While I was attending the Excavation of Victorian Ghosts event up in Bedford, Pennsylvania, one of the speakers was Rosemary Ellen Guiley. I know we keep talking about this event, but it was truly a great event where some really intelligent minds from the field come in and present their research and theories. Anyway, Rosemary had a fascinating talk on black mirrors and scrying, and she made a really interesting comment. Of course, I’ll be paraphrasing; the gist of it was that it seems that teams that are tech-heavy tend to not have as many experiences as someone who isn’t looking at a screen. At first, I guffawed because I believed that the central point of investigating is to have the equipment for data collection. However, as I sat and listened to Rosemary speak, I started to ponder my previous experiences.

Most know that one of the most dramatic experiences I had involved a camera that was turned off. This would be the event that happened on the USS Hornet in 2012. Yet, no matter how many times I recollect the experience and retell the story, I know there are people who won’t believe me. I kick myself thinking about how our equipment was shut off, even though we don’t remember turning anything off. However, that experience gave me something that I needed at the time. Looking back, I think that experience was just meant to be that…an experience. Had the equipment not malfunctioned, I really wonder what would have been captured on film and audio. Furthermore, what would MY experience have been like if I was monitoring through headphones or looking through a viewfinder? Would I have seen the same thing?

Take, for example, the experience of a photographer. They will experience something like a wedding or childbirth through a completely different experience. They are behind a piece of equipment. They see things through a tunnel, meant to capture images and video in a certain way. For the paranormal investigator, they are trying to reach the widest scope possible so that they don’t miss a moment. However, data collection still requires monitoring…therefore compromising the person’s experience. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Proper data collection is crucial if we’re going to make any strides in the field.

Yet, we need to acknowledge that when we’re taking pictures, taking video, or listening through audio equipment, our experience will be different than those who aren’t fixed on their equipment. How many times do we allow a piece of equipment dictate the course of an investigation? By this, I mean equipment like the Ovilus, shack hacks, etc.? What if we’re being led astray and missing out on the incredible anomaly that’s happening right before our eyes?

So, how do we implement a compromise into a meaningful experience? Do we ask someone to bow out of having the “full” experience for the sake of data collection? I believe that we can still have an experience while collecting data. But first, we have to know why we’re collecting data. Are we trying to provide proof of the paranormal? Do we just want to remember the experience? Do we want material for our YouTube channel? By knowing this, we can really figure out why we’re lugging all of this equipment in the first place. From there, we can work on implementing a compromise that includes thorough and effective data collection while having that “experience.”

To me, there are grey areas. I believe that we need to be persistent in data collection. Also, I believe there are moments where we don’t have to always look at a screen, and we can just experience the unknown.

Yet, that’s what tripods and stands are for. There are happy mediums, no pun intended. We can take a break from watching through a screen and look up occasionally.

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Happy 2015! So, I had the pleasure of talking with Adam from the YouTube series, AnythingSTRANGE, and chatting with him about APS, different paranormal experiences, and my upcoming projects. One of the things that came up was a phantom noise I heard while at the El Campo Santo Cemetery in Old Town, San Diego, California.  It was actually one of the first pre-APS investigations as a cohesive group, occurring in August of 2011, just a month shy of our official founding. The investigation of the cemetery from this night solidified my desire to start up a team.

So, what is a “phantom noise” in the first place?

A phantom noise is essentially a noise that doesn’t seem to have an origin. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s paranormal (it could very well have an explanation), but a source could not be identified at the time of the experience. Phantom noises are a huge part in the paranormal experience, as we hear sounds every day that we can identify with. But when we hear something that is disturbing or frightful, we have the desire to find out the source as a way to calm our fears. When that source can’t be identified, then we tend to think ghost or demon until an explanation comes along. Whether it’s bells, banging, knocking, humming, singing, speaking, etc. sounds are key in our daily life and help dictate our mental and emotional state. There is no question that dealing with a phantom noise can shake one to the core.

But if you encounter a phantom noise, the first thing you should do is try to identify the source immediately. Look around your surroundings and see what is there that could have made that noise. Walk over to the potential source and examine it (look, touch,etc.). If you can’t find the source, then see if the noise can be recreated. If you believe a presence created the sound, then ask them to do it again. Make sure you have your audio recorders handy and your microphones on your video cameras turned on. If you’re truly having a paranormal experience through noise, then you don’t want to miss it!

After you’ve collected your audio data, it’s time to review it! Having an audio program like Audacity (which is free) or GarageBand (if you’re on Mac) is a great place to start for newbies. Learn what sound waves look like on the computer and how they fluctuate from basic noise like your voice, clapping, etc. Then look for your phantom noise to see what kind of wave it produced. Hopefully, you can then isolate the wave and be able to go further in your examination.

This is short and pretty basic, but I hope you all enjoyed this post and interview! Till next time!

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As an investigator and researcher, I’ve always felt as though client work is a form of conflict mediation, which usually results in miscommunication. But I feel like many ghost hunters, teams, etc. automatically pin the presence as the enemy or “the other”. I’m not exactly sure how I feel about that. In most of the cases I’ve worked, the presence has been a deceased human being, and usually the phenomenon is a response to the client’s actions or behavior. Not saying that one or the other is wrong, but where did the whole idea of treating the presence or phenomenon as the enemy right off the bat come from?

