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[chipcoffeyblog]

Looking for something fun and totally outside the (candy) box for you and your special someone to do for Valentine's Day? Something totally different and a little bit off-the-wall? Then keep reading! Most of us enjoy spooky TV shows and movies, right? We love that delicious adrenaline rush of being creeped out just a bit by thoughts of ghosts and the paranormal! If that sounds like you - and/or your special Valentine - then keep reading! Wouldn't it be big fun for you and your Valentine to spend a night (or weekend) at a haunted hotel? Just imagine what you might experience! And think of the bragging rights you'll have when recounting your ghostly adventures to family and friends! As part of my work as a psychic and medium, I have traveled extensively and stayed at some of the most interesting - and haunted - hotels in the United States. I like to stay at places that have a rich history, combined with stories about the spirits that reportedly roam throughout the properties. I have seen and heard otherworldly things that would send delicious little goose bumps up and down the spines of most people! Below is a list of some of the haunted hotels that I have enjoyed visiting and predict that you will enjoy visiting, too. New York City: The Jane Hotel - Some of the survivors of the sinking of the Titanic stayed in the building that is now the Jane Hotel in NYC's Greenwich Village. Guests report seeing ghostly apparitions and hearing the sound of sobbing . And the elevator often appears to have a mind of its own, traveling up at down between floors randomly. Guest rooms are inspired by luxury ship and train cabins and tend to be on the small side, many with shared baths. If you desire an en suite bathroom, choose to stay in one of the Captain's Cabins. Added bonus: You're in NYC! There is so much to see and do! Visit all the sites and see a Broadway show!

