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Snow showersMagazine
Derek reaches for his spiritual goals
by Conrad Astley18/ 8/2005
MOST Haunted has built up a strong following of fans who know
they can depend on it for rollicking good fun.
With a new series out in September, the Living TV show has become
famous for the infectious screaming of Yvette Fielding and the
crew, shaky camera work in dingy basements, and - although they
have never captured a ghost on film - the appearance of mysterious
orbs of light.
But according to medium Derek Acorah, propelled to fame by the
show, there is a more serious side to it - letting people who have
had paranormal or psychic experiences realise they are not
alone.
"The feedback we've been getting is that it's almost like they're
coming out after years of having these experiences and keeping it
to themselves, for fear of ridicule," he said.
"They don't have to live in fear of it any more, they've realised
it's not just their imagination and they're not crazy. We get
hundreds of e-mails a week about people telling us about their
experiences."
Derek Acorah will visit Manchester to sign copies of the companion
book to the new series, giving information about exactly what
ghosts look like, what mediums see - and just what those pesky orbs
are after all.
But his previous book The Psychic World of Derek Acorah became a
hit because of its message that anyone could become a medium.
It was all, the book claimed, a question of opening the third
eye.
Derek said: "The old school wanted to be treated separately from
the rest of society but the fact is everyone has got it. I want
people to see that spiritual fulfilment that's their
birthright.
"I do a lot of stage shows and about half the audience stay behind,
talking about how they're living a more enriched life, and they're
going to work happier.
"With all the responsibility that comes with being psychic, there's
a big payment at the end."
Derek's own introduction to the world of mediumship came early in
life, when he had his first psychic experience in his grandmother's
Bootle home.
She would later explain he had inherited her skills and introduce
him to his spiritual guide Sam, who would help him communicate with
the spirit world.
But his powers were more a curse than a blessing while he was
growing up.
He recalls one time at school when he asked a teacher whether his
wife had blonde hair, before giving him a name.
The teacher asked: "Are you psychic or something?"
He was probably quite stunned when the 11-year-old Derek said his
gran thought he was, but was even more shocked when the youngster
said there would be a letter waiting when he returned home.
The next day, Derek was called to the headmaster's office where he
was told there was indeed a letter - explaining the teacher's wife
had left him. Although the head threatened to throw him out of
school, he later backed down - but insisted the youngster didn't
take religious studies lessons.
He continued being dogged by these problems when he achieved his
boyhood dream of getting signed for Liverpool FC - and began
training under manager Bill Shankly.
He remembers asking his teammate - and future Anfield and Wolves
captain - Emlyn Hughes, whether he had a car.
The player said he didn't, but would be picking one up the
following day.
Derek immediately had an image of the player sitting next to a
wrecked car and told him to be careful driving it. The next day
Bill Shankly called Derek over, asking what he had been talking
about as the player had just crashed his car.
Shankly stormed "you're a footballer not a psychic" and ordered him
to keep his special abilities to himself.
Derek agreed to this, even though he continued having disturbingly
accurate visions about his teammates.
He later moved to Australia, where he played for another four
years, before a knee injury forced his return to England - making
him wonder what to do with the rest of his life.
Derek said he would fall into a "dream-state" where he felt called
to devote his life to the gift.
He took just one advert out in the Liverpool Echo, which was all he
needed to build up a reputation.
He said: "I've not stopped since. I've been more satisfied helping
people over the years than by playing football.
"When I was a kid all I wanted to do was play football, but I've
been doing this work longer than I was playing football for, and
it's still as fascinating as ever."
Of course, there are still plenty of sceptics out there who try to
talk him down, but Derek says this does not concern him.
He said: "It used to affect me, but as I've come forward over the
years it doesn't worry me any more.
"I say to them maybe you're not yet ready to accept it, I respect
your way of thinking but don't try to undermine what I do. The
sceptics just fire us up more, to try to disprove them."
Derek Acorah will visit Waterstone's Deansgate at 12.30
today (Friday).
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