Blog & Research

The Paranormalist

Written by SoCal Team Member: Shannon Arrant     Dubbed the United States’ first ‘paranormalist’, Charles Hoy Fort was more a collector of extraordinary stories and artifacts than what we would consider a paranormal investigator by today’s standards. Even to this day, over 80 years after his death, Mr. Fort’s life still has an effect…


The Battle of Spirit Photography

Written by Mid Atlantic Team Member:   Elizabeth A. Breakey     Most in the paranormal field credit William Mumler with the first paranormal photograph.  Unfortunately, Mr. Campbell, of New Jersey, is forgotten in Mumler’s famed glory.  A year before Mumler’s first spirit photograph of himself and his deceased cousin, W. Campbell took a test…


The Paranormal Has Always Been Normal

Written by APS Founder & Mid Atlantic Director: Alex Matsuo   Today, the mainstream media has seemed to make the paranormal “normal” so to speak.  Many people credit television shows and documentary style of presenting the paranormal in such a way where it’s no longer a novelty or cliché, but a legitimate experience that many…


7 Tips For Paranormal Photography

Written by San Diego Team Member: Duke Richards HAVE BACKUPS! Especially batteries/storage cards. Also doesn’t hurt to have a backup camera if possible. Equipment can, and usually does fail at the worse times. Given the nature of the paranormal and how some “otherworldly influences” can drain the power from devices pretty quickly, having backup power…


Cleansing: Much More Than Smudging

Written by Cassandra Grounding? Cleansing? Smudging? What are these words and why do they matter? You may have just visited our page on a whim…or maybe you’re an experienced paranormal investigator.  Either way the subject of clearing out the negative in your life is relevant to all of us. I’m going to give you a…


Celebrating Día de los Muertos

Author’s Note: Because I have been personally struggling with the concept of death and what it means to me in my beliefs in the afterlife, I’ve been researching how other cultures perceive death.  This is especially important when assisting others during cases.  You never know what may come up or around while working, so awareness…


Banshee: The Omen of Death

Written By APS Founder & Mid-South Director: Alex Matsuo The banshee is probably one of the most famous of Irish folklore.  Contrary to popular belief, the banshee is not a ghost, but instead part of the faery world.  The word “banshee” actually means “faery woman.”  Whether there is just one banshee, or several banshees has…


How to Cleanse Your Home – Basic

More often, our email box is filled with the simple question, “How can I cleanse my home?” Usually we customized our cleansing technique based on the client and the nature of the activity taking place.  The steps below are for basic cleansings in clearing residual energy and not intended for use in an intense haunting….


Mediums and Investigators in the Spiritualism Movement: Achsa White Sprague

By Alex Matsuo The story of Achsa White Sprague is an intriguing and fascinating journey from a sickly woman trapped in the confines of a darkened room to a strong woman who became a popular figure in the Spiritualist movement.  Sprague became a popular figure as a Spiritualist trance medium and lecturer after she recovered…


Freddy Jackson’s Photo Op

Written by APS Founder and Mid-South Director: Alex Matsuo The year was 1919; a RAF World War I squadron came together to pose for a group photograph on the day of the funeral of airman mechanic, Freddy Jackson.  Jackson was killed two days before by accidentally walking into a plane propeller.  Though there is mixed…