Typically, when we die, we expect our bodies to stay six feet under after our funeral. Or, if you’re being cremated, your body becomes ash and that’s it. However, it seems that the possibility of returning from the grave is a topic on everyone’s mind. From hit television shows like, “The Walking Dead” to several zombie-centric movies like “World War Z”, “Night of the Living Dead”, etc. zombies, or the undead, continue to be a popular topic for the world. What is it about these decaying, flesh-craving corpses that have us hooked?

Where Do Zombies Come From?

The answer is quite fascinating. While other monsters are based on myths and legend, zombies are based on true accounts. Yes, that means there is a bit of truth in the zombie lore. Given that the CDC and the military have protocols set up for dealing with zombies, that should tell us about their validity.

What is interesting to note is that “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) as well as “The Walking Dead” don’t ever use the word, “zombie.” For the NOLD movie, they were called ghouls. TWD calls them, “walkers.”

Ancient Origins

In fact, zombies date back as early as Ancient Greece. While the pop culture belief of zombies tends to stay around the 20th century, zombie lore is much older than that. We just have to change the name to “undead.” When you look at graves from the time period, it wasn’t uncommon to find skeletons with rocks and chains pinning them down into the ground. This shows that the people of the time had a fear of corpses reanimating and coming back from the dead. The Ancient Greeks also believed in something known as a curse tablet, and they bury it in the person’s grave. They believed that tablet would control the walking dead. Basically, the dead weren’t really gone and could serve a purpose.

Odysseus, the revenent (the returned), niave marie, vederganger, drouger

Haitian Roots

Then, we have Haitian belief, along with voodoo practices. But also keep in mind that a good majority of the population of Haiti is linked to West Africa. Historians believe that zombie folklore dates back to the 17th century when West Africans were brought to Haiti to work on the sugar cane plantations. These people didn’t leave their homes empty-handed. They brought with them their folklore, culture, beliefs, superstitions, and customs. Sadly, it seems that zombie folklore was a metaphor for the slaves longing for freedom, and becoming a zombie represented the plight of slavery. They no longer had control of their bodies, their lives, how they lived, etc.

They held the belief that the soul and body were connected, and that death was a separator between the two entities. From the viewpoint of slavery, only death would break the link between the body and the soul. Many slaves wanted to return to their homeland by death, making suicide rampant in Haiti. But suicide was not an acceptable way to die. It was believed that instead of that person’s soul returning to Africa, their soul stayed inside their body…making hell an eternal plight of slavery.

There was a name for this…it was “the zombi“.

Linguistics Origin

This word was recorded in 1872 by a linguistics scholar named Maximilian Schele de Vere who described the zombie as a phantom or a ghost. Now, voodoo practices were mentioned. It should be noted that most voodoo practitioners believe that zombies are nothing more than a fairytale. However, there is a special type of practitioners known as bokor, who revive people from the dead. They do this by creating “zombie powders”, which can consist of fish, bones, shells, animal parts, herbs, etc. These powders usually contain tetrodotoxin, which is the same chemical found in pufferfish. And yes, it is deadly.

When used in minimal amounts, they can create “zombie-like” features like lethargy, confusion, and respiratory issues. If used more heavily, they can create paralysis and coma. Can you see a pattern here? If someone goes into a coma or becomes paralyzed, they may be mistaken as being dead. Then, when they come back to life, they might come across as someone who is undead.

In literature, zombies pop up as early as 1697 in “The Undead Eighteenth Century” by Linda Troost. In her text, zombies described ghosts, not necessarily the living dead. George Romero’s 1968 film, “Night of the Living Dead” was truly what sparked our obsession with the zombie phenomenon.

Zombies in the Bible

One could also argue that zombies appear in the Bible as well. But these zombies weren’t recorded as wanting to eat other people. If you look in the book of Ezekial, specifically Ezekial 37: 1-14, the prophet is dropped into a boneyard and prophesizes to the bones. The bones shake and muscle and flesh are added to them. And yet, the bodies don’t breath. Zombies are referenced in 68 different Bible verses, including Zechariah, Matthew, Revelation, the list goes on.

Zombies have a rich history, and they provide some of the strongest social commentary on our past that we will ever see.

Further Reading

New York Times: A Zombie is a Slave Forever

KPBS: Zoinks! Tracing the History of “Zombie” from Haiti to the CDC

Lore Podcast #26: Brought Back

History Channel: History of Zombies

BBC: Where do zombies come from?

The post Where Do Zombies Come From? appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

I too have these abilities and more.

From the Beginning

When I was six years old, we lived in an older two-story house. Every night, I would hear someone walking up the stairs.  It always sounded like this person had on one high heel shoe and nothing on the other foot.  Each night, I would hear the person walk up the steps knowing that it was just myself and my parents in the house. My mom did not wear high heels.  As the footsteps got closer to the top step I would expect to see a lady appear. 

My bedroom door looked out onto the top step and landing of the staircase, each time there was no one there.  I really didn’t understand what was happening.  I thought things like this happened to everyone.  That was my first experience with the spirit world.

Why Do I Have Abilities?

I often wonder what the big picture to having abilities is and why many have them. Why do we need to have the ability to see and communicate with spirit? If they have passed on, then I was always taught that they went to heaven or hell.  As I have gotten older, I now know that this is not the case.  We as humans with so much going on in our daily lives. We forget that there is more than just us out there.  Life is more than us.  I do believe that we each have abilities and it is up to us to embrace them or ignore them.

I do my best to help others. But sometimes I like to sit and discuss with others like me. I have many questions and some answers of my own.

Why Does One Not Cross to a Peaceful Place and Stay? 

I think this is due to the fact that the physical body is gone but the spirit is still here and still feels and cares.  Spirits want to know that their loved ones are ok and they watch over them. On that same note, some people are mean in life and stay that way in death.  These I believe contribute to the negative spirits that are encountered sometimes.  

Why Do People Think This is Satan’s Work?

I think this is because people are scared of what they don’t understand.  I am a Christian woman. I believe and have God in my heart. I do not believe that I need to show a fake self in a building every Sunday in hopes of getting into heaven.  I do believe that we were made in the image of God and need to love and help each other.  

I am not your traditional Christian.  I believe there is a higher being and I believe there are demonic beings out there.  Unfortunately, I found both in Church.  I have spoken with many preachers and other religious people, some do very much believe that humans can have abilities.  Some, however, believe it is Satan at work. 

I happen to find myself in such a church and they condemned me a witch and threatened my life.  What Christian action there!

