A Three-Prong Approach to Paranormal Research

Researching Spooky Stuff at
The Gray Barker Archives

Summary: The process of researching haunted locations can be summed up in three main areas: 1. STORIES AND EXPERIENCES, 2. HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION, and 3. DATA COLLECTION. An investigation usually starts with the reputation of a location for being haunted, and an examination of the stories and witness experiences associated with it. It is then followed up by researching the history of the location and collecting data, such as EMF readings, photographs, EVP recordings, etc. Further, these three 'prongs' are not linear. For example, some will collect data before looking into the history. More often than not, investigators will circle back around as new information is uncovered. In a perfect scenario, all three areas will interconnect, supporting and backing each other up. However, we all know that this trifecta rarely occurs; fortunately, that doesn't mean that a location or an investigation does not have value.

It's no secret that I am fascinated with anything and everything weird and spooky! Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State exists as a way to document and share a gamut of strange and unusual topics. UFOs, cryptids, psychic phenomena, and Fortean events are just some of the subjects that have found a home here on my blog. But, throughout my work in this field, the study of ghosts and hauntings has remained my main focus.

For today's post, I thought I'd do a commentary on what I consider to be the ideal trifecta in regard to the investigation and research of haunted locations. As both a researcher AND a paranormal field investigator, a multitude of allegedly haunted sites come across my radar on a regular basis. I love hearing about potentially haunted places and researching the history behind them. However, what makes a location REALLY pique my interest? What makes me excited to actually do on-site investigation research?

Not all haunted locations are created equal. Aside from investigative logistics, such as accessibility, health/safety concerns, and other external variables, some places just make for a better research subject. I am a believer that any place has the potential for paranormal activity, but as a serious researcher, I need a reason to invest in the study of a particular property. That reason usually starts with the ghost stories and personal experiences reported by various witnesses.

STORIES AND EXPERIENCES:

I'm sure you've had someone tell you about a great haunted location they know of...but when you ask them to describe the activity, they really can't tell you much about what actually goes on there. They might stress the idea that the place is old and creepy, and/or the fact that someone died there. If you get REALLY lucky, they might have mentioned they felt 'something.' I do appreciate getting these types of tips from people. I love when people get excited about the paranormal, and I always love talking about the paranormal with others. It's awesome whenever someone knows what I do and is eager to share their knowledge of haunted locations with me. And to be fair, some of these places have ended up being awesome investigations, especially when they haven't been investigated before by anyone.

However, it's so much easier when a location already has an established history of specific paranormal activity. To maximize the research process, I need to know exactly why the location is believed to be haunted. Are there legends of untimely death, unrequited love, or other acts of violence and tragedy? Do locals tell of apparitions roaming the grounds, unearthly screams piercing the veil, or mysterious disappearances? Are these legends widespread and well-known, dating back a number of years? Have they been previously documented in writing, and where?

I also need to know what people are actually experiencing. Are the owners/visitors/others related to the property seeing anything? Hearing anything? Smelling anything? Do these experiences tend to back up the ghost stories told about the location, or are they unrelated? Can recent witnesses be located and interviewed about their experiences?

The combination of reported stories and personal experiences not only show that a location has a sustained history of activity (as opposed to just a one-off experience), but will show investigators patterns of that activity, such as what time of day activity seems to occur, or whether or not activity seems to happen only to certain people. This data can be used to plan an optimal investigation experience, focused on recreating the specific conditions that seem conducive to activity. It also allows investigators to isolate specific incidents of activity to try to recreate for the purpose of debunking, or finding natural explanations. Further, these tales and experiences can offer clues into who or what is haunting the location, and why. Who is that woman in white who silently ascends the stairs night after night?

This investigation process nearly always starts with stories and experiences (for the exception, please see my article on Ghost Hunting Vs. Paranormal Investigation). It is a jumping off point for the rest of your research, which, based on personal beliefs, may look slightly different from mine, and vary from case to case. But, in general, I tend to head into the realm of historical documentation from here. It's important to note, however, that these three areas are very interdependent. This will be discussed in greater detail later on, but let's first take a look at historical documentation. 

