Phasmagorica Haunts Los Angeles With an Unforgettable Séance Experience
Los Angeles is abuzz with an unusual event that has captivated occult enthusiasts and the curious alike. Phasmagorica, a supernatural-themed séance experience, is taking the city by storm, created by BC Smith, a renowned magician and composer. This immersive event, running Thursday through Sunday, combines art installation, paranormal experiment, and interactive happening, leaving guests with chilling tales to tell.
BC Smith, a member of the Academy of Magical Arts and a regular at the Magic Castle, has crafted Phasmagorica to be an active participation for each guest. The event, priced at $110 per seat for 11 guests, is an 80-minute experience that blends magic, theater, and audience involvement. It began its sell-out run in late summer at the Heritage Square Museum before moving to the Petite Ermitage in mid-October, continuing through December.
Dr. Simon Faynboym, a psychiatrist, suggests that cues like lighting and sound in séances can induce people to perceive paranormal events due to confirmation bias and the power of suggestion. This is echoed in a 2003 study in the British Journal of Psychology, which found that one-third of participants in staged séances falsely reported a levitating table. However, guests at Phasmagorica report various phenomena, such as seeing shadows, smelling unusual scents, and feeling air currents, leaving them with eerie experiences they can't quite explain.
Smith compiles field notes of these experiences, including synchronicities around trigger objects and visions in scrying mirrors, adding to the intrigue of the event. His aim is not to deceive, but to create an immersive theatrical experience that challenges perceptions and leaves guests questioning what they've witnessed.
Phasmagorica, created by BC Smith, continues to draw crowds in Los Angeles, offering an unsettling yet intriguing experience that blurs the line between reality and illusion. Whether the phenomena are due to suggestion, confirmation bias, or something more, the event remains a hot topic among those seeking a paranormal encounter. With seats limited to 11 per session, Phasmagorica is an experience not to be missed for those brave enough to explore the unknown.