A Privilege and Honor

I find it a privilege and honor to have my abilities and the knowledge to use them. I have found that I am a teacher of the awakening.  I can help people awaken to their abilities and send them on their way to help others.  This is like teaching your kids something new then watching them take it and add their knowledge to it and grow.  

I believe we are here to help others, living and passed on.  The greatest feeling is seeing others grow and help others.  I am a servant by nature and a behind the scenes kind of person.  I want to do the work but stay away from the limelight.  I do like praise sometimes but I have encountered so many people who attack that I would rather not deal with the upset.

Moving Forward

I learn something new every new moon and my abilities enhance as well. Over the last 10 years since I have embraced my abilities and grown, I can see and talk to spirit.  I see them as I see other people just their energy is different.  Still living energy but not vibrant like the living.  I can see energies and orbs and auras.  I have premonitions and can hold items and tell you things about the owner. 

On the other side, I can see demons and know when a person is evil.  I also can know what others are thinking about.  I feel as if I am crazy sometimes because I thought all people were the same as me and have learned that they are not.  So much happens in my brain every day that most people can’t handle in their normal lives that don’t embrace their abilities.  

In a tarot reading years ago, I was told I am like a raven, I can fly on the outskirts of heaven and hell and come back to the living.  I believe this because I have seen the outskirts and know what is on the other side of the vail.  I am not allowed to enter because my body is not dead.  The hardest thing is the knowledge and not being able to always use it.  Knowing that people have to experience things on their own in order to grow.  All the while I can see what is going to happen.  Most people don’t listen anyway so I just let them learn on their own.

Bringing Up the Next Generation

I love teaching others how to open up and embrace their abilities. It is a duty but so much enjoyment comes from being able to do what I do.  I love going on investigations with our paranormal team, interacting with spirits, learning their stories and helping if I can or just acknowledge them.  Plus, I can go to Walmart and see so many spirits with their loved ones.  

I know who to stay away from because I sense they are not nice at all.  It has kept me safe.  In life, there are many believers and nonbelievers.  It is hard to deal with people who are not wanting to learn but keep asking questions, or the ones that say “You should have seen that coming”.  I saw it but it had to happen.

Lifting the Veil

My life is a lot of unanswered question in a world where there is nothing proven to any of the abilities I have.  The world is opening up more and more every day. But there will always be those who will fight you 100% of the way just so they do not have to feel uncomfortable.  I believe we have to support each other and stick together and lean from each other.  There are so many people with so many levels of abilities out there that it may be over whelming.  But so worth the knowledge and friendship established.

There are so many questions that I still don’t have answers for.  It would be great to sit down with others like me that could give insight into the things I myself am not sure of.  I am in search of others who are on a higher level than myself and talk.  I try my best to help where I can and help people understand. 

Sometimes it is in vain, but this is who I am, and I am not changing.

What are your abilities and how do you help others?

The post Developing My Gifts: The Story of How I Became a Psychic Medium appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

It seems that you can throw a rock and wherever it lands, there is a haunted legend associated with it. If someone tries to tell you only certain parts of this town are haunted, they are limiting themselves. The Battle of Gettysburg impacted every inch of that town. It’s hard to believe that only a few spots would have been ghost-free. The hauntings aren’t only by Civil War-era ghosts. There are hauntings that are much more recent. We’re talking as recently as the 20th century.

There are so many companies offering ghost tours and investigations, it can be hard to decide which on to go with. Some of my favorite people to work with are Pamela and Steve Barry of the Gettysburg Ghost Exchange. I also love with with Ghostly Images of Gettysburg, who have access to some of the coolest places in town. Gettysburg Ghost Tours has always been great to work with as well.

Now, here are ten of the most haunted places in Gettysburg!

Gettysburg Orphanage

This place has been a favorite of APS for years and one that I will continue to visit every time I’m in the area. The orphanage opened in October of 1866 near Cemetery Hill. It was created by Dr. John F. Bourns, who saw a need for the facility after realizing that the casualties of the Civil War resulted in a rise in orphans and widows. The homestead was used to house the orphaned children of Union soldiers. What is interesting is that the orphanage also opened as a home for widows.

The orphanage did well in its first years. Ulysses S. Grant even visited the orphanage in 1867. In 1870, the state of Pennsylvania used a bill to fund the facility. However, the headmistress was eventually replaced by Rosa Carmichael, who turned out to be abusive. She became known for having a dungeon in the basement for disciplining children. She would have the older children abuse the younger children, and the orphans were chained to the wall at times.

If you want to investigate the orphanage, contact Ghostly Images of Gettysburg. They’re wonderful people to work with!

1863 Inn of Gettysburg

I’ve stayed at the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg a few times. It’s actually one of my favorite places to stay because it’s right in the center of the action. At least in the ghost hunting sense. Right across the street, you have all of the ghost tourism companies as well as delightful shopping areas. Not to mention, this hotel is literally right next to the Jennie Wade House. The buildings almost touch each other. It’s also a great place to stay so you can have access to a bathroom in between ghost hunts. Yet, there is also a decent amount of paranormal activity here.

I can only speak from personal experiences. When I stayed there with two of my team members, one of them is Amy, who is our resident psychic medium, we had weird experiences individually that we were able to correlate with each other. From creepy figures appearing in our dreams to hearing menacing sounds in the middle of the night, we ended up sleeping with the light on.

Jennie Wade House

The Jennie Wade House today stands as a memorial to the 20-year old young woman it was named after. Jennie (Ginnie) Wade was the only civilian casualty during the Battle of Gettysburg. She was visiting her sister, who had just had a baby, and ended up stuck there when the battle ensued. She was kneading dough to make bread for the Union soldiers when a stray bullet went through the door and hit her in the back.

Jennie died instantly. Because the family lived in a duplex-style home, Union soldiers had to carry Jennie’s body up to the stairs, make a hole in the joining wall, and carry her down to the basement. Today, it is believed that her estranged father haunts the basement. There are also reports of cold spots, footsteps, shadows, and more in the house. Perhaps, Jennie has yet to leave the house. On the second floor, you can see where bullets and cannons that had hit the house. One can only imagine the horror her family felt as they mourned her death and also living in fear as they heard the battle sounds outside.

Like the orphanage, if you want to investigate the Jennie Wade House, get in touch with Ghostly Images.