Waverly Hills 
Estes Method

HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION:

Historical research is MY favorite part of paranormal investigation. I love taking a deep dive into the people and events tied to the property. I want to know who lived there, who died there, who worked there, who visited, and why any of them might be sticking around. I want to go further into just their names and dates of deaths; I want to know what they did for a living, what church they went to, what they did in the spare time. Did they have any pets or belong to any organizations? What tragedies touched their lives? 

There are several advantages of conducting historical research before the on-site investigation. Historical research can provide names and details of your suspected ghost. This information can then be used to tailor specific questions for EVP and/or spirit box sessions, or be used in choosing what type of trigger objects a suspected ghost may most likely interact with. Perhaps most importantly, historical research can shed some light on the stories and experiences. Many, MANY times throughout my research, I've found that what is told and accepted as 'fact' for the background of a location is not quite accurate. Not every old house was used as a Civil War hospital, and that 'woman in white' who allegedly took her own life when her betrothed died in the war? Well, her death certificate and obituary both say she died of cancer in her 80s.

It's definitely satisfying being able to shed some truth to the folklore (a major goal of Theresa's Haunted History which I will probably delve deeper into in another post), but nothing feels greater than actually finding primary documentation that supports the claims of activity. I remember high-fiving a colleague and then feeling REALLY guilty about my sheer joy upon finding a newspaper article discussing the tragic death of a toddler that up until that point, hadn't been proven. While I wasn't celebrating the tragedy itself, I was relieved to have that vindication of a widely-told story actually being true.

When the historical documentation backs up the stories, it is certainly a good sign that the site deserves on-site investigation, which brings us to our third and final area: Data collection. 

DATA COLLECTION: 

We have a location with a dark and verifiable history, with stories and experiences to match. That's awesome and will definitely qualify to be featured here on Theresa's Haunted History! And, given that permission can be obtained, most likely we'll want to come investigate that location. As cool as the case already sounds, what would make it PERFECT would be to collect data and potential evidence that can give a glimpse of scientific validity to the claims. Any and all potential evidence collected on site would be awesome---but to have an EVP giving a verified name, or a photo clearly showing the suspected entity is the Holy Grail, and the perfect completion to the perfect trifecta: historical documentation AND physical evidence to back up the legends and lore. 

Unfortunately, data collection, while it should be very scientifically sound and regulated, isn't infallible, especially in regard to paranormal research. An interesting piece of potential evidence or data doesn't necessarily conclude that a location is haunted or that ghosts exist. And data might not necessarily correlate to personal experiences and documented history. Often, we get 'hits' on EVP or the Spirit Box giving 'random' names. These might just be completely random. They might be the product of misinterpretation by investigators (for example, Jane and Shane sound A LOT alike on audio). In some schools of thought, they may be examples of telepathy on the part of those present, as opposed to proof of afterlife communication. Or, it could simply be information that has yet to be discovered.

That's when we have to circle back. More historical research needs to be done, using the new information as clues. As people continue to have experiences and tell stories about the location, that data also needs to be documented and taken into consideration. Very rarely is a case marked 'complete,' because as long as the location still exists, there is the potential for additional stories and experiences. And as long as I'm still researching, I will continue to seek out as much documentation and data as I can. 

With that, I'll wrap up this overly long blog post! Good luck with your own investigations and research, and as always, stay spooky my friends! 

Equipment Bag Essentials: Walkie-Talkies

One of those questions that is constantly asked of paranormal investigators is, 'what types of equipment would you recommend to those new to this field?' The paranormal field is full of really fun, unique gadgets marketed as tools to communicate with the other side. It's also saturated with tools designed to measure and record audio, video, and fluctuations/anomalies with environmental factors. It seems like each year, new and improved toys are hitting the market with promises of being the ONE THING you need to gather solid proof of the afterlife.

