This is also the time for me to say that I’m incredibly skeptical of anything ITC related. But wait, aren’t you a paranormal investigator? Yes. But if I don’t remain skeptical, I’m not going to make any progress as an investigator. I’m not going to give you a lecture about how ITC can be flawed because someone else already wrote something much better than I could ever do that can be found right here. Yet, I can’t help but be captivated by the cultural fascination with ITC. In fact, it has become so popular that people are spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on equipment these days, perhaps not realizing they’re paying 4 times the value of the actual product. By the way, having tons of fancy gadgets doesn’t make you a legitimate investigator, especially if you don’t know how it all works. If you can’t tell me what your device’s original purpose is, you won’t be able to understand how it will capture anomalies. But that’s another blog for another time.

Now, it’s also time for me to admit that I’ve had some pretty incredible experiences with the P-SB7 spirit box. It’s actually happened twice. Someone very personal came through to a team member in 2016, and then someone came through in 2017. Now, last I checked, the radio stations in Gettysburg weren’t going to pick up this person’s voice throughout the different channels. I’m not going to go into details in public, but I’ll be more than happy to talk about it privately. I don’t know how the occurrence happened, and I can’t explain it. This person coming through was the last thought in my mind when I was standing on the second floor of an old house in Gettysburg. I know the skeptics reading will not believe me, and that’s okay. I’m more than happy to talk about it. I’ve read the articles debunking the ghost box, and I know what signs to look out for that it’s just a channel. I can’t promise you’ll be able to change my mind because…and I HATE SAYING THIS: You weren’t there. I’m cringing because it’s the one statement I get from others when I question their data. I read articles and blogs on this topic all the time because debunking is something I enjoy doing because it redirects us onto the right path of paranormal research. If we stop acknowledging the fluff and garbage, it might lead us to some answers/explanations. So, that’s my experience with ITC.

Does this mean you need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on equipment? No. And I strongly suggest you don’t. Because our fascination with ITC is so strong, people are willing to shell out a pretty penny to buy into the fad. But, we are a society of technology, and I doubt we’ll be going back to the old-fashioned seances anytime soon.

Finally, I wanted to take a different route with this blog and ask you what YOUR thoughts are on ITC? Do you think it’s a legitimate method of data collection?

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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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