R. Wolf Baldassarro February, 2012

Do We Need Parapsychology?

When one speaks about a topic which is controversial it is important to understand the concept of a paradigm, or underlying worldview. It can be thought of as a framework of beliefs which are so taken for granted that most people are not even aware they have made any assumptions. A paradigm helps us to make sense of the world around us. In terms of science, it not only determines what is true, but how truth itself is determined. There is an obvious “catch 22” to this. If one doesn’t recognize the underlying assumptions made with a paradigm, it has the potential to limit our perception of the world, what we can discover, and how we can determine that knowledge.

The old paradigm, which many have held since the days of Descartes, states that the subjective and objective worlds are completely distinct, with no overlap. Subjective is “here, in the head,” and objective is “there, out in the world.” The Cartesian paradigm presupposes that there are objective ways to define and measure the fixed external world, which the followers of this paradigm would say is the only world that matters.

Writer and philosopher Elbert Hubbard (1857-1915) eloquently quipped that “the supernatural is the natural, just not yet understood.”

The formal scientific study of paranormal phenomena began in 1882 with the foundation of the Society for Psychical Research in London, England. Early efforts attempted to dissociate psychical phenomena from the pop culture trend of Spiritualism and superstition, and to investigate mediums and their claims of evoking spirits or apparitions.

But 100 years later most people still think that paranormal research is either a group armed with night-vision tech stumbling around buildings in the dark in search of ghosts and fame, or simply the study of any subject that is weird or bizarre (i.e. Bigfoot and UFOs/aliens). Parapsychology is, and has always been, so much more than the former, and has nothing at all to do with the latter.

Paranormal research does NOT concern itself with UFOs, urban legends, vampires, witchcraft, or mythical creatures (a study known as cryptozoology). What parapsychology DOES study is the seemingly abnormal qualities of the physical universe in a scientific quest to find order and meaning in life. It is the ultimate exploration of the human condition and the discovery of all that the brain is capable of becoming; some of these concepts the legendary Carl Jung touched on with his theories of the collective unconscious and synchronicity.

A lot of people inappropriately use it as a synonym for “paranormal investigators,” such as when referencing the cast of Ghost Hunters or Paranormal Adventures; what’s more, parapsychologists have also been linked with “psychic” entertainers, magicians, and illusionists. Some self-proclaimed “psychic practitioners” even falsely claim to be parapsychologists, going so far as to wave about bogus doctoral credentials.

This is not to say that all psychics are that way. I am personally acquainted with a few very adept and talented psychics here in the Detroit area. Life, however, is rarely as glamorous as Hollywood portrays for them. At best they are ignored or written off as delusional; at worst they are harassed and fired from work. Often psychics are exploited by mainstream media for fluff pieces in October, and mocked by the same the other 11 months of the year.

There are the inevitable frauds, scammers, and crooks. This is an unfortunate truth, and a few bad apples have spoiled it for everyone else. It is inexcusable that these charlatans con money out of vulnerable and naïve people. This is why no respectable group ever charges for its services.

It should be noted that many parapsychologists take an empirical, data-oriented approach to psi phenomena. However, some researchers regard the current findings of parapsychology as having a wide variety of important implications about the spiritual, physical, and psychological nature of humankind.

Parapsychology is fascinating because of the implications it places on society, science, and how we understand the very nature of existence. Psi phenomena suggests that what science knows about the nature of the universe is incomplete; that the accepted limitations of human potential have been underestimated; that western assumptions and philosophical beliefs about the separation of mind and body may be incorrect; and that religious assumptions about the divine nature of miracles might have been misguided.

Physicists have an interest because of the proposition that we have a misunderstanding about space and time, and the transfer of energy and information.

Biologists are interested because psi implies the existence of non-physical methods of sensing the world.

Psychologists are interested in the theories regarding the nature of perception and memory.

Philosophers are interested because psi phenomena specifically address many age-old philosophical debates concerning the role of the mind in the physical world, and the nature of the objective vs. the subjective.

Theologians and the general public tend to be interested because personal psi experiences are often accompanied by feelings of profound, deep meaning.

A cornerstone of the current scientific worldview is that human consciousness is nothing more than a result of the functioning of brain, body, and nervous system. No matter how different the mind may seem from solid matter, it is generated solely by electrochemical functioning and so it is absolutely dependent on it. When the brain dies, so does consciousness.   From this perspective, claims of the survival of bodily death and the resulting apparitions are mere wishful thinking. Furthermore, the limits of material functioning automatically determine the limits of mental functioning, thus ESP and PK are impossible, given the establishment’s understanding of how the world works.

Still, psi phenomena have occurred in all cultures throughout history, and continue to occur; and some of the reported phenomena have been convincingly verified using scientific methods. Because psi seems to transcend the assumed limits of material functioning some interpret psi as supporting the idea that there is something more to the mind than just the firing of neurons and electrochemical reactions.

This “non-physical” aspect, which is not restricted by space or time, might survive bodily death. If so, there may be important truths contained in some spiritual ideas and practices.

The research in parapsychology may have implications for spiritual concepts but parapsychologists are not driven by some hidden spiritual agenda. Some critics of parapsychology seem to believe that all parapsychologists have hidden religious motives, and that they are really out to prove the existence of the soul. This argument is as absurd as claiming that all chemists have a secret agenda in alchemy, and the quest to attain riches by turning lead into gold.

Despite all its claims, there are just some things that mainstream science can’t explain about the universe. Parapsychology really acts as the center of scientific doctrine and theory, with lines leading to and from every branch of the other sciences. Together they form an intricate web of knowledge and understanding that is only limited by the egotistical whimsy of those who think they know all there is to know about the nature of the universe based on their blind obedience to one limited train of thought.

