U N D E R G R O U N D® - San Diego Paranormal Research Society

Transcription

PARANORMAL
UNDERGROUND
®
Volume 8
Issue 8
August 2015
RMS Queen Mary
A Spirited Ship
What Are
Crop Circles?
Bigfoot &
the Psychic
Battleground
Demon
How to Combat
Negative Energy
Bigfoot, Yeti &
Other Cryptid Wildmen
Dowsing/Divining
& Pendulum Work
ALSO INSIDE:
Dream Interpretation: Monsters
Ghost Hunter Case Files: Covington Liquor
The House That Weeps (House of Miracles)
August 2015
Gaurav Tiwari: Indian Paranormal Society
Paranormal Underground
1
PARANORMAL
UNDERGROUND
®
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Paranormal Underground August 2015
Table Of Contents
CASE FILES OF THE UNKNOWN
14
Haunted Sites
RMS Queen Mary: A Spirited Ship
22
Are We Alone?
What Are Crop Circles?
24 Haunted Objects & Curses
Bigfoot, the Yeti, & Other Cryptid Wildmen
14
36
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
8
Para-Chat
Gaurav Tiwari: Indian Paranormal Society
50
Author Profile
‘King Hall’ by Scarlett Dawn
24
26
34
PARANORMAL INSIGHTS
10
Special Report
Mind Wars: Cults and Mind Control Part 2
26
Inside the Psychic Mind
Yep, They Exist! Bigfoot and the Psychic
28
Metaphysics & Energy Healing
The Role of the Metaphysician in Afterlife Studies: Part 3
34
The Secret Life of Dreams
Dream Interpretation: Monsters
36
Get Spooked
Beating Out the Bad Mojo: How to Combat Negative Energy
38
Magic & Lore
Dowsing/Divining & Pendulum Work
40 The Dark Side of the Paranormal
46
40
50
8
10
38
28
Battleground Demon
44 The Dark Corner With Chuck
The House That Weeps (House of Miracles)
46 The Psychic Biker: Attitude With Empathy
‘I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts’
48
Personal Experiences: Ghost Hunter Case Files
Spectral Tech Investigation: Covington Liquor
DEPARTMENTS
4
6
7
7
Contributors
Publisher’s Letter
Calendar of Events
Ghost Hunter Comic
August 2015
3
Contributors
WINTER M. BALEFIRE
Winter has been an occultist and paranormal researcher for nearly 20 years. She has
been published repeatedly since 2009 and has
also been the subject of interviews regarding
both areas of expertise.
Writing and witchcraft have always remained close
to Winter’s heart, feeling both require a profound understanding of one’s self and environment. When she’s not
exploring the macabre and bizarre, Winter enjoys reading
tarot, as well as writing poetry and short stories. All of her
work can be viewed on her Website.
http://www.winterbalefire.com/
WILLIAM BECKER
William is a psychic medium and paranormal investigator and researcher, as well as tour
guide with Northwest Ghost Tours. William’s
interest in the paranormal goes back to his early
childhood when he saw his first apparition.
With this interest in the paranormal, along with
a degree in history, it was only natural that he would jump at
the chance to combine the two by giving tours.
http://paranormalinsights.net/
LARRY FLAXMAN & Marie D. Jones
Larry Flaxman and Marie D. Jones are the
bestselling authors of books on cutting-edge
science, the paranormal, ancient mysteries, and
metaphysics, including 11:11 - The Time Prompt
Phenomenon: The Meaning Behind Mysterious Signs, Sequences and Synchronicities; The
Resonance Key: Exploring the Links Between
Vibration, Consciousness, and the Zero Point
Grid; This Book Is From the Future: A Journey
Through Portals, Relativity, Wormholes, and
Other Adventures in Time Travel; The Grid: Exploring the
Hidden Infrastructure of Reality; and several others.
They are cofounders of ParaExplorers, and have appeared on Discovery Channel’s Ghost Lab and History
Channel’s Ancient Aliens and Nostradamus Effect. They
speak together and individually at conferences and seminars all over the country. Their first novel, Gridwalkers,
is due out in 2016 and is based on “The Grid.” They are
also the screenwriters of 19 Hz. The Ghost Frequency.
http://paraexplorers.com/, http://www.mariedjones.
com/, and http://larryflaxman.com/.
Bob Fountain
As an investigator and evidence analyst with Spectral
Tech, Bob and the team try to help their clients find
4
August 2015
answers while helping to educate them about
the paranormal in the process. As a special
projects manager primarily involved in process
engineering, and because documentation and
analysis is paramount to serious investigations,
Bob was drawn to take more than a passing
interest and become actively involved in the study of different paranormal phenomena.
http://www.spectraltech.org/
Charles G. Gotski
Chuck is an experienced paranormal
investigator and psychic, as well as an accomplished filmmaker, producer, and writer.
His interest in the paranormal started after a
profound personal experience when he was in
his teens. With more than 20 years of experience under his belt, in 2010 he decided to form his own
team, called In The Dark Investigations.
While helping to educate and gather evidence in the field,
the team also steps out the box and experiments with new
ideas. Chuck is the cocreator of the EerieEvents Web series
and cohost of Paranormal Underground Radio: In The Dark.
http://www.inthedarkinvestigations.com/
Karen Frazier
Karen is a psychic medium who has been
actively involved in the study of paranormal
phenomena for many years. She currently
cohosts Paranormal Underground Radio: In
The Dark. She is the author of Avalanche
of Spirits: The Ghosts of Wellington, Dancing With the
Afterlife, and Pioneer Spirits: Investigating the Haunted
Lewis County Historical Museum. She also investigates
with South Sound Paranormal Research.
Karen holds a bachelor’s and master’s in metaphysical science from the University of Metaphysics, as well as
a Ph.D. in metaphysical parapsychology from the University of Sedona. She is an ordained minister/metaphysical
practitioner with the International Metaphysical Ministry
and an Usui Reiki practitioner. She has completed courses in energy healing, including quantum touch, crystal
healing, sound healing, and aromatherapy.
http://www.authorkarenfrazier.com/
Terri J. Garofalo
Terri is a paranormal investigator, as well
as the artist and writer behind Entities-RUs, Ghost Hunter Comic. She’s a freelance
artist, illustrator, and designer in Hyde Park,
New York. http://www.entities-r-us.com/
Paul Green
Paul, The Psychic Biker, is a gifted
medium and psychic who was once an ardent
skeptic. He is a hard-core, no-nonsense biker
who would look more at home on the door
of a nightclub than offering his services as
an empathetic psychic medium. Make no
mistake, Paul is opinionated and brutally honest, yet he is
respected by all who know him, or as he would describe
himself: “Attitude With Empathy.”
Cheryl Knight
Cheryl is editor-in-chief of Paranormal
Underground magazine and producer of
Paranormal Underground Radio: In The
Dark. She has more than 20 years of experience as a professional writer and editor
and has published hundreds of articles on
topics ranging from advanced technology to paranormal
investigation.
Cheryl’s previous magazine experience includes roles as
senior and managing editor for several business publications.
https://paranormalunderground.net/
JUNE LUNDGREN
June is a psychic medium, animal communicator, healer, nurse, and international
author with more than 40 years of experience
in the paranormal field. Her books include A
Medium’s Guide to the Paranormal, Paranormal Encounters, and Paranormal Encounters Book
2. Her upcoming book is entitled The Dark Side of the
Paranormal. June is also a member of NW Paranormal
Investigative Team.
http://mysticconnections.org/
Michelle M. Pillow
Michelle is a New York Times and USA
Today bestselling author writing in many
fiction genres, including the Dragon-Shifter
series Dragon Lords and Captured by a
Dragon-Shifter and the mischievously magical Warlocks MacGregor. A skeptical believer, she has a
fascination with anything paranormal.
Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether
it’s a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville
theater or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She has
a BGS in history/business with an English minor and a
photography degree. She is the co-owner of www.TheRavenBooks.com.
http://michellepillow.com/
Nicole Strickland
Nicole is the founder and director of
the San Diego Paranormal Research Society
and serves as the team’s EVP specialist and
historical locations case manager. She has
been actively investigating historical landmarks
and private residences for paranormal activity
since the early 2000s, after a profound experience with
the spirit of her beloved grandmother.
Nicole is also a core member of the Ghost Research Society and was appointed to the GRS Southern
California Area Research Director position in 2009.
Additionally, Nicole serves as a California Representative for the American Spectral Society. She is also the
author of Field Guide to Southern California Hauntings, The Haunted Queen of the Seas: The Living
Legend of the RMS Queen Mary, and Queen Mary,
Spirited Queen Mary.
http://www.sandiegoparanormalresearch.com
MATT SWEENEY
Matt is currently unemployed, is vision
impaired, and has worked and studied in
various areas of employment. He loves
writing and contributes weekly to The
Paranormal Guide with articles on varied subjects, but
mainly discusses cryptozoology and UFOs. He shares
his articles on his own Facebook page, “Marvels and the
Macabre With Matty.”
https://www.facebook.com/macabremarvelswithmatty
Krystle Vermes
Krystle is a long-time paranormal enthusiast and professional writer with a bachelor’s
degree in print journalism. When she isn’t
composing pieces for her own paranormal
blog, GetSpooked.net, she’s recording her
popular podcast, “All Day Paranormal.”
http://getspooked.net/
Chad Wilson
A freelance writer, Chad is the publisher
of Paranormal Underground magazine. His
interest in the paranormal led to the creation
of www.ParanormalUnderground.net.
Chad has investigated with East Tennessee Paranormal Research Society and counts Waverly
Hills, the Villisca Axe Murder House, the Queen Anne
Hotel, the Queen Mary, and private residences among his
investigations.
https://paranormalunderground.net/
August 2015
5
Publisher’s Letter
PARANORMAL
U N D E R G R O U N D®
Volume 8, Issue 8
August 2015
www.ParanormalUnderground.net
EDITORIAL
Publisher
Chad Wilson
Editor-in-Chief
Cheryl Knight
editor@paranormalunderground.net
Science Editor
J.D. Harrison
Contributors
Winter M. Balefire
William Becker
Larry Flaxman
Bob Fountain
Karen Frazier
Terri J. Garofalo
Charles G. Gotski
Paul Green
Marie D. Jones
June Lundgren
Michelle M. Pillow
Nicole Strickland
Matty Sweeney
Krystle Vermes
The views expressed and opinions given by our
contributors do not necessarily reflect those of
Paranormal Underground magazine’s owners,
affiliates, or sponsors.
Copyright © 2008-2015 — Paranormal Underground® is a registered trademark. All rights
reserved. As such, Paranormal Underground and
its contents are the property of its owners. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective
owners. This publication and all content within this
publication may not be copied, quoted, distributed,
modified, or reprinted without the express written
consent of Paranormal Underground magazine.
6
The Bigfoot/Alien
Enigma
A
re humans, aliens, and
In our ego-driven lifestyle, of
bigfoot related? An idea
course the human race thinks it is
struck me after listening
the ultimate life form on this planet
to alien abduction experiencer
and even the galaxy at large. That
Jane Pooley relate her theory that
explains our constant need to insist
grey aliens are just a long
that aliens do not exist, or
distant cousin of the huat the very least have not
man race. The implication
visited this planet. We
that aliens are just another
must be bigger and better
branch of the human race
than everything in order
that includes Homo erecto control it in our fear of
tus, neanderthalensis, and
being outpaced. It is hard
sapiens are mind-blowing.
to swallow as a species that
Chad Wilson,
Maybe that is why they
we are not as important as
Publisher
have such an interest in us.
we would like to think.
Homo Sapiens as the
Missing Link
Another part of this that we
must consider if these implications
are true is that somehow we are
also related to Bigfoot and other
large arthropods. If the theory of
evolution holds any water, and if
Bigfoot and his kin do exist, then
a possible connection could very
well exist. This could be a groundbreaking realization in my opinion.
Bigfoot, man, and aliens side-byside as galactic brothers.
Maybe the human species is
the elusive missing link. We think
we are the end result of evolution.
In reality we could be the middle
step in between the primitive Bigfoot and the more advanced Greys.
So, instead of being at the top of
the food chain, we lie somewhere
in between. An interesting theory
to say the least.
August 2015
Where Do We Go From Here?
Gradually, over time, more
and more of us have come to accept the fact that we are not the
be-all and end-all. It started with
the realization that our planet was
not at the center of everything and
has grown from there.
Recent discoveries by the various probes that we have sent out
to explore our own system, and
through other wonders brought to
our attention by science, we have
been forced to question our very
existence.
I find it funny how there has
been some correlations by some
between Bigfoot sightings and
UFOs. There have even been
questions of whether Bigfoot is an
alien or not. I just wonder if we are
all somehow related?
What do you think? Email editor@paranormalunderground.net.
Calendar Of Events
August 7–8
Michigan Paracon
Kewadin Casino
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
http://miparacon.com/
August 8–9
Pensacola Comic Convention
Pensacola Interstate Fair Grounds
Expo Hall
Pensacola, Florida
http://www.pensacolaparacon.com/
August 14–16
ParaCharityCon
The Genetti Hotel
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
http://paracharitycon.weebly.com/
August 16
Bigfoot Days
Pioneer Village
Beaver Creek State Park
East Liverpool, Ohio
http://friendsofbeavercreekstatepark.org/
August 28–29
Roads to the Paranormal
The Backyard at Montgomery’s
Steakhouse
Spiceland, Indiana
http://festivalnet.com/72603/
Spiceland-Indiana/Specialty-ThemeEvents/Roads-to-the-Paranormal
September 11–12
Burr Oak Bigfoot Conference
Burr Oak State Park
Morgan County, Ohio
http://sosbigroup.blogspot.com/
PARANORMAL
U N D E R G R O U N D®
Volume 8, Issue 8
August 2015
www.ParanormalUnderground.net
ADVERTISING
September 19–20
All Ireland Paracon & Paranormal
Expedition
King House
Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland
http://allirelandparacon.com/
September 19–20
2015 Mothman Festival
Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
http://mothmanfestival.com/
September 19–20
UFO Truth Magazine Conference
Holmfirth Civic Hall
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England
http://paranormalevents4u.com/
events/2015/09/ufo-truth-magazine2015/
September 24–27
2015 MUFON Symposium
Hotel, Irvine
Irvine, California
http://www.mufonsymposium.com/
E-mail your paranormal event information to editor@paranormalunderground.net.