New York State - Catskills area: Burn Brae Mansion in Glen Spey, NY - Spectral apparitions and ghostly sounds are often heard by guests at this lovely bed and breakfast that was once the elaborate Victorian home of the widow of George Ross MacKenzie, third president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Other unexplained occurrences include doors opening and slamming shut; the sound of children playing; the sound of animals when no animals are present; and the sound of an organ playing, although there is no organ in the house. During my visit there, I distinctly smelled cookies baking in the downstairs area, but no one was baking cookies. Added bonus: The surrounding area is beautiful! Go for a hike, horseback riding, rafting, etc. Los Angeles, California: Millennium Biltmore Hotel - The ghost of Elizabeth Short is said to haunt the Biltmore. Ms. Short was last seen alive at the Biltmore shortly before her gruesome demise in 1947 and that still unsolved case has been dubbed "The Black Dahlia Murder." Soldiers who stayed in the building during and after World War II and young children are also said to roam around the hotel. Perhaps iconic stars from bygone Hollywood days pay post mortem visits to The Biltmore? Added bonus: Hollywood, with all its star studded sites, is close by...and so are California beaches! Atlanta, Georgia: Georgian Terrace - In December of 1939, this hotel hosted the "Gone With the Wind" Gala after the movie's premiere in downtown Atlanta. Clark Gable (and wife, Carole Lombard), Vivien Leigh (and future husband, Laurence Olivier) and other stars of the movie were in attendance. Some say that a gangland-style murder and other deaths have occurred here and there are frequent reports of ghostly activity occurring within the hotel. Added bonus: The haunted Fox Theatre is across the street from the hotel...and you're close to downtown ATL.   Austin, Texas Driskill Hotel - This lavish hotel, located in downtown Austin and completed in 1882, was built by Colonel Jesse Driskill, a cattleman who spent his entire fortune to build "the finest hotel south of St. Louis." He is said to haunt the hotel, along with a little girl who fell down the grand staircase while chasing her runaway ball and two brides who allegedly took their own lives in the bathtub of room 525, exactly 20 years apart. Added bonus: There are great places to eat, drink and be merry nearby. Do your part to help "Keep Austin Weird"! Denver, Colorado Brown Palace - One of the spirits that is said to haunt the Brown Palace is a young boy, dressed in Victorian era clothing, who has been seen rifling through the luggage of hotel guests. During one of my stays there, I returned to my room to discover that little intruder looking inside my backpack that was sitting on a chair! When we saw each other, we both gasped and he instantaneously vanished, leaving me startled and wide-eyed! Added bonus: The hella haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado is about an hour drive from downtown Denver. The stately hotel was the inspiration for author Stephen King's best selling novel, "The Shining," which he wrote after he and his wife were guests there. The hotel has been featured on numerous paranormal TV shows. Kansas City, Missouri area Belvoir Winery and Inn - This cozy and comfortable, yet quite elegant, 9 room bed and breakfast, with its 1,500 square feet bridal suite, is located in Liberty, Missouri on the site of a huge former Odd Fellows complex. The inn was once an orphanage, so the sights and sounds of children who once called this building their home are regularly seen and heard by Belvoir guests. Numerous television shows have filmed at the inn and on the property, including Kindred Spirits, Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters and American Pickers. Added bonus: Have a glass or two of Belvoir's wines or your favorite cocktail at the inn's lovely bar located on the main level. And visit George, the inn's "mascot," who just happens to be a real skeleton! New Hampshire Omni Mount Washington Hotel - Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, this property is simply spectacular! The most prominent spirit that is said to haunt the hotel is Princess Carolyn, former owner of the hotel, whose lovely suite is now available for guests to occupy. The hotel's dining room has a permanently set up table for Princess Carolyn in case she happens to stop in for lunch or dinner.  Added bonus: Sightings of the elusive Bigfoot have been reported in the area! Soak up the gorgeous scenery! Take the cog railway to the top of Mt. Washington. Go skiing on the nearby slopes during winter months. Boston, Massachusetts Omni Parker House Hotel - Rich in history and hauntings, the Parker house is the birthplace of Boston Cream Pie and Parker House Rolls! The Kennedy family, arguably America's "royal family," often visited this hotel. It is said that future president John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier at a table in the hotel's restaurant. At one time, civil rights activist Malcolm X, Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh and celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse were employees of the hotel. While staying there, I was confused when I encountered the spirit of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. My encounter finally made sense when the hotel's historian told me that Booth had frequently stayed at the hotel and had even practiced firing his gun nearby. Added bonus: Granary Burying Ground (cemetery), final resting place of numerous Revolutionary War patriots, including Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock, is nearby    Tampa, Florida area The Don Cesar - Affectionately known as "The Pink Palace" and located in St. Pete Beach, not far from Tampa on Florida's west coast, this hotel, like others on my list, is said to be haunted by its original owner. Wealthy New Englander Thomas Rowe built the hotel in 1925 in remembrance of his unrequited love for a lovely Spanish opera singer. The star crossed lovers are said to haunt "The Don," as are members of the New York Yankees baseball team, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, due to the fact members of the team once stayed at the hotel during spring training. Other reported spectral guests include gangster Al Capone and World War II era soldiers who may have stayed (and died) there while the building was being used as a convalescent hospital for aviators and pilots. Added bonus: The hotel has a lovely Gulf of Mexico beach.  San Francisco, California Queen Anne Hotel - A charming Victorian era boutique hotel located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Both the public areas and guests rooms are furnished in an eclectic style. The hotel was once an exclusive boarding school for young ladies, as well as a brothel that housed "ladies of the night." The headmistress of the girl's school, Miss Mary Lake, reportedly haunts the hotel, sometimes unpacking suitcases, tucking guests in at night and singing to them while they fall asleep. The most haunted room is said to be room 410, which was once Miss Mary Lake's office. Voodoo queen Mary Ellen Pleasant lived across the street from the hotel in the 1800's and it is thought that perhaps her spirit also roams the halls of the Queen Anne. Added bonus: Enjoy all that The Golden Gate City has to offer! Ride a cable car; eat some great seafood at a waterfront restaurant; visit Fisherman's Wharf and the spectacular Palace of Fine Arts, built for the 1915 World's Fair. Portland, Oregon The Benson - A world class luxury hotel that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built by Simon Benson and opening its doors in 1913, it is believed that Mr. Benson is the primary spirit who haunts the hotel. He is frequently seen on the grand staircase, in the hotel bar and dining room, and on the 7th, 9th and 12th floors of the hotel. A small and mischievous little boy, whom people assume is the ghost of one of Benson's sons, often appears and plays pranks on hotel guests. The ghost of a former porter who worked at The Benson is also sometimes seems, as well as the spectral images of a lady in white (doesn't every haunted property have a lady in white? LOL) and a lady in blue. Added bonus: Take a trip to see the nearby and spectacularly beautiful Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls! New Orleans, Louisiana Bourbon Orleans Hotel - Once the location of the Sisters of the Holy Family's convent, girl's school, medical ward and orphanage, the Bourbon Orleans is reportedly haunted by the spirits of those who resided there during that earlier time. A Confederate soldier has also been seen at the hotel, as well as a lonely ghost dancer, seen dancing solo in the hotel's ballroom. The 3rd and 6th floors are said to be some of the most haunted areas. Added bonus: Laissez les bon temps rouler and enjoy all of the delicious and decadent delights that The Big Easy readily serves up! Savannah, Georgia East Bay Inn - This stately old building was built in the mid-1800's and once housed the offices of cotton merchants, as well as warehouses for cotton. In the mid-1980's, the property opened as a charming inn with 28 guest rooms. The rooms are spacious, with wooden floors, exposed brick establishing walls and high ceilings. A friendly ghost named Charley, a former worker in the building, allegedly haunts the inn. It is claimed that he is heard walking the halls late and night and sometimes will jiggle the doorknobs. Witnesses have said that lights flicker and some of their personal belongings mysteriously disappear. Room 325, known as "Charley's Room," is said to be the most haunted. Added bonus: Is there really anyplace in Savannah that isn't haunted? Visit them all! Walk along River Street. Take a ride on the riverboat. Put on your walking shoes and visit Savannah's numerous squares. And don't miss a visit to the magnificently beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery. San Antonio, Texas The Menger Hotel - The land on which the Menger sits is part of the historic site of the Battle of the Alamo. It is said that between 32 and 45 ghosts haunt the Menger. (Who came up with that number?!?) Among those ghosts are Teddy Roosevelt; Sallie White, a former chambermaid at the hotel who was shot nearby by her common law husband and died on the hotel's 2nd floor; and Richard King, a cattle baron who often stayed at the Menger and died in his suite on the 3rd floor. If you are brave enough, you can stay in the King Ranch Suite where Richard King died and sleep in the same bed where he took his last breath! Added bonus: Visit The Alamo. Walk along the River Walk. Dine in some of San Antonio's fabulous eateries. San Diego, California (Coronado Island) Hotel del Coronado - The elegant hotel, located on Coronado Island, has a resident ghost named Kate Morgan. Kate was a guest at the hotel in 1892 and killed herself with a gun a few days after an ugly break-up with her male lover. Guests at the hotel have reported seeing Kate's ghost walking in the hallways and along the hotel's lovely beach. During my visits to the hotel, I always hope to encounter the spirit of Marilyn Monroe, who shot the film, "Some Like It Hot," on the property back in 1958. Added bonus: While in the San Diego area, pay a visit to the haunted Whaley House in Old Town San Diego, where you can also shop at some of the area's charming stores. Washington, DC Hay-Adams Hotel - Washington socialite Marian Adams, known by the nickname Clover, reportedly haunts the Hay-Adams. Clover was an amateur photographer who died after ingesting some of the potassium cyanide that she used while developing her photographs. Her death was ruled a suicide, but some believed that she had been murdered. The ghost of Clover Adams haunts the hotel's 4th floor. Maids have told stories of hearing a woman sobbing, calling out their names and asking "What do you want?" in unoccupied rooms. Some guests say that visits by Clover's spirit are accompanied by the scent of almonds. Potassium cyanide, which caused Clover's death, is extracted from almonds! Added bonus: Visit the many beautiful monuments in DC, as well as The Smithsonian and nearby Arlington Cemetery. 