Harman Murder House

I mentioned in the introduction that not all of the hauntings in Gettysburg were from the Civil War. In 1985, the town of Gettysburg was shaken up by the murder of Debra Louise (Debbie) Harman. She was only 31-years old when she tragically lost her life. She lived in a second-floor apartment on Baltimore Street when she was shot in the neck by Donald Richard Painter. The two had lived together in the apartment at the time of Debbie’s death.

Gettysburg Ghost Tours currently has access to the apartment, which has been dubbed as the Harman Murder House. From our experience there in 2017, we had team members see and hear someone walking up and down the stairs. The apartment is completely empty, which also amps up the creepiness to the place. Plus, since the murder happened in 1985, we’re talking less than a century, which might also make the place feel more disturbing. Could Debbie be walking up and down the stairs, wandering aimlessly around her former home?

Tillie Pierce House

Tillie Pierce became famous for writing a book on her experiences during the Battle of Gettysburg as well as its aftermath. The Tillie Pierce House is considered to be one of the most haunted inns in Gettysburg. My experience was interesting because I did the Ganzfeld Experiment on the second floor. Granted, my nerves were high, and I was totally anticipating a ghost. So…perhaps my experience was more than a bit biased. Common reports include hearing footsteps from the Blue Room. The source of the steps? The attic. The Blue Room seems to be the center of the activity, as a soldier has been seen walking up the stairs and then going into this room before disappearing. Guests at the inn have also reported someone sitting on their beds while they slept or staring at them from the foot of their beds.

Devil’s Den

Devil’s Den is considered one of the most haunted spots in Gettysburg. When you consider how many haunted places there are in the area, then this title is a big deal. Not only that, but it is considered to be the location of a malevolent, or more negative, haunting. This is because Devil’s Den played a major role in the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Keep in mind that this was considered to be the bloodiest day of the battle. Devil’s Den flipped flop between the Union and the Confederates. Even with all of the rocks providing some protection, there were many casualties. Numerous corpses were left to decay after the battle, which inspired some of the most memorable photos taken after the battle.

Sachs Covered Bridge

Sachs Covered Bridge has quite a sad story to it, as well as some interesting legends. The most popular legend was that three Confederate deserters were hanged next to Sachs Bridge, and people report still seeing the corpses hanging from the limbs. There is also a story where the injured Confederates were resting next to Marsh Creek, which Sachs hangs over.

After the battle, it rained quite heavily, which caused the creek to overflow, thus drowning the injured Confederates who couldn’t get out. The bridge was used by both the Union and the Confederates. In fact, the Confederates crossed the bridge as they were retreating. The bridge we see today is not the original one. It was destroyed in 1996 because of a storm. It was rebuilt with the salvaged materials.

If you decide to go investigate it, know that there will be a lot of environmental contamination. While it sits on a quiet part of the battlefield, there are tons of tourists who are also doing their own ghost hunts.

Battlefield Farmhouse

via https://gettysburgghosttours.com/battlefield-farmhouse/

The Battlefield Farmhouse was used as a field hospital, mainly for the Union. It was reportedly used as a headquarters for a Union general as well. We investigated this place in 2017, and there were a few interesting experiences. The foundation of the house dates back to the Civil War, and everything above it dates to the 1980s, so the development is somewhat newer. We investigated the farmhouse with Gettysburg Ghost Tours.

Farnsworth House

The Farnsworth House is supposedly home to about 16 spirits. There are still bullet holes that can be seen on the interior of the building. It is believed that the stray bullet that killed Jennie Wade came from the Farnsworth House. Like the majority of the houses in town, it was taken over by the Confederates, who used the second story as a base for sharpshooters.

There is a nurse named Mary who still haunts the house, still tending to the ill and injured. There is also a boy named Jeremy who is heard sobbing in his room after dying from an injury. There is also a midwife who has been reported to “tuck in” the guests at the inn. The smell of cheroot can still be detected as well as the sound of heavy breathing.

The Farnsworth House has regular investigations every week as well as walks on Cemetery Hill and other areas nearby.

Daniel Lady Farm

via Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association

The Daniel Lady Farm is historically known for a few things. The barn was used as a battlefield hospital as well as being the headquarters of Confederate General Issac Ewell. There were about 10,000 troops that camped around the area. The barn itself was the site of numerous amputations, surgeries, and deaths. My personal experience at the Daniel Lady Farm was with John Sabol and his team.

When we investigated the house, the sensitives in the group picked up on an injured Confederate soldier. In the attic, the children of the family that lived in the house were active. There were also screams, gunshots, shadows, and other cries for help.

In the end, John had the women hold lanterns and walk the grassy area around the property, where we called out the names of Confederates who may have served. We all felt hands tugging our dresses like these soldiers were begging for help.

The Gettysburg Ghost Exchange was also working with us on having access to the Daniel Lady Farm for an investigation a few years ago. They have a lot of options, and their storefront is also haunted!

There are so many places! We will definitely be doing a part two after some onsite investigating.

Have you visited any of these haunted places? Tell us in the comments!

The post 10 Most Haunted Places in Gettysburg appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

Q – What is EVP?

A – Electronic Voice Phenomena is the capture of voices, allegedly paranormal, on an electronic device.Usually these are heard when an audio recording is played back.

Q – Where do EVP originate?

A – Many believe falsely that they are spirits. In reality most have perfectly natural sources. There are very few that cannot be explained.

Q – Can EVP be heard with the unaided ear?

A- No. By definition Electronic Voice Phenomena is detected by an electronic device. However there are some who claim to hear them directly. The proper term for this is AVP, Acoustic Voice Phenomena. These are voices that may be too faint to be heard without amplification, but originate as sound, not electronic sources. Both types are captured on recorders in a similar manner.

Q – How can I determine whether the source is EVP or AVP?.

A- The method of detection is the key. EVP is a form of electronic field which is picked up directly by a microphone or its wiring. AVP is a sound wave detected only by a diaphragm in a microphone. Wiring or electrical pickup is not possible. So to determine which is present you need two methods of detection; a conventional microphone and an inductive sensor. If the microphone detects a voice, it could be either EVP or AVP. But if the inductive sensor detects the voice it MUST be electronic in nature since an inductive pickup cannot detect sound in any form. So if the microphone picks it up and the inductive sensor does not, you have AVP, not EVP.

Q – Is there a way to hear EVP or AVP in real time? Why do I have to record it first?