Interested in advertising in
Paranormal Underground magazine
or during our Radio Show/Podcast?
Contact:
Cheryl Knight
714-646-4197
ART DIRECTION
Art Director
Chad Wilson
Design and Layout
Cheryl Knight
On The Cover
The Queen Mary
(Photo by Joe Bertoldo)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter
http://twitter.com/ParanormalUG
Facebook
www.facebook.com/ParanormalUnderground
Tumblr
www.paranormalunderground.tumblr.com
Ghost Hunter Comic
Pinterest
www.pinterest.com/paranormalug
MySpace
https://myspace.com/paranormalunderground
Send comments and letters to:
August 2015
7
Para-Chat
Gaurav Tiwari
Indian Paranormal Society
By Paul Green, The Psychic Biker
G
aurav Tiwari is the founder of Indian Paranormal
Q. What’s your earliest memory?
Society, a certified leading paranormal invesGaurav: I have often surprised my parents talking about
tigator, certified UFO field investigator, and a
things that I remember being a one-year-old. I almost reParaNexus representative in India. Gaurav earned an inmember everything since I was a child. You can say I am
ternational reputation for himself and his team after bustblessed with a very good memory.
ing the haunting myths of Bhangarh,
However, to make sense to our paraas well as for his work in establishing
normal readers, my earliest memory
India’s first scientific paranormal
of being afraid of a ghost was when
research association.
I was three years old and my mom
He continues to promote paratook me to a dark room in my house.
normal research on different televiShe showed me a dark attic and
sion channels in India. Gaurav was
told me that this is the room of the
featured in MTVs Girl’s Night Out
“Kachcha-khau” (eat-you-raw) ghost,
with VJ Rannvijay and various other
who takes away bad children who do
shows on different News Channels,
not finish their dinner.
such as Aaj Tak, Live India, News
I was very afraid of that room
24, Star TV, Zee TV, etc. Gaurav was
and behaved like a good child
also seen recently on Zee’s Fear Files
finishing my dinner whenever I was
as a paranormal expert.
reminded about the ghost.
I first saw Gaurav when he
I also remember being afraid
featured as an investigator for SyFy’s
of old women on streets when I was
paranormal series called Haunting:
four to six years old. My friends and
Australia with Robb Demarest, who
family still wonder how I became so
was ex-lead investigator for Ghost
fearless at the age of 30.
Hunters International. He appeared
as a spirit photographer, investigator,
Q. Describe your perfect day?
and metaphysicist on Haunting: AusGaurav: A perfect day would be
tralia. He was one of six international
sleeping in late when there is a rain
ghost hunters on the television series,
Gaurav Tiwari had his eye-opening
outside, then having some intellectual
which was aired around the world,
paranormal experience in Florida when
conversation with friends and colincluding in the United States, UK,
he
was
training
to
become
a
commercial
leagues over coffee watching the rain,
Canada, and Australia.
pilot.
This
experience
led
Gaurav
to
start
and then preparing for a long drive
Indian Paranormal Society is
researching paranormal phenomena.
through the mountains to investigate
comprised of dedicated paranormal resome interesting location. My days
searchers, ufologists and parapsycholoare usually short!
gists focused on researching and understanding the human
condition through the scientific study of aerial, psychical,
Q. Who from history would you like to share a
and anomalous phenomena, its reality, its reach, and its
dinner party with?
impact on humanity.
*****
8
August 2015
Q. What’s your pet hate?
Gaurav: Lies! I hate liars and to be misinformed about
anything.
Q. What’s your favorite book?
Gaurav: My Big TOE (Theory of Everything) by Thomas Campbell.
Q. What can’t you resist?
Gaurav: The latest gadgets and Mexican food.
Q. What’s your current or upcoming project?
Gaurav began his acting career at 16 but eventually
took up a career as a pilot. He graduated from
MVP Aero Academy in Texas.
Gaurav: Sigmund Freud!
Q. If you could be invisible for a day, what would
you do?
Gaurav: I would ask my friends to take the James Randi
Challenge, and I would help them win it!
Gaurav: I have been involved with a lot of MTV shows
in India. I recently shot for MTV He Ticket. Also, being
the largest paranormal society in India, we have over 1,000
cases pending to be investigated in the entire country.
I am also going to be involved with a new television
series called X-Files India, which is currently in the preproduction phase.
*****
You can find out more about Gaurav by visiting http://
www.indianparanormalsociety.com/.
August 2015
9
Special Report
Mind
Wars:
Cults and Mind Control Part 2
By Marie D. Jones and Larry Flaxman
A
lthough cults seem to operate in isolation, they
exist upon the dynamics of a group working
together for a common goal. There are actually
certain behaviors evident in a group of people involving
role identification, decision making, cohesion, and communication that become almost like rituals, depending on
the group, or in this case, the cult.
As a member, an individual often gives up his or her
core identity to become a part of the group dynamic and
goes with the direction of the group, even against his or
her own values and integrity.
Group Dynamics
To go against the group
means not only harsh punishment from the leadership, but
from fellow group members
who see any kind of out-of-the
box thinking or behavior as a
potential fatal flaw in the delicate structure they have created. Someone who goes against
the group might be someone
who has figured out the truth
or seen the reality behind the more sinister purposes of
the group itself, and members will shun and punish, even
harm, that person to keep the group identity intact.
Conflicts are dealt with swiftly and often involve
threats to both conflicted parties. It’s all about keeping the
peace, or the illusion, at all costs.
In 1972, social psychologist Irving Janis, author of
Victims of Groupthink, coined the term “groupthink”
to identify what happens when a group makes decisions
because of group pressures and expectations, often which
lead to a deterioration of “mental efficiency, reality testing,
and moral judgment.”
Groupthink ignores alternatives and often promotes
10
August 2015
irrational actions that dehumanize other groups. “A group
is especially vulnerable to groupthink when its members
are similar in background, when the group is insulated
from outside opinions, and when there are no clear rules
for decision making.”
According to Janis, there are eight symptoms of
groupthink:
1. Illusion of invulnerability: Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking extreme risks.
2. Collective rationalization: Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions.
3. Belief in inherent morality: Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore
ignore the ethical or moral
consequences of their decisions.
4. Stereotyped views of outgroups: Negative views of “enemy” make effective responses
to conflict seem unnecessary.
5. Direct pressure on dissenters: Members are under pressure
not to express arguments against
any of the group’s views.
6. Self-censorship: Doubts and deviations from the
perceived group consensus are not expressed.
7. Illusion of unanimity: The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous.
8. Self-appointed “mindguards”: Members protect the
group and the leader from information that is problematic
or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view, and/or
decisions.
Cults employ groupthink, just as religions and political groups do. In fact, get a group of like-minded people
together under any circumstance and this sometimesdangerous “mob mentality” is likely to happen.
For someone trapped in a cult, or even there willingly,
the desire to “go along to get alone” overcomes the desire
to be an individual with a unique viewpoint and expression of the world.
brand new Nikes, black sweat pants and shirts, and all wore
armbands reading “Heaven’s Gate Away Team.”
End times beliefs are prominent in many cults, even
causing people to buy into what, to us outsiders, might
Aliens and Gates of Heaven
seem cartoonish and outlandish. The Heaven’s Gate
The UFO Millennial cult Heaven’s Gate made headmembers were not stupid; in fact, they were considered
lines in March 1997 when police in Rancho Santa Fe,
very computer and tech savvy. But something made them
California, discovered the bodies of 39 members of a cult
believe in the tales told by two people, tales involving
run by a man and a woman named Marshall Applewhite
aliens and a comet to salvation and life on other planets.
and Bonnie Nettles, aka “Bo and Peep” and “Do and Ti.”
Applewhite, their fearless leader, led a pretty normal
The Heaven’s Gate cult was basically a group of
life until he met Nettles in 1972. They began discussing
people who believed that they would join an alien mothermysticism and metaphysical concepts and somehow beship en route to the Comet
came certain they were chosen
The Heaven’s Gate cult was basically
Hale-Bopp if they took their
as divine messengers, a belief
lives en masse. And they did
that expanded as they traveled
a group of people who believed that
so, as an “evacuation of this
about the Pacific Northwest
they would join an alien mothership
Earth,” as their leader Marcollecting followers.
en route to the Comet Hale-Bopp if
shall Applewhite put it, by
After Nettles died,
they took their lives en masse.
taking Phenobarbital mixed
Applewhite learned of the
into apple sauce and washed down with vodka, then putpending arrival of Comet Hale-Bopp and began to plan
ting plastic bags over their heads to asphyxiate themselves.
for a journey off of planet Earth with his followers.
The dead were found laying nice and neat in the bunk
Coercive cult mind control tactics need not be bold
beds of the 9,200-square-foot mansion they lived in, their
and direct and even domineering. Kill ’em with kindfaces and upper bodies covered in purple cloth. Each one
ness, although keep an eye on them and their money
carried in their pocket an “interplanetary toll” of five dollars
does the trick just as well. Some cults even allow freeand three quarters. Interestingly, they were all dressed in
dom of expression, as long as that expression stays
August 2015
Paranormal Underground 11
Special Report
within a certain predetermined range of acceptable
expressions laid down by the leadership! Yet, add in
some subtle things like intimidation, a forced environment, and an emphasis on an “us vs. them” mentality,
and members fall deep into a trap they had no idea they
had even fallen into in the first place.
Guilt and shame are powerful tools of religious cults
that play upon a person’s sins and promise forgiveness
and salvation. Throw in fear of being punished, by both
the cult leadership and God, and control is complete. Tell
the members they will be shunned if they leave, or worse,
and control is guaranteed to last.
True Cult Mind Control
In 1961, American psychiatrist and author Robert
J. Lifton, who focused on the psychological implications
of war and political violence, wrote in his book Thought
Reform and the Psychology of Totalism the eight marks
of a true “mind control cult:”
1) Milieu control: Milieu is French for “surroundings, environment.” Cults control the environment of
their recruits mainly by isolation and by keeping them
from outside sources of news and information that might
cause them to have alternative points of view or beliefs
from the cult.
By keeping members from seeing the news or the Internet, cults create tunnel vision in their members to keep
them focused on the cult.
2) Mystical manipulation: Religious cults use God as
an overlord to force obedience of recruits. If they disobey,
God will punish them. If they are good, God will reward
them in Heaven. Fasting, chanting, and sleep deprivation
are often used to create an intense mystical quality that
makes members believe they are part of a chosen group.
12
August 2015
3) Purity: Purity of body and mind, and avoidance
of all things “evil,” including sex (unless it is with the cult
leaders, then it is acceptable!).
4) The Cult of Confession: Sins must be confessed
immediately. Members are to tattle on other members
they see committing acts against cult rules. Leaders use
the sin of members as a way to feel superior over them.
5) Sacred science: The ideology of the cult is sacred
and the one true moral vision for the ordering of human
existence. Because it is sacred, it is not questioned.
6) Loaded language: The prolific use of phrases designed to end controversial discussion or terminate debate.
This language terminates thought, as in “The Truth.” You
either accept, or discussion is over. Words are often deified
and chosen to induce psychological force.
7) Doctrine over people: Doctrine is number one,
even over actual human experience. Even common sense
perceptions are altered to fit cult doctrine. Individuals are
not anywhere near as important as the cult’s ideology.
8) Dispensing of existence: It is up to the cult who can
exist and who should not. In the final battle between good
and evil, the cult decides who survives and who is cast out,
including families. This is also a key tenet of a totalistic
movement. Think Nazi Germany, where people were put
to death for doctrinal shortcomings.
Stay tuned for Part 3 of “Mind Wars: Cults and Mind
Control” in the next issue of “Paranormal Underground”
magazine.
Reprinted, with permission of the publisher, from MIND
WARS © 2015 Marie D. Jones and Larry Flaxman.
Published by New Page Books a division of Career Press,
Wayne, NJ. 800-227-3371. All rights reserved.
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August 2015
Case Files Of The Unknown: Haunted Sites
RMS Queen Mary:
A Spirited Ship
By Nicole Strickland, San Diego Paranormal Research
T
here are very few ships still in existence that
compare to the innate beauty and rich history
of the RMS Queen Mary, which is perhaps the
most legendary liner to ever sail the oceans. A testament
to British shipbuilding, the vessel is currently moored in
Long Beach, California, where it has ebbed and flowed
with the tide since 1967.
I have been conducting both historical and paranormal research (50-plus investigations) on the Queen Mary
for 10 years. I have been able to investigate many popular
and highly traveled areas on the ship. When I step aboard
the Mary’s decks, I am instantly entranced by her innate
beauty, innocent aura, and historical significance. To date,
the Queen Mary is my absolute favorite place to conduct
ghost research, as in my opinion, she is the perfect educational lab for paranormal researchers.
Building the Queen Mary
The task of building the RMS Queen Mary represented a brave and elusive responsibility, especially in the
early 1930s, as she was to be the biggest, quickest, and
most luxurious liner ever constructed. The RMS Queen
Mary’s design concept began in 1926 and continued for
two years. It came at a time when there was fierce competition between ship-building companies in Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. Cunard’s elderly trio
of express liners, Mauritania, Aquitania, and Berengaria,
were eventually replaced by the Mary and her running
mate, the RMS Queen Elizabeth.
For its time period, John Brown & Company, Ltd.
was probably the most established shipyard on the planet.
Its origins began in Glasgow in 1847. It carried a strong
reputation for building reliable passenger vessels, many
for the Cunard line, as well as battleships and large liners
for other companies. In 1871, the renowned company
moved to the Barns o’ Clyde (Clydebank), and in 1899,
14
August 2015
Currently moored in Long Beach, California, where it has
ebbed and flowed with the tide since 1967, the RMS Queen
Mary began her maiden voyage as a luxury cruise liner on
May 27, 1936. (Photo by Nicole Strickland.)
John Brown and Company, Ltd., a Sheffield steel maker,
took over the previous shipyard and held the construction
of the legendary RMS Queen Mary entirely in its hands.