© 2012 R. Wolf Baldassarro/Deep Forest Productions

Tags: ghost, hunting, paranormal, parapsychology

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R. Wolf Baldassarro November, 2011

Science and Psychics- The Tech of Paranormal Research

Most of the intellectual rhetoric thrown back and forth between skeptics and parapsychologists concerns the types of tools used during investigations; sometimes even those within the field of psychical research will argue among themselves for or against certain techniques and tools.

Since the field is one which attempts to quantify and classify phenomena that are, by definition, cultural, religious, and fundamentally unknown, it is somewhat acceptable to utilize devices and techniques of a more “mystical” nature. Many times the use of arcane devices and psychics can help lead the team to an area of interest or heightened activity, and sometimes even actual contact with the netherworld.

Once these devices or techniques have pointed the way to the presence of activity, the seasoned researcher will switch to more scientific instruments to document any possible activity. Unfortunately, the truth is that at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what kind of personal experiences, thoughts, feelings, intuitions, or psychic imagery is collected, or by whom- if it can’t be verified or quantified through impartial scientific measurement and documentation, then it technically never happened and just becomes yet another account in the mythos of a location’s “ghost stories.”

Tools have been modified or adopted from various sciences and applications over the years to measure and analyze data in a paranormal investigation. Some devices are used specifically to debunk phenomena and establish clear natural causes; while others have the purpose of capturing evidence- such as voice and video recorders. EMF detectors have a unique function of being used both for the debunking and the signifying of paranormal activity.

However, regardless of how expensive or scientific the tools, they are only as scientific as the person using it; a team may boast about owning the most sophisticated thermometer available, but if members are using it as a barometer, the measurements are worthless; Just as using a calculator doesn’t make you a mathematician, using a Geiger counter doesn’t make you a scientist. In the wrong hands the most accurate measurement device is nothing more than an expensive toy.

All paranormal research groups have their own unique procedures and instruments of choice. Some are religiously-based and use age-old tools and techniques; some consider themselves ultra-modern and use only the most expensive and scientific of equipment. Most groups, however, fall somewhere in the middle; and the tools, techniques, and even the very members come from a vast array of backgrounds, philosophies, and religions. The make-up of these groups and the tools they use are contingent on finances, personal preference, and practicality.

We’re all familiar with EMF detectors, and I’ve gone over at length the ins and outs of video and audio equipment; but as I mentioned earlier, some of these tools are of a more arcane nature and we’ll focus on that this time around.

The use of dowsing rods for various functions goes back thousands of years. They have been used to find water in new settlements, material objects, fortune telling, and various religious applications. Essentially, a pair of L-shaped metal rods made of brass or lightweight metal are held loosely in each hand and will remain straight or static during normal conditions, but when in the presence of paranormal activity they will begin to move erratically or cross when directly over, near, or in direct contact with paranormal activity. Interestingly, during the Vietnam War, U.S. Marines even used dowsing to locate weapons and tunnels.

Traditionally, the divining rod was a Y-shaped branch from a tree or bush. Different cultures preferred the branches come from particular trees- hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States. Branches from willow or peach trees are also common. Both skeptics and many of dowsing’s supporters believe that dowsing apparatus have no special powers, but merely amplify unnoticeable movements of the hands resulting from the expectations of the dowser. This psychological phenomenon is known as the ideomotor effect and boils down to basic mind over matter. Your mind is signaling the muscles in your body to make subtle movements that are unnoticeable to the naked eye. Some supporters agree with this explanation, but insist that the dowser has sensitivity to the environment; other dowsers say their powers are paranormal.

The American Society of Dowsers admits that “the reasons the procedures work are entirely unknown.”

Research focusing on possible physical or geophysical explanations for dowsing has been conducted in recent years. For example, Russian geologists have made claims for the abilities of dowsers, which are difficult to account for in terms of the reception of normal sensory cues. Some authors suggest that these abilities may be explained by postulating human sensitivity to small magnetic field gradient changes. One study had even concluded that dowsers “respond” to a 60 Hz electromagnetic field, but this response does not occur if the kidney area or head are shielded.

Whatever the evidence for or against, dowsing will undoubtedly continue to be used in the course of investigations. Those that swear by their results will present evidence to support their claims, and skeptics will chuckle at the “superstitions of ages past.”

Another example of this type of tool is the pendulum. A pendulum is a small dowsing tool composed of a dangling crystal or metal plumb which is used to answer questions or find things through psychic energies. Answers are determined by the direction of movement to preset variables; the most common formation is back and forth for yes, circular for no. Pendulums are used in much the same way as dowsing rods and similar to function and result. Due to its design of both answering specific questions and ability to detect or be affected by paranormal activity, the pendulum can be considered a hybrid between the centuries-old dowsing rod and the Ouija Board of Spiritualist fame. Skeptics also point out the high probability of the ideomotor effect.

One device I have to mention, as it’s come up in conversation a lot lately, is called the Ovilus.

This odd gadget blends the psychic and the scientific into an all-in-one tool- an EMF, audio recorder, dowsing rod, and K-II that turns EMF into phonetic speech by translating the readings into numbers, and those numbers into words, sounding them out using text-to-speech algorithms via a vocabulary of 512 words.  Various modes include speech mode, using the environment to pick the words to say; phonetic mode, using the environment to create words phonetically; commutation mode, using speech mode and phonetic mode together, EMF Mode; yes/no mode, to ask questions and get yes or no answers (a digital Ouija?); level mode, to watch the energy change in the environment; and dowsing mode, to work like a pair of dowsing rods.  It is equipped with something called the Paranormal Puck.  The Puck is designed to aid in paranormal research and meant to be the “center” of investigation.  A place to gather, log, track, and maintain the data it watermarks to prevent tampering.