A- Answer is, you do not have to record it. But you do have to have some electronic means of amplifying or detecting the signal. Recorders have amplifiers built in, which is why many use the traditional method. But if you have a high gain amplifier with headphones you can do a session in real time by simply using your microphones / sensors with the amplifier just as you would with your recorder. In fact I do my sessions in that manner; real time. I also use a recorder not no much for capturing EVP but rather to simply keep a log of any activity I may encounter.

Q – Analog Tape or Digital recorder? Which is best?

A-Either can be used. However the important thing to keep in mind when choosing is the quality of the recorder. You should use a machine which has low noise and wide bandwidth.capability. Since you are trying to capture something which may be hard to hear you want the best possible platform to record it.

Q – Which brand of digital recorder is best?

A – Rather than name brands I prefer to give a list of specifications to be met. Any recorder which meets these is satisfactory. Personal preference between them is up to you, the user. The requirements of your digital recorder are as follows:
1 – Records in Stereo
2 – Uses a 24 Bit A to D conversion process
3 – Sample Rate of 96 KBPS or higher
4 – Records in a non-lossy format (WAV, not MP3 or similarly compressed form.)
5 – While not a requirement, it is highly desirable to have provisions for an external microphone or line input. This allows you to use an external high gain amplifier or inductive sensor in conjunction with your project.

Q – What about using White Noise with my recordings?

A – This is a fallacy. Why would you want to create noise which only serves to cover up any faint voices you may get?

Q – But don’t spirits need outside energy to be heard?

A – There is no proof of this. (In fact we don’t even have proof spirits are in any way connected with EVP). But even if this assumption is true it would require much more energy to over power a bunch of noise than to be heard in a quiet environment. Have you ever tried to be heard by your neighbor at a rock concert? It is much easier to speak in a quiet room.

Q – What program is best to clean up my recordings?

A – Answer is NONE. Recordings should never be altered in any way. If you have to alter it in order to hear it , you have a case of paredolia.

Q – Is there a test for paredolia?

A – Yes, it is called the Rule Of Three. You do this test by getting three independent witnesses and separating them from each other. Play back the recording one time only and ask each witness to write down what, if anything, they hear. If they are unsure or if the recording is lengthy, you can replay it only once more. ( Two Times total).  After all three have done their evaluation, take their comments and compare them. If all three hear substantially the same thing, it likely is not paredolia. Any major discrepancies indicate probable paredolia.

Q- My recording passes the Rule Of three. What’s the next step?

A – This is where serious analysis begins. There are still many possible explanations that must be ruled out before calling it EVP or AVP. The goal here is to identify any natural causes for the voice. Rule out any natural sounds, interference, or outside contamination.

Q – This is where I use my computer, right?

A – NO! The process is extensive and this is where a lot of mistakes are made. First of all, NEVER TRY TO CLEAN IT UP USING A COMPUTER PROGRAM. These all apply various methods which introduce artifacts into the recording.

Q – So how do you recommend I evaluate my recording?

A – The proper method is to break the audio into segments and inspect it for voice patterns. This is done by first determining the frequencies present in the voice using a spectrum analyzer. Next you remove frequencies not a part of the speech (noise and extraneous sounds) using bandpass / blocking filters, then view the results on an oscilloscope. Examine each phoneme in the voice to determine its voice pattern, (rise, decay and blending) then see if this matches human speech patterns. This is done several times as needed using different filtering points. Also room ambience (echos, etc.) are considered This can identify other possible sources for the voice. Only after all these tests are validated can a recording be considered possible EVP.

Q – I was told that only some people ever develop the ability to hear EVP. Why is that?

A – This is another fallacy. The reason is paredolia and conditioning. If a recording is not perfectly clear paredolia will work its way in as the brain tries to make sense of it. The common practice of “looping” a recording only adds to this problem. You hear the same thing and eventually you will think you begin to make sense of it. You become conditioned to listen for what you think you hear. Go back up to Question 11 and note that I emphasize the recording only be played twice for the Rule Of Three test. This prevents conditioning of the test subjects.

16 – Can I use a Ghost Box for EVP?

A – No. Besides being a useless device these boxes work by taking external sources of voice and playing them back. Such is not true communication, rather just a response from either a canned speech memory or radio transmission. both have perfectly natural explanations as to their source, none of which is communication from any spirit.

Q – Does walking around improve communication potential?

A – No, but it does serve to create more opportunity for external noise to contaminate your recording. Instead, when doing a session place your recorder and microphones in the target area, step back and sit down. Then begin your session while remaining seated and motionless.

Q – Why do they always do EVP sessions in the dark?

A – No real reason at all. In fact I often do sessions with lights on. An advantage of lights on is that you can see potential sources of interference that may cause issues. Going dark only serves to handicap you by taking away your sense of sight. And if there is a spirit present that desires to communicate it can do so lights on or off.

Q – Some get EVP every time they go out but I haven’t gotten anything in numerous sessions. What am I doing wrong?

A – Answer is, you’re doing things RIGHT.. True EVP is very rare. Paredolia is not. These guys who always seem to get activity also don’t use intense screening to validate their work. So they get tons of false positives and other misleading data. At the time of this writing, i have processed over 9,000 hours of claimed EVP / AVP audio. To date I have exactly 12 seconds ( Seven clips) that I have been unable to debunk. Not saying they are paranormal, only that they have been subjected to numerous attempts to debunk by myself and others and so far have held up to testing.

Q – What about language? Why do EVP always come in English?

A – In fact they don’t. EVP can be heard in any language. Two things would be in play here. First applies to paredolia and you. Since paredolia is a matter of something created by your mind, you will hear it in whatever language you are most familiar. The second factor, assuming the EVP is actual communication, it will be in whatever language the one doing the communicating is able to speak. Thus if one is in Russia, one would expect to hear Russian. Same for any other country. One would expect the EVP to be in whatever the native language is. That is not a certainty of course, one could be communicating with a visitor to the country!

So there you have 20 Questions answered. Hopefully this has put to rest some of the fallacies and made you more aware of what is required to cut through a lot of the garbage being promoted online and on TV these days. Now let’s get some solid evidence in the field.

The post Let’s Play 20 Questions On EVP appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

After the Duel

What a lot of people don’t know is what happened to Burr after the infamous duel that took the life of Alexander Hamilton. In short, Burr’s political career was ruined. As Hamilton’s life end, Burr’s also ended in a way. He would never be able to return to his normal life. Burr was charged with murder in the state of New York and New Jersey along with multiple other crimes, but he was never brought to trial. There was that complicated scenario where Hamilton was shot in Jersey but he died in New York, which made the charges and trial a bit complicated.

