Submerse yourself in a sea of paranormal exploration! Discover the various experimental methods the Aykroyd family conducted since 1905 in order to make contact with the realm of the dead...

     When one hears the name, “Aykroyd,” and the word, “ghost,” used in the same sentence, one would immediately associate that sentence with Dan Aykroyd; comedian, actor, screen-writer, self proclaimed paranormal enthusiast. With the success of films Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989), and short-lived TV series Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1996–2000), I could understand why one would make such an assumption. However, in this particular case, that immediate assumption…would be incorrect.

     What most people don’t know is that the inspiration for all of these supernatural projects stem from a long family history. Written by Peter H. Aykroyd (father of Dan Aykroyd), A History of Ghosts: The True Story of Séances, Mediums, Ghosts, and Ghostbusters, reveals and describes in great detail the origin of the Aykroyd dynasty. While most dynasties pride themselves in having a long and revered history in military, law-enforcement, or the culinary arts, the Aykroyds’ pride themselves in experimentation in psychic phenomenon. The bulk of these experimentations are documented in a total of 83 journals hand-written by Dr. Samuel A. Aykroyd; a dentist by profession, paranormal researcher in his leisure pursuit. These journals detailed the events that took place in an old secluded farmhouse. Conducted by the family medium Walter Ashurst, séances were a regular occurrence, and were witnessed, and later attended by, a very young Peter H. Aykroyd himself. Try as they might, for the duration between the years 1905 through 1931, Dr. Aykroyd’s séance circle, never were able to materialize the “Holy Grail” of paranormal phenomenon; a full-body manifestation.

     As you read on, you begin to realize that Dr. Aykroyd’s theory in which why this never came into fruition, you begin to agree more and more. The author is very informative, and is clearly very knowledgeable in this subject of clairvoyant events. The book also enlightens the reader on things such as astral projection, electronic voice phenomenon, teleplasmic photography, automatic writing, and reincarnation. They even mention famous magician Ehrich Weiss (better known as Harry Houdini) and his theory in which he believed that most of the people that labeled themselves “mediums,” were in fact misleading the paying public. One such example and proof of Houdini’s presumptions came one day while shopping for stage props for an upcoming show. He discovered several mediums ordering the same supplies from the same magic shop he frequented. Kind of leaves you wondering how many communications with the dead were actually real and which here fabrications for economic self-gain.

     The content comes from the deepest part of a sound and scientific mind, but leaves an open door, (pun intended) for which what cannot be explained. Given the fact that there are terms and ideas in which most would not understand, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who seeks insight to the possibility of an afterlife, a history lesson in the actual documented origins of various supernatural events, or one who is attempting to broadening his or her perspective. An open mind and a thesaurus at hand not required, but recommended.

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