I love any and all things paranormal. Whether it be related to cryptozoology, hauntings, religion or ufology, if it’s anything mysterious or spooky, down the rabbit hole I will go. One thing I love most about the paranormal community is that people love to share their stories, opinions and ideas. That’s why I always jump at the chance to go to con’s, conventions, meetings and other such events. I enjoy seeing people so passionate about what they believe in that they want to stand up and tell the world.

I recently attended The Excavation of Victorian Ghosts at Bedford Springs in Pennsylvania. There were many wonderful people and presenters and I bought a couple of books that caught my attention. Among them was the book “The Ghost Studies – New Perspectives on the Origins of Paranormal Experiences” written by Brandon Massullo. Of course I immediately turn the book over to get a quick idea of the topic and it states that “this book is far more than a compilation of ghost stories. This book provides scientific explanation for paranormal occurrences that include theories to explain apparitions, hauntings and spirit communications.” It is indicated that the role of energy, electricity, emotions, bioenergetics and the environment are also covered. As someone who has always erred on the side of psychology and science in relation to the paranormal, these topics really jumped out at me.

My first thought on this book is one of gratitude. Thank you Brandon for approaching these topics in straightforward, clear-cut ways. This book could be read by a novice or seasoned investigator, the slightly curious, skeptic or believer and it will still have an impact on the reader. The first chapter touches on popular ghost theories,spiritual and pop culture views and the paranormal investigator him/herself. It provides a solid starting point for the later chapters. Electricity, EMF’s and apparitions are then discussed and even though I feel like i have a rather decent grasp on this, I was still intrigued by Massullo’s discussion of the God Helmet. There are many investigators out there that have a basic understanding of EMF but don’t understand how it affects us personally and these chapters explain this relationship in such a way that it can be understood by even the layman.

Topics like telekinesis, esp, quantum mechanics and near death experiences are just some of the topics approached in this book.

Author Brandon Massullo

While it’s easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole with any one of those topics individually, the author provides enough explanation on each to enlighten the reader but he does a great job at not weighing down the book with too much information. While this book isn’t ‘just a compilation of ghost stories’  there are plenty tales of first hand experiences presented for discussion.

What I enjoyed the most about this book, however, is the attention that Massullo spends discussing the psychology of experiences. It has always been my belief that our minds and emotions don’t get near the attention that they should in regards to evaluating paranormal experiences. I agree strongly with the author and I’m encouraged that this book is really opening the floor for that conversation. For so long paranormal experiences have been discussed as events that have happened TO you and there hasn’t been much discussion about the fact that these events may have happened BECAUSE of you.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the paranormal. You may or may not agree with all the theories discussed but they will definitely make you think. This book is well written and opens the doors for countless areas of study and discussion and it is one that you will find yourself going back to again and again.

Order Brandon’s book on Amazon

Listen to Alex and Maeve interview Brandon Massullo on “The Wicked Domain”

The post Book Review: “The Ghost Studies” by Brandon Massullo appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

Usually, when a client tells us that they are taking medication, especially an anti-psychotic, and have been diagnosed with a condition, we back off. This is for liability reasons and we don’t want to make things worse for the client with potential validation. These days, just walking through the door can give the client validation, and that puts us at risk. There can be instability in the client, which could lead to them not taking their medication anymore and no longer following their doctor’s orders because they think their condition is paranormal. To me, spending a night in a potentially haunted location isn’t worth it if it means that a client could harm themselves due to faux validation. Also, in my experience, working with a client who refuses to believe that they’re experiences are paranormal instead of psychological is like walking in circles. Any remedy you try, whether it’s a house blessing, cleansing, deliverance, etc. it will not work. Eventually, you have to walk away. But you can prevent getting into this situation with these tips.

1. Make sure you have a form on your website that asks about psychological conditions, medications, and police visits.
2. Have one or more investigators on your team who have a background in mental health. While they won’t be able to treat the client, they can give you valuable input.
3. YOU CANNOT GIVE A DIAGNOSIS! This is the quickest route to a lawsuit. If you feel a client has psychological issues instead of paranormal, and you need to drop the case, you can still be honest. Tell them that you are not able to help them because it is beyond your expertise.
4. If you see different pill bottles of various medications in the home, ask what they are for. If the client hadn’t disclosed their medication and condition to you, it is time to leave as soon as you can.
5. If you have a client that is demanding an exorcism because they feel what they’re encountering is demonic and not related to their mental health, calmly tell them that they will have to go through a mental and physical evaluation per the Roman Catholic Church. It’s all true anyway. Plus, most investigation teams do not conduct any kind of exorcism and will usually network to local clergy or religious authority. Then that new contact ends up declining their service to the client because it’s psychological, and moving forward is too much of a liability.
6. You must be honest with the client. If they are hearing someone walking behind them, and you find out that it’s the floorboard, you have to tell them. This is standard practice for any residential case.
7. Involve the client’s family members and friends. They will usually be honest with you on the client’s conditions, and again, with honesty, they will tell you the best way to decline further work in the case. Or, they will take the reins and decline the case themselves on their loved one’s behalf.

If you are a client who is dealing with issues with your mental health, and you are having encounters that you believe are paranormal, we are so sorry you’re having to go through this. If you feel that your condition is paranormal, still have a conversation with your doctor. If you’re taking medication, know the side effects of your medication. If you still decide to involve a paranormal investigator, be honest with them.

But, what if it’s both?

If it’s both, which we have experienced before, we will still decline the investigation. In the paranormal world, we can never be 100% sure if something truly is a paranormal phenomenon or explainable. That is too much of a liability for the team as well as the client’s safety.

Agree? Disagree? Tell us in the comments!

The post All in the Mind: When It’s Not Paranormal appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.