Unfortunately, at this point in time, we have to accept the fact that not one single piece of investigation equipment we use can 100% without a doubt PROVE that ghosts exist. So, while these new toys are really fun to play with and may offer some head scratching data, I always suggest to those who are new to this field to start with some basics---a good voice recorder, a way to record video, a means of measuring temperature and EMF fluctuations, a reliable flashlight, and if feasible, a set of walkie-talkies!

Walkie-talkies (or two-way radios, to sound more proper) are probably not the first thing you think of when it comes to paranormal investigation equipment, but I personally feel they are a wonderful addition to a team's equipment bag. They're versatile, portable, and can be found in a range of price ranges, starting from quite reasonably inexpensive. Let's take a closer look at how walkie-talkies can benefit your ghost hunt, as well as examine some things you need to watch out for!

Pros of Using Walkie-Talkies on Investigations:

*Keep in Contact with Your Teammates:  The obvious use of a handheld two-way radio on an investigation is to keep in communication with your teammates. Some places we investigate, both indoors and outdoors, are large enough to require that we break into two or more teams while on location. Many locations that we investigate are out in the middle of nowhere, and cell reception (even in 2023) is spotty at best. But, even if we had reliable cell reception, walkie-talkies allow instantaneous contact with multiple groups at once, as opposed to trying to text or call several different team members and waiting for a response. Those few moments saved could be critical if you have an event happening in real time, or if there is some type of emergency situation. And, in addition to the communication benefits while on site, walkie-talkies can be used to communicate between team members driving in different cars TO the location, granted they aren't that far apart. Speaking from personal experience, this has come in handy when trying to figure out directions in places we've had multiple cars carpooling to sites with absolutely no cell service whatsoever. 

*Communicate with the Ghosts: Theoretically, walkie-talkies can be used for more than just staying in contact with your teammates; they can be used as ITC devices! ITC, or instrumental trans-communication devices are basically just any sort of electronic device that can be used to interact with paranormal entities. If a living person can send a message via a two-way radio, why couldn't a spirit/ghost? Spectral Research and Investigations has actually had this happen to us, during a public investigation event we assisted with at the Haunted Haymond House in Sutton, WV. We clearly heard the voice of a fellow investigator come over the radio, in a frantic, almost panicked voice say, "hello? hello?" However, she wasn't even TOUCHING her radio at the time, and neither were we--it was sitting on a table in front of us. So whose voice did we hear?

There's also an experiment laid out by Dr. Lloyd Auerbach that involves the use of a walkie-talkie. Instead of having investigators INSIDE a room doing EVP work, you can seal the room off, with just a walkie-talkie and a voice recorder. Ask your questions from another location, via the walkie-talkie. The idea is that not having a living person on site might allow the spirit to be more comfortable in answering questions, or may even assure that the recording device is not being psychically imprinted on by the living investigator. Yeah, it gets complicated, lol...but just try some of your own experiments. See if keeping only ONE walkie-talkie on yields results over multiple units being turned on. See what channels seem to be the most open to communication. Experiment with anything you can think of and document, document, document!

Cons of Using Walkie-Talkies During Investigations:

However, remember that as with any piece of investigation equipment, walkie-talkies have their drawbacks. They aren't infallible. They require batteries (which can get expensive) or charging (which can be time consuming), and can quickly lose their charge...because of NON paranormal reasons. Having a non-functioning communication device can be both dangerous AND frustrating. Unfortunately, the higher quality radios may be more reliable, but they can run into the hundreds of dollars---money that may be better spent on other items for your investigation toolkit.

They can also interfere with other pieces of investigation equipment. They will absolutely set off your K-II and other EMF detectors, so experiment around to see how far away they have to be to react, and just keep that in mind if you get an anomalous reading that can't be explained. 

