This is a question asked by millions of people by now, as The Ghost Adventures crew and Zak Bagans have soared to popularity. Since their first independent documentary in which Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin set out on a quest to prove the existence of ghosts, the three friends have been talked and chattered about globally. This chatter was taking place within the paranormal community and by people who had never even had an interest in ghosts..Until they saw Ghost Adventures.
It wasn't long until the Ghost Hunting team had their own show, which first aired on October 17, 2008. And was practically an instant hit. But the question left lingering in peoples minds was "Is Ghost Adventures Real?"
The best way to investigate this frequently asked question is to first take a look at Bagans himself, which is the producer and narrator of the show "Ghost Adventures". Zak Bagans has stated in various interviews that he was once a skeptic, who had never believed in ghosts. It wasn't until he had his own encounter with a ghost that Haunted his apartment building he lived in that he became a real believer. The details about Zak Bagan's experience that changed his life and set him on a quest to capture evidence of ghosts are few, but Bagans believes that it was the ghost of a woman who had committed suicide in his apartment building. Now years later, Bagans, Groff and Goodwin are three of the most talked about and popular people in the Paranormal world. It does help to know that Bagans was a skeptic for most of life until "the experience"
The Ghost Adventures Crew is known for it's no hold's barred approach to Ghost Hunting. Zak Bagans has used the word "emotional" to describe their methods of investigating. Bagans is often seen taunting what he believes to be evil spirits or ghosts. Unfortunately for Bagans, the spirits have taunted back. On the bright side.. It was all caught on film numerous times. But Is Ghost Adventures Real?
In an interview with CinemaSuicide.com, when asked if the Ghost Adventures footage was available for analysis by independent researchers, Zak Bagans stated " Actually that's why we feature various independent experts to analyze our footage in all our documentaries/ shows to get as close as we can to validating it for the public." So chances are that Bagans and The Ghost Adventures Crew won't be handing over their crown jewels of paranormal evidence anytime soon to the general public. However, Zak also made it clear in the very same interview that when filming his documentary, it took three years and countless hundreds of hours of filming and investigating just to get the evidence for the "Ghost Adventures" documentary.
This is something that we as viewers of paranormal television often forget. The investigations that we see took a lot longer than the 30 minute or one hour shows (including commercials) that we see. Often paranormal investigators leave haunted locations with nothing. It's trial and error, hit and miss for most Ghost Hunters. So the fact that there are many pieces of ghostly and paranormal footage obtained by The Ghost Adventures Crew does not make it fake or any less Real..It just means that they could have spent many hours in a quest to obtain it. Which they did..And still do.
Let's face it. All paranormal investigation shows are "spruced" up by Hollywood in the name of ratings and entertainment. But the footage by Ghost Adventures may very well be real. It's just presented in a more shocking and disturbing way for obvious reasons. Bagans, Groff, Goodwin and even our friends over at T.A.P.S. are all normal people who loved and were fascinated with Ghosts and the Paranormal long before we knew who they were. They were for the most part..Regular people like you and I.
So what if they allow Syfy or the Travel Channel to spruce up or creatively edit footage before airing. Do they even have a choice? Would you be okay with a few stretches of the truth as long as fans were happy and you got to do what you loved to do..And get paid well for it? Something to ponder. So Is Ghost Adventures Real? Only the ones sitting in those dark places with cameras and equipment know that. But I for one..Believe.
Jackolantern with brilliant Buddha carving (thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com)
Buddhists certainly have ghost stories. These restless or "hungry ghosts" (PRETAS) have an entire section of the ancient texts devoted to them called the Petavatthu. These ghost stories (a counterpart to stories of celestial planes called the "Vimanavatthu") tell tales of karma and its result. They will be recognizable to the Western as rewards and punishments for well and ill done deeds.
* Real paranormal activity: laghost.com
* Investigating the paranormal (Patt Morrison)
* "On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears"
* Zombies, cyborgs, or a rare disease: science and film
A "peta" is a person who has been reborn on the ghost plane, an unfortunate subhuman destination. Ghosts are not technically "disembodied"; they have subtle bodies varying in transparency and density. While they may be creepy, grieving, and clingy, they are not generally "evil." They are hungry and desperate. This is because when they died, they were very confused as happens when the death is untimely, unfair, sudden, or violent. Furthermore, excessive attachment to relationships or property leads to rebirth on a plane not far removed from this one. They are not adapting to the loss. Most significantly, violating one or more of the Five Precepts is karma (action) that, if it ripens at death, leads to an unfortunate rebirth.
