Ghost of skeptic possesses Lisle cat.

Photo of the ghost of skeptic Perry DeAnells.

August 22, 2007 – Lisle psychic Kathy C. Neely claims that the ghost of recently departed skeptic Perry DeAnells possessed her cat, Patches.  DeAnells, former co-host of The Skeptics Guide to the Universe, died this week. 

"I had this strange feeling the other day."  Said Neely.  "Then Patches walked up to me.  Normally she'd rub my legs.  Instead, a male voice said, 'Oh man, I can't believe that I'm stuck in the body of a cat.'  I was shocked.  In all my dealings with the dead, this was the first time one had possessed Patches."

Neely, a psychic with 30 years experience dealing with the dead, offered to counsel DeAnells on his new state of being.  DeAnells would have none of it.  He explained, according to Neely, that he was actually the remaining electrical thought energy from his mind.  After his body, his energy drifted to the West, and ended up in the body of Patches.  Far from being an immortal ghost, DeAnells believed his energy was changing into heat energy, and his consciousness` would dissipate too.

"Obviously he was suffering from post-mortem depression.  His description of the afterlife was tainted by this condition.  I mean, none of my other clients have described the afterlife the way he did.  And I know for a fact that ghosts live forever.  I've had clients throughout my career, and they are not turning into heat!"

Intrigued by her first skeptic ghost, Neely offered to counsel DeAnells, and offered to charge his family a discounted rate for her services.  DeAnells did not appreciate her generous offer.

"He said, 'Look you purveyor of woo!  First off, you've never been dead.  I am dead.  I have more first hand knowledge about death than you! Second, you've never had a legitimate client in your life!  I'll bet I am the first ghost you've ever met!  You rip-off innocent families! Listen to me. If you were a scientist, you would be learning from my experience. Instead, you're lecturing me about the afterlife!'"

Neely says that Patches is no longer possessed.  She was, however, less clear about DeAnells. 

"He is still with us, but on a plane of existence that is harder to hear in our world, unless you are a specialist in the spiritualism, like I am.  He has much more to tell us, but soon he will be far beyond the reach of my powers, unassisted."

Neely is accepting donations on her web site for special equipment to "enhance" her powers so can counsel him on his state of existence.

While The Babbler does not support the work of skeptics, out of respect for his beliefs, we've decided not to link to her site. Instead, we encourage his fans to donate to his memorial fund, and we will print what Neely said is his last clear message to his fans.

"Hey guys.  I'm not quite dead yet, but soon, I'm going to be dead dead.  I am going to miss all of you, but on the other hand, I won't have to worry about living through another Clinton administration.  I wish I could think of something profound to say, but I think Carl Sagan said it best:

The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides."

|

Please note: All stories and characters on this web site are works of fiction.