Burr ended up fleeing to South Carolina to be with his daughter and her family. He would end up going to Washington, DC and Philadelphia to serve his term as vice-president under President Thomas Jefferson. Burr obviously avoided returning to New York and New Jersey. The charges against him were eventually dropped.

After he left his term as vice president in 1805, he headed west to claim land for himself and secede from the United States. Basically, his plan was to liberate Texas and Mexico from Spain and then keep the land for himself separate from the United States. Through a variety of loopholes and conspiracies, Burr found himself being charged with treason. The charges ended up being unfounded. He ended up fleeing to Europe to avoid his creditors. He eventually returned to New York. His daughter, Theodosia, boarded a ship in South Carolina so she could head up north to be with her father. Her ship ended up being lost at sea. Burr died at the age of 80 in Staten Island, New York.

This is very much an abridged version of his biography. If anything that was mentioned piques your interest, definitely explore more! Burr clearly lived a long life, and one could say there were a few regrets. Is it possible that the ghost of Aaron Burr still roams our world?

Haunting #1: The Aaron Burr House

Going back to his duel with Hamilton, Burr ended up fleeing to New Hope, Pennsylvania and stayed in a house for a week. Why this house? Burr had friends from the Revolutionary War who lived in this house and they gave him lodging for the week. Today, it’s known as the Painted Lady. The house still stands today as a bed and breakfast as the Aaron Burr House. The house also features a small collection of dueling pistols from Burr’s era. There are reports that his ghost has been seen peering around the corners and roaming the house. His ghost has even been seeing around the town, anxiously watching his back as if he is being followed. If he likes the guests that are staying at the bed and breakfast, he will tug on their clothes to prevent them from leaving. He has also been seen going up and down the staircase and roaming about the second floor.

If these sightings are true, I do have a theory about why Burr’s presence is seen. I wouldn’t go as far to say that this is his ghost. But more likely, this is an imprint of him. You could say this is a residual haunting, or even a thoughtform. Given that Burr was likely in a high state of stress after the duel, he was likely on edge the entire time he was in New Hope. He would have been watching his back and unable to relax. Would it be possible that his energy was so high that it survived after he departed? What if the surrounding area absorbed his energy and it replays like a broken record?

Also, of all places that Burr lived, why did he choose this house? Well, this house was owned by some of his dear friends, and he likely felt some sort of safety and security behind its walls. It’s not uncommon for ghosts to return to a place where they felt safe. Not to mention, the house ended up being named after him, and I’m sure “Hamilton” brought about a new generation of people interested in his story.

Haunting #2-4: New York City

The New Hope house isn’t the only place where Burr’s ghost has been spotted. His ghost seems to make its rounds around New York City. When Burr was 77 years old, he married Eliza Jumel, one of the wealthiest widows in America. But the marriage wasn’t going to last even a year. Eliza may have married Burr for recognition. However, it was clear that Burr was in it for the money. He was quickly draining her assets and the money was disappearing. Eliza and Burr lived in the house that she and her first husband, Stephen Jumel, purchased in 1810. Today, it is known as the Morris-Jumel House, and it is now considered to be one of the oldest houses in Manhattan. The divorce ended up being finalized on the day of Aaron Burr’s death in 1836. Burr has reportedly been seen at the mansion, along with Eliza, who lived in the house until 1865 when she passed away at 90 years old. Apparently, a big desk that once belonged to Burr is still in the mansion. Again, it could be some sort of energy from the desk and not Burr himself.

Burr’s ghost has also been spotted in the West Village restaurant, One If By Land, Two If By Sea. It’s rumored that the restaurant is home to his old carriage house, but that has since been debunked since the structure was built after he passed. Perhaps just the mere mentioning of his name will get Burr to appear? Supposedly, not only has Burr been spotted at the restaurant, but also a woman who strongly resembles his daughter, Theodosia. Maybe the father-daughter duo just want to enjoy a meal? It is reported that Burr’s ghost is mainly seen in the basement of the restaurant and will trip employees as they go down the stairs. Was Burr that mischievous and petty? Who knows. I’m not an expert on the rules of the afterlife, but I’m not convinced that a ghost is required to have a personal connection with a location while they were alive in order to haunt it. Burr has also been seen roaming around the West Village in general.

One of the sadder ghost sightings of Burr include him in Battery Park by the water, specifically at the American Merchant Marine Memorial. It is speculated that this spectre is still waiting for Theodosia to arrive from South Carolina, the same trip she didn’t survive. If there is any weight to these reports, then Burr either had some powerful psychic energy that thrives to this day, or he is having a rather turbulent afterlife.

In closing, the world is wide enough for Burr to haunt as many places as he wants.

What do you think? Do you think Aaron Burr is still in unrest in the afterlife? Tell us what you think in the comments! If you enjoyed this blog, please share it with your friends and subscribe to our website!

The post The World Was Wide Enough: The Multiple Hauntings of Aaron Burr appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

My experiences have convinced me that there is definitely more to us then cells and bones and we go on after our physical body dies.  To me, this is a fact. I have lost more people in my life than I would like to admit and have always felt the ones I have lost before them around when it’s getting close to their end. Sometimes it’s just a feeling, a scent, a whisper or a soft touch making sure I know that my people will not be alone in the transition to their afterlife. I have witnessed some who see the ones that have passed before them while on their deathbed but this always seems to be dismissed as a hallucination, the medication they are taking, or that the person is so out of it they don’t know where they are, etc.

I am certain that we are all shown signs that our family/friends come at our end, but aren’t acknowledged or get dismissed in fear of judgement from others. Why does what we feel get disregarded when so many people believe “We will meet again” after we pass? I look forward to seeing everyone I have missed so much in my life and hope to get answers to the questions I have carried around for years. Paranormal investigations have more than proven with hard evidence that there are spirits, ghosts, demons, angels. etc. Some choose to accept this evidence as fact and some just won’t accept it. Technology has given paranormal investigators ways to communicate and measure the afterlife to further prove it’s existence.  Whether you believe or not I am sure that our loved ones stand in line to greet us when we pass, show us the way and most importantly let us know they have always been with us. We take love with us to our next destinations and I look forward to seeing who is there to greet me when it is my time to crossover.

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Is it the devil, demons, aliens the supernatural?

Is it people, disease, famine and despair?

Is it witchcraft and curses? Gambling, violence, war and drugs?

Is it all of these things?