And finally, two-way radios can pick up other frequencies. If there are truck drivers or other CB users in the area, you can absolutely accidentally pick up their transmissions.If there are road construction crews, hunters, or even kids that are using two-way radios, you run the risk of picking up their conversations. During my work with a previous team, we even picked up a signal from a nearby baby monitor! And, while not many people have them these days, it wasn't unheard of to pick up conversations from cordless phones as well. 

In conclusion, I think that two-way radios are a great addition to your equipment bag, but as with every piece of equipment we use in this field, must be used with a full understanding of their limitations. But, walkie-talkies make a great, versatile tool that I think you'll get a lot of practical AND experimental use of. Let me know in the comments below whether or not YOU carry walkies with you on YOUR investigations, and if you've ever had anything strange come across them! Happy Haunting! 

Reincarnation: Reaching Out to Your Previous Family

 

I love those thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, paranormal-related questions that really require you to think deeply about your own beliefs in this field, and how those beliefs can be applied to hypothetical real-world situations. I especially love those questions that tend to slant towards the ethical concerns of paranormal research and investigation. 

I recently ran across an awesome question that I think is a good example of such. New Jersey Paranormal Investigations posted the following question on their Facebook page on Sunday, April 10, 2022: If you were reincarnated, and remembered your previous life, would you try to contact family members from that life? 

It was a popular post! As of this writing, there were 313 LIKES, 21 SHARES, and 97 people weighed in with their opinion...including me. And, it was kind of a tough question for me to answer. As with so many of these 'what would you do' questions, a lot depends on the circumstances surrounding the issue, and unless I know more about these variables, I'm not entirely sure how I would react.

On one hand, I'm pretty sure I would absolutely try to reach out. If I strongly suspected that I had been reincarnated, and that I remembered my family (and had the knowledge and resources to track them down) I think I'd feel pretty compelled. I would want to seek out my own validation for the strange phenomenon I was experiencing. How many of the details recover could be confirmed by the family? What was my life like back then, and is there anything from that life that has either bled over and influenced by current life? Is there anything that I need to examine from that past life and make right in this one?

As a paranormal researcher, I'd also feel compelled to reach out, not only for my own validation...but for the greater good. If I truly felt that I had been reincarnated, and had either hardcore proof, or at least enough data to suggest a real phenomenon, I'd want to share that with the scientific community. I would WANT my case studied by the best and brightest in the parapsychology field, and hopefully contribute to the body of knowledge in this controversial subject. 

Going back to a more personal direction, if I truly remembered my previous family, there's a good possibility that I'd be longing for an emotional connection. No matter how deeply my love for my current family runs, if I remember my previous loved ones, I think I would still feel that attachment, even if it's just on a subconscious level. In order to feel 'whole' I may feel that I need to stay connected to the past.  And that's where things start getting really messy.

In practical terms, the vast majority of westerners in this day and age would probably react rather...skeptically...to put it nicely, if they were contacted by someone claiming to be the reincarnation of their deceased loved one. I know that if I had someone reach out to me with such a claim, I'd assume they were trying to scam me out of my life savings, or otherwise just trying to troll me and hurt me. I'm honestly not sure how much 'proof' I'd need to even entertain the idea, and I'd probably end up blocking them from further contact before they could even attempt to provide that proof.

But let's say that my previous family is totally open to the idea. I'd like to think that it would be a beautiful thing to reunite with them, and almost pick up where we left off. It would be a sweet confirmation that our loved ones are never really gone. There's that side of me, though, that can't help thinking how psychologically damaging this could potentially be for everyone involved. I wouldn't want to hurt my present family and loved ones by seeking out another family---I don't want them to think they aren't enough. I also wouldn't want to risk hurting those I was reaching out to. Even if they are open to reincarnation, that's got to be quite a shock to receive a communication from someone known to be dead. And just how does one interact with and integrate the new with the old? I can't really romantically show love to my past life husband with his new wife and my current husband there! On a side note, that example is probably a lil' weird anyway, since theoretically, my old husband would now be at least old enough to be my father's age. But yeah...do you keep a friendly, but distant relationship with your old family, or do you treat them with the same love and affection as the old you? 

