The Paracast

When you hear about lucky charms, you probably think of General Mills’ breakfast cereal first, and of four-leaf clovers, rabbit’s feet, and horseshoes next. People all over the world carry around these items for good luck, hoping to win the lottery, get a massive Canadian casino bonus, hit a jackpot, and generally bring good fortune upon them. As many other things, lucky charms have a long and often gruesome history – at their origins, we find a magical item that was (and still is) used in many cultures, usually referred to as an “amulet”.

Amulet – a short history

An amulet is defined as an object that has miraculous or magical properties, usually meant to protect its bearer from something specific – or protect them, in general. These items get their extraordinary powers either from magic or from sacred rituals. Some amulets derive from pre-Christian and Pagan cultures, others have become known after the spread of Christianism – think of crosses, for example, worn around one’s neck.

Amulets were widely used in the ancient Rome, a habit they inherited from the Greeks. Their amulets were usually non-religious in nature, albeit they were usually crystals and minerals that were associated with certain gods that were all responsible for various aspects of the Romans’ lives – like Mars, the god of War, was associated with red jasper, while Ceres, the goddess of fertility and crops, was associated with green jasper, among others.

Talismans were widely used by the adepts of the Abrahamic religions – Jews, Arabs, and Christians – in the Middle Ages. They were of several types, from those worn on one’s body to others that had to be placed in one’s bath, for example. Christians often used sacred items like crosses, rosaries, medals, and similar items as amulets. These didn’t draw their power from their symbols but rather from the blessing of the Church, coming directly from God.

How amulets became good luck charms

The lucky charms were originally songs that were sung to protect those singing them from anything evil, to ward off bad intentions and maleficent forces, much like in a ritual. But there were times when merely singing a song didn’t seem enough to protect the subject from the many evils lurking around every corner. To increase the duration and the power of the above-mentioned songs, people started to cast the songs on amulets so that they can extend their duration and increase their power. Thus, lucky charms came to be.

Today’s most widely known good luck charms are the four-leaf clover due especially to its rarity (there is one four-leaf plant for every 10,000 three-leaf one), the rabbit’s foot (a good luck amulet of Celtic origin), the horseshoe (only if it’s made of iron and has seven holes), and the Maneki Neko, a waving cat believed to bring happiness and good fortune to one’s home.

Do they work? Well, this is something everyone has to decide for themselves.

Gene and special guest cohost Curtis Collins present scientist and researcher Dr. Irena Scott, author of  “Inside the Lightning Ball: A Scientific Study of Lifelong UFO Experiencers.” Dr. Scott has worked in crucial institutions involved in the UFO field–the Defense Intelligence Agency, Battelle Memorial Institute, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Her book delves deeply into the scientific study of the reports of people, who experienced childhood sightings and additional events during their lifetimes. Included are findings suggesting that the phenomena may be interactive with human thoughts, discussion of abduction and contact, synchronicity, and speculation that such reports are simply the tip of the iceberg to more complex interactions. Dr. Scott begins the episode with a lengthy discussion of her own amazing experiences.

Gene and guest co-host Goggs Mackay present cutting-edge paranormal researcher Ryan Sprague for a romp through the world of the strange and unknown. Ryan is an author, screenwriter, and playwright splitting homes between New York City and Los Angeles. He is also an investigative journalist specializing in the topic of UFOs. He’s interviewed witnesses in all walks of life about UFO sightings and possible encounters with extraterrestrials, and is the author of Somewhere in the Skies: A Human Approach to an Alien Phenomenon and is also a contributing writer to the anthology, UFOs: Reframing the Debate. Ryan is also the creator and host of the “Somewhere in the Skies Podcast.”

Gene and cutting-edge commentator Greg Bishop, host of “Radio Misterioso”  spend the episode discussing a variety of subjects related to the world of the paranormal. What, for example, is Greg’s co-creation theory about UFOs and other phenomena all about anyway? Does it mean that he’s unwilling to accept the extraterrestrial hypothesis as the answer to the UFO mystery? A wide-range of topics are discussed, including spirit phenomena and other weird events. And in a short pop culture segment, Greg mentions that the late comic actor, Mel Blanc, the legendary “man of a thousand voices,” actually sang a song with the words “flying saucers” in the title.

Gene and guest cohost Goggs Mackay present Dr. Jack Hunter, an anthropologist and author of “Engaging the Anomalous: Collected Essays on Anthropology, the Paranormal, Mediumship, and Extraordinary Experience.” In this book, Dr. Hunter poses serious questions about consciousness, experience, spirits, mediumship, psi, the nature of reality, and how best to investigate and understand them. In this discussion, Dr. Hunter will present stories of personal experiences, encounters with mediums, and float a wide variety of suggestions as to how various paranormal phenomena might somehow be connected, and that includes the UFO mystery. Dr. Hunter is the founder and editor of a free online journal, Paranthropology.

Gene and guest cohost Goggs Mackay introduce long-time paranormal researcher Brent Raynes. He is the editor of an online monthly magazine entitled Alternate Perceptions, and the author of “Visitors From Hidden Realms” (2004) and “On The Edge of Reality” (2009). Raynes has a third book coming out later in 2018, to be published by Visionary Living Publishing and tentatively entitled” John A. Keel: The Man, Myths and Mysteries.” Raynes’ journey into paranormal research was heavily influenced by John Keel early on. They shared correspondence that began back in October 1969. He was also heavily influenced by Jacques Vallee and Brad Steiger.

Gene and very special guest cohost Don Ecker observe the May 6, 2018 passing of prolific author Brad Steiger, at the age of 82. They are joined by two author/researchers who knew Steiger well: Jerome Clark and Kevin D. Randle. The discussion begins by remembering their first meetings and ongoing association with Steiger, and segues into the seldom-revealed limitations of writing books covering the UFO genre and similar subjects. You’ll also hear forthright discussions about the value of Steiger’s research, pop culture, the world of sci-fi and other topics.

Gene and guest co-host Michael Allen  present a return visit by researcher MJ Banias, a blogger who critically and philosophically examines the weird, the strange and the anomalous. During this episode, MJ will discuss the latest episode of the “MUFON Follies,” a new documentary about the Flatwoods Monster, a creature seen in West Virginia in 1952, and even how he accidentally got involved in debates over the Billy Meier contacts. And what about the alleged alien agenda? MJ was a former field investigator with MUFON, has been featured on multiple podcasts and radio shows, and contributes to Mysterious Universe and RoguePlanet. His work has been included in FATE Magazine, and in a collection of UFO-related essays entitled UFOs: Reframing the Debate.