Mara on the "Day of the Dead," LA 2007
Rather than coping with what has been lost, hungry ghosts are clinging to the past. Much like humans who live as hungry ghosts, they find themselves stuck in spite of wishing to move on to a better state. Grasping at and clinging to lost treasure, a lost loved one, or unfinished business keeps them stuck, no longer human but lingering here. The Buddha found the Indian term "peta" (Sanskrit, "preta") appropriate. For although hungry ghosts have departed, they linger and loiter around the perimeter of houses, outside the walls, at thresholds, gates, and doorposts waiting. They are neither fully in the human world nor completely separated from it. Yet, while they lack the karma to participate in it, they can be helped by humans.
Japanese depiction of a wretched "hungry ghost" with a large empty belly, naked, thirsty, voracious, and miserable (mangashare.com).
HOW TO HELP THE DEPARTED
The danger of making contact with ghosts is that they are very needy and clingy, even parasitic. To interact with them is somewhat like feeding a cat and expecting it to go away afterwards. To help, as for example to benefit lost relatives one misses and worries about, an offering may be made in their name. This skillful karma is the doer's alone. However, if the ghost approves and applauds the act, that very act of approval is a mental deed that benefits the doer, that is to say, the ghost.
If the deed is very good -- such as giving to the Sangha or feeding and clothing many people -- the approving, lauding, and praising of it will be very profitable, very karmically beneficial. It is as simple as exclaiming "Well done!" ("Saddhu!") In some cases, such approval will be enough to immediately liberate them from their miserable state. In any case, it will certainly benefit the doer. It even has the potential to profit other unseen beings (such as "devas") who, aware of the wholesome deed, make the mental karma of approving of it. This is why Buddhist ceremonies and group meditations end with the "sharing of merits." It gives other beings the opportunity to share in the good karma. Far from costing those who share merit, it compounds the benefits.
Profitable karma -- specifically, keeping the Five Precepts -- ripens either in the human or lower celestial planes. Unskillful deeds that come to fruition do so in the animal, ghost, titan, and unspeakably woeful destinations. Hungry ghosts do not come from planes we would call "hell" (naraka) nor are they "demons." They can nevertheless be unpleasant, "unclean," upset poltergeists, who are noisy, disruptive, and terrifying. While potentially more active around Halloween, their activity depends on human activity. (Not only ghosts, but inimical earthbound devas -- corresponding to wood nymphs, faeries, elemental spirits, and entities in Western lore -- may not necessarily want humans interrupting their sporting ways, celebrations, and play).
That having been said, for the most part exonerating ghosts, there are malevolent beings:
* Ogres/beasts (yakkhas)
* Reptilians/serpents (nagas)
* Dwarfs/gnomes (kumbandas)
* "Killers"/demons (maras; Scandinavian, Mares)
* Titans (asuras or former "devas", "angels" who were cast out of the Tavatimsa celestial world or "heaven," whose general antagonism is towards the remaining "devas" and their king-of-kings Sakka rather than humans).
Whereas later schools often simplify Buddhist cosmology down to six worlds (depicted in this Tibetan "thangka"), the Buddha in fact detailed 31 Planes of Existence.That all of this echoes Christian themes is in no way an accident or coincidence; these ancient Eastern mythologies may very well be the root of the descriptions found in European lore. Greek culture and mythology, which marks the beginning of "Western" civilization, was strongly influenced by its contact with India ("see" Bactria). And all of the mythological and hybrid creatures mentioned in Buddhist cosmology are pre-Buddhist Indian legends.
In Buddhism the difference (and this is a central yet woefully neglected point that non-meditating scholars fail to appreciate) is that this pantheon of "mythological" creatures is verifiable. The same is true of entities in Buddhist physics and psychology (Abhidharma), such as:
* elementary particles (kalapas)
* consciousnesses or thought-moments (cittas)
* the factors of Dependent Origination
How? With the power of jhana one turns attention toward them and the unseen becomes visible. Because these things are so far removed from normal awareness, however, they are hard to believe in. Therefore many scholars and most Western Buddhists choose to regard all such things as quaint myths and philosophical speculations rather than real and literal things that can be known directly. Pagans and Pegabus observe solstices and other pre-Christian celebrations like All Hallow's Eve (AP).