Where does Evil come from? Is it man-made or otherworldly? I often wonder. When I was about eight years old in the seventies, I went with my Mother to visit a friend of hers.I believe her name was Bonnie. Her friend lived in a two bedroom apartment not far from where we lived. My brother who was about four was playing with Bonnie’s son about the same age in the living room which was open to the kitchen. Bonnie had the tea kettle heating on the stove and was getting cups from the cabinet. On her counter next to where she was standing was a book, The Exorcist.

My Mother started to ask her about the book because the movie just came out in theaters. Bonnie started to tell her all the creepy details and the tea kettle was whistling. So, Bonnie served the tea and sat down and continued telling my Mom about it. As they were talking, the book that was at the opposite end of the counter from the stove caught fire. Bonnie got up and threw the book in the sink and turned the faucet on. Luckily no damage. We were all shook up to say the least. My Mother, as graciously as possible, said it was time to go and we high tailed it out of there.

I don’t think we ever visited Bonnie again.

Not because of Bonnie, but because of the book. My Mother was terrified for week. I think that was the first time I sensed Evil or what it represented. There could have been a logical explanation, but I don’t remember there being one. I never read the book and didn’t see the movie until I was in my late teens. To this day I can’t watch it. It bothers the heck out of me. I’ve had many, many paranormal experiences. I don’t know if it is because I am an extremely sensitive person.

I had haunted dolls as a child, I was told it was my imagination. I was sleeping over my Grandmother’s house one night I was in my early twenties. I took her to bingo and we just got back. She was upset because my Uncle’s girlfriend was really nasty to her, and they happened to be at bingo. My grandmother was sitting at the edge of her bed crying because this woman would verbally torment her. As I was consoling her we heard this loud pop, it was a wooden trinket box my uncle gave her. It exploded. I don’t just mean the top flew off, I mean exploded to shreds! We both freaked out. We both slept in the living room. My Grandmother, an old Italian, recited the Rosary until the morning.

When I lived in my first home I purchased in 1996, I had regular hauntings for sixteen years while raising three kids. At first I thought it was me, then the kids noticed it, other people noticed it. I started studying the paranormal back in the late nineties. The shows started coming out a few years later. Other than being pushed down my basement stairs, it wasn’t violent. Things would be moved, lights flickered, toys would talk and move when they weren’t supposed to. We got through it. When I bought this home the haunting stopped. I did some amateur paranormal investigations and house cleanings.

The last one I did was in the Spring of 2014. It was successful. It was a young family and the two-year old daughter couldn’t sleep because of something in her room. According my client her daughter would sleep about three hours per night and not nap. She took her to the pediatrician and the daughter checked out fine. The daughter would hysterically cry and scream man and point at the closest and window. When the parents would bring her into their room she was still inconsolable. When I got there I worked my way through the house and the last room I worked on was the daughter’s room. When I was finished as I was giving advice before I left the little girl fell asleep in her Mother’s arms. My adult daughter was with me and on the way home I told her I think we solved their issues but something within myself didn’t feel right. Something was off. I got home did a house cleansing and cleansed myself. My daughter was not affected.

At my place of work, I been dealing with this woman who desperately needed mental help. The following week she was committed finally for her problems. This was in April, work seemed much better without her around but I was overworked without her there and got horrible bronchitis, it took about two months to heal and then in July she came back, three of the seven people in the office were on vacation and when this woman came back she was not better. On the second day, she was screaming at me correcting my work, a coworkers work and standing over us. She was not a boss. I was in the field before she was born. I just up and left. The evil I felt from her sent chills down my spine. I found other jobs and in saying that it was one lay-off after another. I always had steady work so this was bothersome but I always had enough money for everything so I was still grateful. I still feel like I took something with me during that last house cleansing and all kinds of awful things have happened. But I protected myself and made it this far. I have an uncanny sense of discernment more than ever. I continuously protect myself. I’ve noticed that just going out in the world to work, grocery shopping, to a restaurant and even online. You have to spiritually protect yourself in whatever faith or method works best for you.

I guess it kind of answers my question.

ABOUT LISA MCLAUGHLIN O’CONNOR

In Manchester, New Hampshire a 53 year old woman named Lisa O’Connor has had paranormal experiences off and on since she was around seven years old. From 1996 through 2012 she lived in a home with lots of paranormal activity. Around 2005 she became interested in the paranormal after having so many experiences. She started watching lots of shows on the subject and also reading. As terrifying as some of the experiences were, having three children and a husband who worked two evening jobs, she had to be strong and tough. She even did some amateur investigating. Since she moved to her new home the experiences has become infrequent. She also has more time to herself now that her children are grown. She has written a few things but would like to share her story and help people that are being haunted.

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It’s spooky, it can be exhilarating and fun. I also know for some it can be terrifying. There are some spirits I would love to have visited me, lost loved ones, ancestors, some of my favorite musicians, historical people I admire. I’m not one to encourage them, I do occasionally ask God, the Angels, and my deceased family members for a sign. I sometimes talk to them. I sometimes pray and ask for signs. But!! you never know who or what is going to come through. This is true and we all in the paranormal know this.

Protect yourselves no matter if you are asking for a sign or going on an investigation or to a historically haunted location. Especially during these thin veiled months. Whatever prayers, methods, or beliefs use them to protect yourself. Pray for protection before, during and after. Carry spiritual protection tools with you always, even if its only one item. Spiritual attachment is very real and not always easy to shake. With all the information online, find a source you are comfortable and familiar with.

It may be fun and interesting but take the protection part seriously. If all of a sudden something feels off, and it’s not just fake Dracula hiding behind the door at the Haunted House, its after you go home, a week later, something isn’t quite right.

I’ve always been one drawn to anything haunted. I have to check it out! For decades I have been this way. All it takes is one bad experience and it sticks with you, literally!

In Manchester, New Hampshire a 53-year-old woman named Lisa O’Connor has had paranormal experiences off and on since she was around seven years old. From 1996 through 2012 she lived in a home with lots of paranormal activity. Around 2005 she became interested in the paranormal after having so many experiences. She started watching lots of shows on the subject and also reading. As terrifying as some of the experiences were, having three children and a husband who worked two evening jobs, she had to be strong and tough. She even did some amateur investigating. Since she moved to her new home the experiences have become infrequent. She also has more time for herself now that her children are grown. She has written a few things but would like to share her story and help people that are being haunted. For more information about Lisa, please visit medium.com/lisamclaughlinoconnor

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Voice Recorders

Let’s begin by clearing the field regarding voice recorders. Most of these will not meet the specifications needed for EVP / AVP analysis. They do meet what is needed for doing interviews and keeping an audio log of your investigation. Because of this limitation, I do not recommend using any voice recorder for EVP or AVP evidence collection. The reasons will become apparent as we continue with the requirements a recorder must meet to be suited for this purpose.

