By Tim Binnall
The power of magic, haunted Civil War sites, and Martians in the American zeitgeist were among the fascinating topics explored this past week on Coast to Coast AM. Meanwhile, at the C2C website, we told you about a possible Lake Champlain Monster sighting, 'UFO pigeons' that sparked a panic in India, and a Danish zoo that asked people to donate their pets to feed its predatory animals. Check out our round-up of highlights from the past week ... In Coast You Missed It.
Haunted Civil War sites were in the spotlight on Wednesday night's program as paranormal researcher Courtney McInvale detailed an array of such spooky spots. One particularly powerful location, she said, is Chickamauga, Georgia, where the second bloodiest battle of the conflict was fought. She mused that the profound emotions experienced by those who fought there have seemingly imbued the land and air with an eerie energy that is palpable to visitors. Reflecting on the nature of hauntings, McInvale theorized that the presence of ghosts may be the result of a spirit yearning to be acknowledged and remembered by those who still reside in the realm of the living.
The legendary Lake Champlain Monster made headlines this past week when Nessie's American 'cousin' was possibly filmed by an astounded witness. The intriguing footage was captured by Vicky Tucker, who spotted an unusual disturbance out on the lake as she walked her dog along the shore. Taking a closer look, she was stunned to see a series of black humps that had broken the surface of the water and moved in a manner that seemed to suggest they were from a singular sizeable creature. Fortunately, Tucker managed to film some of the sighting with her cell phone and also snapped a few pictures of the puzzling anomaly that just might have been Champ.
For well over a century, America has been fascinated by Mars and the possibility that the Red Planet could be home to a yet-to-be-discovered civilization. On Tuesday night's program, science writer David Baron discussed the curious Martian craze of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, explaining that many reputable astronomers of the era believed that there were signs of life on the neighboring world. While this was later disproved, he noted that the concept stuck in the subconscious of society. This was particularly evident in 1938, Baron observed, when Orson Welles' legendary "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast sparked a panic among people who still believed that Martians existed.
This past week featured a pair of stories wherein otherwise mundane things were mistaken for out-of-this-world visitors. The first case occurred in India, where a pair of pranksters sparked a panic by strapping colored lights to pigeons and setting them loose over several communities. Many residents wondered if the illuminated birds were UFOs until police investigated the situation and quickly determined their terrestrial origin. Later in the week, a mystified motorist in Mexico captured footage of what he believed to be a shiny silvery disc atop a volcano. The man's video went viral on social media in the country until astute observers figured out that the 'UFO' was a sizeable telescope reflecting the sun.
Magic took center stage on Monday night's program as spiritual teacher and witch Sabrina Scott discussed the transformative and protective power that can be derived from the practice. Informed by a childhood immersed in spiritualism, she postulated that magic is not trickery or an illusion, as one might see on stage. On the contrary, she posited that it provides a way to enact genuine change by focusing intention and energy. Scott stressed that mastering magic is like learning a foreign language, where one must put in the work to truly become adept at it. During his appearance, she shared insights on fostering protection from negative energy, the power of prayer, and her work with Tarot.
By far the weirdest story of the week came by way of Denmark, where a zoo asked residents to donate their pets to feed its predatory animals. The eyebrow-raising request, posted on social media, explained that the facility was looking for chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs that could serve as sustenance for creatures that normally hunt such small critters in the wild. Those with visions of their precious pets being tossed into a literal lion's den to fend for themselves were assured that the donated animals would be "gently euthanized" before being provided to the predatory animals. As one might imagine, the program sparked considerable debate online, with some criticizing the program and others calling it commendable.
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