Every time I try to justify this thing, all I can picture is Dug and the other dogs from Disney’s Up!

Users note that it can be “randomly repetitious” at times by stating selected words for every question asked and every environment investigated.

The first question that comes to mind is how can the inventor of this device possibly test the results?  Whatever formula they use to equate EM energy with words would have to start as an arbitrary guess.  It would then need to be tested repeatedly to verify the results.

In the end, the most important thing to take away from this is that whatever tools or techniques you or your group are using, as long as it is used correctly and truthfully then happy hunting.

So, dear readers, what kind of experiences have you had using these types of tools? As always, the floor is now yours. Please share.

© 2011 R. Wolf Baldassarro/Deep Forest Productions

Tags: ghosts, hunting, paranormal, psychics, research, science

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Mike Gleason September, 2011

The Weiser Field Guide to Ghosts  by Raymond Buckland

© 2009

Weiser   ISBN:  978-1578634512

Paperback        192 pages

$14.95 (U.S.)

There are field guide and there are field guides.  Weiser is, apparently, planning to produce a series of field guides on a variety of topics.  This is the second one I have reviewed (see The Weiser Field Guide to Vampires previously).  My only comment on the series, so far, is that it is somewhat inconsistent.  Vampires didn’t really seem to fit the category (although it was technically well-written and interesting), whereas this volume is truer to the format.  Oh, it ranges a bit afield – monsters and vampires being technically beyond the scope of the book – but it concentrates on the various forms of ghosts and what may inspire their appearance.

The book is broken down loosely into types of ghosts, although there is a degree of overlap, as is to be expected.  There are personal anecdotes as well as “official” accounts (newspaper articles, etc.).  The types of ghosts run the gamut from Ancestral to Warning with numerous other divisions along the way.  Mr. Buckland does his best, and that is saying quite a bit, to show the differences between the various types and to explain the origins (both known and conjectured) of the spirits.

Given the current interest in “ghost hunting” (just check your local cable channels for numerous examples) it was inevitable that the author would include a section on practical ghost hunting.  In this chapter he helps you to understand the equipment which will help you in your searches as well as giving you a rough idea of the cost of such equipment.

Considering Mr. Buckland’s lengthy exposure to paranormal phenomena, and his ability to communicate information clearly and without condescension, it would be extremely difficult to do anything other than recommend this book to those interested in apparitions, ghosts, spirits, or whatever other term you would like to use to describe the apparent reappearance of those who have crossed over to the other side of the river Styx.

No doubt in my mind – if the topic of ghosts interests you and you want  more than just a collection of ghost stories, this is the book for you.

Tags: ghosts, hunting, paranormal, Raymond Buckland

• Interviews & Reviews

R. Wolf Baldassarro September, 2011

The Ghostly Side of Michigan State University

To most folks Michigan State University represents many things: a top-rated education, a sports Mecca, even a party school. But there’s another side of the hallowed college campus that few ever see; and of those who have, most wish they hadn’t.

Michigan may be the 26^th State to enter the Union, but it’s in the top 10 for the most haunted.

Stroll with me as I explore the ghostly side of Michigan State University.

The first stop on our tour takes us to Fairchild Auditorium, which is rumored to be haunted by a young boy wandering around the stage and seats. Some report the sound of a boy laughing and the bouncing of a ball; he is often accompanied by other unidentifiable noises coming from the stage area such as loud creaks when no one is on the stage.

The stories are popular and plentiful enough that “Haunted Auditorium” fundraisers have been held in the past with tours of the building and its purported paranormal history.

Next up, we have Holmes Hall, which just might have a permanent resident of unknown identity or origin on its sixth floor. Many students over the years have reported seeing a man entering the elevator, but he is never seen inside it, or anywhere else within the building.

A former student sent in an email account of Yakely-Gilchrist. In the summer of 1995, well after midnight, she awoke to the sound of ‘someone’ pounding on her door. Looking out under the door she could see no one standing in front of the door, yet the pounding continued. Two security staff were called and they could hear the racket. They ran down the hall to stand in front of her door watching it rattle in its frame, with the handle ratcheting back and forth. It stopped after about five minutes.

Residents of Mason hall tell tales of the Oak Room, where a figure is often seen sitting in a chair but then gone upon second glance.

The campus green area by Beaumont Tower is known for images of couples in old-fashioned dress holding hands and walking slowly by on foggy mornings; and glimpses of a man in tails and a stovepipe hat on particularly dark nights.

Perhaps the most talked about incidents center on Mayo Hall.

The story goes that the ghost of Mary Mayo, for whom the building is named, may wander its halls; and the building is equipped with a secret fourth floor “Red Room” reportedly once used for devil worship.

Located on the college’s section known as “West Circle,” alongside other historical buildings, it is the oldest residential hall on campus and was built in 1931 as a standalone women’s dormitory.

Mayo had progressive ideas about women’s education which led to the first female professor of Domestic Economy and Household Science at the college. She fought for expanding the education of women and rallied for a women’s dormitory on campus until her death in 1903. Rumors spread that it was murder or suicide, which have helped elevate the spooky tale to legendary status, but the truth is she died of an illness. It should be noted that she never once set foot in the building that bears her name. So what, if any, ethereal connection she has to the building remains a mystery. (photo of Mary Mayo from the Michigan State University Archives)

No one has ever officially died in the house, but there is some merit to the stories of satanic rituals that took place on the fourth floor, but these have no connection to Mayo herself and the floor has been locked for years.