Completely built, the RMS Queen Mary was equipped
with many public rooms and facilities to cater to each passenger. Art Deco-inspired, she was equipped with 12 decks,
including Sports, Sun, Promenade, Main, and A-H levels.
She had 27 public rooms, 21 elevators, three restaurants,
a ball room, gymnasium, hair and beauty salons, a Turkish bath and two pools, a garage, mail processing areas,
two cargo holds, three children’s playrooms, a chapel and
synagogue, writing and drawing rooms, two libraries, three
lounges, three smoking rooms, a shopping area, isolation
wards, and a completely functioning hospital.
Furthermore, her machinery was nothing less than
pure engineering excellence. Additionally, 56 different
On the day of the Queen Mary’s launching, British Astrologer Mable Fortescue-Harrison said, “... the Queen Mary, launched
today, will know its greatest fame and popularity when she never sails another mile and never carries another passenger.”
Some argue that the ship is more popular today than ever before. (Photo by Joe Bertoldo.)
varieties of woods from all over the world were utilized for
the ship’s interior rooms. The Queen Mary’s utilization
of this material was so ubiquitous, that she was given the
name, “The Ship of Beautiful Woods.”
The Queen Mary began her maiden voyage as a luxury
cruise liner on May 27, 1936. She completed successful pre-WWII and post-WWII round trip voyages from
Southampton to New York City. Many notable people,
such as business moguls, entertainers, and actors, have travThe Queen Mary Launches
eled aboard the Queen Mary. While sailing on the vessel,
September 26, 1934, marked the official day of the
passengers had the opportunities to exchange viewpoints,
RMS Queen Mary’s launching. More than 200,000 eager
political beliefs, and ideas, while further enjoying various
people came to watch her meet the waters. Children even
amenities catering to a broad range of interests.
had a day off of school to
Furthermore, Art-Deco
witness this majestic event.
brilliance
was and is still
In March 1942, a life-threatening
No one knew the ship’s new
seen throughout its inner
fire erupted on B Deck, just
title; interestingly, there were
walls. Even in retirement, the
underneath the liner’s bridge.
101 suggested titles for Job
Queen Mary historic ship still
534, the liner’s initial name.
remains as popular as she was
People assumed that she would be named Queen Victoria
the day she sailed. Perhaps, even more!
and keep up with the tradition of titles ending in “ia.”
On the day of the Queen Mary’s launching, British
However, as Her Majesty Queen Mary cut the satin
Astrologer, Mable Fortescue-Harrison, actually said, “Most
cord and crashed a bottle of Australian wine against the
of this generation will be gone, including myself, when this
ship’s bow, she said, “I am happy to name this ship,
event occurs; however, the Queen Mary, launched today,
Queen Mary.” She went on to say, “I wish success to her
will know its greatest fame and popularity when she never
and to all who sail in her.”
sails another mile and never carries another passenger.”
August 2015
The Blue Riband is a prestigious prize given to a
passenger ship with the fastest crossing on the Atlantic
Ocean. The Queen Mary attained this accolade twice
during her luxury cruise years. In August 1936, three
months after her maiden voyage, the Queen Mary took
the coveted Blue Riband prize from the French line’s
Normandie, as she posted impressive quick times both
ways on the same transatlantic route.
After a stint in dry dock to receive adjustments and
brand new propellers and on her 48th round-trip voyage,
the Queen Mary won back the admired prize in August
1938. She completed the 2,907-mile westward journey
in three days, 21 hours, and 48 minutes, at an impressive
rate of 30.99 knots. The Mary held onto this accolade
for the next 14 years, until the S.S. United States took the
honor over in 1952.
with the new, the Queens challenged the fury of Hitlerism
in the battle of the Atlantic. Without their aid, the day of
final victory must have unquestionably been postponed.”
Tragedy Strikes the Queen Mary
The RMS Queen Mary’s sailing success was not
without tragedy, as the liner nearly endured her end of days
while sailing the oceans. The worst tragedy occurred on
October 2, 1942, as the Queen Mary was making her way
across the oceans. She accidentally struck and sliced in half
her World War I British escort ship, the HMS Curacao, as
both ships were involved in a mandatory zigzag motion to
avoid obliteration by the enemy. Tragically, more than 300
Curacaon sailors drowned as a result of the accident.
Unfortunately, due to strict Navy orders, the Queen
Mary could not stop to rescue the surviving men. All she
could do was throw out life preservers for men to use as
Anxious Times for the Queen Mary
a flotation device. The Curacao met the bottom of the
In the late 1930s, arduous times lay ahead for the RMS
ocean within five minutes. Sadly, many of the sailors’
Queen Mary. On August 30, 1939, the Queen Mary anxphantom calls for help can still be heard today in the R
iously sailed from Southampton to New York, as war was
deck forward area of the ship.
nearly imminent. In September
The Mary once again evad1939, war was officially declared
ed disaster when she sailed into
between Britain and Germany,
Trinidad to refuel. A German
ultimately placing the ship in a
submarine actually sailed into
precarious situation.
port and sunk two idling vessels.
Both the RMS Queen
If the Mary had not received an
Mary and her sister liner, RMS
urgent coded message to leave
Queen Elizabeth, were thereport and alter her route, she too
fore requisitioned for World
would have met her demise at
War II service. In March
the bottom of the ocean.
1940, the British government
In 1941, both sister lininformed Cunard that the Mary
ers traveled through the hot
would be outfitted for troopclimates of the Indian Ocean
ship duties, lasting the length
and Red Sea without air condiof combat. In fact, due to the
tioning. The lower decks would
liner’s fast speeds, she was able
reach a stifling triple-digit temDuring World War II, Adolf Hitler offered a reward of
to carry numerous servicemen
perature. Therefore, numerous
$250,000 for any skipper who could sink “The Grey
from all walks of life to and
men suffered physical ailments
Ghost,” but the ship always outsmarted the enemy
from their destinations. Adolf
brought on by the oppressive
and Hitler never paid out. (Photo by Joe Bertoldo.)
Hitler even had a ripe award
heat. Arguments and gang
of $250,000 for any skipper
warfare consistently transpired.
who could sink the massive liner. Of course, Hitler’s plan
Since salt water was believed to be quite therapeutic, it was
never succeeded, as “The Grey Ghost” (a nickname for
utilized to calm heightened nerves and emotions.
the Queen Mary) consistently outsmarted the enemy. The
The Mary, once again, encountered two more nearship’s crew and servicemen should be remembered for
catastrophic events. German and Italian spies uncovered
their diligence in keeping its hull and inner walls afloat!
her whereabouts and transmitted this information to
The RMS Queen Mary, alongside her sister ship,
U-boats situated off the Brazilian coast. Once again, with
have contributed to World War II allied forces in so many
luck on her side, allied forces intercepted the message
unimaginable ways. Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill,
and changed the ship’s route. An oil tanker was oblitersaid, “Built for the arts of peace and to link the old world
ated as it departed the port at the exact time the Queen
16
August 2015
On October 2, 1942, the Queen Mary accidentally struck and sliced in half her World War I British escort ship, the HMS Curacao. Both
ships were involved in a mandatory zigzag motion to avoid obliteration by the enemy. More than 300 Curacaon sailors drowned, and
many of the sailors’ phantom calls for help can still be heard today in the R deck forward area of the ship. (Photo by Joe Bertoldo.)
Mary was scheduled to leave the port. Averting tragedy,
The Queen Mary’s Final Voyage
the ship commenced her 3,300-mile venture to Cape
On July 31, 1947, the Queen Mary resumed her
Town in March 1942.
luxury cruise days and sailed on her post-war maiden
Then, as the Queen Mary rapidly pushed onto South
voyage. After being refitted back to a well-appointed liner,
Africa, a life-threatening fire erupted on B Deck, just
she continued on with what she was originally intended to
underneath the liner’s bridge. This two-hour flame fest
do: peacefully travel on the North Atlantic route.
was ignited by faulty electrical insulation. As the smoke
Commanded by John Treasure Jones, the ship’s final
and flames reached the bridge, every crewman performed
1,001st commemorative voyage, “The Last Great Cruise,”
his duties perfectly. Thus, no
commenced in Southampton
Today, the Queen Mary is listed
one was mandated to abanand ended in Long Beach,
don ship. Once again, the
California, at noon on Deas the 6th most-haunted
Queen Mary prevailed.
cember 9, 1967. Jones went
location on our planet.
During the war, the
on to say, “No finer ship ever
Queen Mary carried both German and Italian prisoners
sailed this ocean. They will never build another like her.
of war. After the invasion of France, she carried injured
I don’t want this to be a nostalgic crossing. We will go out
soldiers to hospitals in the United Kingdom. In May
in a blaze of glory and then onto Long Beach. California’s
1946, the Queen Mary completed her war-time duties for
climate will be good to her.”
the United States Army and carried Canadian war brides
With this last voyage, Furgazy Travel wanted to
to Halifax. Furthermore, she continued on with her endregain some of the ship’s delivery costs, which amounted
of-war repatriation duties for six months.
to $650,000. Thus, 1,093 passengers each spent a lot of
August 2015
More than 70 years of emotions still remain deep within the Queen Mary’s hull, possibly providing a foundation for her
spiritual activity. With her historical significance, good times and bad, it is no wonder why the Queen Mary is known as one
of the top 10 haunted places on the planet. Pictured above at left: The ship during construction when her letters
were added on. Pictured above at right: The Queen Mary sails into Long Beach in 1967.
money, totaling a profit of $125,000. The City of Long
Beach certainly made history by welcoming the RMS
Queen Mary. As the stately liner slowly made its way up
to her new home, she was surrounded by a flotilla of boats
and welcoming crowds.
In fact, 8,000 vessels or so awaited the Mary as she regally sailed into port. Long Beach has been Queen Mary’s
docked home since 1967. Thousands of visitors flock
from all over the world each year to visit the RMS Queen
Mary in Southern California.
available, ranging from small twin bed cabins to luxurious
first-class staterooms.
One can argue that the RMS Queen Mary has a history on the seas rivaling that of any other vessel. Indeed,
she is a ship that was designed for peace. Her war service
was a direct influence on Europe’s rebirth. The last of
her kind, she helped bridge the old world with the new,
helping numerous people by creating a long-lasting bond
between Britain and America. A constant stream of
strength, humility, joy, happiness, and gratification from
her crew and passengers infiltrated all areas of the Mary
The Queen Mary Now Entertains the Masses
for many years.
The RMS Queen Mary is equipped to fulfill the curiPerhaps, these emotions still remain deep within her
osity of many people, from children to elderly adults. She
hull, possibly providing a foundation for her spiritual
is loaded with many attractions, shops, and various dining
activity. With her historical significance, good times and
options. The Queen is home to annual events, various
bad, it is no wonder why the Mary is known as one of the
tours, and a variety of ongoing and seasonal attractions.
top 10 haunted places on the planet. Come and stay the
She has a variety of gift and
night on this Eighth Wonder
Ghosts and spirits seem to be
souvenir stores that cater to
of the World to learn about
attracted to places that have
those who love to shop. For
its unprecedented history on
those who love art, the ship
the seas. You never know,
experienced a lot of emotion,
still houses some of her origiyou may even run into one of
tragedy, and death.
nal Art-Deco pieces.
its resident spirits.
She also features great sightseeing views from her
Promenade, Sports, and Sun Decks. And the ship
Paranormal Phenomena Aboard the Queen Mary
wouldn’t be Queen without featuring award-winning
Today, the Queen Mary is listed as the 6th mostrestaurants, gratifying the pickiest of eaters. The Mary
haunted location on our planet. Considering her history,
is quite the entertainer, as she has even been home to
it is no wonder why she has this statistic. There are many
various television and movie productions. There is even a
theories that may explain why the Mary has so much paragreat hotel onboard for those who want to spend the night
normal energy swirling throughout her inner walls and
on the Queen. Passengers have the option of staying on
hull. History and the paranormal share a deep friendship,
A, B, and Main Decks. There are many different cabins
as the two cannot be separated. Thus, historical impres-
18
August 2015
sions have been retained in the environment and hold
Churchill’s suite and in other areas on the hotel decks.
imprints from years ago.
There have been reports of disembodied conversations
Ghosts and spirits seem to be attracted to places that
and screams on various decks as well. The Queen Mary’s
have experienced a lot of emotion, tragedy, and death.
curious ghosts also like to knock on passenger doors and
There seems to be a connection between sentimental
walls throughout. For ghost seekers alike, the Queen has
states and psychokinetic energy. There does seem to be
various paranormal tours, where passengers can embark
a PK or psychokinetic influence aboard the ship. People
to some of the ship’s paranormal hot spots.
come from all over the world to experience her ghosts
You can have a paranormal experience anywhere on
and spirits, thus projecting all of their excitement and
the ship; however, many reports come from the lower
emotions onto the ship.
decks. In my opinion, the Queen Mary historic ship is a
Additionally, the Queen Mary holds numerous
mecca for paranormal researchers and a huge capacitor
artifacts and original furniture pieces. It is theorized that
for spiritual energy. As moths are to a flame, spirits are to
some energies are attached to a particular object. Places
the Queen Mary.
that contain portals and vortexes are also known to house
There seems to be a combination of both residual
ghostly energy.
and intelligent spirit activity. There have been apparitional
Portals and vortexes are kind of difficult to explain
sightings of former passengers, crew, and World War II
and understand. Generally speaking, a portal allows spirits
servicemen. Noted hotspot areas include the former firstto travel from the living world
and third-class pool, engine
to the spiritual world. Think
room, X-hall, boiler rooms, R
of it like a bridge connecting
deck forward, isolation wards,
two planes of existence. You
and forward cargo hold.
guessed it: The Mary is said to
However, please do not rule
have at least one portal in the
out hotel deck areas, as I have
women’s changing room in
had many encounters and
the former first- and third-class
captured evidence from these
pool.
areas as well.
Scientifically, water is a
natural conductor for electriciThe Spirit of Jackie
ty, and the ship sits in a body of
There is one little spirit
water. She also holds elements
on the Mary that I would
that retain spiritual energy, such
like to discuss. Her name is
as iron, quartz, and bronze.