Anyone who refuses to believe in "ghosts" and hair raising things that go bump in the night might consider visiting a farm house, a haunted house, or weakening one's natural defenses by consuming sugar from artificially colored goop to commercial chocolate to alcohol. If one wishes to be frightened at Halloween, there are unseen beings to frighten one. But sugar, which is visible and ubiquitous, cripples the body, weakens the aura around it, and exposes the subtle bodies and fields, making one susceptible to all manner of harm. While the immune system is knocked out for hours at a time whenever sugar is ingested, it seems Halloween calls for inordinate consumption of candy and spirits.
Asia has Obon, a tradition of expressing filial piety by remembering the dead. Similarly, Latin America observes a holiday called the Day of the Dead. It is wonderful that North America has at least one night a year to acknowledge death, darkness, and discomfort. So step out of the comfort zone and address what's in the closet. It's not likely to be nearly as scary as it is while it rattles around in there ignored.
On the other hand, (attention Goths) anyone morbidly obsessed with sadness, suffering, loss, or pessimism would do well to avoid wallowing in negativity for a day to dress up as a bright faerie, a loving "bodhisattva", or even a repugnant Teletubby.Halloween has become an all-American celebration expressing our:
* fetishes
* anxieties
* impulses
* shadows
* trickiness (when we don't get treats)
* obsession with celebrity
* fear of disease and death
But Halloween is actually nothing more than the eve before the ancient Day of the Dead ("Dia de los "Muertos, "November 1st). It may be nothing more than a chance to vent and grapple with issues most of us would rather not deal with but which impinge on our consciousness anyway:
* war
* crime
* sex symbols
* social transgressions
* wild revelry
Not coincidentally, these five all-American obsessions correspond to Buddhism's FIVE PRECEPTS we otherwise live by when we refrain from:
* killing (even under the banner of war)
* stealing (defrauding people and institutions)
* sexually misconducting ourselves
* lying/slandering/perjuring or speaking harshly/divisively/idly
* intoxicants that abuse the body and lead to negligence
Halloween has morphed from a childish pastime to a sexy and psychologically significant adult event. So play dress up and pretend. Don a costume of whatever you dream or dread you might become -- and get out there. This is the best soon-to-be-holiday on the calendar next to Vesak, which is still the coolest.
Frightening landscape in of the Great Waste, a euphemism for the many woeful but impermanent planes of existence beneath the human realm.
by Seven Jaini and Ashley Wells
With Halloween growing near, it's a good time for a ghost stories. My brother and I were trading ghost stories when he recalled something he'd seen on TV as a child. There were no History, Travel or Syfy channels in the late 60s, but the program was definitely a documentary. It featured haunted houses and the people who lived in them. One of the interviews was with German-born actress, Elke Sommer, who played opposite Peter Sellers in a Pink Panther movie called "A Shot in the Dark".
Elke Sommer and her husband, Hollywood columnist Joe Hyams, lived in Benedict Canyon in North Beverly Hills, California. They claimed that a ghost was living in their house. I can remember feeling spooked after watching this program. Sommer and her husband reported that they had a ghost in their dining room. The chairs would move around at night. Marks were put on the floor below the chairs before they went to bed, and in the morning the chairs wouldn't be standing on the marks anymore. The chairs would be all over the place.
In the middle of the night, Sommer and her husband would wake up to what sounded like a dinner party going on downstairs in the dining room. They heard voices, chairs scooting, glasses tinkling, and silverware clanging. Yet when they would venture downstairs, no one was there. Sommer said, "Things would move all the time and it would be very noisy and the usual poltergeist nonsense, you know." The ghost was described as being a middle-aged man wearing a white shirt.