Many personal anecdotes, nevertheless, pepper the internet of alumni experiences in Mayo Hall including one from a sophomore who was told stories of various apparitions walking the halls and of the lobby piano that reportedly played itself, making her sheepish about sitting at its bench.

These were supported, though, by the student who reported the incident at Yakely-Gilchrist. She recounted a similar story of how she and a small group heard the piano playing a Back minuet when no one was in the room.

A resident once woke up in the middle of the night and the overhead lamp in her dorm room was on. Her roommate was asleep and the girl just assumed the other had forgotten to turn it off and went back to sleep.
When they got up the next morning for class, her roommate asked if the other had gotten up during the night, to which she responded in the negative.
She said that she woke up in the middle of the night and the light was on and the door was unlocked. Her roommate affirmed that she’d turned it off because she couldn’t sleep with the lights on.

Whatever the truth of these reports may be, one thing is certain- Michigan State University has a rich and vibrant history. Countless individuals have walked its grounds creating more memories than there are stars in the sky. Whether in a crowded lecture hall or alone in a dark library corner, its history is shaped by each new student. Its alumni know with fondness that they are part of its history; and be it figuratively or literally, the next time a chill goes down your spine as you cram for that big exam, you just might not be as alone with your studies as you might think.

If anyone has other stories from their time at Michigan State, please feel free to share them in the comments. Until then, happy hunting.

© 2011 R. Wolf Baldassarro/Deep Forest Productions

Tags: ghost, hunting, michigan state university, paranormal

• Articles

Mamie M. June, 2011

Haunting Profits

How much would you pay to experience a haunting?  Some may ask why anyone would want to expose themselves on purpose to spirits.  Others who are interested in ghost hunting feel this is a good way to start out in the field.  While there are tours and events at reportedly haunted locations all over the U.S and abroad, some want a more personal experience.  This is where “haunted” auction items come into play.

There are some famous stories of haunted items picked up at auctions, like “The haunted E-Bay painting” that I discussed in a previous article.  Some paranormal enthusiast may be familiar with Harold who is believed to be one of the first “haunted” dolls sold online.  Harold was described as being very active, moving on its own and voices were heard coming from the doll.  Harold was bought by a man who intended on using the doll as practice for restoration but he had what seemed to be several incidents of “bad luck” once the doll was in his possession.  He decided to get another doll for restoration and put Harold back up for auction.  There is an even more bizarre story of a lady who bought a “cursed voodoo doll” online.  She ignored the warnings to not take the doll out of its packaging and put it up for display.  Once the doll attacked her and she tried to destroy it but nothing worked.  She tried to ship the doll back but it always came right back to her doorstep.

Since coming across these stories it seems there are now hundreds if not more objects up at online auctions with claims of being haunted.  If you are planning on looking for such a thing to start out in paranormal investigation, here are a few things to keep in mind.

The choice in words that are used when describing the object is crucial.  I have seen stones or jewels up for auction with claims that it is haunted or possessed by Wiccan or Pagan magic.  Keep In mind items like these are “charged” during certain spells or rituals.  Energy used in magic and spirit energy though seemingly similar is different.   Always read the description carefully, sometimes there are inconsistencies such as time frame and type of activity.  Sometimes people get caught up in telling a good story over actual facts.

Observe the photos carefully.  I have seen so many dolls up for auction that have obviously been tampered with to look scary.  Paint splotches that resemble blood or “strange symbols” drawn on the dolls clothing.  Also clowns and ventriloquist dummies are popular because they naturally have a “creepy” appearance to them.

Make sure you aren’t taken advantage of.  If an object is really causing terror in someone’s life, they will more than likely want to get rid of it at a reasonable price.  I have seen objects starting at nearly or over one thousand dollars.

Research as much as you can about what you’re buying.  The seller should be willing to answer questions about the object.  If you feel you don’t have enough information then move on.  There are objects with claims they were used in “dark rituals” or Voodoo ceremonies’, when in fact the seller is just using terms that are naturally not received well by society in order to hit the fear trigger.

Always keep in mind the power of suggestion is always possible.  If you read a long entry about an objects activity such as a doll moving on its own you will keep that in mind and may want to see the activity so much your mind can play tricks on you.  I am in no way saying there is no such thing as a haunted object, I have seen many, but go into being the new owner with an open mind.  Try to collect photo, video, or audio evidence to share.

The last warning I have is to consider what you’re bringing into your home.  Just because you are interested in having a haunted object doesn’t mean everyone in the home is just as enthusiastic.  True haunted objects may not always “perform” for everyone and someone who does not wish to be involved may be the recipient or witness of the activity.

Tags: cost, ghosts, hunting, paranormal, profit

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R. Wolf Baldassarro May, 2011

Crisis Apparitions

Have you ever seen a person or animal that was there one minute and gone the next? Then you were probably witness to a Lepke, a very unique and interesting type of spiritual manifestation. These sudden events have the appearance of a solid, living person, and may even converse with someone, then just as suddenly, vanish. Such apparitions are most often reported to have been encountered within, or immediately outside of, cemeteries, churches, and hospitals.

These are also commonly referred to in parapsychology as Crisis Apparitions, which we will focus on this time around.