Jackie. Contrary to what is on
Even with all of these theories,
the Internet regarding Jackie,
I do believe that there may be
there is absolutely no forensic
other, more elusive reasons for
evidence suggesting that any
her ethereal energy.
child drowned in either the
Visitors to the RMS Queen Mary report cold spots,
The ship’s paranormal
former first- and third-class
disembodied voices, phantom footsteps, odd sightings,
phenomena can be perceived
pool or the second-class pool.
feelings of being watched, and many more paranormal
by each of the five human
There are many theories
anomalies. (Photo by Joe Bertoldo.)
senses, with hearing being the
attempting to understand her
most popular. The ship is very audio friendly; thus, it
origins; however, no one really knows where she comes
is highly recommended to utilize a variety of recording
from. With that said, it leaves many of us with questions
equipment when investigating its premises. Visual anomaabout her: Was she a stowaway that somehow got lost
lies and apparitional sightings are common throughout the
aboard the ship? Was the name “Jackie” a middle name,
ship. Furthermore, numerous shadow energies are spotsuggesting why she wasn’t recognized in the passenger
ted inside the former first- and third-class pool, one of the
manifests? Did she ever travel the RMS Queen Mary
liner’s noted hotpots. People report cold spots, disembodwith parents and other siblings? Or, was her dad one of
ied voices, phantom footsteps, odd sightings, feelings of
the many servicemen fighting for freedom during World
being watched, and many more paranormal anomalies.
War II? Has she come through one of the alleged porMany people report the phantom smell of strong
tals? Is she somehow the Queen Mary’s innocent voice?
cigar smoke right outside British Prime Minister Winston
Has Jackie been chosen to be the Queen Mary’s spiri-
August 2015
have also seen her twice in the former first- and third-class
pool. Both she and I have been able to develop a strong
rapport with each other. Could this be because of all the
times I have stepped foot on the Queen Mary? Perhaps,
she simply knows who I am by now? Or, does it go
beyond this? I have felt a very strong connection to Jackie
for many years, almost as if her once living childhood was
eerily familiar to my own.
I have postulated whether or not Jackie is somehow
a distant relative of mine or if our energy is connected
in the vast cosmos. Many intuitive-inclined individuals
have told me that Jackie feels connected to me. The
relationship between the living and deceased is more
powerful than we give credit. To be honest, Jackie has
helped me understand this concept. Every time I travel
to the ship, I feel her spiritual heart as it beats with joy,
wonder, and love.
Pictured above, Queen Mary researcher Nicole Strickland
believes that ethereal energies are attracted to the ship,
whether they have a historical connection or not.
tual ambassador? These questions and a lot more are
ones that I have tried to answer. Perhaps, her essence is
meant to be elusive.
I have had numerous experiences with and captured
evidence of Jackie. During one investigation, she introduced herself as, “My name is Jackie,” during a collective
EVP session. In the beginning, I often wondered if Jackie
was a tulpa or made-up thought projection created from
the amount of people calling out for her. However, as the
years have gone by, I do believe in my heart that she is a
true spirit.
In my opinion, she has a purpose on the ship, almost
like a spirit ambassador, even though she retains her
childlike traits and personality. Although she loves interacting with many people, she seems drawn to certain individuals. Her voice is recognizable, and you can hear her
as she laughs, plays, and sings, most often in the former
first- and third-class pool room. Interestingly, Jackie was
my first apparitional sighting on the Queen Mary. Even
more intriguing was that it occurred during my very first
visit to the ship. I saw her standing in the middle of the
portside A Deck hallway, looking at me with a slight smile
on her face. The rest is history, as they say.
I do want to say how humbly honored it has been to
sense and communicate with Jackie all of these years. I
20
August 2015
Other Spirits of the Queen Mary
Due to confidentiality and respect for his family, I
won’t reveal the name of the other popular spirit aboard
the Queen Mary. Tragically, this young man passed away
on the ship in July 1966. Like Jackie, he seems to enjoy
interacting with visitors and guests. I have had the honor
of seeing his energy twice aboard the liner: once in the
aft engine room and once in boiler room #3, where he
was originally assigned to. Many people have had positive communication with him, as he seems to enjoy his
ethereal stay aboard the Mary.
There are discussions about other spirits aboard
the Mary. Phantom men clad in period work attire have
been seen in the aft engine room. A territorial male
energy has been sensed in the boiler room area, specifically in the green room. The angelic yet phantom singing
from a female energy has been heard in these boiler
rooms as well.
There are other child spirits on the ship, including a male and female around three years of age. In the
former first- and third-class pool area, people have communicated with an Italian POW, a young woman possibly named Sarah, and many others. The late Winston
Churchill has also been spotted near his suite and on the
Promenade Deck.
The spirit of a World War II-era nurse has been
sensed in both the isolation ward and R deck forward
area. Numerous sightings have occurred on the hotel
decks. I have interviewed many people about their reports
of spirits dressed in vintage clothing. The Observation Bar
has received documentations of a female spirit adorned in
a fancy green dress.
The list goes on. As previously mentioned, as moths
are to a flame, spirits are to the Queen Mary. I believe
that there are ethereal energies that come through the
ship, whether they have a historical connection or not. It
is all a part of the Queen Mary’s mystical puzzle.
has navigated folks who might not see the next day’s
beautiful sunrise all the way to those folks who saturated
themselves in her luxury and extravagance. Thus, the
ship is home to various impressions left from her longlost passengers, some who are still trying to find their
way home. Her inherent beauty, nostalgic character, and
abounding history will remain in the heart and soul of
her visitors forever.
Investigating the Queen Mary
As with any investigation, please secure permission
before conducting any official research project on the
ship. In my opinion, the best
piece of equipment to use is
*****
The ship is very audio friendly;
any audio recorder, as numerit is recommended that you
For more information about
ous EVPs and disembodied
utilize a variety of recording
the Queen Mary, you can
voices occur on the ship.
visit Nicole Strickland’s “SpirRemember to rely on
equipment when investigating.
ited Queen Mary” Website
each of your senses and trust
and blog at http://www.spiritedqueenmary.com.
your intuition. I believe that many intelligent spirits on
the Queen Mary communicate telepathically, even when
You can also find Nicole’s book The Haunted Queen of
you are asleep. I have interviewed many visitors who
the Seas: The Living Legend of the RMS Queen Mary
reported interaction with the ship’s spirit world while in
(2010) on amazon.com. Her next book, Spirited Queen
a slumber state.
Mary: Her Haunted Legend, is due out in 2015.
The RMS Queen Mary isn’t just a ship; she’s a
legend: a legend with a beautiful spiritual aura. She defiYou can also learn more about the Queen Mary by visitnitely speaks of a nostalgic and bygone era. There were
ing the Website at http://www.queenmary.com, or you
many people from different walks of life who traveled
can call directly at 562-435-3511.
the oceans on the Queen Mary. The RMS Queen Mary
August 2015
Case Files Of The Unknown: Are We Alone?
What Are Crop Circles?
By Matty Sweeney, The Paranormal Guide & Marvels and the Macabre
C
rop circles began being reported in the 1970s
by farmers in their fields throughout Southern
England. But before long reports came in from all
over the world.
After reports of strange lights in the sky around fields
began being reported, many started to believe that these
flattened, mostly circular formations were being created
by UFOs and their inhabitants.
It is a phenomenon that has been occurring for centuries, with it possibly being depicted in drawings made by
Aboriginals from thousands of years ago, and has had the
scientific community in debate over the last 40 years. It
is shrouded in controversy and mystery, as many sceptics
now believe the enigma known as crop circles, areas of
flattened crop found in fields throughout numerous countries in the world, are a man-made phenomena created by
hoaxers and their copycats.
However, there is much more to this conundrum
than simply being the result of pranksters, with many still
believing that there may be a supernatural cause or, perhaps, even being caused by a meteorological abnormality.
a curse created by a scorned farmer who refused to pay a
worker more money for reaping his crops. Many believed
(and there are still some today) that the shapes were created by nature spirits, such as elves and fairies, trying to
communicate with humans.
When Were Crop Circles First Seen?
These circles began being reported in the 1970s by
farmers in their fields throughout southern England, although historians have found documentation said to show
that the patterns have been occurring for decades, debunking the perception that this is a modern phenomena.
At first they were singular, circular, or egg-shaped
depressions found in everything from fields of wheat,
maize, barley, and other cereals to rapeseed, sugar cane,
and reeds. They would be found during the daytime but
appeared to have formed overnight.
After reports of strange lights in the sky around fields
began being reported, many started to believe that these
flattened formations were being created by UFOs and
their inhabitants. Many religious and superstitious folk began sprouting the belief that the Devil had been creating
the circles, fueled perhaps by ancient folklore regarding
Pranksters Claim Responsibility for Crop Circles
However, in September 1991, a pair of professional
pranksters by the names of Doug Bower and Dave Chorley came forward and claimed a reward of 10,000 pounds
from the media, openly confessing that since 1978, they
had been responsible for most, if not all, of the crop
circles found throughout England in the summers up until
that time. They claimed they had used simple tools, such
as rope, surveying tape, and planks of wood, to create the
circles.
It is claimed they came forward after a number of scientists began claiming these circles couldn’t be man-made.
They are said to have created a simple circle in front of
a group of journalists and paranormal investigators, and
Bower admitted the idea started from an incident he
had heard about while living in Australia in the 1960s, in
which a man had claimed to have seen a UFO flying away
22
August 2015
In September 1991, a pair of
professional pranksters by the
names of Doug Bower and
Dave Chorley came forward
and claimed a reward of 10,000
pounds from the media, openly
confessing that since 1978, they
had been responsible for most,
if not all, of the crop circles
found throughout England
in the summers up until that
time. They claimed they had
used simple tools, such as rope,
surveying tape, and planks of
wood, to create the circles.
from grassland in Tully, Queensland, and it had left a
circular “nest” in swamp grass.
By this point, many scientists believed the circles were
the result of rare meteorological events, such as freak
tornadoes or whirlwinds that were somehow affected by
nearby hills. However, this theory was dealt a blow when
formations were found with straight lines between circles
and smaller circles or lines crossing or mixed with them.
Then, more elaborate designs were discovered, stretching
miles in length and width and displaying pictures of animals, intricate geometric and complex shapes, astrological
signs, and magic symbols.
After the confessions of the two UK pranksters,
many people believed that the whole subject was a hoax
and that copycats were emerging and creating the newly
found, more sophisticated crop formations. The case
seemed to be closed on the subject, however, there
are now people who are convinced that the crop circle
phenomena is not entirely a case of human artistry and
tomfoolery, with many claiming since the late 1990s
to have witnessed these formations, whether simple or
complex in design, appear in minutes or even seconds
right in front of them, seemingly created by the hands of
an invisible force or forces!
Crop Circles: Nonhuman Origins
While it cannot be denied that many of these patterns and designs are the work of humans, with some
being created for companies and corporations to advertise themselves, there are a large number of formations
that can’t be easily filed under human handiwork. With
some designs having up to 2,000 circles or shapes in their
design alone, many have questioned if the more elaborate
designs are in fact being made by perhaps something out
of this world rather than humans, as some have appeared
overnight and even during the daylight hours after the
area has been visited. It has been proven that a simple
“dumbbell” design, in which two circles are linked by a
line between them, can take up to 12 hours to create by
human hands in darkness.
Also, many have asked why many of the pattern
formations don’t seem to show any kind of trail from
hoaxers accessing the fields, as many of the later formations were found nowhere near roads or tracks, unlike the
original singular circles. And could Bower and Chorley
easily explain the now mounting evidence of formations
being made all over the world, many of them being recorded prior to 1978?
There is evidence that in some cases UFOs may be
involved, with many unexplained lights seen and then
afterwards formations found. In some cases, especially in
the United States, the discovery of crop circles have been
made around the same time and area of cattle and animal
mutilations. There are also many sightings of small orbs
near newly formed formations, leading many to speculate
the existence of Fey folk and their involvement.
With this topic frustrating many researchers and
scientists still today, what some agree on is that many
hoaxers are responsible for many of the patterns and
pictographs found. There is evidence, however, that not
all cases are the result of compressed plants and that some
kind of external, large heat source is creating them.
Are we any closer to solving this enigma?
What are your thoughts on crop circles?
August 2015
Case Files Of The Unknown: Cryptids & Mythological Creatures
Bigfoot, the Yeti, &
Other Cryptid Wildmen
Part 1
By Matty Sweeney, The Paranormal Guide & Marvels and the Macabre
O
f the vast stories of beasts and monsters said to
lurk in the shadows and share our world, none
are more mysterious and perplexing than tales
of hominid-like creatures — bipedal entities said to be
taller than a human, covered in thick hair and in most
reports having a strange, unpleasant odor.
The most widely known of these creatures is Bigfoot
(or Sasquatch) who are said to inhabit forests in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. In The People’s
Republic of China, the Yeren is a similar creature said
to inhabit remote mountainous regions in the Western
provinces. Tales of the Yowie, a tall creature from Australia, have endured in the Aboriginal communities here
for centuries. And, of course, the Yeti, or the Abominable
Snowman, is said to stalk the Himalayan Mountains.
In fact, tales of giant “wildmen” have been told for
centuries throughout many different cultures and civilizations on every continent apart from Antarctica. While
some are regarded as god-like creatures — said to have
supernatural abilities and being of a benevolent nature
toward humans — others are said to be capable of great
mischief and evil. Many tribes believe these creatures are
culprits of child abductions and murder if angered.
What These Creatures Are Is a Matter of Debate
While many in the scientific community dismiss the
idea of hominid-like beasts existing, this has not stopped
many people, like cryptozoologists and some scientists,
from conducting their own research and putting forth
some theories as to what these creatures might be. From
the possibility that they quite possibly are surviving prehistoric cousins of Man to creatures said to inhabit another
dimension, what can’t be denied is the fact that these
creatures, if real or only the products of legends, have endured in the minds of people, even in our modern times,
and become a phenomenon in recent popular culture.
24
August 2015
Illustration of a Yeti by Philippe Semeria.
From casts being made of alleged large footprints
left behind from these creatures to amateur videos being
posted on the Internet of people recording said creatures
on film, evidence exists that in many cases hoaxes have
been, and continue to be, perpetrated by fame-seeking
individuals wishing to capitalize on these stories.