[chipcoffeyblog]

This is an open letter to those who refer to being gay as a "sexual preference" or a choice.

I'm not really sure when I became gay, although I am pretty certain that it was at the exact moment when Mr. Sperm met Ms. Egg and Baby Chip was conceived. I remember knowing that I was somehow "different" as early as the age of three years old. Little did I know then how rough the road ahead would be.

My dad named me "Chip" before I was ever born. He did so because he wanted a son who was a "chip off the old block." That isn't who or what he got. My father didn't get a son who enjoyed fishing and working on cars and building things the way that he did. I was a bookish, sensitive child who frequently felt like I was a great disappointment to my parents.

As a young boy growing up, I got called vile names by my fellow students in school. I was harassed and bullied. I hated going to school.

When I was in my mid-twenties, I was gay bashed on a street in Upstate New York after leaving a gay bar. I can still feel the scars inside my mouth where the punches to my face landed.

I risked losing the love and support of my family and friends when I "came out" in my twenties. Even then, I continued to hide myself from most people out of fear and shame. What a miserable way that was to live!

I have spent countless hours -- wasted hours -- hating myself because I am gay...

...until I finally learned to love myself, just the way that I am. To love myself, just the way that God, who made me as I am, loves me. To be unashamed and unafraid of who I am, at my very core, and to hold my head up proudly.

Being gay is just a small facet of who I am, but society likes labels, so yes, I am Gay Chip.

I did not choose to be gay. I did not wake up one morning and say "I think I'll be gay from now on."

Being gay is my sexual IDENTITY, not my preference or my choice. Make no mistake about that!

