations that will foster healthy spiritual growth.

His fourth book Heaven and Earth - Making the Psychic Connection shed light on the profound connection between heaven and earth. This book guides the reader to see, feel, and listen to inner voice as well as to overcome fears and limitations. In September 2003, he wrote his fifth book to speak to teens; Looking Beyond: A Teen's Guide to the Spiritual World, identifying their personal feelings and making good choices.

In November of that same year his sixth book; Meditations with James Van Praagh opened new horizons towards meditation experience, empowering the reader to connect with their inner self. His latest book, Ghosts Among U was released to critical acclaim in May 2008 and quickly grabbed number 1 position at New York Times Bestseller list.

James Van Praagh did not limit himself to book writing only he shared his extraordinary gift on television too. He produced, acted, written and appeared as himself on many TV shows, utilizing his Broadcasting and Communication degree in coalition with his gift. In 2000 he gave his first appearance in one episode of The Roseanne Show as Himself.

In 2002 he hosted a daytime talk show of his own entitled Beyond With James Van Praagh. The same year he co-produced Living With the Dead; the mini-series inspired by his first book. In 2003 he appeared in programs like Hollywood Squares, Penn & Teller: Bullshit! and Talking to the Dead. In October 2004 his second successful CBS project aired entitled The Dead Will Tell starring Anne Heche.

In the year 2005 he hosted the TV Show Possessed Possessions and appeared as Himself in The View. In the same year his Co-Executive Production; primetime series Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt was broadcasted. This show premiered in September 2005 and won the position of #1 Friday night drama for CBS. It began its third season in September 2007.

In 2006 he continued appearing on shows like Square Off, Ive Got the Secret and Soap Talk. In 2007 he appeared thrice on the most popular show Larry King Live, on which he appeared in 2005 as well. In 2008 he appeared on Entertainment Tonight and produced Bloodline, Pieces of You, Heart & Soul, Threshold and Imaginary Friends and Enemies.

To help others in spiritual understanding, James travels the world teaching mediumship development classes, hosting spiritual cruises, and conducting sold-out seminars. He has a website that encourages spiritual learning, grief support and friendships through its many online communities, resources and activities.

He quotes about his work , The books, CDs, seminars, classes, web site and television projects are ways to share my abilities and the message that our personalities do indeed survive death.

My greatest satisfaction in doing this work is witnessing an instantaneous change in people? When someone is alone and overwhelmed by grief, life seems over. But, when I'm able to help teach someone to make contact with a loved one, their grief and loneliness disappears and proper closure can take place.

Though James Van Paargh is doubted and openly criticized but he has been consistent in his vocation, may it be writing, seminars or TV productions. Still few of his critics hold the opinion that even if he is a charlatan and fake his spiritual feelings still he helps emotionally wreck people to find relief in a positive attitude.