After attempting to battle the spirits themselves with no relief, Sommer called in some help, contacting the Parapsychological Institute at UCLA. When Life photographer Allan Grant arrived at the house to take some pictures, he was a skeptic - but not so when he left. He said:
"Something happened that spooked me. On one roll of film that I shot in a particular room where they first spotted the ghost there were about four or five frames of film that were progressively fogged down to the end of the frame, giving it a ghostlike appearance, especially (of) Joe Hyams, who was in the shot. When that was processed and I took a look at it, I thought, there's no way that would happen...in the center of a roll...something else had happened that I couldn't explain and I've spent years as a photographer and that had never happened to me before....Something did happen in that house. "
The haunting continued. One night, awakened by a knocking on their bedroom door, Hyams opened the door to discover that a mysterious fire had broken out. He and Sommer managed to escape through a window. Shortly thereafter, they moved out of the house permanently. Hyams wrote a book about the haunting experience called "The Day I Gave Up the Ghost. "Evidently, though, the ghost didn't give up. The "severely haunted house" at 2633 Benedict Canyon was bought and sold more than seventeen times since Sommers vacated it, and many have reported ghostly phenomena.
Oddly enough, this ghost story made it to the pages of a 1965 and 1966 Jehovah's Witness publications, "AWAKE!" and "THE WATCHTOWER". Yet to be found, are the results of the investigation conducted by UCLA.
The following is a list of ghost hunting definitions and tools you should use on a ghost hunt. It is important that you familiarize yourself with these terms as they are used quite frequently during a paranormal investigation. And as for the tools you don't need to rush out and buy this gear. A basic camera, video camera is the minimum otherwise there is no point in going on a ghost hunt if you can't show others what you may have captured
Amulets - Amulet Jewelry
Some ghost hunters wear jewelry called amulets because they believe the amulet jewelry provides protection; because it is enchanted and charmed with powerful spells - which some believe make it an effective weapon against harmful spirits - ghosts. An example of a common amulet might be a crucifix - a cross. I believe jewelry is only powerful to the mind that believes in it. An amulet is the same as a charm or talisman jewelry.
Anomaly
Something found on a picture, photograph, video or voice recording that has no explainable source.
Apparition
These are the holy grail of ghost hunting. A spirit that is in human form and usually visible to the naked eye; or may appear in a photo undetected originally by the naked eye. Often this anomaly is dressed in period clothing. Very hard to capture on film but many have reported seeing this type of ghost. This is the "Hollywood Type" ghost featured in many movies.
Cameras
Cameras are an invaluable tool and a must for investigating a haunting. They provide visual documentation of the investigation and the phenomena occurring. Since, cameras are neither for or against the paranormal, they allow what we do not see with our closed minds to be photographed. Digital cameras provide more results and are best for ghost hunting because they can show you what's in your picture right after you took the photo.
Digital photos are available to upload to your computer immediately after the ghost hunt, while the events are still fresh in your mind.
Psychic photography is simply just following what you feel or sense, and taking pictures using intention and intuition. When attempting psychic photography you should load the film into the camera on arrival of the investigation site. Many say this will show the intention you have and draw spirits to you to photograph. When taking pictures it is also wise to notify others in the area you are taking a photo, so they are prepared for the flash. Psychic photography is usually best achieved during the hours between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.; but the best time for you will be when you have the feeling something is near you or watching you - you should go with that instinct.
While photographing at the investigation site, you should try to avoid mirrors, glass, lights, poles or any other obstruction that will interfere with evaluation or determination of the photograph and it's elements; otherwise you may want to note the possibility of a false result with those photos taken. Also, make sure your camera strap is removed and fingers are not in front of the lens, as they can appear as convincing paranormal evidence. It is good to catalog your photos with the corresponding negative for archival storage. If using a digital camera, simply save the ghost photos and corresponding notes to a cd disk.
Dowsing Rods
Traditionally, a forked branch or stick that is believed to indicate subterranean water or minerals by bending downward when held over a source. Divining rod, a rod, commonly of witch hazel, with forked branches, used by those who discover water or metals under ground.
Dowsing or divining rods can also be made of metal, and bent in an "L" shape - one for each hand. In ghost hunting, when the rods cross while being held out in front of the "dowser" they indicate spirit presence at the spot the dowser is at.
What is ectoplasm? It is the name given to a form of dense energy liberated by living things which is believed to make possible the materialization of ghosts. In short, it appears in photographs like a fog or mist, and is spirit. We prefer to see orb vapor trails (such as in the above ghost picture), to determine conclusively that it is indeed ectoplasm. Vapor trail cannot be re-created through fog, breath or smoke. Many ectoplasm pictures are created by mistake, when the ghost hunter has not been careful. Moisture, fog, cigarette smoke and human breath in cold weather can produce some believable ectoplasm ghost pictures. Be sure to hold your breath before taking ghost pictures, and do not smoke during your investigations for positive results.