Is it better to just let your old family move on without throwing that natural grief process for a loop? Are YOU able to move on and learn what you need to learn from this life if you get too stuck with a previous one? And what happens when all these little evidences of a past life turn out to be nothing more than coincidence?

So yeah. In conclusion, there is no conclusion. I have no idea what I would do in this situation. I just know that should I find myself remembering clear and vivid details, including names of previous family members, I would just tread very, very lightly. I would try to gather as much proof as I can before even attempting to find these people, and then approach with caution. I'd love to know what YOU'D do, though! Let me know down in the comments, or find me on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook to discuss this further. Also, don't forget to check out the links below for more info on the topic of reincarnation. Stay spooky! 

Want MORE Articles on Reincarnation from Theresa's Haunted History?

Morphic Resonance

Cryptomnesia

Past-Life Regression Seminar

Finding the Facts Among the Folklore

Library Research at the
Cabell Co. Main Branch

Nothing in the paranormal research realm frustrates me more than the following scenario: You're researching a haunted location with a complete back story as to who the ghost is and what tragedy occurred that sparked the haunting. Sometimes names of those involved are given. Occasionally, the storyteller may even have rough or specific dates of when the events happened. It's a damn good ghost story, complete with an actual location with alleged activity to investigate. 

As a paranormal investigator who specializes in historic research, I'm always excited when a haunted location comes complete with such an elaborate tale that explains why the location is haunted. But, I would be doing my field a huge disservice if I just took those ghost stories at face value and didn't try to verify and uncover my own documentation. That's where the frustration comes in. More often than not, I WILL FIND NOTHING. 

It's one thing to find historical records that dispute the widely accepted ghost stories and debunk the details behind the haunting. It can be disappointing, proving that the stories behind a haunted location that have been told for YEARS may not have any basis in fact---that Mr. Smith, who was said to have murdered his whole family in the barn before taking his own life, ACTUALLY died of rheumatism at the age of 85, and was outlived by all three of his children and wife. In rare instances, it's possible to find historical documentation that disputes the original story, but offers up details of an even stranger series of events that even more accurately fit the details of the reported paranormal activity. Either way, it's something I can work with. I can show tangible proof of historic details and go from there. And just because the back story to a haunting didn't happen the way folklore insists it did, doesn't mean that the location isn't haunted. As paranormal researchers and investigators, we have a lot more to learn about why some locations attract paranormal activity even without a tragic event tied to it. Further, lots of ghost stories and urban legends have at least a small grain of truth buried deep within, and it's always fun and rewarding to find that grain of truth and figure out how it relates to the story as a whole. 

What's frustrating is the finding of NOTHING---no historical documentation to disprove an event happened, and no documentation to prove it did. As I always tell my clients, just because I personally cannot find confirmation, doesn't mean that confirmation doesn't exist or that the story isn't true. And until I do find confirmation that an event took place or a specific person existed as described, that case is open to me. 

With any of my cases that I investigate, or even simply feature here on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State, nothing is ever closed. As my historical research skills evolve, as my access to research materials increases, and as more resources are in general are being digitized and made available to the public, the more I discover about the many, many haunted places throughout West Virginia and beyond. 

My biggest fear is that with many of these stories, there never will be confirmation (or denial). Historic research can be a bit...muddled. For most of our history, it wasn't required to officially register things such as births and deaths. People signed official documents with their nicknames, not the names given on their birth certificates. Newspapers didn't always get their facts straight, and in some cases, made up stories for readership. Census takers often mis-recorded and misspelled information...and that was if they could even get the accurate information out of the family in the first place. Tombstones become lost or illegible. The digitization of records has opened up a lot of doors in the realm of research, but transcription errors and low-quality or damaged scans are a huge problem and have led to a lot of misinformation.