In 1967, two men shot on film at Bluff Creek, California, footage showing what seemed to be a Bigfoot walking away from them. The footage, nearly a minute long,
reportedly abducted by a young
male Bigfoot near Harrison Lake,
British Columbia, in 1871. Carried
into dense and remote forest, she
eventually returned to her tribe,
claiming a family of these creatures
had held her captive for at least a
year before being allowed to return
home. She was quite ill when she
returned, and it was claimed she
became pregnant to her abductor,
the baby was said to have died a
few days after birth.
There are other accounts of
people being abducted by these
“wildmen,” but is there any truth to
Lower mandible fossil of Gigantopithecus
them? In the next part of this article,
blacki (cast), an extinct primate. In the
we will look at how these creatures
collections of The College of Wooster, Ohio.
have been perceived in history by
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Bizarre Encounters
many cultures and examine whether
There are a few rare stories of
they are evil beings. What are your
thoughts on Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the like?
bizarre encounters with these beings that allude to them
perhaps being curious of humans, and maybe having
a malevolent nature. In one such story a young NaStay tuned for part 2 of this article in the next issue of
tive American girl by the name of Seraphine Long was
Paranormal Underground magazine.
has for years been the subject of
speculation and investigation, many
scientists regarding it as a hoax. We
will examine this story in another
part of this article.
In many encounters it is
straightforward: A witness, or witnesses, will be living their everyday
lives when they encounter the
creature/s. In most cases they are
seen entering properties, walking
across roads, or picking fruit and
berries from trees. They are also
seen by hikers or campers. In many
cases, it is reported they seem to
be just as confused and terrified by
seeing a human and are sometimes
observed fleeing in panic.
August 2015
Inside The Psychic Mind
Yep, They Exist!
Bigfoot and the Psychic
By William Becker, Paranormal Insights
I
had the great honor to be part of an expedition
searching for Bigfoot recently. The team consisted of
several experienced investigators and myself. All I can
tell you about the location is that we were someplace in
the Cascade Mountains.
This expedition had been planned for almost a year.
The purpose of the trip was to see if I could communicate
with the beings psychically. This article
isn’t about the experiences of the others
with me; it’s about my own experiences.
We were out walking on the gravel
road one night. It was clear, and the
stars and moon were bright enough that
we could see well. We weren’t using
flashlights or any other form of illumination, so our eyes were well-adjusted to
the conditions. Much more happened
on that walk than just Bigfoot!
I saw a stream of tiny pinpoints of
light coming toward us. Others saw this
as well. When people walked in front
of the stream of lights, they blocked the
lights out. And, when they got close to the
source, the lights stopped for some time.
They later came back and went by us.
Fairy Lights
Later, the same type of lights came at us from the opposite direction. During this time, we also saw larger (still
small though) individual lights. Most of these were white,
but there were some with red coloring. The only thing I
can think of is to call them fairy lights.
There were a number of types of elementals at the
site. I could sense them in many places and see them
psychically. One of them, an elf type, came to me with
a message for me from a group of elementals in Britain.
The message was personal and had to do with my need-
26
August 2015
ing to put more time in with that group and some elders.
They were right. I won’t go into details here, as it was a
personal message.
I also “saw” others of the fairy, elf, and pictish-like
types of beings. I don’t use these terms as the exact term
for them. I work to not put any of the beings in a box or
predetermined image or stereotype of them. The further
they were in the woods, the less exposed
to humans they were and the more
standoffish they were. Some of the ones
deep in the forest have less-than-friendly
personalities! One of the beings I saw
psychically I later saw a photo of.
Bigfoot Does Exist!
OK, so what about Bigfoot? Do
they even exist? The short answer is
that, in my experience, yes they do.
I had been trying to connect with
them remotely during the past several
months, especially when flying to various places.
I did make connection and saw
in one case a family of three, and in
another some males working hard. The
family was much friendlier, and the
males working on something didn’t want
to be bothered and were somewhat gruff about it. These
conversations took place over the Rockies and over the
Mount Shasta area.
The problem was, I didn’t know if they actually
existed or not. I know several people I trust who have
seen them, but unless I had my own physical experience,
I couldn’t say for sure one way or the other. I couldn’t be
sure that the conversations weren’t my imagination.
Well, I now know that it wasn’t my imagination! First,
I heard a variety of calls and even a bit of what sounded
like talking. These sounds were heard by others as well
who had spent decades camping, hunting, and hiking and
knew that nothing else in the area but Bigfoot could have
made the sounds.
I was pretty much convinced by this point. But then
we heard footsteps at times, bipedal footsteps when
we were the only humans in the area. I also heard the
snapping of a twig or small branch a couple of times as if
something heavy had stepped on it. As wonderful as all of
this was, I did actually see the big guys!
Witnessing “The Big Guys”
I saw them twice. The first time I wasn’t quite sure.
The one I saw was back from a cleared area and just in
the trees. I saw something tall moving and occasionally
blocking out part of a tree. But there were some wind
gusts, and I couldn’t be sure if it was the wind in the trees
or if it was a Bigfoot.
Not long after, in the same location, I was able to tell
for sure. This time there wasn’t any wind. The trees were
still, and the being I saw was just in front of the trees. I say
he because that’s what I picked up as gender.
This time he moved back and forth over a larger area
and was in front of the trees. He blocked part of the trees
as he passed. And he was very tall. I can’t guess the height,
but he was a giant to me. I had seen my Bigfoot!
The adult male Bigfoot said psychically
that “nothing good follows man ...
evil follows humans.”
That same night, our lead felt one on the side of the
road and was encouraging it to come out. I could see and
communicate with her psychically. She was young, and
though she was interested and wanted to come out to
play, she wouldn’t because she knew that she would get in
trouble.
Just down from her I was able to psychically see and
communicate with the mother. Then just after her, the
father. The mother was softening a bit, as she could tell
that we were peaceful and interested in communicating,
not harming them. They could also see that we were calm
and not afraid.
The father was a different story. He said that it didn’t
matter if they liked or trusted us or that we came to understand, communicate, and were there in peace. He said that
“nothing good follows man. Evil follows humans.” And he
didn’t want that attached to his family. He was adamant that
we not tell anyone where they were. He isn’t the only one
that feels that way. That’s why we don’t have good photos
of them. They don’t want evidence of their existence.
I agreed with him about what we humans do to the
planet, and frankly to each other. And I promised him
that I wouldn’t give away their location. This is why I am
vague in this article. After our conversation, I watched
them psychically as they seemed to dissolve in place.
Tracy Rowlands and Kristen Grey (they weren’t part
of this expedition) first brought up the idea to me that Bigfoot might be elementals. Because they seem to dissolve
or pass through a veil may indicate that they are indeed
elementals. I also had other elementals tell me that, yes,
Bigfoot are elementals. This would certainly help explain
the lack of physical evidence or bodies.
The next night was cold and windy. Those of us left
at camp were in my walled popup next to my tent. We
had lots of activity there. We heard footsteps in the gravel
around the popup. We heard a variety of calls, and one
person had a push from behind the wall. I saw a hand
move by a corner.
An Amazing Experience
I want to be clear that we were all sober adults. No
one was drinking or taking recreational drugs. No one
had conditions or medications that could cause hallucinations. And our experiences were validated by others in
the group.
I want to thank the people that put together this handchosen group for the experiment and my education. The
people I was with were thorough, thoughtful, experienced,
and all-around interesting and enjoyable. I felt safe out in
the middle of nowhere with a bunch of strangers, as I only
knew the two organizers of the trip.
I am especially grateful to the elementals and the
Bigfoot I encountered, as well as for the insights and experiences they provided me.
This trip opened up another level of life to me and,
as some of you know, to me that’s a big part of fully living
in my book!
August 2015
THE ROLE OF THE METAPHYSICIAN
IN AFTERLIFE STUDIES: Part 3
By Karen Frazier, South Sound Paranormal Research & Paranormal Underground Radio
For Part 2 of this article, see Paranormal Underground’s
July 2015 issue.
L
aying a scientific foundation for the survival of the
soul after one dies is currently a difficult road to travel. Scientific research groups, such as the Society for
Psychical Research (SPR), scientists like Dr. Gary Schwartz,
mediums like Mark Anthony, and parapsychologists like
Loyd Auerbach have observed, studied, and recorded
phenomena for years, providing compelling evidence for
survival of consciousness. Yet many skeptics still continue
to dismiss these types of findings as pure hokum.
In his 2001 Journal of Scientific Exploration paper
defending the conclusions of the Scole Report, “The
Scole Investigation: A Study in Critical Analysis of Paranormal Physical Phenomena,” Montague Keen rightly
pointed out how notoriously difficult skeptics are to convince, even in light of overwhelming evidence.
“A closer look at the critics’ arguments reveals some
fairly fundamental misconceptions,” Keen noted. “One is
the confusion between evidence and expectation.”
Keen went on to say that many people couldn’t
explain away the phenomena except by decrying fraud but
remaining stuck in scientific dogmatism despite evidence
of spectacular paranormal phenomena. Keen posited that
perhaps because the activities of the spirits, such as ringing
cowbells and moving things around the room, seemed to
lack gravitas, it was difficult for them to accept such silliness as scientific.
Paranormal Encounters: Living With the Aftermath
For the living that have had afterlife experiences, such
as meeting a ghost or having a near-death experience, it is
this persistent belief that afterlife topics outside of religion
are frivolous, disingenuous, or even arising from mental
instability that can make living with the aftermath so difficult. With such scientific, religious, and societal pressure
28
August 2015
to fall within certain norms and belief systems, people
who have had these experiences may question their own
integrity and sanity, or they may feel embarrassed and
marginalized.
Likewise, because there is a lack of support structure,
as well as a prevailing atmosphere of denial that such
incidents can and do occur, many people who have come
face to face with the afterlife may experience strong feelings of fear, anger, denial, or other emotions due to the
lack of social, spiritual, and emotional support. Much of
this marginalization of people who proclaim experiences
with the afterlife comes from powerful dogma that exists
just as strongly within the ranks of scientists as religious
dogma exists in organized religion.
About this scientific dogmatism, in the documentary
film The Afterlife Experiments: The Scole Experiments,
Dr. Rupert Sheldrake of SPR noted:
There’s a dominant materialism in science that grew
up in the 19th century. It’s become part of the culture
of science, but it’s really a dogmatic belief system
rather than a testable theory. Within science based
on a materialistic point of view, the mind is the brain,
so anything that suggests there might be more than
the brain goes against the theory and therefore most
scientists don’t want to know about it.
full of charlatans, fools, and the mentally ill? The people
whose research and experiences I’ve shared would very
likely answer that the evidence shouldn’t be disregarded
but should be addressed as a whole.
In the same film, Emeritus Professor at the University
In a January 2, 2014, interview I conducted with Loyd
of California and afterlife researcher Dr. Charles Tart
Auerbach
on Paranormal Underground Radio, I asked
expounded on this idea. He noted:
him about discarding evidence like personal experiences.
The idea that life after death is impossible and that
In response, Auerbach told me that personal experience
we’re nothing but our brains and bodies is really a
is key in proving the afterlife because of how notoriously
function of an outmoded view in science: a Newtodifficult it is to utilize scientific method to prove paranornian worldview. The Newtonian worldview works
mal phenomena. He also pointed out that the SPR has
very well for everyday events, but one of the most
conducted a number of scientifically valid studies into
interesting things about modern science — especially
the nature of the paranormal, and that they, indeed, have
when you look at stuff like quantum theory — is that
reached the scientifically sound conclusion that paranorthe world is far more
mal phenomena are very real.
mysterious than we think.
My friend, Darren
Evidence of the afterlife
And we now have experiThompson of Washington
continues to pile up at a
mental evidence of what
State Paranormal Investigation
Einstein called spooky
and Research, often says this
prodigious rate.
action at a distance ... that
in presentations he gives at
we instantaneously could affect something in a distant
ghost conferences: “You will never convince a true disbepart of the universe ... If consciousness has any of
liever that the paranormal exists. You will never convince a
the qualities of this quantum level of existence, then
true believer that it doesn’t.”
phenomena like survival of bodily death are probably
I have found Thompson’s statement to be quite true.
not so mysterious after all.
I’ve worked in the field of afterlife research as a psychic
medium, paranormal researcher, magazine writer, author,
How Does Paranormal Phenomena Fit Into
radio host, and journalist for nearly a decade. During that
the Scientific World?
time, I’ve talked to hundreds of believers and disbelievers
It’s true that the scientific field has set a very high bar
about the paranormal. In such conversations, I’ve been
in order for something to qualify as scientific fact. It is also
called a genius and I’ve been called a fool. People have
true that research into survival of consciousness after bodily
respected me and laughed openly at me. However, no
death fails (in many ways) to clear the bar that is currently
matter what evidence I’ve offered, research I’ve shared, or
set for such research. The question we should ask ourexperiences I’ve related, I’ve never changed the mind of
selves, however, is this: Are the experiences of thousands of
anyone who was truly entrenched in his or her position.
people over thousands of years incorrect, or do we need to
Of course, there are always the fence sitters. I was one
make room within science for the paranormal?
of those for many years. I’ve had psychic and mediumistic
Due to the nature of paranormal phenomena, it is very
abilities all of my life but chose to ignore them for many
difficult to find ways to control variables, generate repeatyears because my logical brain just couldn’t seem to mesh
ability, and create falsifiable and testable hypotheses using
with what I called my “woo woo brain.”
scientific method. However, many researchers, including
members of the Scole Experimental Group, Loyd AuerThe Effects of Suppressing Reality
bach, Michael Newton, and Dr. Gary Schwartz, believe
I was kind of a spooky kid. I knew things I had no
they have done just that. They have produced compelling
way of knowing, I felt other people’s feelings, and I saw
evidence under rigorously controlled conditions. While
people who nobody else saw. As a child growing up in a
many scientists decry this as pseudoscience, evidence of the
religious family in the Christian church, I quickly learned
afterlife continues to pile up at a prodigious rate.
just how unacceptable this was, and I learned to suppress
According to science, one must discard all of the
those abilities. Now, more than three decades later, I
aforementioned research and experiences because it does
understand that what I experienced and shut down as a
not meet very specific, provable, repeatable, and falsifichild were my abilities as a psychic medium, clairvoyant,
able principles. However, how can one discard the sheer
and empath. I ignored those abilities to my own detriment
volume of evidence of the afterlife? Is the world really that
from my tween years through my early 40s.