Looking back, however, I ask myself, "If being gay was a choice or a preference, would you have chosen differently?" I can honestly and proudly say that I would NOT have chosen differently. Because being gay has helped to make me who and what I am today, to evolve into the man that I am. A man with many faults and flaws, but nonetheless, a good man, a kind man, a loving man.

And THAT is who I CHOOSE to be! That is my PREFERENCE!

[chipcoffeyblog]

I will be doing a FREE fan appreciation meet-and-greet in Elmira, New York on Thursday, June 16, 2016 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. I will have copies of my book, Growing Up Psychic, available for purchase, along with photos and my signature scarves. Drop by to say “hello” and have lunch. Hope to see you there!

[chipcoffeyblog]

Not surprisingly, Exorcism: Live stirred up a lot of controversy!

The television special, aired live on Destination America on October 30, 2015 from “The Exorcist House” in the St. Louis suburbs, was a major undertaking! The cast, crew and production staff numbered well over 100 people. And dozens of trailers lined the streets of the quiet Bel Nor community.

Almost every major media outlet, including television, newspapers and magazines, ran articles about the show. “Exorcism:LIVE” trended on most social media sites throughout the day/night that it aired. Those who watched either loved it or hated it...but they watched!

Did I expect controversy? Of course! What I did NOT expect were some of the negative comments made about the show -- and me -- by other “prominent” figures in the paranormal arena. People that I considered my friends. Of course they are entitled to their opinions, but publicly dissing one’s colleagues is both unprofessional and classless.

Even the Roman Catholic Church sounded off about the show, denouncing it for not utilizing clergy from its church, but REFUSING to have any association or affiliation with the proceedings! Despite the fact that they are often the “Go-To Guys” when it comes to performing exorcisms, in my opinion, it is quite arrogant of the RCC to think that they have a “monopoly” on performing them.

Consider this: The Christian Bible states the following: Luke 9:49 John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us." 50: But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you."

I have read both glowing and damning “reviews” of Exorcism: Live. The internet makes it easy for everyone to weigh in on things...to express their opinions...to become an armchair critic and/or tout themselves as “experts” on various topics. Here is my take-away from being a part of the production: we did something that has NEVER been done - a live television show at an infamous location that included an investigation, a seance and a Minor Rite of Exorcism. We strayed from the typical “ghost hunting” shows and dared to be original. A few days have passed since the show aired. How do I feel now? I feel damned proud to have been a part of Exorcism: Live! I am grateful to Destination America for having confidence in me and for including me in the production. I salute my fellow cast members, the production teams, the amazing crew members...EVERYONE involved in the show. Together, we etched out our little corner of television history! And THAT ain’t a bad thing! I elected to do the show in order to educate the public, in a BIG way, about the battle of good versus evil. Did I meet that goal? I hope so...because that battle is VERY REAL and should not be ignored!

[chipcoffeyblog]

I spent part of my childhood years in South Carolina. The old home in the attached photo, built in 1807, was located just outside of the city in which I lived. Although at that time (and now), it is a private home, the stunning property was once a tavern and rest stop for folks traveling through the area.

In the late 1960's, the local newspaper ran an article claiming that the house was haunted. One incident mentioned in the article was the story of an old piano. One summer day, the owners decided to get rid of an old piano that was located on the third floor. Several men managed to move the piano all the way to the lawn in front of the house, but they were hot and exhausted, so they went inside for a few minutes to cool off and have a cold beverage before loading the piano onto a pick-up truck.

Upon returning to the front yard, the men were flabbergasted to discover that the piano was gone! Vanished! Surely, no one could have stolen it, they reckoned. They had not left it unattended for very long. But where could it be? What could have become of the piano?

Bewildered, they went back into the house and were dumbfounded to discover that the piano had somehow found its way back to the third floor of the house!

If the story is, indeed, true, I defy any skeptic to explain how THAT might have occurred...

[chipcoffeyblog]

Several years ago, I did an episode of Paranormal State entitled The Firehouse, filmed at a fire station in New Jersey. Immediately upon arriving for a walk through, I picked up the energy of a deceased fireman, whom I correctly identified as being named Joe. I knew that he had ended his own life...and during the course of the investigation, I sensed that Joe was not simply "haunting" the firehouse, he was trying to prevent one of his fellow firefighters from also committing suicide.

This episode was one of the most emotionally impacting experiences I have had as a psychic and medium.

