Meetings During COVID19

The SSPR is now meeting again at Theosophy House, 17 Queens Crescent, Glasgow G4 9BL on the 3rd Thursday of the month. For those who can’t or won’t attend in person, we will livestream our meetings on the online conferencing platform Zoom. (Members and Visitors will be sent a link). 

We ask attendees to consider the following: 

1. The Coronavirus is still out there. For your safety, we will have some social distancing measures and ensure some ventilation. Mask wearing is encouraged and appreciated (but not compulsory). 
2. What is compulsory is that if you’re not feeling well, e.g. have a cough or a sore throat: stay home and get well! Even if you think it isn’t Covid, it could be. Please stay home. 
3. The Council / Charity Trustees have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of its members and visitors. This includes the ongoing pandemic. Your patience and support is very much appreciated. 

For updates,  here on our website and also on our page and group on Facebook. 

For those wanting to join us on Zoom. You do not need the app as you can access the video link via your browser (if we email you the link, just follow the link) – but the app is free to download. If you install the app, you will still need to click on the link we will email you (if you have joined as a member, or bought a ticket for a specific presentation). 

If you are a member, all our online presentations are free – as will be our face-to-face meetings.

Non-Members/Visitors will need to pay £5 per presentation to access the link.  

2022 – 2023 Programme

‘Mediums: Allies of Science in the Search for Consciousness’

Lauren Robertson

Thursday the 15th of September 2022

Just how effective are mental mediumship readings at proving survival of consciousness after death? Can mental mediumship sittings be resilient against the harshest of criticisms, and demonstrate something authentic – something worth taking seriously – at their core?

I am a medium with two decades experience in private sittings and public demonstrations. In this critical analysis, I will take the strongest possible skeptical stance and attempt to debunk two of my own sittings. I will begin with the assumption that the instances of accurate information in my sittings are caused by accidental or intentional tricks and illusions, and can be explained away neatly by non-parapsychological, everyday causes. I will then explore alternative parapsychological explanations; namely, the criticism that the impression of a spirit communicator is only synthesized from various kinds of psi between the ‘medium’ and sitter/s. Since no spirit communicator is necessary to account for the information, the information does not prove a spirit communicator, no matter how accurate it may be.

Can any aspects of these sittings survive the onslaught to show the presence of a spirit communicator? And if so, what clues can be gleaned about the afterlife, the properties of consciousness, and the true nature of human connection?

Lauren Robertson is an evidential medium and writer, having completed around 20,000 sittings and public demonstrations in a career spanning two decades. She has demonstrated her mediumship for academics, sceptics and scientists including the SSPR (Scottish Society for Psychical Research).

Lauren graduated with honours from University of Glasgow where she studied English Literature and Philosophy, specializing in consciousness studies. In year two she won the prize for English, and was awarded the Cross Trust bursary to work on a personal project which she developed into a book on mediumship.

Her debut book The Medium in Manolos was published by Hay House in 2017, and she writes The Art & Science of Mediumship on Substack.

Lauren will be bringing some of her books for sale! 

It Happened to Me!

Real Ghost Stories for Hallowe’en

Thursday the 20th of October 2022

Now an SSPR tradition! Following in the footsteps of The Fortean Times’ column, ‘It Happened to Me‘, collecting and chronicling first hand accounts of weird happenings, we present 3 testimonies of unusual experiences, with the opportunity to question and discuss afterwards.

This year we’re looking at extraordinary personal stories!! Should be fascinating!

This Presentation will be free to Members on Zoom. Members will be sent a link by email. 

Non-Members contact us: theSSPRsecretary@gmail.com

Link to Online Presentation: £5

Then Pay by e-banking or BACS:      SSPR BANK ACCOUNT
Bank of Scotland         

Account Name: Scottish Society for Psychical Research

Sort Code: 800752      Account No: 00817842

Or by PayPal

We will confirm Payment then send you a link. 

NOVEMBER’S PRESENTATION IS NOW AN ONLINE ONLY EVENT

ALAN MURDIE will reschedule to speak for November 2023

Thursday the 17th of November 2022

Due to our Volunteers who help run our live events being unable to attend (a mixture of Covid & Paternity Leave), we are unable to offer an in-person lecture this month. Members have been contacted by email and any Visitors who have paid expecting to attend Alan Murdie’s talk will be reimbursed. Mr Murdie has very kindly offered to reschedule his presentation to next year’s programme.