EMF Meters
The Electromagnetic Field Detector, also known as an EMF meter, is the ghost hunters tracking device. Using this instrument, it is possible to locate and track energy sources. Before using the EMF meter as a ghost hunting tool on an investigation, be sure to walk around the area taking readings around energy sources such as light poles and electrical outlets to be sure of the readings you will receive while scanning the area during the investigation. Some EMF meters come with a manual describing common household appliances and their corresponding electromagnetic reading. When using this device be sure not to leave it on for the full length of the ghost investigation, as this will prevent the instrument from burning out.
When a positive EMF meter reading occurs, take as many photos as possible. Be sure and point the camera in the same direction as you are pointing the EMF meter. This is also a good time to take a temperature reading. Be sure to always report the times of positive EMF readings, temperature drops, and the times and numbers of each photo. This provides collaborating evidence of the paranormal occurrence. At the end of your ghost hunt, you may find that positive EMF and temperature readings occurred at the exact time you took the photograph which shows an anomaly.
Energy Lights
These show up on photos as colored lights during some manifestations of hauntings. They usually are not visible to the naked eye and can appear in different colors such as red, orange or green.
EVP
Electronic Voice Phenomenon is the recording of audio tapes at a suspected haunted site; and although no voices were heard at the time of the recording, unexplained voices may be discovered during playback of the audio tape. Both digital recorder and traditional tape recorders may be used with an external microphone.
Kinetic Energy
Description for the movement of objects by a ghost. A physical manifestation of an unseen force which may move, throw or even destroy objects. These ghosts are known as "Poltergeists" (German for "noisy ghost").
Orbs
Not all orb ghost pictures are ghosts. In fact, most orbs are caused by moisture, dust, flash reflection, solar flare, and insect. Many have videotaped orbs flying around rooms - some are dust with light reflecting off of it; others are balls of energy that many ghost hunters are not sure just what they represent. We do not claim to have the answers, but we seek to present the evidence we receive and allow our viewers to research and decide on their own.
It is hard to determine exactly the source of an orb for sure. But one test is pretty cool. Take a picture while stirring up some dust and watch how many "orbs" appear in the picture. This is a good test to learn about orbs caused by dust.
Motion Sensors and Detectors
Motion sensors and detectors are another investigation tool that many ghost hunters use. Simply put, motion sensors or motion detectors are used to let the ghost investigator know if something is moving in another room, while the investigator is elsewhere. Motion sensors work well when left in a room during the time when no investigator is present. Motion sensors have alarms that sound when movement is detected in the room in which they are placed. Typically, they will sound in rooms where no previous activity had been reported; and upon further investigation, one may find much evidence of paranormal activity in the room where the motion detector or sensor sounded its alarm. The motion sensors used by ghost hunters project an infrared beam. When the beam is disrupted by movement of any kind (natural or spirit!), an alarm will sound that the investigator can hear while in another room: a clue that spirits may be present in that area where the motion detector resides. Usually motion sensors have an alarm mode and chime mode. The chime mode will only announce the visitor or movement, but will not blare as a siren for a long time. Most ghost hunters prefer the chime mode setting on their motion detector, as it is less offensive and won't scare the dickens out of you!
Plasma/Plasmoid
Moving orbs caught during the time of camera exposure. Orbs have also been filmed moving, on video. In photos, they appear as streaking light or as an orb with a tail showing the path of motion. These are also known as "supercharged orbs" in motion.
Poltergeist Hauntings
Poltergeists or poltergeist hauntings may be the most misunderstood type of haunting, as some believe that poltergeist hauntings are not even a haunting at all. The German word, "poltergeist," means "noisy ghost." The best defining mark of a poltergeist is if there is any manipulation of the physical environment such as the movement of objects, physical attack, spontaneous combustions, etc, then this is a poltergeist-type of haunting.