Today, on my Facebook fan page, I received the following comment on one of my posts:

"Hi Chip. my name is Sue. penn state paranormal and you came down to clementon fire house for a reading. it was my son who was the spirit you found. I just want to thank you sooooo much for finding out my son was trying to help a fellow fireman. i knew in my heart it was my Joey. its been a few years now since the show appeared. i watch the dvd on his birthday or whenever i need to feel close to him. thank you again."

I cried when I read Sue's comment. Rest in peace, Joey...^i^

[chipcoffeyblog]

I didn’t wind up on the cutting room floor! I just found out that I *am* included in the Smithsonian Channel TV show entitled My Million Dollar Invention: Shock & Awe that will air this Sunday, June 14 at 8pm ET. The segment is about Ouija Boards. My dear friends, Robert Murch, Norma, Michael and Carol are also in the episode. MANY THANKS to Murch for including me in this project.

[chipcoffeyblog]

Let’s talk about ghosts and spirits...

Please note that I NEVER try to convince or convert anyone to my ways of thinking or to my beliefs. No one should tell you or me what we should or should not believe...it's none of their business! Now that we've gotten THAT out of the way... Let's talk about ghosts and spirits. They are everywhere! All around us! Probably somewhere close to you right now! Everywhere is haunted. And haunted is not always a "bad" word...it simply means paranormally active. But first, let's rewind for a moment and discuss the difference between a ghost and a spirit. It must be noted here that the terms ghost and spirit are often used interchangeably, but there is, in fact, a difference. When we die, the essence of who we are -- the soul -- leaves the body. And each soul, then, has a choice to make: Do I continue the process of transitioning into spirit (crossing over) or do I remain here on the earth plane (third dimension)? Most souls, I believe, complete their transition into the afterlife. They feel that their work here on the earth plane is complete (at least for THIS incarnation) and therefore they move along. This type of entity is what I call a spirit. Some souls, however, do not transition, for a variety of reasons. The soul may feel it has unfinished business on the earth plane. Or that his or her family continues to need him or her. Or the soul may fear being judged harshly by God, Jesus, St. Peter, Allah, Buddha, etc. in the afterlife. Or it may refuse to accept the fact that it is "dead." Souls that do not complete their transition are what I refer to as ghosts. The vast majority of entities that I have communicated with or encountered have completed their transition into spirit. Mistakenly, many people believe that each and every entity that interacts with us here in the third dimension is an earthbound (or lost/trapped) soul, somehow in need of being helped to cross over. That is definitely NOT true. Please don't assume that every non-corporeal entity is in need of being helped to "find the light." Most of them don't need anyone here in the living world to go all "Jennifer Love Hewitt" and direct them to the afterlife! It is a fact, however, that many of the most noisy and active entities are ghosts, although spirits who have completed their transition into the afterlife are also quite capable of interacting with us here in the third dimension. Spiritual entities are not "encumbered" by bodies, so they are very mobile and can be anyplace at anytime. That being said, it is believed that many ghosts tend to "haunt" places that are familiar to them, places to which they had ties during their living years. Spirits, however, frequently interact with the living in many different places, even some that they never visited during their lifetimes. My own Mother showed up unexpectedly when I was visiting Australia a while ago...and Mother had never been to Australia. None of us wants to think that our loved ones are eternally tied to one location, especially the one at which they died, right? (FYI: they are not.)

Some believe that all spiritual entities who interact with the living are demonic tricksters. If this is what anyone wants to believe, fine and dandy. It is certainly NOT what I believe. I believe that our deceased loved ones and other benevolent or benign entities can and do connect with us periodically. Yes, we may sometimes encounter mischievous or "nasty” ghosts or even demonic entities, but those types of encounters are uncommon. Last but not least, please do not jump to the conclusion that all paranormal activity is malicious, malevolent, harmful or threatening. Most of it is NOT.

[chipcoffeyblog]

COFFEY WITH COFFEY?!? It could happen! Info and tickets for my Coffey Talk Spring 2015 Tour here: www.chipcoffeytour.com

[chipcoffeyblog]

Let’s talk about psychics...

There are so many misconceptions about psychics (and mediums) floating around out there! Many people simply do not understand or comprehend psychic abilities. Heck, I don't completely understand them, either! Psychic / intuitive abilities fall under the umbrella of the paranormal, which, simply put, means "cannot understand, cannot explain, but cannot deny."

What I do know is this: psychics don't know everything. We are only as "good" as the information that we intuitively receive. Sometimes, that information is clear and precise...sometimes it isn't...and sometimes, no information whatsoever is received. It is what it is.