An apparition’s scientific definition is the projection or manifestation of a quasi-physical entity. There exists several different types of apparitions, though; the names and characteristics of which vary between cultures. For instance, the French call them Phantoms; here in America we call them all “ghosts.”

Some other common types include Marion apparitions, which are materializations of what is believed to be the Virgin Mary; a Radiant Child is an apparition in which one sees a youthful figure glowing or surrounded by a bright aura; Shadowmen appear as a flickering black/smoky gray mass; and their misty, white counterparts are known as Vapor Apparitions.

For obvious scientific reasons, the best forms to encounter are Collective Apparitions, which are seen by more than one person. These are actually rather rare, and there are several theories surrounding their origins. The most popular theory is that if a large enough group witnesses the same event then it must be a valid example of paranormal activity, right?

Crisis Apparitions are a very interesting phenomenon in that rather than being the intelligent haunting by a spirit long after they have left this world, they are seen either immediately before or after the moment of death and serve as a final farewell, or warning of what is to come, to loved ones.

This is similar to a wraith, but those are legendary ghosts that bring misfortune or death to anyone who sees them.

My family has long experienced psychic events, and stories of crisis apparitions are duly noted.

My mother had related a story from her childhood when the family used to spend time down in Florida. In the middle of the night my grandfather had a dream that his brother came to him calling his name. He awoke in a panic and scribbled the time on the wall. Mind you, this was back in the days when there still wasn’t a phone in every house. The neighbors way down the street did have a phone and called the next day to say that his brother had died during the night. The time they told him was the exact time he had written on the wall.

If that didn’t bring a chill to your arms, perhaps this heartfelt tale might raise an eyebrow.

One of our investigators at Deep Forest Paranormal Society gives a personal account of another variation of the Crisis Apparition phenomenon:

About 15 years ago her son was dying in a Chicago hospital. Sitting in the room were her mother, herself, and another parent. The doctors had done all that they could do and the mood was heartbreaking, to say the least. Around 3am all of them witnessed a very strong scent that she had recognized as her grandmother, who had passed away three months prior to this incident. When April looked to her son’s bed, she saw an image of her grandmother standing on the left side of him. By 7:30 he had passed on from this world. Could she have been warning that the time had come? Or was she there waiting for him?

I’d like to hear your personal experiences with Crisis Apparitions. Please feel free to tell about them in the comments below. As always, keep exploring, and see you all next month.

Tags: apparitions, ghosts, hunting

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R. Wolf Baldassarro February, 2011

Springtime Calls Ghost Hunters Back Outdoors

Ridgelawn Cemetery

Well, we had a big winter thaw here in Michigan.  Two feet of snow melted and the temp even hit the 50s.  The blanket of winter draws back to reveal the grass, freshly green from its long slumber.  The birds return and the scents of new life are in the air.

It was short-lived, though.  As I finish this article, a winter storm- complete with snow, freezing rain, and sleet descends upon the area.  But that brief taste of springtime brings with it thoughts of sunny days and fun in the great outdoors.   If you’re a ghost hunter, thoughts this time of year turn to revisiting favorite cemeteries and once again traveling into the unknown and investigating buildings and places.

I love the poetic duality of cemeteries; from the serene landscapes to the ornate markers; from the sadness of a newly-dug site of a young person to the historic intrigue of a cracked and faded headstone of those long gone and forgotten to the pages of time.

I’ve stated time and again that if you’re one of those groups that think you’re serious and professional paranormal investigators, but all your troupe does is sneak into cemeteries in the dead of night to snap a few pictures and laugh and have a good time, then you’re not only fools, but trespassers.  There’s a big reason why laws in recent years have been established closing off these otherwise public places during the night.  This was made all too clear in a recent news segment here in the Detroit area.

Vandals caused extensive damage to Detroit’s historic Woodmere Cemetery this month.  Rows of toppled headstones, smashed statues and headless angels replaced an otherwise tranquil setting.  110 headstones in all were pushed over, some destroyed beyond repair.  This is the third time vandals attacked Woodmere in the last six years.  Here’s a link to the video from the newscast: Vandals Strike Detroit’s Woodmere Cemetery

Vandal damage at Woodmere Cemetery

If you’re caught in a cemetery at night, no matter the reason, and you have no permission to be there, then you deserve to be charged with trespassing. ‘Nuff Said.

Now, I like to use cemeteries as a place to train new members; and even when I’m just out and about enjoying a nice day I’ll come in with nothing more than a camera and recorder, or maybe even an EMF meter.  I’ll try to get a few EVPs or pictures; most of the time I’ll use the weather to my advantage and snap off a library of gorgeous professional photographs; if a wandering spirit sees fit to make their presence known, all the better.  I’ve caught enough material in cemeteries over the years to make the experience not only enjoyable on a personal level but worthwhile on a scientific level.

Some claim that paranormal activity in cemeteries is impossible.  The reasons being that those interred there are long gone and any haunting will take place around the place of death, not where they were moved to a week or more after death; this being a long enough time for whatever spirit energy to cease being attached to the physical body.

Others disagree and claim that cemeteries are the most haunted spots around.  Much of the photographic “evidence” is the subject of ridicule from serious paranormal researchers because they were often taken at night, quickly, and generally under humid conditions including mist, ground fog, and even the condensation of the photographer’s own breath.  The time and steps needed to rule out these environmental x-factors are simply not taken into account.  Just because you’re not sweating doesn’t mean there isn’t humidity in the air. When the temperature and dew points are within 10 to 15 points of each other formation of ground fog is highly likely.

