Dear Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI),
I am a paranormal claimant investigating my experience of medical perceptions. When I look at people I perceive images that depict internal tissue and organs. That in itself is not of interest, since I already have other forms of synesthesia. I am investigating the perceptions since I have experienced interesting cases of correlation between the perceptions and with the actual health of people. Obviously many of those cases could be explained as unintentional cold reading of external symptoms, but some of the things I have accurately perceived should not be accessible to ordinary senses of perception and possibly not even to someone who were a skilled cold reader.
I am investigating the medical perceptions to determine whether I am in fact accurately describing health information that should not be accessible to the senses of perception. To form my perceptions I look at a person and feel what I call a "vibrational pattern" across the person, and it translates on its own into corresponding images. I use no interaction with the person such as speaking or touching, and I use no materials, prior knowledge or feedback. I do not share these perceptions with people and I do not offer psychic readings.
I do not assume that my perceptions would depict reality, and I am prepared to falsify this paranormal claim. I do feel that I have no explanation to some of my past experiences of accurate perceptions, and I believe that as the claimant I am unable to test myself and that is why I need to involve independent skeptics in my investigation.
I contacted the Independent Investigations Group IIG West two years ago about having a test but it was only recently after I had studied my claim that I was able to narrow down my claim to one specific type of health information that would work well with both me and the test. And I have decided to test my paranormal claim of medical perceptions on detecting whether a person has one or both kidneys.
The IIG and I are still in protocol discussions. I live in North Carolina and the IIG are in California and they have recommended that I try to arrange some preliminary testing so that I am better prepared for our test and for the outcome of our test, and I admit that a preliminary test would also offer me a chance to practice before the official test. I have contacted the local Forsyth Area Critical Thinkers (FACT) Skeptics Group, and the Southern Skeptical Society, and have even gone so far as to contact the Rhine Research Center in hopes of arranging some form of preliminary test. I am still waiting for their replies.
I would now like to ask whether the CSI has the resources and willingness to arrange a preliminary test of my claim of kidney detection with me. In 2004 the CSI performed a test of Natasha Demkina. Her claims were similar to mine, however the test protocol I have in mind is already better than hers was. I would only get to see the back of the subject, and the subject is wearing a shirt. Head, neck, shoulders, arms, and from hips and down are screened off. Meanwhile Ms. Demkina's test had obvious flaws. Some of the ailments she was asked to identify could have been detected by carefully watching for external clues. Meanwhile I fail to see what clues a person's clothed back could reveal as to the number of kidneys they have.
Although not flawless, Ms. Demkina's test succeeded in falsifying her claim and I believe that my preliminary test would also not need to be perfect in design. If I were to pass a preliminary test it would by no means provide evidence in favor of the claim but only warrant further testing. And if I fail the test it falsifies the claim that I have of medical perceptions and would set a valuable example of the application of the scientific and skeptical method to unexplainable experiences.
Regardless of the outcome of my own test, having involved myself in skepticism, once my investigation has reached a conclusion, I intend to become a skeptical investigator of paranormal claims that are similar to mine. I am an undergraduate student majoring in both Chemistry and Physics and headed toward a career in Medical Physics. I have not chosen to experience perceptions of internal tissues and organs, but I have chosen to investigate them.
Please let me know if the CSI is interested in working with a preliminary test with me and if you have further questions. I am willing to assume all costs associated with the test and to travel to the test site.
Paranormal claimant
Anita Ikonen
www.visionfromfeeling.com