Instead we will meet online and discuss what motivates psychical research?

Members will be contacted by email with a link.

This Presentation will be free to Members on Zoom. Members will be sent a link by email. 

Non-Members contact us: theSSPRsecretary@gmail.com

Link to Online Presentation: £5

Then Pay by e-banking or BACS:      SSPR BANK ACCOUNT
Bank of Scotland         

Account Name: Scottish Society for Psychical Research

Sort Code: 800752      Account No: 00817842

Or by PayPal

We will confirm Payment then send you a link. 

Most Haunted: 20 Years on TV

Derek Doran

Thursday the 15th of December

Since 2002 Most Haunted has enthralled, amused and bemused audiences all over the world. Derek Doran will be finding out what it’s really about by taking part and telling us all about it!

This Presentation will be free to Members on Zoom. Members will be sent a link by email. 

Non-Members contact us: theSSPRsecretary@gmail.com

Link to Online Presentation: £5

Then Pay by e-banking or BACS:      SSPR BANK ACCOUNT
Bank of Scotland         

Account Name: Scottish Society for Psychical Research

Sort Code: 800752      Account No: 00817842

Or by PayPal

We will confirm Payment then send you a link. 

The SSPR Annual General Meeting

followed by a Cases Review

Thursday the 19th of January 2023

 

The Scottish Society for Psychical Research is a membership-funded registered charity and is run by a group of trustees answerable to their membership. This AGM is an opportunity for members to have their say, table amendments to the constitution (to be voted on) and discuss the business of the society. Our most recent annual report will be available and our finances will be scrutinised. All members are encouraged to attend.

The AGM is open to the public and visitors are welcome to attend ~ but are reminded that they can’t vote!

After the business part of our AGM we will review the spontaneous cases (anomalous experience/paranormal phenomena) and members will have the opportunity to discuss recent and on-going cases with the Case Coordinator and Investigators.

This Presentation will be free to Members on Zoom. Members will be sent a link by email. 

Non-Members contact us: theSSPRsecretary@gmail.com

Link to Online Presentation: £5

Then Pay by e-banking or BACS:      SSPR BANK ACCOUNT
Bank of Scotland         

Account Name: Scottish Society for Psychical Research

Sort Code: 800752      Account No: 00817842

Or by PayPal

We will confirm Payment then send you a link. 

Planet Of The Mystery Apes: A Global Look At The Unknown Primate Phenomenon

Scott Lyall

Thursday the 16th of February 2023

Most people are familiar with bigfoot and the yeti. These creatures remain the best known examples of the phenomenon of mysterious ape-like creature. However, similar creatures have been reported from all around the world. In this talk, I’ll look at reports of these creatures globally, from the Almasty of Central Asia to the Yowie of Australia and even reports of such creatures from the UK. Is this a zoological mystery, a cultural one or something stranger?

SJ Lyall lives and sells his labour in Edinburgh. He edits The Wulver’s Stane zine, which covers his interlocking interests of forteana, folklore, horror and hardcore punk. His work has also appeared in Wyrd Harvest Press’ Urban Wyrd collections and Bloodbath litzine.

This Presentation will be free to Members on Zoom. Members will be sent a link by email. 

Non-Members contact us: theSSPRsecretary@gmail.com

Link to Online Presentation: £5

Then Pay by e-banking or BACS:      SSPR BANK ACCOUNT
Bank of Scotland         

Account Name: Scottish Society for Psychical Research

Sort Code: 800752      Account No: 00817842

Or by PayPal

We will confirm Payment then send you a link. 

Bannockburn House: Scotland’s Most Haunted House?

Lynne and Garry Knight

Thursday the 16th of March 2023

Lynne and Garry Knight organise tours and vigils of Bannockburn House and will present the sum of witness testimony they have gathered over the years.

This Presentation will be free to Members on Zoom. Members will be sent a link by email. 

Non-Members contact us: theSSPRsecretary@gmail.com

Link to Online Presentation: £5

Then Pay by e-banking or BACS:      SSPR BANK ACCOUNT
Bank of Scotland         

Account Name: Scottish Society for Psychical Research

Sort Code: 800752      Account No: 00817842

Or by PayPal

We will confirm Payment then send you a link. 