August 2015
religious conditioning I’d had as a child. It’s really hard to
shake that off.
This is a common experience with people who experience the afterlife. In the past several years, when people
who have discovered that I work in the metaphysical and
paranormal fields, they often take me surreptitiously aside
and whisper their own experiences of the afterlife to me.
For many, I am the first person with whom they ever
have shared this information, and they swear me to secrecy. Like me, they fear the social and/or religious stigma
associated with people who believe in a non-religious
afterlife. Like me, they have been societally and religiously
conditioned to believe that these experiences are utter
nonsense, fraud, or the first signs of mental illness.
As a result, I experienced increasing anxiety as I
moved into my 20s and 30s. This anxiety is common
among many of my psychic medium friends who denied
or ignored their own abilities, and it seemed to grow more
severe the longer one suppresses his or her gifts. This was
my experience, as well.
When I was 22 and living in my first apartment out of
college with my new husband, I started having strange experiences. My husband was in the Navy. He went out to sea
on a Trident submarine for three months at a time, leaving me alone in the apartment. When he was gone, very
strange things happened there. Latched doors opened and
closed, faucets turned on and off, and I frequently experienced an invisible person, who would sit down on the bed
next to me and whisper, “I love you,” in my ear.
These were very real experiences, although I convinced myself I was just nuts. I spent a lot of time worrying that I was losing my mind. Then, one day, I came
home from work and found a six-foot inflatable Godzilla
that we normally kept in the living room sitting up tall on
the middle of our bed.
No one had been in the apartment all day. I fled to
the Super 8 Motel, where I spent a sleepless night certain
I’d completely lost my marbles.
As soon as my husband came home from his patrol,
we moved. I spent the next 20 years denying I’d ever had
that experience and doubting my own sanity. Looking
back now I realized that this was because of the social and
30
August 2015
You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide ...
After my experiences in my apartment, I remained
effective at shutting down my abilities, or so I thought.
However, at the same time, I was extremely attracted to
everything supernatural and spiritual. I read books and
watched television shows about afterlife topics. I scoured
the Internet (once it was invented) for research about
afterlife studies.
Due to social embarrassment, however, I kept this
hobby to myself and felt ashamed of my activities. In my
early 30s, I started attending the Unity Church, believing
that because it was still technically a Christian church, it
would get my family off my back about my lack of church
attendance. It didn’t. My family made fun of it, calling it
“The Church of What’s Happening Now,” and a friend
When one ignores the pull
of what the soul wants ...
the Universe grows more
insistent.
pointed out that I was attending a Satanic church. Once
again, I cast all of that “woo woo” stuff aside and continued on with my life. My anxiety continued to grow.
When one ignores the pull of what the soul wants,
however, the Universe grows more insistent. This certainly
happened in my case. About eight years ago, I was approached to write for Paranormal Underground magazine.
I jumped at the chance, and it opened the floodgates.
Everything I had been suppressing came roaring back.
At first, I thought I’d keep my participation in the
magazine to myself, not telling anyone what I was doing.
However, as I began the research and writing, I was so
energetically pulled to what I was doing that it grew into
“Mind Wars is
a must-read.”
WHO IS
MESSING
WITH YOUR
MIND?
— R ON PATTON,
publisher of MKzine and
Paranoia Magazine
Mind Wars
A History of Mind Control,
Surveillance, and Social
Engineering by the
Government, Media,
and Secret Societies
Marie D. Jones and
Larry Flaxman
EAN 978-1-60163-358-3
NewPageBooks.com
AVAILABLE WHEREVER August
BOOKS
ARE SOLD
2015 Paranormal
Underground
31
a large portion of my life. Writing for the magazine gave
me the excuse I needed to legitimize my exploration of
the paranormal and metaphysical, and with that excuse at
hand, it was suddenly socially acceptable for me to participate in afterlife research I’d always longed to try, such as
paranormal investigation, psychic readings, and past-life
regression hypnotherapy.
As I did this, my joy and enthusiasm grew while my
anxiety faded away to nothing. As I embarked upon a
number of paranormal investigations, my long-suppressed
abilities also returned. I realized that while investigating, I received specific and verifiable information about
people, places, and events in the locations I investigated.
I also discovered that spirits would talk to me, and when I
looked into the things they told me, it frequently bore out
in research.
Two events involving my friend Robyn were extremely convincing. I was in my studio making some jewelry.
Doing this is a form of meditation for me. It clears my
mind. While I was working and thinking of nothing in
particular, the names “Robeano” and “Robbie” kept
popping into my head. Finally, I texted my friend Robyn.
Her mother had been dead for several years. In the text,
I asked if her mom ever called her Robeano or Robbie.
Robyn indicated that both had been her mom’s nicknames for her.
32
August 2015
I was overcome with the urge to get a pen and a note
card, and as I put pen to paper, I wrote what was in my
head. As I wrote, the same voice that was saying “Robeano” kept admonishing me to watch my handwriting
and to carefully form my letters and not be sloppy. When
I was done, I photographed the message on the note card
and texted it to Robyn, since it was addressed to her. According to Robyn, the message it contained were words
her mother had spoken to her many times throughout her
life. When I told her about the nagging about my handwriting, Robyn laughed and said her mother was a stickler
about handwriting, and that she’d always nagged Robyn
about hers.
A few days later, Robyn’s name once again popped
into my head, but this time it came from a male voice. I
called Robyn and asked if there was a young male who
might want to talk to her, too — someone like a cousin,
friend, or brother. It turned out Robyn’s brother had
died, as well. I described him to her, and she said it
sounded like him. As I was describing his mustache, the
word “pornstache” kept popping into my head. Out of
political correctness, however, I refused to say the word.
However, the voice kept saying it louder until he
finally shouted, “Dammit! Say pornstache!” When I uttered this word aloud, Robyn burst into laughter. It was,
apparently, a private joke between the two of them. He’d
always told her that if his mustache was as thick as her
hair, he’d have a pornstache.
Incidents like these and many others grew my confidence, and I began working with South Sound Paranormal Research as a psychic medium. In my years in
that capacity, my role has evolved as I’ve expanded my
understanding of metaphysics and life after death.
No More Fence-Sitting
I was on the fence, but personal experiences and
my own research convinced me that consciousness did,
indeed, survive bodily death. I know others with similar
stories that were never disbelievers, but it took personal
experiences to help them believe.
On the other hand, I’ve met many people who do not
believe in the afterlife, and nothing I’ve ever told them
could convince them otherwise. It is very hard to move
people who are firmly entrenched in any belief system,
something borne out in research performed at Dartmouth
University, in which sending educational materials counter
to deeply held beliefs actually caused people to dig even
deeper into their own belief system.
Stay tuned for part 4 of this article in our next issue of
Paranormal Underground magazine!
August 2015
The Secret Life Of Dreams
Dream Interpretation:
Monsters
By Karen Frazier, M.Msc. South Sound Paranormal Research & Paranormal Underground Radio
Hi Karen,
“I have had a recurring dream since I was young that
is always pretty terrifying. I am trying to get away from a
Frankenstein-like monster that is chasing me. And, I think
that I will just fly away from the monster (because in my
dream I know I can fly). But this time, I can only get a few
feet off the ground, no matter how hard I try. So I know
the monster can reach up and grab my legs and drag me
down. The dream ends with the monster right behind me,
as I struggle to fly more than a few feet off the ground.”
—Anonymous
Dear Anonymous:
At its core, your dream is a
variation on the very common chase
dream. Chase dreams usually indicate
anxiety or stress that you are experiencing in your daily life. Whatever that
issue may be, the problem has taken
on monstrous proportions, but instead
of choosing to face it (fight), you are
currently in flight. Unfortunately,
you’re not able to fly like you normally
do — this is a situation that is demanding you meet the problem head on.
If you read this column with any
regularity, then you’ve probably seen
me say before that any “other” in your
dream is usually an aspect of yourself. In this case, the
fact that the other is a monster — a Frankenstein monster,
which is created in a lab — tells me that this is some aspect
of yourself that you find frightening, dark, or monstrous.
Perhaps it is some aspect of yourself that you feel was
“created” at the hands of another, possibly out of some
past physical, emotional, or spiritual trauma.
In your dream, you are trying to flee it through flight,
but you just can’t fly like you normally would. Perhaps this
indicates denial about lingering pain related to the potential trauma I mentioned. Being unable to fly when you
usually can in your dreams indicates that you feel like you
can’t control a situation in your waking life (or the monster
34
August 2015
aspect of your personality) in the empowered way that you
might deal with other things. It’s indicating that this is a
situation or aspect of your personality that has you stymied,
and it’s threatening to affect your use of personal power.
Since you mention the dream is recurring over years,
the next thing I’d suggest is that you pay attention to whatever
issues you may be struggling with in your waking life when
you have the dream. It may be a general stress dream that occurs with different issues over the years, or it may be a dream
showing you that you return to this lack of power or this
“monster” aspect of your own personality in response to different issues.
I can give you an example from
my own life. For years, I had a recurring dream that I was in my car driving
down a big hill with a lake at the bottom. The brakes and steering on the car
don’t work, and nothing I do will stop
me from plunging into the lake at the
bottom of the hill. After examining the
pattern of when that dream would occur,
I discovered that I had it whenever I was
feeling out of control with something
in my life, for example if I was having
financial or health difficulties. The cause
of the dream changed over the years, but
the message of the dream, “You feel out
of control,” remained the same.
If there is some aspect of personality that you’re having
trouble acknowledging (and most of us have a lot of those),
I’d recommend doing shadow work. I wrote an article in
the May 2015 issue of Paranormal Underground magazine
that offers suggestion for recognizing and acknowledging
your shadows so they no longer hold you back.
To find patterns in the dream, every time you have
it, write it down in a dream journal along with all of the
issues you are struggling with in your life at the moment or
incidents that occurred the day you had the dream. You
may very quickly notice a pattern that emerges.
Thank you for sharing your dream with me.
—Karen
Marvels and the Macabre With Matty
Explore the World of the Supernatural and Strange With Matty Sweeney!
https://www.facebook.com/macabremarvelswithmatty/timeline
August 2015
Get Spooked
Beating Out the Bad Mojo:
How to Combat Negative Energy
By Krystle Vermes, getspooked.net
Y
ou know what it’s like to walk into a room and immediately feel like you shouldn’t be there? Typically, it’s the people in the space that create these
vibes. A few glares are enough to make anyone feel uneasy,
but what about a sense of discomfort in an empty room?
This is what usually overcomes people when they
enter an allegedly haunted location. However, bad energy
isn’t limited to just ghostly spots — it may encompass any
building or land that has been a part of an unfortunate
event. Think crime scenes or areas of Satanic worship.
Of course, there is your standard negative energy that
can come out of everyday life and imprint your surroundings. But let’s back up a little bit and examine this phenomenon from a basic outlook.
Energy From a Paranormal Standpoint
Many people who believe in the supernatural also
have strong views on the power of energy. The basic
theory is that humans create energy. Whether you’re crying, laughing, or loving another person, you are exerting
this energy into your environment.
Now insert the word “imprint” into the equation. An
energy imprint is essentially when your exerted energy
becomes imprinted into your surroundings. However,
many people also believe that energy can be imprinted
into objects.
You know that old antique lamp you picked up at the
flea market? Well, it just may be carrying the love (or the
spirit) of its previous owner.
Energy imprinting is such a common theory in the
paranormal world that there have even been television
shows and movies dedicated to haunted objects (e.g.,
Annabelle, Haunted Collector, etc.). You’ll often see
paranormal investigators on programs such as Ghost
Adventures citing feelings of uneasiness in allegedly
haunted locations.
However, you don’t need to visit the site of a murder
36
August 2015
to experience negative energy. Going back to the beginning of this piece, think of the last time you walked into a
room and felt uncomfortable. It may have even been an
empty space — a room where people had just been arguing or crying, and then left. Not a good feeling.
Opening the Doors to Positivity
Thus far, I’ve only been discussing the negative energy that you may come across in your everyday life. Now
that you understand how common it is and where you can
find it, it’s time to talk about the good news.
The bottom line is that not all energy is bad. People
love, laugh, and even cry out of happiness. For all of the
evil there is in the world, one would have to think that
there’s a bit of good to balance it out.
That being said, there are a few tactics that you can
use to bring the good vibes back into your space (or an
area that needs it).
Here are some tactics that you may want to try:
• Sage smudging.
Crack the windows or doors in your space. Light one
white sage stick, then blow out the flame. Smoke will begin to flow out from the stick. Walk throughout the area,
encouraging all negative energy and entities to leave. Ideally, the negativity will stream out of your opened windows
or doors, allowing positive energy to remain.
• White sage incense.
This technique is ideal for those who may not have
time for a full smudging. Burning a white sage incense
stick and cracking a window can have a similar effect,
revitalizing a negative area.
• Meditation.
Specifically, white light meditation is perfect for clearing
out negative energy. During your practice, envision a warm,
positive, white light encompassing all of the dark space.
• Other proactive measures for creating positivity
include:
–Treating others the way you want to be treated.
–Seeing the positive of any situation.
–Visualizing peace and harmony in your life.
–Letting go of resentment.
–Letting go of your ego.
Of course, safety should be a primary concern while
lighting anything on fire. And take extra precaution if
children or pets are in the area.
Furthermore, it’s important to recognize that creating
and embracing positive energy requires a personal effort
above all else. Making positive decisions in your life can
undoubtedly increase your chances of being surrounded
by similar energy.
www.mysticconnections.org
June Lundgren
Psychic Medium, Healer, animal communicator and
International Author
Her Books include:
A Mediums Guide to the Paranormal, The DarkSide of the Paranormal, Paranormal
August 2015 Paranormal Underground 37
Encounters, and Paranormal encounters Book 2
Available wherever fine books are sold online
Magic & Lore
Dowsing / Divining
& Pendulum Work
By Winter Balefire, http://www.winterbalefire.com/
T
he use of dowsing or divining tools have been
utilized in science, medicine, and even magic for
centuries. It seems to be one of the most universal
tools used. Pendulums, rods, and sticks play a part in this
technique, which is basically a way to find hidden things.
