A sense of frustration and a quote from Terry Pratchett inspired John Michael Thornton to create AmericanMetaphysics.org, the online meeting place that showcases psychics, healers, yoga, crystals and stones, spiritual movement and dance, and natural health and beauty products.

At the time it was January. John had recently moved from New York City back to his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, where he founded his natural soap and beauty company Blue Dragon Beauty. "I was trying to find local [psychic] fairs where I could vend Blue Dragon Beauty and I was having a hard time finding anything. There was no central online database and no local publication where I could look to find the local fairs," said John. "I was getting very frustrated and thinking: 'Someone ought to do something! Someone ought to make a website where all this stuff can be put together!'"

Then lightening struck. John remembered an idea he had once read in a book by Terry Pratchett: When people say "someone ought to do something" they never think "and that someone is ME."

John said he suddenly realized, "I could do that. I design websites. I have the resources. Maybe I should do something." On that day, AmericanMetaphysics.org was born.

Originally John planned to create a website dealing simply with the state of Ohio itself, calling it OhioMetaphysics.org. He knew that Ohio had a large population of people interested in metaphysics, such as paranormal experiences, and wanted to promote psychic fairs and businesses within driving distance of Youngstown. However, the more fairs John attended, the more people he met from Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and even Canada. In less than a month the website had enough clients that it had outgrown the name Ohio Metaphysics.

Soon John began to think of American Metaphysics -- with it's new expanded focus -- as more than just a database, but as a meeting place too. "The state of Ohio has as much population as New York City or Buffalo but far, far away. If you’re in New York you have a few MILLION people to talk to within a half hour subway ride. If you’re in Ohio and you meet someone online, but you’re in Youngstown and they're in Columbus, you aren’t going to meet up at the coffee house tonight," he explained.

"So if you want to get together and talk with people about past lives or UFOs or Bigfoot, you might not have 50 people within an easy driving range. But there are still those people out there who want to meet up." By using AmericanMetaphysics.org, John said, people "can still meet up, in a way, without having to be quite so close."

"So in this instance the Internet IS the half hour subway ride."

Building a library, from Alaska to Chile

John sees his webmaster job as being about creating potential space where metaphysical ideas can live. And not just his own ideas, he explained. He wanted to create a website where he could meet people with similar interests, but also people with unique interests that he himself could learn from. "We’re looking for more people to help us fill that space, fill that potential. Fill the library full of books."

American Metaphysics already has a member who writes about the Akashic Record, as well as someone very interested and knowledgeable about crystals and stones, and information on healing. John would like to add to the mix Bigfoot hunters, ghost-hunting societies, the Art Bell Society, even people who have been abducted by UFOs. "I want to keep this [website] as open as possible."

John even wants to expand America Metaphysics across continents. "I’m calling the expanded umbrella AmericanMetaphysics.org and I truly mean that as North, Central, and South America. I’ll take listings everywhere from Alaska to Chile," he said.

"We are a growing community and we’re looking for more community involvement. The more people we get involved in this, the better it is going to be. My goal in starting this was for it to really be a community venture. I’m just trying to facilitate it."

FOR INFORMATION about becoming a member, please email John Michael Thornton at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.americanmetaphysics.org/join.htm.

ERIC HARPER is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Please send feedback to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . (c) 2006 Eric Thomas Harper.

{mos_fb_discuss:22}