EVP / AVP Evidence Recorders

There are five specifications a recorder must meet to do satisfactory EVP study.

1 – The recorder must use an uncompressed digital format.
2 – The recorder must record in stereo or multiple track simultaneously.
3 – The recorder must be capable of using external microphones that can be placed 30 inches apart.
4 – The Sample rate must be 96 KBPS or greater.
5 – The recorder must use a 24 Bit A to D conversion process.

A final requirement involves shielding the recorder against stray EM Fields. A recorder should have internal shielding for this purpose, but if it fails to adequately block offending signals it is permissible to use a Faraday cage around the recorder to obtain the same protection. These details of each of these requirements follows:

Requirement 1 – Uncompressed Digital Format

Compression is a technique used to shrink the size of audio files. It comes at a cost though. When compressed,certain parts of the audio stream may be removed. That may work for regular voice, but since we don’t know exactly what comprises an EVP how can we say what can be safely removed? The solution is don’t remove anything.

There are two areas that compression may take place. First is the digitizing process where the original analog signal is converted to its digital representation. The preferred method is using a form of Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). PCM is considered lossless and provides a true representation of the original audio. This is one point where voice recorders fail. In order to save file size most voice recorders employ a method known as Code Excited Linear Prediction.(CELP). With CELP, certain parts of the original audio stream are either omitted or in some cases averaged together to make estimates of what might be present in the audio signal. It does shrink file size, but also may introduce artifacts that lead to pareidolia or false positives.

The second area where compression may take place is in the final encoding of the digital signal. The method recommended is WAV format which is lossless. It also creates very large files. To shrink the file size many recorders provide MP3 as a file format. It is lossy and should be avoided for evidence recordings. I would point out that some high-end recorders can do both formats, as well as additional methods that have varied degrees of compression. As a result, it is up to the user to know their recorder and choose the proper setting to create lossless recordings.

Requirement 2 – Record in Stereo

This is almost a no-brainer, we have two ears, why not use both of them? Our brains are designed to process sound in stereo, our recorder should also. Consider, one of the recommendations when it comes to pictures is to take multiple shots to provide redundancy. Likewise, a stereo recording is done using two amplifiers, two microphones, two channels for the entire process, providing an output to a stereo headset or two speakers.. Like two pictures, this method provides audio redundancy.

A second advantage has to do with depth of field. If you record using two channels you can view the resulting signal on an oscilloscope and determine phase shift. This may be helpful when analyzing the audio to determine direction and distance between the source of the sound and the microphones.

Requirement 3 – External Microphones

This is related to recording in stereo. If external microphones are placed about 30 inches apart it enhances the separation between channels. This can be helpful in the analysis process when it comes to comparing the degree of phase shift between the channels. Sound travels at a known speed,. 1125 feet per second. Thus direction to the origin of the sound can be calculated if we measure the difference between when the sound is detected by each microphone. An oscilloscope will easily display this difference down to milliseconds. If the sound originates from a point at 90 degrees with respect to the microphones, directly in front of them, there will be no difference. Anything else will cause the sound to arrive earlier at the microphone closest to the source. Since the distance between the microphones is known, it becomes possible to calculate the angle with respect to the microphones and the source.

Requirement 4 – The Sample Rate

This is critical to obtain a recording with minimal distortion and artifacts. Lab tests have been done which demonstrate that 96 Kilobytes per second is the lowest sample rate that can assure a quality recording. Here is how we arrive at the 96 KBPS figure.

Speech is made up of two major components, vocalizations, and fricatives. Vocalizations are the sounds created by the larynx, fricatives are those sounds created by the positioning of the tongue and lips to create modifications to the sounds. For the purpose of this discussion, we need only be concerned with the higher frequency components. These are the fricatives associated with the “S” and “T” sounds. The “S” is the highest frequency generated by speech; the “T” has the fastest rise time (that explosive start to the sound as the tongue releases that puff of air.) These two sounds have two important characteristics we need to note. They are about 3,000 Hz and they are non-sinosodial waveforms. It is from these that we must set the high-frequency specification and sample rate on our recorders.

The Nyquist Point is established as the minimum number of samples needed to simulate a sine wave. Most agree that if the sample rate is seven times the highest frequency being sampled that is sufficient. In other words seven times the frequency of the highest fricative or 7 X 3,000 = 21,000 BPS (21 KBPS). However, that only applies to a sine wave; the “S” and “T” are non-sinosodial waves. For these what is known as a square wave must be employed. A square wave is a sine wave plus an infinite number of its harmonics. Since infinity is not practical another term, called a pseudo-square wave is used. This is the sine wave plus its first three harmonics. So since we are concerned with the Nyquist Point of a Pseudo-square wave we can  set our minimum sample rate as follows:

3,000 – (Frequency of “S”)
X 7 – (Nyquist Point)
————————————-
21,000 BPS (Rate for Sine wave)
X 3 – (3rd Harmonic)
————————————-
63,000 BPS (Actual Sample Rate Needed )

Thus it is evident the minimum sample rate for a good digital recorder is 63,000 BPS or 63 KiloBytes Per Second (KBPS). This fits with testing conducted here where no noticeable distortion is present at 96 KBPS, and minimal degradation detected at 44 KBPS. It should also be noted we really do not know what higher frequencies might be present in an EVP. For this reason, it would be helpful to go even higher when setting a sample rate. There really is no upper limit; the higher the better since the use of higher sample rates only improve the bandwidth of your recording. Of course, cost becomes a factor at some point, you will have to decide how much exceeding the minimum is worth for your research for yourself. This is also another reason why voice recorders or phones are not suited for EVP / AVP work. The sample rate for these devices is usually 8 or 16 KBPS, far below that which can provide a distortion-free audio sample.

Requirement 5 – 24 Bit A to D Conversion

All sound is analog in nature. We hear in analog, and it is essential that a digital recorder process analog as it records its digital equivalent values. The problem is by its nature analog can have an infinite number of values, while digital must have definitive numeric values assigned to each sample made. Thus some rounding up or down must occur as the conversion takes place. Each bit added to the count will double the number of possible combinations, thus giving improved resolution to the audio quality. More bits means the recorder will not need to round off to as great of a degree to assign a specific digital value to a particular sample.