And unfortunately, some documents have been permanently lost to history. Courthouses burn down, destroying documents. Floods wash away important papers. Newspaper offices go out of business and chuck their archives. Natural and man-made disasters, not to mention just the passage of time, have erased any written documentation of a story, or any proof of the existence of those involved. All that remains is the folklore--the stories passed down orally through the generations. Some of these stories remain largely intact as to the original content, while others grow and change a little with each re-telling and each generation, trying to fill in the gaps and keep the story relevant throughout the years. And as a researcher, it frustrates the hell out of me. I love a good mystery, but I hate the idea of never knowing the truth. Just how accurate ARE those old ghost stories if I can't find any way to prove or disprove them?

It also leaves me conflicted. I want to do my due diligence. I want to bring legitimacy to the field of paranormal research and investigation. That requires finding out the truth, no matter what that truth may be. If I cannot find solid proof for or against, I feel like I've failed. I feel like I've failed my clients, my readers, and myself. More importantly, I feel like I've failed those whose stories are waiting to be told. But what about those stories? What value, if any, can be found in the tales told that cannot be authenticated?

The older I get, the more I appreciate how our West Virginia folklore, in particular our ghost lore IS a part of our history. Ghost stories serve as a reminder that none of us will live forever. They serve as morality tales, reminding us to act a certain way. They serve as a warning---here in Appalachia, it wasn't unheard of for ghost stories to be told as a means of scaring outsiders away from a well-hidden moonshine still, and certainly, throughout history, spooky stories have been told to children to keep them from wandering away and exploring areas where real life dangers abound. Ghost stories are a commentary on the values and beliefs of a group of people, and in some cases, are used to explain that which cannot be explained by normal means. 

Ghost stories also serve simply as a means of entertainment. Before the days of television, many dark nights were spent by the fire, telling and re-telling spooky stories. Most of us still love reading/hearing a good ghost story, or watching a spooky show on television to pass the time. Ghost lore is a part of our collective history, and therefore, despite my dedication to the truth, I strongly believe that our ghost stories and related folklore should be preserved and studied, whether or not they can be verified to be historically accurate. Long-time readers to Theresa's Haunted History might notice that I've always tried to represent both sides. I've always told the popular ghost lore and shared the ghost stories of each haunted location I feature. Then, I share any historical research I've uncovered, whether it backs up the stories or disputes them. I try to do the same for my clients; I will make sure to document the stories that are told, but present historical documentation illustrating my findings. 

This marriage of fact and folklore is the basis for this blog, and as my work as a paranormal investigator. I believe I owe it to this field of study and to my readers/clients to present the facts and documentation. I believe I owe it to our 'ghosts' to tell their stories as truthfully as possible, and ensure they are not forgotten. But, I believe I owe it to our collective history and culture to also document and share the stories that cannot be historically proven, as there is just as much to learn from them as any verifiable source. 

Stay spooky, y'all. 

24 Commonly Forgotten Investigation Essentials

A few of Spectral Research and Investigation's Toys!

As paranormal investigators, researchers, and enthusiasts, many of us love seeing all the new ghost hunting gadgets that are out there. We love seeing what other teams use and how they use it. We love seeing what evidence these items can capture. And, we love showing off our own toys! While obviously, the 'big stuff,' such as DVR systems, EMF meters, voice recorders, spirit boxes, etc. are integral pieces of the investigator's equipment bag and are rarely, if ever, forgotten...they aren't the ONLY important items to bring along. 

Over the past 20 years, I've had the opportunity to investigate a lot of places. Further, I've had the opportunity to investigate a lot of different TYPES of places. Whether it be an indoor or an outdoor location, a place located in town or out in the middle of nowhere, a private home or a business, each investigation is different and presents its own unique challenges.

To help meet those challenges and make each and every investigation as safe and comfortable as possible, I've compiled a quick list of 24 COMMONLY FORGOTTEN INVESTIGATION ESSENTIALS. Most of these items are items that at one time or another, I really wished I had brought with me. 

