November 28, 2001: Psychic Medium - James Van Praagh

Art Bell sits down with renowned psychic medium James Van Praagh, who shares his extraordinary journey from childhood visions to becoming one of the most recognized spirit communicators in the world. Van Praagh discusses his upcoming CBS mini-series starring Ted Danson, based on his first book, and his new publication "Heaven and Earth: Making the Psychic Connection."

The conversation moves through Van Praagh's earliest experiences seeing auras and spirit forms as a child, his skeptical period in early adulthood, and the pivotal reading where a medium told him he would become a messenger for the spirit world. He recounts a stunning demonstration where a deceased brother came through with specific details about a boat trailer wheel falling off on the freeway, leaving a skeptical audience member completely transformed. Art presses Van Praagh on how he addresses accusations of cold reading and fraud in his field.

Van Praagh offers his perspective on what happens after death, explaining that individuals create their own afterlife experience based on the thoughts and energy they cultivated during their lifetime. He connects his observations to the Global Consciousness Project data from September 11, noting he had sensed a coming war and great sorrow over a year before the attacks occurred.