Consider, if we have a 16 bit A to D converter, there are 64,000 possible numeric values which can be represented. This may be suitable for noncritical applications, but where data is involved and an analysis to be done, it is not sufficient. By going to the 24-bit system the number of possible combinations reaches 16 million. This allows for a much finer definition, and details can be refined much more accurately.

It becomes even more important when you consider that most EVPs are very low in volume. This means the recorder is limited by the low volume to only the lowest bits of its spectrum. You are going to have to amplify the audio, sometimes hundreds of times, in order to bring it up where you can hear it. Just like the digital picture begins to pixelate when you zoom in, quality begins to deteriorate as you amplify the audio. And just like the digital picture, if you start with more detail you can amplify more before deterioration becomes a real problem. So it is advantageous to use the best resolution you can when you make a digital recording.

This covers the basics of what you need to look for when choosing your recorder. Other factors also may be important to you. Battery life, ease of operation, as well as a simple means of sending your audio to an external source are also something to be considered. In some cases, these are a matter of personal preference based on your needs. But as long as the main requirements are met, you should be able to obtain audio that is well suited for analysis in the lab.

Jim Brown has been an investigator into claims of the paranormal since the mid-1970s. Before retiring in 2010, he worked over 40 years in the field of electronics design and technology. His background has allowed him to provide insight into the hows and whys of the methods used in paranormal investigations. It has served to support what works and what does not with regards to equipment investigators utilize in their work. Jim’s current interests cover anything that seems to have no obvious explanation. That ranges from UFOs and aliens to claims of hauntings and cryptid sightings as well as what are just considered strange events. He has found most, but not all, can be explained using scientific methods. It’s those last few that keep his interest in the paranormal active. For more information about Jim, please visit his website at: www.jimsdestinations.com/paramain.htm

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Why residential cases?

Why indeed…

For the past seven years of APS’ existence, our bread and butter have been residential cases. My experience in paranormal investigation goes far beyond the seven years, and I had worked on cases solo for quite some time. Why did I bother going into it in the first place? With all of the legal liabilities out there, was it worth it?

My Backstory (Feel Free to Skip)

The reason why I wanted to get into residential casework is that when I was dealing with my terrifying experience at the age of 17, there wasn’t anyone to help us. This was 2003. Believe it or not, it was a year before “Ghost Hunters” premiered (2004). At the time, when it comes to paranormal TV, all I had was “Most Haunted” and “Scariest Places on Earth.” But I didn’t watch those shows because they weren’t allowed in the house. I wasn’t even allowed to read the “Goosebumps” series or watch “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” I did anyway when my mom was asleep (sorry, Mom).

When I was in high school, I was dealing with a lot of stuff. My grandmother died the summer before my freshman year of high school and I had my first “serious” boyfriend. As with all high school romances, it ended…ironically on the anniversary of my grandmother’s death (he was a gem). Needless to say, I was heartbroken for a multitude of reasons. Also, with my grandmother gone, there was no longer someone there to diffuse the tension between my mother and me. So, my home life was rather turbulent. I started thinking some really dark thoughts and really rebelling. To be honest, my rebellion started in middle school but it got REAL bad my sophomore year of high school. I was really diving into reading paranormal books and case files by the Warrens. I would read AT the library so that I didn’t have to take the books home.

Anyway, my grades were slipping. At the same time, I was becoming obnoxiously religious and conservative. I listened to Christian metal, started wearing all black, and really becoming that “deep” teen while serving as president of the Faith Club. Finally, my senior year, I decided to homeschool so I could join a Christian mime ministry. Yep, I was the coolest kid. Anyway, it was the fall of my senior year. I was neck deep in Jesus and my grades were improving since I was learning at my own pace.

However, one night, I had a terrifying experience one night in my bedroom. It was scary enough that I was sleeping in my mom’s room for months before we did anything about it. Mainly, it was because my mom didn’t believe me. It wasn’t until my cat started hissing and going nuts every time she went into my room that my mom decided to find help. At the time, in 2003 in San Diego, CA, there wasn’t a team around that could help us. If there was a team, we couldn’t find them. Eventually, we had to call in a prayer team, which led to an intervention from the Greek Orthodox church.

Keep in mind, this was still very much a time where you didn’t speak about ghosts or anything paranormal…especially if you were a part of a conservative Christian community.

Residential Cases Today

I would say that paranormal culture has changed dramatically since my encounter. People are more open about their paranormal experiences. If someone needs help, they’re more willing to reach out for assistance. There are also so many teams these days that you can’t throw a rock without hitting a local team. There are at least 3-4 teams in almost every major city. They are everywhere. Some of these teams do residential cases. What is interesting is that a lot of these teams stepped back from residential cases.

This can happen for a few reasons:

1. Burnout
2. Many clients end up needed psychological or medical help instead of a ghost hunter
3. Liability risks

Burnout is very real, especially if you’re doing other things because of residentials. That’s all I’ll say about that.

#2 is a very real problem. In fact, APS has cut back on a lot of residential cases if we even get a whiff that someone is in need of a medical professional. We don’t want to give validation to a person who may use our involvement as a reason to stop taking medication. Many people would rather there be a ghost instead of admitting that they may have a very real problem. Because we are screening so intensely now, our case numbers have dropped, which I’m okay with.

#3 has always been a risk, even if teams from the early days didn’t realize it. There is always that risk you’re going to be sued. Even if you have your client sign all the release forms, that won’t stop them from at least taking you to court. You’ll still have to pay those attorney and court fees. William Wilkens of Paranormal Societies wrote a great article about Liability and Legal Concerns for Paranormal Investigators. I highly recommend you read it!

Also, there is a chance that some of these clients are looking for their gig on TV and need validation from a team. Or, they see it as a sideshow and invite half of their Mommy group to watch as you work.

Again, Why Bother?

The risks I mentioned are very real and possible. With this in mind, why do I still continue to work residential cases? Because as we weed through the absurd requests, there is always that one that is legit and is desperate for help. Had there been a team for my mom and me back in the day, would I still be wary of sleeping alone in the dark? Would I have had to deal with the issue for almost a year? I don’t know. But as long as there are families scared to sleep at night, children scared to function in their daily lives, and people seeking a sense of normalcy, fighting for their homes, APS will be there. Even if APS dissipates in the next ten years, at least I will still be there. Even if I’m debunking a haunting, the clients in it for the right reasons breathe a sigh of relief and find some peace in their lives.

To me, that is what makes it all worth it.

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