A dirty, abandoned cemetery is going to stir up a tremendous amount of dust and dirt.  Snap a flash and the resulting reflections will produce photographs that look like they were taken through a dirty car window.  These are NOT the souls of the citizens of the cemetery.  Nothing burns my biscuits more than being presented with picture after picture filled with these dust particles and the taker eagerly chimping away, “but look at all the spirits!”  Don’t waste my time or your own with orbs.

Aside from that little rant on orbs, cemeteries can be a great asset in many ways for researchers.  You can, of course, travel freely in them during the daylight hours, but if you want to conduct nighttime investigations you can do so legally with just a few phone calls.  Contact the church, organization, or municipality that presides over the daily care and maintenance of the cemetery and seek permission.  As always, be sincere and honest in your approach.  If you do get the go ahead, then contact the proper authorities, and inform the local law that you will be conducting a scientific experiment in the cemetery.  Get permission from caretakers IN WRITING and provide proof of that permission, along with the date, time, and a list of those group members that will be participating.  They may even be willing to direct traffic around the local roads during the experiment so as to help reduce contamination if at all possible.  It never hurts to just ask.  The worst case is they simply say no.  Thank them for their time and try for daylight hours.  The problem here is that the increased traffic and noise levels of daytime could potentially taint any data you collect.

As with any investigation, do your research.  Check local records for a history of the cemetery.  Most records will at the very least provide a list of who is buried here.  Also look for any local events that could have caused this location to be active.

Use the daylight hours to get a map or plot from the caretaker or sketch out your own, especially if there’s a particular area that interests you. You’ll want to have all the landmarks and topography of the locations planned in advance for a smooth and speedy investigation.

If you or your team are thinking of doing grave rubbings, check with the caretaker first.  Some very old, weather -worn headstones may be so far faded that even the light rubbing of a charcoal stick can cause further erosion.  And please, do NOT do what I saw in one local cemetery.  Someone had taken permanent markers or paint and lazily colored in the engraved letters on several headstones in order to make the etchings stand out.  Not only is this disrespectful but is legally considered vandalism.

If it’s damp, foggy, or raining, cancel and re-schedule for more favorable conditions.  Any material obtained under such conditions would be inadmissible as scientific data.  Besides, I sure wouldn’t want to be trekking around out in the rain and mud.

As always investigate in teams and designate a central command area and timetable.  A great thing to do that will not only garner you great respect from other groups, but the gratitude and endearment of the cemetery owner is to bring a trash bags to not only clean up after yourselves, but clear the landscape of other trash and debris.

Sometimes cemetery caretakers aren’t interested in your data or the results, but in either case send them a professional thank you letter for allowing you to investigate.  Check with them as to their wishes regarding any evidence you may have.  If you obtain overwhelming evidence it and make it public, it may entice those aforementioned less-respectful types to invade the cemetery, or invite vandals.  No one wants another Woodmere incident on their hands.

So as the sunny days of spring return, keep these things in mind.  Also, please, above all else respect yourselves, respect the sites, and respect the field.  Happy Hunting and see you next month.

Romeo Cemetery

Tags: ghosts, hunting, paranormal

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Mamie M. January, 2011

A visit to the Whaley House

This month I decided to take a trip to the Whaley House in San Diego, CA.  This location is known as the most haunted house in the United States.

This was not only the home of the Whaley family but it was also once a courthouse, the first commercial  theatre in San Diego, a granary, a ballroom, a classroom, a billiard hall, as well as Thomas Whaley’s own general store.  There were also several hangings on the property before the house was built.  This led to the first reports of a haunting by the Whaley family themselves.  They believed a man called “Yankee Jim’ James Robinson still remained in the home after being hung in 1852.  The Whaley’s youngest daughter occupied the home until 1954; she reported hearing heavy footsteps that she felt belonged to Yankee Jim as well as the windows opening on their own.

A few members of the Whaley family including Anna and Thomas Whaley are also believed to still remain in the home long after their passing.  Many guests have reported seeing them in the parlor as well as the spirit of a woman that is seen in the courtroom, and even the spirit of a dog that roams the hallway

This home has since been turned into a museum and guests are allowed to visit and take a self guided tour.  I could not resist this opportunity since I am fascinated with all things paranormal.

My visit to the Whaley house also held many examples of things that can interfere with paranormal research and photography.  Upon first arrival there was a definite “feeling” throughout the home.  We have all walked into an old house that just has a certain smell and feel throughout.  We were greeted by a pleasant older woman in period dress that urged us to take many pictures and stay “open” such as going with the sudden urge to snap a photo or linger in an area.

The first floor contains the courtroom, the general store, the parlor and the dining area.  You can walk about freely in these locations.  The wood floor creaks heavily under foot and voices of other quests are carried far so it was difficult to pick up any activity reported such as footsteps or whispers.

Heading upstairs will take you to the theatre, master bedroom, the children’s room and guest chambers.  The theatre is very quaint and you are allowed to sit and soak up the history, the bedrooms unfortunately are kept within glass barriers.  This is understandable in order to maintain the original furniture, linens, and photos but the reflection of the glass does make photography difficult. I have included two photos that were taken using a flash.  You can see the reflection of the flash on the glass can play tricks with light and may even appear “ghostly”.  I have also observed photos that were believed to contain phantom faces but really it is just a reflection in the glass barrier.

