Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia & Western North Carolina
An Interview with Local Psychic Medium Jason Powell
Jason Powell is a self-styled local psychic medium who frequents 94.9, doing readings for callers and letting the rest of us know what it’s like to live with the knowledge that life does continue after death. His greatest gift, however, is helping people who’ve had loved ones pass away accept that they will one day see them again one day. He calls himself a grief councilor and he can be contacted through his website:
Do you believe that your gifts come from a higher power or that they are biological in origin?
First, I do not feel they are biological in origin. I do feel that everyone is given something that is unusual from most other people at birth. I can assure you that I did not grow up and aspire to be a medium or psychic, it just happened. So yes, I think it is something I was born with and it cannot be taught by any book out there.
When was the first time you realized you had psychic abilities, or have you always had them?
I have always had them since I was old enough to remember. I don't think it was until I was older that I realized what it was. I have always been interested in anything paranormal though, even as a child; ghosts, hauntings, etc. always fascinated me.
Were you shocked to learn others did not have the ability to communicate with the dead?
Not at all. I knew early on that it was something far from normal and did not talk about it much.
Did you feel very lonely growing up being the only one around who had your unique gift?
Not sure that it was because of my ability, but I was very introverted as a child: extremely bashful.
When did you discover others could do the same thing you could?
Honestly, I have yet to see anyone with the types of abilities I have. I do remember seeing George Anderson on TV as a child and that really opened my eyes to what I am able to do. I saw him doing the same thing that I was able to do.
Were you plagued by poltergeist-type activity as a child like some alleged physical mediums?
Yes, I have many, many experiences as a child of hauntings, voices, etc. So bad that I did not sleep by myself until I was 10 years old. When I was young though I don't think I realized exactly what was going on and was too afraid to tell my parents what was happening.
Family and Friends
Many mediums in the past have shared one common trait, and this is a very hard childhood. Is this true in your case, as well?
Hard emotionally, yes. My father and mother argued everyday of my life and it was physical as well. So very, very hard in that way.
Do you have any family members who have any psychic abilities whatsoever?
None that I know of know. My father always had an uncanny ability to tell where I had been and what I had been doing though, so if it were on any side I would say it was on his.
When did you parents first realize you were gifted with psychic abilities?
Probably not until they heard me on the radio. I knew they would not take it well at all.
Were your parents accepting of your gift?
Just within the last few years. I don't think they believed in it until they heard me on the radio. Telling people those types of things that you have never met is real hard to not believe, so they believe now.
Did any members of your family ostracize or denounce you because of your gifts?
Yes, I have a half brother and sister that often make jokes, but never in my presence of course.
What is the most common question you get from acquaintances and what do you usually tell them?
They think it would be "cool" to be able to do what I do. I often tell them it is more of a curse than a gift. They just do not see it that way though.
Do you receive precognitive impressions about friends and family?
Yes sometimes. Not everyday of course, but sometimes.
Other people with psychic gifts report a surprising lack of precognitive impressions and intuition when it comes to those closets to them. Do you also have problems with this?
No but that comes with your ability. You have to be able to separate yourself emotionally and I am able to do that.
Dogma
Are you still a practicing member or this belief system or have you developed different beliefs because of your gift?[Note: Jason was raised in the Baptist denomination.]
No, there are so many conflicting things that the church teaches than what I have been told by the souls of the other side that I cannot stomach to sit in a church and listen to their propaganda.
If you have ever had a spirit describe the afterlife, what is it they communicate? Do they still believe in Heaven and Hell?
They tell me there is no Hell. They have let me see parts of the other side, but I have not see enough to really give an in depth tour by any means.
They speak of 7 levels. The lower 2 being for people like murderers and rapist. Spirits loved ones on the higher levels can come down to see them, but they cannot go up.
Spirit Communication
How do spirits appear to you? Could they be mistaken for living people based on their appearances?
They are different for me. I know when they are spirits and when they are real people.
Have any spirits that have appeared to you showed up with injuries in an attempt to communicate a death or crisis?
Always, when I see them the first thing they show me is how they died.
When a spirit communicates with you, is it always in English? If not, can you translate?
It is always in a language I understand. If it is not, then it is a phrase or something that has a meaning to the person.