You cannot even begin to imagine how many times people have asked me - and other psychics - to give them winning lottery numbers! I don't know why that isn't possible, but it isn't. If it was, I'd be living the high life in a huge castle being waited on by a very attentive staff! Not being able to provide winning lottery numbers - or ANY other information - does NOT disprove psychic ability. The inability of a psychic to provide certain information does NOT discredit other times when he or she does provide accurate, verifiable information!

I have often been asked, "if you are really psychic, why don't you solve murder cases or locate missing persons?" I have worked with law enforcement on those types of cases...but I will not speak about them publicly, especially to the media. Why? Because in most instances, the criminals who committed the crimes (or their accomplices) are still at large and if they think I can point a finger of guilt in their direction, I have essentially painted a bulls-eye on myself! It is matter of self-protection. I will occasionally work on unsolved crimes or missing persons cases, but only if requested to do so by immediate family members of the missing / deceased or by law enforcement.

I strive to provide the most accurate information possible to my clients, as do many other legitimate psychics. But no psychic is accurate 100% of the time. NOT ONE! Persons who consult psychics should know this and utilize the information provided by psychics, especially predictions, as strong probability, not always absolute fact. Because some people misunderstand this, most psychics have been advised by their attorneys to add the disclaimer "For entertainment purposes only" to their websites. None of us is fond of the disclaimer, but it does legally protect us from those who may mistakenly believe that psychic are always right, all of the time.

Some psychics are more gifted than others, And our abilities differ greatly. I am quite skilled at precognition and communicating with the dead. I am not overly skilled at seeing colored auras or communicating with animals. Choose your psychic or intuitive consultants wisely. NEVER allow any psychic or healer or other paranormal / spiritual practitioner to make you dependent on him or her! Some unscrupulous individuals will try to make you their "cash cow." Avoid them at all costs! Especially those who tell you that a spell or curse has been placed upon you and they can remove it for a hefty sum of money! Do not allow anyone to prey on your fears!

Quite often, I have been accused of "consorting with the devil" or "going against God" because of my work as a psychic and medium. That is utter nonsense! I am a firm believer in God and know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that my abilities are a gift from God. Without God, I am nothing! With God, the possibilities are limitless!

One last thing: Please don't ask me to take any "psychic challenge" to potentially win a huge sum of money. Those "challenges" are totally bogus and skewed so that no psychic could possibly win. Personally, I do not feel the "need" to prove ANYTHING to skeptics, mainly because they would never accept ANYTHING as "proof." I have "proven" myself thousands and thousands of times to my clients over the past 13 years, providing them with valuable information, spiritual guidance, comfort and healing. And THAT is "proof" enough to me.

[chipcoffeyblog]

I read THIS today here on the internet: "Religious conservatives have been encouraging activists and lawmakers to pledge to commit unspecified acts of civil disobedience if the court strikes down bans against same-sex marriage."

Let's call a spade a spade and NOT a shovel! "Religious conservatives" = fundamental / literalist Christians. Those "lovely" individuals who cherry pick the Bible and wrap their bigotry in pages from the Good Book.

News flash: Not all Americans are Christians and not every Christian believes that same gender marriage is "wrong." Marriage existed BEFORE Christianity. Couples who are NOT Christian get married. Non-religious couples have secular wedding ceremonies. Atheists get married. So, the argument that "marriage is a religious ceremony" is, quite simply, a steaming heap of BS! (It CAN be, but not for all couples.) 

Let’s be real here...same gender marriages won't bring about Armageddon, folks! LGBT couples have been getting married for quite a while now and Fox News hasn't reported any "fire and brimstone" incidents! Hetero couples can go about their lives as usual, continuing to procreate and populating the world with both straight and gay offspring.

We live in the USA and it is beyond time for EQUAL RIGHTS to truly exist for all of our citizens!

[chipcoffeyblog]

[chipcoffeyblog]

Politically Correct??? Incorrect???

I will confess to being a bit confused by political correctness. Perhaps it's because I am white and, according to some, have "white privilege." Or because I am quickly approaching the age at which old folks get kindly called "senior citizens." Or because I think that sometimes we "make mountains out of molehills."

I completely understand that "words have power" and that some words, to some people, are considered "offensive" and "hurtful." I have a pretty decent understanding of bigotry, prejudice and hate. But I just don't have a full understanding of the "Rules of Political Correctness."

Recently, while speaking with the media, actor Benedict Cumberbatch referred to black people as "colored"...or, more correctly, "coloured," given the fact that Cumberbatch is a Brit. He has since cried "mea culpa" and even called himself an "idiot" for uttering the term.