A common thread between different poltergeist hauntings has strongly indicated that they are caused by psychokinesis (the ability to move things by power of the mind alone). The question becomes whether the psychokinesis is from the people who live within (or visit) the place where the activity takes place, or if it is actually occurring from an unseen troubled spirit, called a ghost. The reason for this is because typically poltergeist hauntings center around an adolescent girl (although young males and even adults have exhibited the same phenomena) in the household. Typically, this central person is usually emotionally disturbed in some fashion, and is somehow the root cause of objects moving, knocking sounds (and other noises), the turning on and off of lights and electrical appliances, etc. What is interesting is that the person whom the activity centers around, is unaware that they are the one who is bringing about the disturbance. But in true poltergeist hauntings, none of the activity will continue after the person is removed from the environment, as they are not there to create it or influence an unseen entity. However, it has been reported that activity can return later if the "right" person visits or lives in a notably poltergeist-haunted place. This would lend one to believe that it requires a combined psychic energy to manifest such terrible hauntings.
Author Brad Steiger contends that the central figure in a poltergeist haunting actually brings additional energy which the troubled ghost then uses to manifest with physical attacks or manipulation. This can be especially true if one is somewhat psychic and/or full of fear. The ghostly entity seems to feed off of low energies such as fear. This is when more harmful attacks can occur. Sometimes the effects of a poltergeist are more playful than harmful, but have been known to be downright nasty. Reports of scratches, bites, harmful objects being put in one's way (such as glass shards on a pillow or tacks under a bed sheet) have been noted, as well as ghost possession. Perhaps Brad Steiger's best phrase is, "Ghosts haunt houses; poltergeists haunt people." Perhaps many times, the troubled spirit wants only to communicate a message to those who still are in bodies.
Residual Haunting
When a spirit is seen doing the same thing over and over, many believe this to be simply an energy imprint or residual haunting. In other words, a strong, traumatic event that occurred in some other time, repeating itself over and over. Usually these spirits do not interact with those who see them. My opinion, is that this could simply be a state of mind I call "hell;" being trapped by one's own mind in darkness or lack of understanding. Sort of reliving of an event perhaps through fear, guilt or condemnation until that spirit finds truth and freedom.
Think of a residual haunting as a movie being re-run on TV day after day. It is believed by ghost hunters that some events, due to perhaps strong emotional energy attached to it, imprint themselves somehow on the environment where the event took place. Sort of "trapped in time," the event is recorded in the atmosphere of a place. If one were to see a ghost doing the same activity over and over, and with no response to the present environment, it is most likely a residual haunting. Residual hauntings are past events playing in the present, but with no interaction with today. It is a common ghost hunters theory that most residual hauntings occur in places built over top of limestone, quartz stone and/or water. These seem to act as a transmitter, perhaps creating the perfect environment to allow the residual haunting energy to manifest.
How can residual hauntings occur? Energy is spirit and spirit is life. All of us are spirit, with or without the physical body, and we live and exist within spirit. Spirit is the life-force of all, whether plant, animal or human being, and is everywhere. Everything that is, exists within spirit. Spirit or energy is everywhere. Thus, is it possible for an event or person to imprint its energy upon a place? Most ghost hunters believe so...
Dark Shadows/Shadow People
Dark shadows in ghost pictures usually appear as a black smudge or fog over an image. Some certainly could be caused by a finger or something else over the camera lens, but many are not. There have been many interesting observations of shadow ghosts (dark shadows or shadow people). They are usually seen out of the corner of one's eye, hence this is why some call them shadow people - they often observe others. Also, dark shadows have actually been recorded playing with one another. This has led some ghost investigators to believe they can be children, as well as adults. Some have seen shadow ghosts 6 feet tall with broad shoulders, for example. Shadow ghosts can see and react with people. We have theorized that perhaps their darkness may be just an indicator of their lack of progression into the light and unto their life review...call it "in darkness," or "lack of understanding of truth" - unaware of where they are, having unfinished business, or afraid to move on.
Thermometer / Thermal Scanner
Thermometers are an instrument that are also very useful. There are two types used regularly: digital thermometers and infrared non-contact thermometers. When used on an investigation this will aid as a detection system for spirit presence. Rapid temperature drops of 10 degrees or more could indicate spirit activity. I recommend using the infrared non-contact thermometers because they react in less than a second to temperature drops and can scan a large area quickly.
As mentioned, good thermometer can detect changes in room temperature quickly. But some still use the old-fashioned mercury-filled, red-line, thermometers. Electronic thermometers should be used, but in high paranormal, haunting activity where electromagnetic forces have been reported they may fail right when you need them. So bring an old mercury thermometer with you as back up, and you should be o.k. during your ghost investigation.