Do all spirits know that they are in fact spirits?
Yes.
Do spirits often wake you in the middle of the night?
Yes, used to be so bad I would go days without sleeping.
Do you have a rule that spirits are not to bother you during certain times? If so, when?
I am able to control my ability now. I can cut it off and on instantly. So, when I am not doing this for people, or I do not want to speak with the other side, I can just kind of cut it off. However, it is never really fully off if one needs to get through, they will.
How do you turn away a spirit when you have reason to? Are they not persistent?
If they really have something to tell me, there is no turning them away. I have never turned one away though; I feel it is my duty to listen.
Are there certain times where it is very hard to communicate with the deceased, such as when you are stressed?
Yes, I think stress plays a part in anything we do in life. If you are stressed out over something then it affects everything. I have never not been able to perform though, so it affects it, but does not shut it off.
Do police often call on you for help, or do you get information that you send to them unbidden?
I have often helped the police in other states. I never contact them with information, as I just feel weird about it. Most recently worked on the Johnnia Berry case.
Does negativity truly block psychic abilities?
Not at all, doesn't block mine. Go meet Elic at 94.9, he is the most negative person you will meet. [Note: This was said in good humor.]
Are there certain places you try to avoid, like hospitals and nursing homes? If so, is it because too many spirits are there?
I don't avoid any place in particular. However I did go to the [Johnson City Medical Center] one time in the lower level where all of the surgeries are and the Morgue. I had a very sick feeling in there, so I would try to avoid that.
Readings
Why do you charge people for “readings?”
The sessions are very hard on me physically. I have migraine headaches that are worsened when I do this as well. I provide a service like anyone else and those services cost money. A charge also limits the people who are just looking for a "palm reading" or something. What I do is grief support, so I want the people who are truly in need to come to me. [Note: This does not imply that Jason trivializes palm readers or any other kind of psychic.]
How do you know the information you are giving a client is accurate?
There is never a question for me, I know it is accurate.
Is it hard not to get emotionally involved with clients, especially when they cry in your presence?
Not at all, I have always been able to separate myself, just like it is built in, never had to try.
Has a client ever tried to become too involved in you and your life?
Yes, very often.
What is the most common question you get from a client and what do you tell them usually?
Most often question is, "What are my loved ones doing on the other side?” Honestly, it is hard to say unless they tell me, so that is what I tell them.
Psychic Abilities
Do you see auras and/or chakras?
Only if I try. Was never very interested in it.
Have you experienced any other physic phenomena, such as: astral travel/out-of-body experiences, precognition (knowing events before they happen), retrocognition (knowing things that have happened in the past), bilocation (being able to perceive far-off places), derma-optical perception (“seeing” colors by holding you hands over something), levitation, psychokinesis/telekinesis {moving objects with the mind), psychometry (“reading” objects), telepathy (mind-reading), etc? If so, how often do these gifts occur and when was the first time you noticed them?
Bilocation, precognition, out of body, psychometry have all occurred to me. I can control them all at will with the exceptions of bilocation and [out-of-body experiences]. Bilocation has only happened a couple of times in my life and I was not thinking of anything and had no control over it.
Have psychic investigators ever tested you or psychologists who wish to explain your unique gift?
No. I am very open to any testing. Just were never really anyone in the tri-cities that was interested enough in testing.
My Life As A Psychic Medium
Do you enter trances like trance-mediums or do you feel you are in a hypnotic-type state of mind when you receive impressions/communications?
Only if I am meditating. Which I do before every private session, lots of information comes in before the person ever sits down. However, I never meditate for the radio and do not need to.
What is your take on trance-mediums?[Note: A trance-medium is a person who slips into a trance and are completely unaware of the information they give to a sitter until they “wake up.” During this liminal state, a control/gatekeeper/guardian takes over and relays messages from beyond.]
I think they are just people who do not know how to separate their consciousness. They have to be in a very relaxed environment.
Do you have a spirit control/gatekeeper/guardian? If so, how many and what are their names.
No.
What is your take on physical mediums?[Note: A physical medium is a person who allegedly communicates with the dead through physical phenomena.]
They don't exist.
Have you ever experienced any physical phenomena in conjunction with a spirit communication that seems to have been a central even in many séances after the birth of Spiritualism; such as table tipping, levitating objects, apports (objects appearing out of thin air)?