Just when I was getting slightly discouraged at the amount of contamination, which is anything that interferes with the ability to hear potential E.V.P’s or witness paranormal activity, I heard a little girl say “mommy lets go, this room creeps me out!”  I looked to see that she was standing at Thomas Whaley’s master bedroom.    I quickly went over, turned my flash off, and starting snapping pictures.  To my surprise and delight I began having camera trouble.  There is the belief that whenever a spirit is near they use whatever energy is around to manifest.  This may result in equipment failures.  My camera could not focus, my screen would freeze, there would be great delays in between my taking the picture and it actually showing up on my screen and my battery became very low.  I was very excited by this and remained in the house a little longer to hear another child express her distaste for that particular part of the house. Overall I was very pleased with my experience there.

If you are ever in Southern California I do recommend a trip to this beautiful museum.  This place is very rich in history aside from its paranormal reputation.

Tags: ghosts, hunting, paranormal

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Mamie M. December, 2010

Poltergeists

The word poltergeist comes from the German word poltern meaning rumble or noise and geist meaning ghost or spirit.  These noisy spirits are known to cause trouble. They are characterized by their ability to move stationary objects such as furniture. Some may report hearing knocking or scratching sounds. They have even been known to write notes and at times cause physical harm by hitting or slapping whoever occupies the “haunted” location.  There are rare reports of actually seeing the source of the poltergeist activity and there are two main theories of why and how this activity occurs.

The first theory is that it is a ghost that has such a high level of energy it is able to move objects, cause noises, and make themselves known.  The other theory is that this is an example of psychokinesis, or the ability to move objects generated by energy in the brain. This raises the debate if poltergeists are really a paranormal occurrence or not.  Below are two cases, one example of the activity being caused by a spirits high energy and another that discusses the high emotional state of a human as the source of the activity.

Case #1; Danny; Al Cobb from Savannah Georgia bought a vintage 1800’s bed as a present for his teenage son Jason.  After about three nights Jason reported feeling as if someone were leaning on the pillow, watching him and that he could feel a cold breath.  The next night he noticed a picture of his grandparents turned face down, Jason sat the photo upright and the next morning the photo was moved once again. Later in the day, after returning to the room Jason noticed several toys moved to the center of the bed. Finally his parents began to take notice. Al decided to ask if there was a ghost present to reveal its name and age. He then left a piece of lined paper and a crayon on the bed.  The family returned several minutes later to find written on the paper in a child’s script the word Danny and the number seven.  Al encouraged the communication with the spirit and Danny continued to leave notes. Danny explained that his mother had passed away in that bed in 1899 and he wanted to stay there with it; he also left a note warning “no one sleep in bed”.  Jason had moved out of the room but stretched out on the bed one day possibly to test that warning, and upon getting up a piece of wall décor flew across the room barely missing him.  Yet a spirit seemed to reveal itself as the source of the occurrences around the bed, a parapsychologist that studied the case argues it was the electromagnetic energy of the wall that the bed was moved to that caused a heightened psychic ability in Jason

Case  #2; Macomb; In 1948 in Macomb Illinois a teenage girl named Wanet Macneill was forced to move with her father to her uncle’s farm  after her parent’s bitter divorce.  Wanet was very emotionally disturbed and her emotions ran high.  Soon small fires began erupting all over the farm.  They began as small brown spots on the wallpaper and would soon burst into flames. This would happen day after day and the family began to keep pans and buckets around the house so water was readily available to extinguish the fires.  Neighbors would come to assist and witness the phenomena.  The fire chief was even called and decided to strip all of the wallpaper.  Soon they witnessed the brown spots appear on the bare wall and burst into flames.  The fires began to ignite in several other rooms as well as the porch. In one week over 200 fires broke out and finally claimed the entire house.  Other areas of the farm including the barn began to suffer the same fate.   The fire marshal questioned Wanet and came to the conclusion that she was starting the fires with matches when no one was looking, which pleased the authorities, but several witnesses refused to believe this since they had witnessed the fires erupt without any form of heat or fire such as a match.  Many believed that because Wanet was so unhappy with the living situation, she was causing the fires with the kinetic energy of her mind.

There will always be the debate if this activity is spiritual or scientific. There are several reported cases and the source is always controversial.  Yet this activity will always remain in a category of its own due to the intensity of the cases and the emotions involved.

Sources

http://www.prairieghosts.com/macomb.html

http://paranormal.about.com/library/weekly/aa080999.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist

Tags: ghosts, hunting, paranormal, poltergeists

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R. Wolf Baldassarro November, 2010

Investigation Procedures: Analysis of Paranormal Activity (Part 4 of 5)

Any paranormal investigation is only as good as the data collected and how well it is analyzed.  Some groups do a lot of their analysis on location as it happens, such as Discovery Channel’s Ghost Lab.  This has a lot of advantages in that you can quickly determine a course of action, or an area of higher priority.  You can also readily debunk claims by being able to recreate activity while still on the site.  If you get a shadow figure you can quickly refute or substantiate it by recreating it in the very location at the same time and with the exact same environmental factors still in play.  The down side to this is that if you’re spending all your time analyzing the data as you collect it, you’re lengthening the investigation cycles and the potential for missing activity increases.  Find a happy medium ground and maybe mix it up with a little on-the-fly and a little post-investigation analysis.  Do what works best for you and your team.

Personally, I think it’s advantageous to wait until after the group has had a good amount of rest but do NOT put off analysis for a few days.  After a good rest, assemble your analysis team and go over things as soon as you all wake up and eat immediately following investigation.  You’re refreshed, alert, and your tummies are full.  You’re able to scrutinize what is in front of you while still having the experiences very fresh in your memory and all team members are present for questions and clarification.

Split the data up between several group members and go through everything together.  That way if something anomalous turns up it can be immediately reviewed by the others as to its validity and provides a sounding board for bouncing opinions and reactions off of each other.