When it comes to cases where the client is having a negative experience with an unseen force, of course the team wants to come in and be the problem solvers and help. But keep in mind that client work can be a form of “he said/she said” in terms of miscommunications. What may be the ghost trying to communicate can be interpreted as an attack by the client. And because the client is physically present and able to verbally tell their story, investigators give them the upper hand when in reality, perhaps the client could be inadvertently responsible for some of the conflict.

I feel to approach the presence and communicate with them defensively is a bit disrespectful. And the thing that gets me more than anything is PROVOKING. When there’s no response, you’re either dealing with something that doesn’t want to communicate (and hey as living beings there are people we don’t want to talk to) or there might not be anything there. And if you’re provoking something that is inhuman or evil…even worse. That’s like poking a sleeping dragon and then being shocked when you get burned. Provoking to me can be dangerous in a client case because we’re not the ones who have to keep living in the house after the investigation is over, and the investigators themselves aren’t the ones who usually don’t deal with the consequences. The idea of communicating with the unseen presence as if they’re the enemy right off the bat is very sad to me and takes away many opportunities for more effective communication that could lead to resolution.

I find the world of investigating and research to be a beautiful thing. It’s communicating with someone who is deceased or something from another realm of existence. Asking the presence to perform tricks for our entertainment is just wrong and on the same level of asking a human being to juggle for us just because we asked. Going in and speaking English and not the native tongue of the presence just shows ignorance. Couldn’t we take the time to learn more about the context of the dead before going in? Perhaps if we approach our investigations with a bit more objectivity and respect, maybe the other side will be more open and willing to communicate with us. Maybe instead of letting the client become so dependent on the investigator, we should educate and empower them by talking to them about what could cause paranormal phenomenon, educate them, and let them know that they still have control over the situation even when they feel helpless. In reality, maybe working client cases is a form of conflict mediation where the investigator is the middle-man helping to resolve a problem between the two worlds of the living and the dead.

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I will be wrapping up interviews this week.  I have NINE more interviews coming up and I’m exciting to finally get the new team together and start having our meetings so that we can start to get to know one another and get out there and investigate.  I’m scouting different places right now around San Diego.  I’m impressed by the experiences of the team so far and I look forward to hearing more from the interviews later this weekend.

I received a great question on the Facebook page from Sara D., who asked,

From my own personal research, I have found many share the view that by actively participating in the paranormal (ie: investigating, ganzfeld experiment) or the occult (ie seances, ouija boards) you open yourself up more spiritually and make it easier for spirits to “notice” you. Others say that it doesn’t happen and you shouldn’t worry about it. So, what is it? Be concerned or not?

What is my answer to this?  Yes.  there should be a concern and a respect for these methods and devices because they have the potential to be powerful tools.  First I will address investigating.  Investigating the paranormal is entering into a new lifestyle in general.  Your awareness of the unknown is heightened.  Now are spirits really following you, or are you senses heightened to the point where anything that moves is a shadow/ghost/spirit?  You know it’s there, and I know for me, I seem to keep an extra eye open and I notice my surroundings in greater detail than I did before I began investigating.  I believe that when you start investigating, especially going against more malevolent beings, it is possible that they will notice you and know who you are.  When you approach an investigation and you ask for communication with spirits, they know who you are.  I know investigators (including myself) who do protection rituals and make it very clear that they cannot harm me or follow me.

Now the Ganzfeld Experiment…such a fascinating element of parapsychology.  Does the Ganzfeld Experiment open yourself up to experience things you couldn’t in your everyday life?  I believe so.  Does it permanently leave you vulnerable to psychic and spiritual phenomenon?  It has the potential.  Does participating in this leave a permanent bullseye for any spirit to notice you and possibly go after you?  I doubt it, but I would certainly love to talk to someone about it who knows more than I do

Now when it comes to things like seances and ouija boards, that is another ballgame.  Or is it?  When investigating, you are asking for communication.  And with seances and ouija boards you are requesting communication.  It’s a fine line, but I believe there is a difference.  Seances come in many forms.  Seance comes from the French term, “sitting” or “seat” and rose in popularity when Spiritualism broke out.  There is something to be said sitting in a circle with other people trying to communicate with spirits, especially through a medium.  And with ouija boards, I have a great respect for them but I would probably never use one.  I’ve heard and experienced too many negative things tied with a ouija board, especially when it comes to the disposal of one (always bury, never burn).  Ouija boards are typically associated with bringing in an inhuman spirit.  What else is funny is that ouija boards are sold in toy stores and made by Milton Bradley.  There are also ouija board necklaces being sold.  I was actually offended when I saw this.  Paranormal investigating or “ghost hunting” is already seen as a novelty as it is.  Technically you don’t even need to buy a ouija board, you can draw a board on a piece of paper or napkin and go from there.  It’s that simple.  Ouija boards are made by toy companies, what happened to the respect of the possibility that these things can do potential harm? Wearing a necklace with a ouija board shouldn’t be a fashion accessory or seen as cute.  That could open you up for potentially negative activity as well.

Is there a safe way to use a ouija board?  I’m sure.  But you need protection which leads me into my next point.  Protecting yourself is very important.  There is a fine line between not protecting yourself and building a wall so thick that you cut yourself off from any activity.  Where do we draw the line?  It’s hard to distinguish.

In closing, when you decide to investigate the paranormal, you need to make sure you do what you can to stay safe while still allowing yourself to experience activity (at least for me, for purposes of collecting evidence and documentation).  And protecting yourself not only during an investigation but during your normal everyday life.

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