I was a child living in the segregated South during the 1950's and '60's. I remember when there were separate bathrooms and water fountains for whites and blacks. In most white eating establishments, blacks were not allowed to sit down to enjoy a meal. I did not attend school with a black student until moving to New York during fifth grade. The words "colored" and "negro" were, at the time, the "politically correct" terms to use when referring to black people. Thankfully, those days are long since past...for the most part.

But the "Cumberbatch kerfuffle" made me stop and think. Frequently, the term "persons of color" is used approvingly...yet the word "colored" is disallowed? In all seriousness, that just doesn't make sense to me. If someone or something is "of color," then he/she/it is "colored." If "white" is truly a color (some say it is not), then *I* am a "person of color" and, ergo, "colored." Right???

As a gay man, I have been called a plethora of ugly words by those whose intention was to hurt me with those words. BUT I have jokingly used some of those exact same words when bantering back-and-forth with my LGBT friends! The same can be said of black persons who often use the "N word" amongst themselves, yet cry foul when used by anyone who is not black. Is it OK for certain people to use certain words, but not OK for others to utter those same words?

The way that I see it is this: It is almost always the context in which words are used that defines whether or not they are "offensive." Some words that were once perfectly fine to use, words that were part of our common lexicon, have become verboten. And that is a GOOD thing, in most cases. Especially with words that are so egregious that even the most small-minded bigot knows that those words are just not OK to say.

A few years ago, a good friend of mine, while being interviewed, used a term that is widely considered to be offensive to the LGBT community. Many people were outraged, but I was not. And I even PUBLICLY stood by my friend, while others were ripping him to shreds. Why? Because I KNEW that my friend did not use the word as a slam against the LGBT community. You had better bet that I chastised him for using the word, but I was not willing to "crucify" him for doing so. My friend had NEVER given me -- a gay man -- any reason to suspect that he had "homophobic tendencies." He just made a "slip of the tongue"...and paid the price for doing so!

I'm relatively certain that Cumberbatch did not use the word "coloured" with malicious intent. He apologized -- or, more correctly, apologised, given the fact that Cumberbatch is a Brit -- so let's move on and not "make a mountain out of a molehill."

I have added "find list of politically incorrect words and terms" to my "To Do List." There might be some words and terms that I may elect to add or delete from my personal vocabulary. One term I will not stop using, however is, "I'll cut a bitch!" That being said, I a̶p̶o̶l̶o̶g̶i̶s̶e̶ apologize, in advance, to any bitches who may be offended by my use of term. :-)

[chipcoffeyblog]

Who REALLY Got "Stung"?

Last fall, a group of so called “skeptics” perpetuated what they have boastfully been referring to as a “sting” at two of my Coffey Talk events that were held in California. The intention of these individuals was to “expose me as a charlatan.”

According to them, they spent months planning their “sting operation” – creating fake personas and bogus Facebook pages and fabricating lies.

Well, the joke was on THEM! My very thorough and attentive staff and I immediately recognized certain members of these duplicitous groups, despite their feeble efforts to hoodwink us and blend in with other attendees at the events. They were so glaringly obvious that they stuck out like sore thumbs. It didn’t take a psychic to detect them.

But I am a psychic…and a medium…and a pretty smart guy. You see, my staff and I have done extensive research and uncovered a LOT of information about many “skeptics.” Why have we done this?

Because HONEST attendees at my events pay me their hard earned money for a fulfilling and enjoyable evening…and those HONEST attendees should not have their evenings ruined by those whose intention is to disrupt my events.

A few years ago, a prominent “skeptic” tried to attend one of my events using a fake admission ticket. My staff caught him and he was very unceremoniously removed from the premises. (Although we could have sought legal action against this individual, we elected not to do so…but in the future, we may not be so generous and considerate!)

Because of this situation, my staff, security personnel and I began to pay VERY CLOSE ATTENTION to any individuals who might try to infiltrate our events with less than honorable intentions. I can say with great confidence that we have “done our homework” and identified MANY such persons…and if they show up at my events, they will be dealt with, one way or another.

Back to the California events -- because we had identified this DISHONEST group of individuals, I decided to give them precisely what they paid for: fake readings! I could barely keep a straight face as I purposely chose several “skeptics” from the audience for readings. Their fake stories included a dead mother, a small child killed when struck by an automobile and a sister who died during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on 9-11. Now, I don’t know about you, but lying about the death of a parent or child or about a loved one who perished in a terrorist attack is pretty damned despicable to me!

These individuals have admitted that they were almost peeing in their pants with delight because they had “stung” me. They thought that they were cunning, but nothing could be further from the truth.