Vortex
A long streak across a photo that may be caused by a very high-speeding "orb;" some believe vortices are a gateway between both realms (physical and spirit realms). They are usually white in color and may appear as a funnel-shape. Camera straps, human hair, a tree branch, etc., right in front of the camera lens during exposure have been notoriously mistaken for a vortex. It is important to make sure anything that may interfere with your photo is removed from within the front of the camera.
For further information please visit: [http://gaps.net.au]
A police force has revealed a catalogue of more than 150 supernatural and paranormal cases which have been reported to them in recent years.
Details of investigations involving ghosts, UFO's, aliens and fairies were released by Devon and Cornwall Police after a Freedom of Information request. In some examples people have called the police force to deal with spooks in their houses, or even to a field infested with fairies. However, most of the paranormal reports revolve around UFO sighting, and peaked in 1996 when a variety of strangely shaped spaceships were spotted.
In odd news the 1996 peak also coincided with the release of the movie Independence Day and the popularity of the X Files on TV. Other odd examples reported to Devon and Cornwall Police include someone who said they had encounters abusive aliens in a field and another who claimed to be one.
First step in any new hobby or job is to learn the theory. And one of first steps in learning theory regarding paranormal investigations is the need to learn about the types of phenomena we might encounter during our investigations. I would like to focus on ghosts - there are different types of phenomenon we're usually calling "ghosts" - each person interested in paranormal should know these types no matter if he or she is investigating paranormal activities, or just focusing on theory as pure hobby.
RECORDS (RESIDUAL ENERGIES)
Sometimes you might encounter Records - a phenomena when you will experience an event from the past, appearing like a recorded 3D movie. Witnesses have encounter a wide range of such Records, starting from single shadow moving across the room, ending on whole armies on the battlefield. If we would like to explain this phenomenon, we could think about psionic signatures - they have custom to left on different objects or in different places such as house or chair...
Intelligent Haunting
This is a spirit of a person that died yet stick in our physical world. These ghosts might hang around flats or houses, or even big castles and streets and they are trapped in our world. Paranormal investigator's job is to identify the problem and help the spirit "move into the light", as psychics use to say.
Stick Ghosts
Stick to what, you will ask - stick to objects, such as urns or favourite chairs etc. Such ghosts appear to move from one location to another along with the object they're stick to (of course object is moved by those who still lives, not on its own).
Bi-locations
Two persons in the same place - its a well know phenomena between people studding lives of saints. Sometimes person don't know he or she is present in two different places in the same time, sometimes bi-location might be caused unintentionally as a result of stress or fear, sometimes intentionally (Remote Presence, a psychic skill).
Ghosts of pass
When a person is passing from our world to the "other side", sometimes a spirit of this person is paying a visit to its relatives or friends - at least some people believes this is happening.
Poltergeist
I belong to a group of people who strongly believe that 98% of poltergeist activity is not ghosts, but uncontrolled psychokinesis and it's caused by living people. Even so, there is still this 2% of activities that we can't explain by psychokinesis, so we have to assume there are some spirit stuff included. Poltergeist is nothing more than objects moving on their own - flying, falling etc. If you can't find natural explanation of such phenomena, then it might be caused by person causing psychokinesis effects, or by a ghost manifestation.
Orbs
Some people says Orbs are first steps of ghost manifestation - but mostly probably orbs will be nothing more than a specks of dust or drops of different kind - so if you were able to take a picture of orb, treat it as natural phenomena, not as proof of paranormal activity. But if you're seeing orbs on real, and they're glowing and flying around, then it's definitely not a speck or drop.
Pseudo-Fakes
I'm using this term to describe situations in which people are faking stuff in order to please investigator, but there is something paranormal going on indeed. Sometimes activity might stop when investigator arrives on site, and witnesses don't want to look like fools so they're trying to fake activity - that's why even when you're suspecting a fake, you should keep your mind open as maybe something is happening on real.
Fakes
World isn't perfect - people are faking stuff. Mostly probably 98% of all your investigations will be faked and you can't do anything about it. If you think that each and every paranormal site you'll visit will be real, you're simple wrong - paranormal investigator job in most cases is not to prove paranormal activity to be real, but to prove someone is faking. Sound strange? No one told this is going to be normal...
Now you know some basic theory and you can learn more about paranormal investigations. But that's subject for another article.
Nathaniel is a psychic, energy worker and paranormal investigator, grab his ebook and learn how to develop psychic abilities.