Because of anticipated high numbers, we can take no more applications to join this event after 5.00pm on the afternoon of Thursday the 17th. Any emails / payments sent after this time may not be seen.

Photographs: Paranormal or not?

Michael McCann

Thursday the 20th of April 2023

Photographer Michael McCann will talk about his favourite paranormal photos: the ones he thinks are genuine, the ones he knows are not – and how we might tell the difference.

All are welcome. The SSPR holds no corporate view on the paranormal and we welcome believers, sceptics and critical thinkers alike. 

Presentation begins at 19:30 GMT (+1 BST) and will last up until 21:30 (including Q & A). 

This Presentation will be free to Members on Zoom. Members will be sent a link by email. 

Non-Members contact us: theSSPRsecretary@gmail.com

Link to Online Presentation: £5

Then Pay by e-banking or BACS:      SSPR BANK ACCOUNT
Bank of Scotland         

Account Name: Scottish Society for Psychical Research

Sort Code: 800752      Account No: 00817842

Or by PayPal

We will confirm Payment then send you a link. 

Email Links will be sent to Members and Non-Members by Email up to ONE HOUR Before Presentations Begin. 

The Archie E Roy Lecture

Tricia Robertson

In Conversation with Gordon Smith

Thursday the 18th of May 2023

Psychical Researcher, Author and Past SSPR President Tricia Robertson will, with Spiritualist Medium and Author Gordon Smith, discuss their years of research into the paranormal with Professor Archie Roy, focussing on mediumship and psychical research. Touching on all topics around mediumship and survival, this promises to be a fascinating and entertaining evening!

All are welcome. The SSPR holds no corporate view on the paranormal and we welcome believers, sceptics and critical thinkers alike.

Presentation begins at 19:30 GMT (+1 BST) and will last up until 21:30 (including Q & A).

Tricia was a tutor, with Professor Archie E Roy, for the Department of Adult and Continuing Education (DACE) at the University of Glasgow, providing a programme of lectures: “An In Depth Study of Psychical Research.”

She was also the co-author, with Professor Archie Roy, of three published papers on the study of information provided by mediums. These papers follow a five-year study of controlled experiments in conditions up to triple blind. The results of these studies are published in the JSPR April 2001, January 2004 and July 2004.

In addition to 40 years of experience in investigating spontaneous cases, and being a successful author (Things You Can Do When You’re Dead: True Accounts of After Death Communication, More Things You Can Do When You’re Dead: What Can You Truly Believe? & It’s Life and Death, but Not as You Know It: From the Unbelievable to the Bizarre) Tricia has appeared on Coast to Coast, three times Seek Reality, also three times, UK’s Radio City, USA Darkness Radio, Celtic Radio, Beyond 3D, Hayhouse Radio, Talk Radio and The unexplainedtv.com.

Gordon’s career spans over 3 decades and has been hailed by the UK’s media as “Britain’s most accurate medium”. Having written successful columns for British newspapers and leading magazines such as the Daily Record, the Sunday People, Best Magazine, Spirit & Destiny and Take A Break, there is no doubt that Gordon Smith is the ‘Real Deal’.

Internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading psychic mediums and admired by his peers, this Spiritual teacher, Public Figure and Author has an impressive 23 books published to-date. His last three titles were published by leading publishers Hodder & Stoughton under their Crown Imprint and all were published in both hardcopy and paperback. Translated into more than 20 different languages for countries all around the world and with total sales figures in excess of one million copies, Gordon has earned the reputation as being an authentic all-round expert in spiritual awareness and psychic studies.

All are welcome. The SSPR holds no corporate view on the paranormal and we welcome believers, sceptics and critical thinkers alike. 

Presentation begins at 19:30 GMT (+1 BST) and will last up until 21:30 (including Q & A). 

Members. This event will be free to attend, but please fill in this google poll so we know whether to keep you a seat or send you a Zoom link! If you can’t fill in a google form, then email us thesspr@gmail.com

Non-Members please follow this link and buy your tickets from Eventbrite!

Please note that for non-members there are two types of ticket: In person Event (for an actual seat in Somerset Place) or for a Zoom Link (for the livestream via the internet if you can’t be there in person!) Make sure you’re buying the right ticket!

Email Links can be sent to Members and Non-Members by Email up to ONE HOUR Before Presentations Begin. So, don’t panic!

Book Early to Avoid Disappointment!