No I think that is all setup. I have never ever seen anything like the old mediums claimed to have seen. I think it is all fake.
What is your take on séances?
Not necessary to communicate. I think it is more of a get together of people than anything.
Have you ever experienced a direct voice, or a voice that appears unprompted during a sitting with a client that seemingly comes from nowhere?
Don't think so. When I used to tape my phone sessions I have had voices come up on the tapes, more EVP than anything I believe.
How do you feel about Ouija Boards?
Fascinating. I was really interested in them as a child after seeing the movie "Witchboard". But hard to say because you have people involved. Someone could be moving the planchette. Do I think they work? Yes.
Are you capable of automatic writing/painting/drawing? [Note: This is the ability to sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil and receive spirit messages.]
Probably, but do not.
What are your beliefs on slate writing (spirit messages showing up on chalk boards during séances)?
Rubbish again. Parlor tricks.
Have you ever produced ectoplasm? If so, has it been visible to all people or just on camera?
Only if I drink too much. No seriously, that is ridiculous as well. [Note: This was said in good humor.]
Spiritualism
Many spiritualists have encountered what they call “obsessing spirits,” that are able to influence a living persons thoughts, behavior and eventually even their actions. Have you ever run across an obsessing spirit? If so, what is the story?
This falls along the lines of possession, which I know to not be true. There is no such thing as possession.
Have you ever come in contact with a spirit entity that has never been in human form? If so, what was it like and were you given any messages?
Yes, from what the other side tells me "spirit guides" are people who have lived on this earth and have passed on. What people call "Angels" have never lived on the earth and never will. They have always been a part of the other side.
Have you ever been in contact with what some channelers call a “group entity?” If so, what was its name and purpose for contacting you? [Note: A group entity is a collection of spirits that usually take on a fascinating name and always seem to be ancient in origin, thus hard to prove.]
Honestly that is a new one on me and I have never heard of it.
Some psychics, especially of Scot-Irish origin, have reported encounters with “mythological creatures.” Has this ever happened to you? If so, describe the situation and creature.
Never, but I don't discredit it. I think it is just symbolism and was probably a part of their bringing up being from that part of the country.
Skepticism
The majority of skeptics believe that mediums and psychics are using cold reading, using generalized statements that illicit a response that can be interpreted to obtain information. What is your reaction to this?
I agree with the skeptics. I think many mediums do that. If you will watch John Edward on his show he will say something like this:
"I have a man here who claims to be like a father to you, has your father passed on?"
Then 5 minutes later he will say.
"They are telling me that dad's dad has passed on and is there."
Well if they are telling him that, then why did he have to ask if the father was passed on to begin with? It is subtle things like that that most people do not catch on to, but I do.
Is the show "Medium" an accurate pretrial of life as a psychic medium?
Not at all. If it were just so easy as it is in television.
Paranormal Investigation
What is your opinion on ghosts/earth-bound spirits? Are they spirits or just residual energy?
No spirit is earthbound. They are here because they want to be. They either have a physical place they want to be in or something else. They can move on anytime they want. I see "ghost hunters" and other “psychics" telling them to move on to the other side, I laugh every time I see that. They will move on when they are ready.
How do you feel about “ghost hunters?”
I think it is very interesting. People have questions and fascinations. I support it if it is done right and people don't report "orbs" and stuff like that. Every piece of dust floating is not an orb.
If you to give advise to ghost hunters, what would you tell them?
Don't press it. If the spirits want to communicate or show you something, they will. Many places that are supposed to be haunted are not. So hauntings are not that normal.
In your opinion, what is the best way to “clean” a genuinely haunted house?
A lot of places I have seen are filled with negative energy. If you cannot change that environment in the house, there is no cleaning it.
As a child, who was the most persistent and influential spirit that communicated with you?
I always saw a lady in purple. So much so that in Kindergarten my parents were called in because I always colored people's faces purple. It was not until later that I learned this was St. Philomena, a Catholic saint, even though I was raised Baptist. [Note: St. Philomena is the patron saint of children.]
Did any of the spirits who communicated with you or appeared to you frighten you?
Early on when I was young they always frightened me except St. Philomena.
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