You may be familiar with dowsing rods that are used to
locate water, metal, oil, and have even been used as a technique in ghost hunting. Many believe the term dowsing is
defined as searching for a specific physical item and the term
divining is defined as searching for specific information.
A Brief History
The use of dowsing is believed to
go back at least 8,000 years according to
artwork and wall murals and artwork from
China, Egypt, and North Africa. During
the 15th Century, those who used this
technique were thought to be practitioners
of evil. This is believed to be the origin
of another term used for dowsing called
“water witching.”
The practice did not go away, however,
and has been continually used throughout
history for many different purposes. Marines in the Vietnam War used dowsing to
help locate hidden mines and underground
tunnels. Doctors in France have used pendulums to help diagnose illness. And many
may have witnessed the use of this tool to
determine the sex of an unborn child. Today, those who use
this technique are called practitioners of Radiesthesia.
How Does it Work?
So how does it work? The most common theory is that it’s
all about energy. Everything and everyone in the world gives off
some sort of energy. Certain energies are drawn to each other.
Water gives off incredible energy, hence why dowsing for water
has worked and continues to work very well. The material
used in the dowsing tool can vary. Some are made of metal
or a forked wooden stick, and pendulums can be almost
anything, including stone, crystal, and even a pocket watch.
When the tool comes in contact with a certain energy, it
will respond. Dowsing rods will cross each other, pendulums
38
August 2015
will swing in back and forth or in circular motions, and the
simple forked wooden stick will direct you as you walk with
it in your hands. However, there is another theory that the
tool responds to your own subconscious and is therefore an
extension of the “psychic” mind. This brings me to how this
is used as a divining tool.
Divination Technique
Many who practice modern magic have used pendulums as
divination tools. They are believed to help find answers to questions and even read the energy off an object. So if you plan on
using this technique, you first have to choose
your pendulum. As I previously mentioned,
a pendulum can be anything that is a small
weight attached to a piece of thread or chain.
You will come across many colors, materials,
and shapes. The best advice for choosing one
is simply go with your gut.
When you first start to work with a
pendulum, you need to test its response with
you. I personally follow the standard technique of placing your elbow on the table and
holding the string of the pendulum between
the forefinger and thumb. Make sure you
are steady and the pendulum is allowed to
move freely. Now say, “Give me a yes,” and
watch how it begins to move, left to right or
back and forth. You may need to repeat the
question to get a definite answer. Continue
by saying, “Give me a no,” and watch how the pendulum
moves, hopefully in the opposite direction of the first response.
Once you are confident with how the pendulum will
move with yes or no questions, you may want to ask something you know the answer to in order to test the accuracy
of the tool. When an answer is unclear, the pendulum may
move in an uneven pattern.
To utilize the technique of reading the energy off of an
object, simply hold the pendulum over the object in question. The pendulum may begin to move slowly or rapidly
depending upon the amount of energy. If the motion is
clockwise, you are dealing with a positive energy; counter
clockwise means a negative energy. The wider the circle created by the pendulum, the stronger the energy.
August 2015
The Dark Side Of The Paranormal
BATTLEGROUND
DEMON
By June Lundgren, http://mysticconnections.org/
I
t was a Monday evening, and I was on my way home
from a long day at the clinic when my cell phone
rang. I could see by the number that it was Dave, a
friend of mine. Dave is a medium and the founder of a
paranormal group. Sometimes he gets a client who needs
a little more help then he or his paranormal team can
deal with.
When he needs help with something outside his
normal scope of expertise, he calls me. And when he calls
me, it’s usually because what he has found is something
dark, like a demonic presence.
Pushing the Bluetooth button on my radio, I answered the phone.
“Hey, Dave, what’s up?”
“Well, I’ve got this client, and we’ve been out to his
house a couple of times. There’s a lot of activity and it
feels like there’s something very negative in the house. I
was wondering if you could give him a call and see what
you pick up.”
“In other words, you think there’s a demonic presence in the house. That’s why you called me,” I said
smiling to myself.
“Well, after all, that is your specialty isn’t it? I thought
you could connect and see if you feel anything,” he said a
little uncertainly.
“Alright. Text me his number, and I’ll call him later
this week when I’m off,” I replied.
“Thanks. I know he really needs the help, and you
would be helping me out too. I’ll send you the info right
away,” he said hanging up.
Just after I hung up the phone, I received a second
call from Aaron, a friend of mine.
“Hey what’s up?” I asked with a smile.
“What are you doing on Sunday?” he asked.
“Nothing yet. Why? Do you have something for
me?”
40
August 2015
“Yeah. I got a call from this woman I met at a ghost
conference. She wants our group to do an investigation
on her home. But the thing is, she’s already had two
other groups investigate the house. I really don’t feel
another investigation would do any good. So I asked
her what the purpose of investigating again would be.
It turns out she wanted someone to talk to the spirits
to find out who they were and what they wanted in her
house,” he said.
“OK, so what do you want to do?”
“Well I was wondering if you would be open to going
over with me and doing a walk-through to see what you
can pick up. Maybe you can communicate with whatever
spirits are there and find out why they are there.”
“OK, Sunday will work,” I told him.
“OK, I’ll set it up and then let you know what time.
I hope to do it around 1 o’clock, I’ll text you and let you
“Have you received the information from Dave yet?
know if that doesn’t work for her.”
This demon is a very old and nasty one.”
“Alright, unless I hear otherwise, we’ll do it at 1
“Great, just great! Just what I need, a real nasty one!”
o’clock Sunday,” I agreed and hung up.
Turning to look at him, I saw a gleam of anticipation
Disconnecting the Bluetooth, I shook my head in
in his eye.
amazement. It seemed like there was an overabundance
“Now wait just a minute, you knew this was going to
of negatives running around lately. This would be my sechappen didn’t you? I wouldn’t be surprised if you put it
ond demonic case in less than a week. I suddenly rememinto Dave’s head to call me.” Seeing the grin that spread
bered God saying that the light was continuing to spread
across his face, I knew that was exactly what had happened.
through the world. It was the darkness trying to keep the
“You’re going to owe me one for this you know.
light from spreading that was causing all of the increase
Just for that I’m not going to call him until my day off on
in negative activity. God had
Wednesday. And I am not going
warned me that over the next
to go out to his house until SunThis demon is a very old
several years there would be
day. You know we have to go
and nasty one.
peaks of negative activity along
out to Hillsboro on Saturday to
with the quiet in-between.
remove a negative. I only hope
Pulling into my driveway, I turned off my phone and
what’s waiting for me in Hillsboro isn’t a demonic too.
pushed the calls out of my mind.
Cut me some slack here, we had the demon last Sunday
and now another one this Sunday.”
*****
“Don’t worry, the surge in darkness is almost over,
The next morning when I was getting ready for work,
and you can relax for a while,” Michael said looking
I felt Michael, the archangel, who is my constant compandisappointed.
ion, pop into the bedroom.
“Gee how terrible!” I said sarcastically, but he just
“What’s up Michael? You usually don’t pop in to
grinned and disappeared.
chat for nothing, so something must be up,” I said tele*****
pathically.
August 2015
The Dark Side Of The Paranormal
Two days later I called and spoke to Dave’s client,
my house. We talked for a few minutes about the womTom. I dialed the number Dave had texted to me and the
an’s case. Then the conversation turned to later in the
phone rang several times before it was answered. “Hello,
afternoon.
is Tom there?”
“So, you said you had another appointment this after“This is Tom. Is this June?” he asked.
noon. What sort of an appointment is it?” Aaron asked.
“Yes. I understand you’re having a lot of activity at
“I received a call from Dave about a man who is
your house?” As I made the connection with him, I could
having an issue with a demon in his home. I’m going
feel the presence of the negative.
there to do a walk-through and do a demonic removal,”
“Yes, it’s been going on for a long time. I need someI told them.
one to get rid of it. I can’t take much more of this.” He
“Wow, is it all right if we go along? You might need
sounded like a man at the end of his rope.
someone to watch your back during the removal if there
“Dave told me his parais a demon there,” Aaron said.
normal group came out to your
“I’d love to have you come
I
can
feel
it
watching
us
house to investigate. He said
along, I think he could use a
he felt something dark there,
minister.”
and trying to figure out
something he’s unable to help
“What makes you think he
what we’re up to.
you with.”
needs a minister, besides the
“Yes, Dave told me that I
obvious?” he asked.
needed to find someone who was capable of dealing with
“Because he just texted me and asked if I was a
dark spirits. He told me that you are the best. He said he
Christian,” I said showing him the text on my phone.
would ask if you would be willing to help me. Do you think
“That reminds me. I’d better text Tom to let him know
you can help me get rid of whatever this thing is?”
we probably won’t be there until after three.”
“Yes, I’ll help you. I can’t come until Sunday because
*****
I work, and I have another person on Saturday who
After helping the woman with the entities in her
needs my help.”
house, we headed for Battleground, Washington, where
“That’s fine. Whenever you can come is fine with
Tom lived. It took us longer than I thought to get to his
me. Do you need me to do anything? Do you need any
home because he lived in a rural area on the outskirts of
more information?” he asked.
town. The closer we got to the home, the more pro“I don’t need any information except for your adnounced the feeling of negativity got.
dress. I never like clients to give me any information.
As we pulled into the driveway, Tom came out
When I go into a place, I like to go with no preconceived
through the garage to greet us.
ideas about what I might find.”
“June?” he said holding out his hand.
“Alright, is it OK if I text you my address? What time
Shaking his hand I introduced Aaron and Christina
do you want to come?” he asked.
to him.
“Yes, go ahead and text me your address. We’ll try
“Tom, this is Aaron and his wife Christina. Aaron is
for 2 o’clock on Sunday if that’s OK with you?”
the founder of the paranormal group I work with, NW
“Sure, whenever you’d like; doesn’t matter to me. All
Paranormal Investigative Team. He’s also an ordained
I’ve got to say is the sooner the better.”
minister. I thought you might feel more comfortable with
“Alright, I have another client to see before I come to
him here while I do what I need to do to remove the
your house. I’ll let you know if something comes up and I
negative.”
have to change the time,” I assured him.
“It’s nice to meet you and thank you for coming,”
“Alright, I’ll see you on Sunday then,” he said and
Tom said shaking hands with Aaron and Christina.
hung up the phone.
Turning to me he asked, “Do you want to start on the
As I hung up the phone I received a text from my
inside of the house or on the outside?”
good friend Aaron, letting me know the woman we were
“I can feel it watching us and trying to figure out what
going to see would be available at 1 o’clock. I texted him
we’re up to. It’s upstairs, so let’s begin inside.”
back to let him know that she didn’t live far from me, so
we could meet at my house at around 12:15 that day.
*****
*****
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this article in the next issue of
Paranormal Underground magazine.
Sunday around noon Aaron and his wife arrived at
42
August 2015
August 2015
The Dark Corner With Chuck
The House that Weeps
(House of Miracles)
By Charles G. Gotski, In the Dark Investigations
T
here is a tale from Sydney, Australia, that I’d like
to share with you. The story goes like this: After
the death of a couple’s son, the walls in his bedroom began to weep. Yes, that’s correct. I said weep.
It started in 2006 when the son of George and Lina
Tannous, Michael age 17, died in a car accident. Shortly
after this tragic event, the parents started to notice a strange,
yellow, oily substance coming right out of the walls.
Skeptics at the time of these events make claim that
the couple was running around dabbing this substance all
over, but that was never proven.
Present Day
As of March 2015, nearly a decade after the walls in
the Tannous household started to cry, it seems that the
phenomenon is still going strong. Cars still line the streets
by the home, and the garage is now largely a vigil in itself
with holy items adorning the walls.
The couple is still there welcoming those who believe
to come in and take a tour of the home, giving them a
chance to see and experience the phenomena for themselves.
With their son’s pictures up everywhere in the house, as well as the substance still appearing, it does hold a very
eerie vibe. And there are new claims
from the couple that hidden messages
written by Michael appear on the walls
of the house. These messages, which can
be seen by shinning lights onto the walls,
include Michael’s birthdate and other
such information.
I even read that Michael’s parents
wanted the church to add their son to a
list for possible sainthood.
A Supernatural Edge
Believing this to be an event brought on by their
deceased son as a way of communicating with them, the
parents quickly deemed it to be supernatural. As news started to spread of their
“House of Miracles,” people of faith
started to come in droves to meet with
the couple and see the weeping walls for
themselves.
As the phenomena continued, now
spreading to all the walls of the home,
they started collecting the oily substance
and used it in combination with prayer,
which seemed to have unbelievable
healing properties to those it was given.
There is even a claim of a woman with
cancer being healed from the oil.
Eventually, a local priest from the
area came to their home also believing
this to be a miracle and started using the
Unanswered Questions
substance to anoint people. As hundreds
So is this phenomenon really caused
of people continued to come, the couple Photo source: News Corp Australia. by Michael to communicate with his
decided to turn their house into a 24parents and to others? If it is, what really
hour chapel to help others.
is he trying to say? And if the substance coming out of the
walls is just oil and water, how is it able to heal people?
What Is the Truth?
Could it be that the healing power is the result of believe
In 2007, the miracle oil was tested and found to be
from within?
a combination of oil and water. It’s even said that the
Also, I was never able to determine if anyone has
substance would appear coming from holy objects within
ever looked into any natural reasons for this to happen.
the house, such as crosses and statues. But the oils true
Nevertheless, it is a very strange tail indeed. But, then
origins remain a mystery to this day.
again, I’ve heard stranger.
44
August 2015
August 2015
The Psychic Biker: Attitude With Empathy
‘I Ain’t Afraid of
No Ghosts’
By Paul Green, The Psychic Biker
F
or the young ones among you, the title of this
article is a line from the 1984 Ray Parker, Jr. song
“Ghostbusters,” from the movie Ghostbusters, of
course. It’s a tune that almost every paranormal investigator has probably had as a ringtone on their cell. They
probably thinking it was cool at one time but now cringe
at the memory.