It helps to have members who have technical knowledge or skill in key areas.  I have psychology training and knowledge and can lend opinions related to the psychology of perception; another member of ours is a forensic profiler for the courts and a skilled professional photographer.  These are just some examples of the kinds of members who can be an asset to your investigations.  If you don’t have such membership then you may want to present your findings to reputable experts before presenting your final report to your client.  Follow up with professional video and filmmakers, photographers, physicists, geologists, and psychologists, for example.  To be honest, even if your crack team does have superior knowledge and skills, it’s always wise to send the data off to third-party experts for an unbiased second opinion.

Save all raw data files, be it audio, video, or photo in a secure backup location!  I can’t stress this enough, as I know first hand the disappointment of losing valuable data.                 Put all raw, original data files on a large server and work with copies on individual computers.  This ensures that the original is safe in case your conclusions are questioned.  Remember to manipulate COPIES ONLY when analyzing them and save anomalous findings in a separate folder.

With photos you’ll want to import them into a computer and view them on a large screen.  Be aware of the matrixing effect and go through each one to look for differences in lighting, shades, and shadows consistent with a vortex, apparition, or various other paranormal activity.  Using the hundreds of tools available in programs like Photoshop, increase levels and clear up the image as best you can by adjusting for light, contrast, and color balance.  Be careful not to adjust a picture in such a way that you artificially create the activity you’re looking for.  Any professional photographer out there with expert-level knowledge of Photoshop can slam your claims.  The most important thing is to differentiate between reflections and objects that are emitting their own light.  Look at how lights and shadows are affected by the objects in question and their positions three dimensionally.   Light bends around objects, not hover in mid air.

Next are the audio and video recordings.  A photo is a photo- look away for a moment and it won’t change.  Unlike photographs, audio and video must be highly scrutinized and paid attention too; if you are distracted by any means you may miss that fleeting apparition or otherwise ghostly encounter.  A glance away from the screen or drowsiness could result in you concluding there was no evidence when one of the field’s best verifications is sitting on your hard drive unaccounted for because you were too tired or lazy to see it.

When listening to audio for possible EVPs use noise cancelling headphones that effectively remove other noises from the room you are in.  Turn the volume up to a reasonable level as to clearly and accurately listen but not result in a burst ear drum.  Too loud is as ineffective as too low.

Effective EVP analysis is something of a special skill that is developed with practice.  The more you do it and recognize sounds and effects, the better you’ll become, and the more accurate your findings will be.  Listen to everything, even long periods where no one is conducting an EVP session.  Just because no one in the group is asking questions doesn’t mean the spirit isn’t asking his own questions or making a statement.  Listen for whispers, words, sounds, taps, and bangs.  When specific questions are asked listen for intelligent answers.  Listen to everything in the context of what is going on at the time of the recording- the conversations between team members, a neighborhood dog barking, cars driving by, or various other factors.  Again, this is where time stamping is if importance.  If you do have something that is agreed upon by the analysis team to be worthy of further analysis, save a copy for later study.

Most digital recorders these days come with bundled software to listen to your audio.  If you’re lucky it’ll be a robust program that has hundreds of tools to bend, pitch, clean up, and adjust the volume of audio samples.

Personally I use Nero’s Wave Editor.  The tool kit in this program is simply amazing.  With this you can see a visual representation of the file with spikes indicating verified sound.  You can adjust for noise reduction, hums, hisses, and clicks.  You can also adjust volume.  One of the best EVPs I ever caught might have been missed because the word was said so softly it was almost overlooked.  Once the volume was increased it was clearly a direct answer to a specific question!  EVPs are among the most spine-chilling but awe-inspiring evidence of paranormal contact.

When looking over video you not only have sound to pay attention to but the visual happenings as well.  Just as with photographs, use a large monitor but not so large that you’re darting around trying to watch everything.  A 15-19 inch screen works just fine.  Look for light and shadow effects, objects in the environment being affected by unknown means, strange glitches in the video and defined shapes.  That glitch most probably is interference from other equipment but it could also be the manipulation of an entity.  This is where the IR motion detectors pay their cost.  Suppose the room you’re watching has an object move apparently on its own.  If the motion sensor guarding the room is not tripped then you truly have something paranormal.  Is it a ghost or spirit?  Only further analysis will tell, but it is definitely not an easily explainable event.

After you’ve gone over all the data hopefully you will have something worthwhile to report back to the client with.  Even if you don’t, it doesn’t mean a failure for the investigation.  All investigations are a gamble.  Sometimes you catch good evidence but most of the time it turns up no valid results whatsoever as far as evidence goes but each investigation is a learning experience and that has no price tag.  Also the client may be comforted by the fact nothing paranormal was going on and whatever logical, natural explanations you may have for the events in the house could put them at ease.  If substantial evidence is found it can also comfort the clients.  When friends and family give them a crooked eye they can present professional proof to support their claims.

Quality analysis comes from fair, grounded, unbiased attention to detail and hinges on the knowledge and experience of the collectors and those who go over the results.  All of these things come with honest, serious practice.  Even the most skilled investigators should still seek second opinions.  So don’t get too over-excited or discouraged.  Be diligent and keep at it.  Even I am always learning something new.

Next month we will wrap up this series with the final component of investigation procedures- The Reveal & Follow Up.  Until then, Happy Thanksgiving from yours truly.  Next month is also special because it’s the first anniversary of Across the Great Divide.  I have had an amazing and fun year providing you with, what I hope, is an enjoyable and educational romp through the world of paranormal research.

Tags: ghosts, hunting, paranormal

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