(I apologize to the HONEST people who attended these events for taking the time – probably 5-10 minutes – to “mess with” these skeptics.)

A few days after the events in California, these “skeptics” took to the internet, boasting and bragging about how they had “stung” me. I just sat back and watched them gloat, knowing full well that THEY were the ones who had really been “stung.”

You may wonder why I didn’t immediately address this matter publicly. It’s because there will always be those whose intent is to discredit or destroy others. Getting into “pissing contests” with those types of people is a futile endeavor. The more one attempts to defend, debate or confront, the more rabid these “skeptics” become.

Several months after the events in California, these “skeptics” are still boasting and gloating about their “sting operation.” And now they are hoping that the mainstream press will pick up on their story and confront me.

FYI: I would welcome speaking to the press about this matter, so bring it on! I will gladly speak openly and publicly, without hesitation.

So, here’s a heads up to any skeptics who intend to attend my events or schedule private readings in order to try to “sting” me: don’t waste your time and money. Because MANY of you have been identified and/or because I AM a psychic, the chances are pretty darned good that I will already be aware of your deceitful actions.

If you become loud or disruptive…or try to use a fake ticket…at one of my events, you will be removed from the premises. If you come to one of my events or schedule a private session hoping to receive a “fake reading,” I will gladly give you one.

You’ll never REALLY know who is being “stung,” now, will you? You’ll never REALLY know if I know who you are and what your intentions are. If anyone chooses to be dishonest with me, despite disliking it, I will play along.

I have done THOUSANDS of VALID readings since I began working as a professional psychic and medium almost 14 years ago. The vast majority of my clients have been most satisfied with the readings and services that I have provided to them. Anyone who chooses to avail him- or herself of my services with honesty and an open mind will receive the best possible reading that I can provide.

It is worth mentioning that most so called “skeptics” are, in truth, individuals who believe in nothing spiritual or paranormal and many are atheists. They often aggressively confront, even attack, those of us who do have spiritual, paranormal or faith-based beliefs. These individuals tend to find each other and form groups whose purpose, according to them, is to “promote critical and rational thinking,” but in reality, most of them just want to take a healthy crap all over those of us whose beliefs differ from theirs.

I state the following very clearly each and every time I speak in public: DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BELIEVE. IT IS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS.

One last thing: Many thanks to the skeptics who wasted their time and money attending my California events. I used the funds to purchase a new refrigerator…and it is way cool. (Get it?)

  Addendum: Before anyone tosses out the absurd claim that either my staff or I research the internet for information about attendees at my events or clients who receive private readings, please note that even the “skeptics” who attended my California events had to admit that I did not “regurgitate” ANY of the bogus information that they posted online.

Also, I do not have access to the list of attendees at any of my own events or those that are produced by other event promoters. And they NEVER share that info with me.

No one trolls the audiences prior to any event that I do, hoping to garner info that can be given to me. In truth, I generally nap until right before most of my shows, then get up, take a shower, get dressed and, moments later, walk onto the stage.

NONE of the events that I do have specifically assigned seating. I would have to be pretty damned good to be able to pick out specific people from dozens, even hundreds, of audience members!

I do not wear an earbud on stage.

[chipcoffeyblog]

I recently discovered that a former classmate -- someone I've known since second grade in 1961 -- un-friended me on Facebook. Like many of us have done with folks we once knew, he and I reconnected, after many years, via social media.

Perhaps he didn't like the fact that I am gay or psychic or sometimes post in support of LGBT causes. Who knows???

For a hot minute, I felt like I was back in school (elementary, junior high and high school) being taunted and even bullied for being "different." And then I tapped into the "Chip" that I am today: totally unashamed and unapologetic --- even PROUD of -- who and what I am TODAY!

I've said nothing to some of my former classmates who treated me badly years ago, yet are now my "friends" on Facebook. I've forgiven them for their unkind youthful behavior and tried to be the "bigger person." I've sincerely tried not to hold a grudge.

But now, I will say this: If anyone has a problem with who I am or what I do or WHATEVER, please do us both a favor and stay far, far away from me.

In conclusion, I want to thank my former classmate and ex-Facebook friend for un-friending me. You made me stop and think about how happy I am and how I refuse to allow anyone or anything to disrupt that happiness.

[chipcoffeyblog]

Look at this amazing photo of my maternal grandparents that my cousin, Dede, just sent to me! I had never seen the photo before and what a treasure it is! I would guess that it was taken around 1910. Oh, my goodness! They were so young and beautiful!

[chipcoffeyblog]