But, it’s a relevant quote, and is one of the most common questions I get asked as a paranormal investigator,
usually when appearing on a radio show with a host who
knows nothing about the paranormal. “Aren’t you ever
scared?” they ask me.
As a psychic medium, my retort is simple: “I see them
coming.” For the most part. I was scared once during an
investigation at Kielder Castle set deep in the heart of
Northumberland when I was charged at by a very hostile
energy. That story and others are in my book The Psychic
Biker Meets The Extreme Ghost Hunter, available at all
good, and some dodgy, bookstores ... that’s the plug, done.
But that is the only time I have ever felt afraid of a
ghost. OK, like other people, I will jump if a door slams
suddenly, usually due to a gust of wind and nothing paranormal. However, it has raised a question in my mind:
“Why do people go on ghost hunts?”
It’s not one I have thought of deeply before, as usually I assumed, possibly wrongly, that they were simply
looking for evidence of another world or dimension beyond this one. But we know now that many aspects of the
ghost-hunting business has moved away from what used
to be a group of people seeking proof and into more of a
night of entertainment with nights being booked for hen
and stag nights. I have even heard of ghost hunts posing
as team-building exercises.
Which brings me to the title of this column, “I ain’t
afraid of no ghosts.” For those of us who have been on
any paranormal investigation, there will be the screamers,
46
August 2015
the shriekers, and the “I am going to run through a brick
wall if I am scared” people. Usually the same people that
have asked “make a noise; throw a stone please” and then
when that happens it’s a surprise. Really?
Come on, you asked for it didn’t you? So why the
shock?
I do also wonder, as I have that kind of mind, what
the reaction is from the energy that threw that stone,
made the noise, or stroked a cheek. Do they throw their
arms up in disgust — do ghosts have arms? — and then
storm off and sulk, never to appear again that night? Or
do they have a chuckle and go looking for a really big
stone for next time? Maybe that depends on what kind of
personality they have. Do ghosts have personalities?
It also raises another question — I would guess —
from those who have visited a haunted location with
rumors of spirit energy. Does our fear power the ghosts
at a location? And what about the “nasty pasty” spirit who
was evil or nasty in life and has taken that nastiness to the
other side with them? You know, the ghosts who really get
off on scaring people? Does our excitement rile them up
even more?
With so many emotions running around from the
people at the event, with most investigators having a
heightened expectation that
“something” will happen, with
the preconceived views on what
will happen, how does all that
affect paranormal activity?
Are those emotions picked
up on by ghosts? And if so
what effect will they have on
the ghost’s reaction and the
subsequent activity over the
rest of the night? Will fear
emanating from someone put
off a kindly spirit energy from
producing more activity, even
when asked?
I do wonder if most
people go on a ghost hunt to
get scared. I feel it has become
another version of watching a
horror movie. A way of getting
a fright but in a manner that is “safe” — safer than maybe
base jumping or mountaineering, for example.
After all, I know we all have seen and experienced
a form of mass hysteria on any paranormal event, when
it seems the crowd feeds off each other’s fear. But when
have you seen a genuine injury result from a ghost attack?
Other that the occasional scratch, which is also rare?
Many ghost-hunting companies now offer ghost hunts
in many forms, as I previously mentioned. It’s all gotten a
little bit corporate hasn’t it?
Without dropping into cankerous old-man mode,
wasn’t ghost hunting better in the “old days” when it
wasn’t fashionable to go on such events. And, let’s be
honest, it was usually a group of geeky people who were
creeping around dark buildings looking for proof of life
after death, not a good scare.
Does the modern trend for turning what was a paranormal investigation into a ghost hunt — even the term is slightly
offensive; we don’t hunt what was a human do we? — mean
that the aim of these events are no longer to seek knowledge,
look for proof that there is something after what we call
death, but is now simply an entertainment event?
If so, is that wrong? Does it devalue the event? Is it
wrong to turn what I feel should be a reasonably serious
quest to find proof of one of the most important questions
humans have, what happens when we die, into a “night of
fun and scares” that has no value other than a night out?
After all, the energies, the ghosts that used to be the
subject of investigators looking for proof of the afterlife
have not changed. They are the same reputably discarnate
souls of people that were once just like us. Living, breathing, sentient humans that on
some ghost hunts are treated
no better than the performing
seals at a tourist’s exhibition.
I feel we are now on the
verge of accepting that this is
the case and, perhaps more
importantly, that it is the norm,
I accept there are many groups
out there that still work to find
proof of life after death as they
always have done, but it seems
the commercial entertainment events are increasingly
becoming the way the majority
of people interact with and
experience the paranormal.
However, what can be
done, assuming enough people
want to do something? Is it
possible to return to the old way of seeking knowledge?
Or was that just too boring? After all, we all have sat for
hours at an event where little happens. Is it the case that
the entertainment aspect of the paranormal world is now
like an oil tanker on full steam, just too difficult to slow
down and turn around?
Though it may be that I may be too pessimistic.
Could it be that I am looking back at old-school paranormal investigation with rose-tinted glasses in the same way
that critics praise art noir monochrome films but in reality
no one really watches them? Could it be that the explosion in entertainment-orientated events in the paranormal
world is a good thing? Maybe it’s good not to be afraid of
progress simply because it’s new.
Maybe someone who has just booked their first-ever
ghost hunt will be the new fresh-faced, fresh-eyed person
who will be the inspiration that will take paranormal investigation in a new direction. The person who will bring to
the table the irrefutable proof that there is life after death
and silence the skeptics out there.
As the national lottery slogan used in the UK says, “It
could be you!”
Couldn’t it?
August 2015
Personal Experiences: Ghost Hunter Case Files
Spectral Tech Investigation:
Covington Liquor, Covington, TN
By Bob Fountain – SpectralTech.org
W
hen you think of paranormal investigations,
your mind immediately associates them with all
the stereotyped places you see on TV or in the
movies. Graveyards, abandoned hospitals, prisons, and old
or abandoned houses are the sites that get most investigators
excited. Those of us who have been investigation for some
time have explored these and many other unique places.
Every once in a while, however, you chance upon a location that falls out of the norm that has just as much activity as
any graveyard or abandoned house you have encountered.
After returning from an investigation one night, I
decided to stop by a local liquor store and get some spirits
of the not-so-paranormal kind. I was wearing our team’s
Spectral Tech shirt, and the conversation, of course,
turned to the paranormal. The owners of the store, Scott
and Lisa, told me that their store had been experiencing
activity for some time that they could not explain. They
agreed to let our team do an investigation of the store.
Investigating a Haunted Liquor Store
After we determined a date, the investigation began
at 11 p.m. upon the store’s closing. Our team members
included Matt and Dee Ingersoll, Nick McDivitt, Mickey
Materna, Bob Fountain, and Linda Southard.
We met with the owners and interviewed them about
what prompted the investigation and why they believed
the building was haunted.
We were told that the location was approximately 30
years old and had roughly five previous owners. Scott and
Lisa informed us that the original owner had passed away,
as well as Scott’s father who had owned the store and
passed away a year earlier. They reported that they have
seen shadow figures and full-body apparitions, even during the day. The phenomena had been occurring close
to a year. What they wanted from this investigation was
verification that they were not imagining this activity.
While we were being briefed, the rest of the team
began to set up equipment, deciding to set up one cam-
48
August 2015
Covington Liquor in Tennessee is home to shadow figures and
full-body apparitions, as well as other paranormal phenomena.
corder with a tripod in the main area of the store overlooking most of the floor where the apparition had been
frequently observed. Two laser grids were set up in the
back room. Two members activated their digital recorders at the beginning of the investigation and left them on
for the entire 1 ½ hours that we investigated.
Almost immediately activity began to occur. The
camcorder on the tripod in the main area shut off several
times just minutes apart. The mobile camcorder also experienced power problems. Several members, including
the owners, saw a shadow figure moving back and forth
in the rear of the store, breaking the light of the laser grid.
This activity prompted an EVP session with one of the
digital recorders. The other recorder was simply carried
around by an investigator to pick up any random communication being attempted.
During the investigation, Matt found unusual energy
patterns with the K-II meter that could not be explained.
Most of the readings were in mid-air about waist high.
Since we had all turned our phones off, we ruled out
cellphone interference, and they were not next to a wall
or any electrical devices. The same was true outside of
the building. Matt searched for an electrical source that
could explain the signal, but found none. At one point
he commented that it was almost like it was following
him around.
Pictured above at left: Mickey Materna conducts a baseline sweep with a K-II meter, while Matt Ingersoll (in the background)
sets up a laser grid. Above at right: Bob Fountain sets up an experiment using a vodka bottle as a trigger object.
given a K-II meter, and while sitting in his office it had lit
Investigation Results
up several times while asking specific questions directed to
Upon review of the data collected, we found several
his dad. There is a faint voice in the middle of this segment
validations that confirmed paranormal activity was indeed
where you can hear a voice say, “Can you hear me.” On represent in the store.
view we replayed this voice, and Scott got emotional and said
Of note, though: The stationary camcorder did not
that it was his dad. I advised him that if you are not careful,
record anything in the main area of the store, and lights
you can interpret something to be what you want it to be.
from cars passing in the street created enough reflection
With that in mind, both his wife and son listened to
and illusions of movement that any actual movement
the tape without being told what it was, and both immediwould be very difficult to validate as paranormal. Strangeately said it was Scott’s dad. To them, and the team, this
ly, though, all of the EVP sessions with Dee and Lisa had
was validation that Scott really did hear his dad. Scott later
been deleted when Dee began her review of the sessions.
mentioned that we had no idea
Fortunately, the digital reWe
captured
an
EVP
that
what that meant for him.
corder being carried around was
said, “Can you hear me?”
The owners had also mennot erased and did pick up sevtioned that they have activity at
eral EVPs that were significant.
home as well, including full-body apparitions, and it was
When Dee was in the back of the store and explaining the
pointed out that the spirits may be following them home
devices to any spirits present, the word “Thomas” can be
and be attached to them as well as the store. That may be
clearly heard on the recorder. This is significant. Upon reanother investigation waiting to happen in the future.
view of the evidence with Scott and Lisa, we asked if they
I have visited the store several times since the invesknew anyone named Thomas as heard on the recorder.
tigation and have been advised that activity is still high.
Initially, they did not remember anyone by that name,
Some of the employees have reported talking to who they
but finally said there was a Thomas who used to come in
thought was a customer only to find they had disappeared
that was in a wheelchair and enjoyed their company. He
when they looked up. Also, shadow figures are still movhad since died, but this might explain the numerous EMF
ing about in the back room.
readings at waist height we were getting. Perhaps Thomas
My advice for the beginners in the paranormal field
had decided to stay a while and visit.
would be not to limit themselves to the graveyards, abanIn another segment on the recorder, Lisa is explaining
doned houses, and all the usual places. If you pay attenwhat she sees in the store and you hear a definite whisper
tion, you may find an unlikely location, such as a liquor
that clearly says, “It’s a ghost.”
store in a small town, which may be far more rewarding.
The third and most rewarding EVP captured was during
One nagging question of this investigation remains,
a discussion within the store’s office while Dee is explaining
however. If Thomas is now in spirit and indeed is still in
to Scott how to take pictures while he is in his office trying
the store … why is he still in a wheelchair?
to communicate with his dad using a K-II meter. Scott was
August 2015
Author Profile
King Hall:
By Scarlett Dawn
By Michelle M. Pillow, www.MichellePillow.com
A
#1 Bestseller in Witches and Wizards Romance
and award-winner Scarlett Dawn is the author of
the Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series,
which include King Hall and King Cave. She lives in the
Midwest, adores her music loud, and loves fries covered
in melted cheese.
Her newest fantasy release, King Hall (Forever Evermore, #1), is available at all major online vendors.
*****
Q: In your book, King Hall, you explore shifters,
mages, vampires, and elementals. What inspired
you?
Scarlett: I wanted something unique and fresh. Sure, all
of these types of paranormal creatures have been explored before, but all at once? And to create a “newness”
to all of them?
It was outrageous fun to tinker with what a reader
knows already and then shake it up all crazy-like. I enjoy
pushing boundaries, so that’s what I did for myself when
creating this story.
Q: What myths or legends inspired you?
Scarlett: None. In fact, I made it so no traditional myths
or legends play a part in the story. I wanted “new.”
Scarlett Dawn is the international bestselling author of the
Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series and the Mark
new adult science fiction saga.
different cultures, twist them up, to make one hell of a
new badass story.
Q: Do you have any paranormal theories?
Q: What myths and legends have you investigated?
Scarlett: No. I don’t believe in the supernatural. Though,
I adore writing about it!
Scarlett: I love researching all types of legends. Every
time I go to the bookstore, I end up buying a new book
on some type of culture and their myths.
One day, I would love to pick and pull from all the
Q: Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the paranormal?
50
August 2015
Scarlett: Because it’s sensually different than our staid
Q: How would you react if you
came face to face with a shifter?
world. It hypnotizes and pulls you
into a fantastical reality.
Scarlett: I would probably pee my
pants and then faint. True.
Q: What are your favorite paranormal shows, movies, and
books?
*****
Scarlett: I love television and movies! It’s my hobby of sorts. But my
favorites are The Host and The
Mummy.
Titles from Scarlett include:
Q: What kind of paranormal
creatures do you wish you could
meet?
• King Cave (Forever Evermore, #2)
– Fantasy Romance
Scarlett: Vampires. Straight up.
They are kickass. Shifters would scare
me.
• King Tomb (Forever Evermore,
#3) – Fantasy Romance
Q: If given the chance, would
you become a vampire?
Scarlett: Yep. I would have so much
fun being a vamp. It would be like
letting chaos out of the bottle.
• King Hall (Forever Evermore, #1)
– Fantasy Romance
• Mark (Cold Mark – The Complete Saga) – Romance, Science
Fiction
King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn
their craft, get their degrees, and transition
into adulthood. And where four new Rulers
will rise and meet their destinies.
August 2015
Thank you for joining us, Scarlett!
You can learn more about Scarlett
Dawn at http://www.Scarlettdawn.net.
Visit Paranormal Underground Magazine at
paranormalunderground.net

U N D E R G R O U N D® - San Diego Paranormal Research Society

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