1. Paper, pens, colored pencils/crayons:  For me, these items are a must-have! I like to keep meticulous notes during an investigation, recording environmental conditions, anomalies on equipment, personal experiences, and much, much more data that I think will help in our final review. But, these items are quite versatile! You may need to sketch out a map. You may want to have your witness draw a picture of what they saw (this is especially true if you're interviewing children). You may need to leave a note or mark an area of interest. Or, you may want to get a lil' metaphysical and try some automatic writing as a communication tool. Bring plenty of paper and writing utensils, including a good black marker. 

2. Gaffer's or painter's tape: These types of tapes don't leave a residue and won't damage surfaces, which is especially important if you're investigating in someone's home or a historic location. We use to tape to safely tape down cords to prevent tripping, but it can be used in many ways, from hanging those signs/notes, labeling purposes (use your black marker to write directly on the tape), marking directions/making arrows and stabilizing equipment in one location. 

3. Hair Ties: You don't want long hair getting in your way, causing false positives in your photos or simply being a nuisance (especially when its hot, lol). So, bring some hair ties for personal use, but also keep in mind that you don't need to be McGuyver to see how useful they can be in other situations! Like the tape, hair ties can be used to rig up equipment and perform any job that you'd want to use a normal rubber band for. Hair CLIPS can also be pretty useful in a pinch, and ZIP ties have plenty of similar uses as well.

4. Snacks and Drinks: This one may seem pretty obvious, but you really don't want to forget your snacks and drinks! We're on location for close to 12 hours sometimes and we're not always in an area where you can find an open gas station or fast food joint. Keeping hydrated and keeping your blood sugar normal are vital to ensuring a safe and comfortable investigation.

5. Glow Sticks: If you're investigating in the dark, glow sticks are awesome for marking areas that you want to make sure are seen. Use glow sticks to show where equipment is set up, where hazards might be (such as loose floor boards) or anything else that you need to find easily in the dark. As an added bonus, they are an emergency source of light if your flashlights malfunction or run out of batteries.

6. Scissors and/or Pocket Knife: I can't tell you how many times I've needed a pair of scissors to open up a new package of batteries, cut a piece of tape that just won't tear, etc. Plus, these items can be used in self-defense if need be.

7. Pepper Spray: Speaking of self defense, pepper spray might also be a good item to carry with you. We have way more to fear from the living than we do from the dead. And, unfortunately, many 'haunted' locations are not in the safest areas. If you're licensed to carry, it is legal to do so in the area, and you know you can be responsible with a firearm, that is also an option. But, for most purposes, pepper spray is a relatively safe method of personal protection.

8. Change of Clothes/Shoes and a Jacket: Aside from the obvious jokes, a change of clothes is not a bad idea. Some haunted locations can be pretty dusty, muddy, or wet. There can be sharp nails sticking out of woodwork that can rip the armpit right out of a t-shirt (speaking from experience, lol). You might just get really hot, or really cold and need to add or remove a couple of layers to be comfortable. And, sometimes, you might find yourself spending the night in a location and just wanting a fresh outfit to put on for the drive home. 

9. Toilet Paper/Hygiene Items: Even indoor locations sometimes don't have indoor plumbing, or simply lack adequate TP. Make sure you have what you need to comfortably relieve yourself and clean up afterwards. This includes hand sanitizer, wet wipes, disposal bags, etc. Other hygiene items, such as deodorant and/or a travel toothbrush/toothpaste might also come in handy if you need to freshen up at any point. 

10. First Aid Kit: A well-stocked first aid kit is an invaluable part of your ghost hunting toolbox. Keep plenty of small items, such as Band-Aids, antiseptic creams, and OTC medications on hand. The most-used item in MY first aid kit is always Tylenol and Tums, but cough drops are essential as well, as you don't want all your audio contaminated by someone hacking up a lung throughout the entire investigation. In addition, make sure you bring any prescription medication you may need to take during the hours of the investigation, plus an extra dose or two if for some reason you don't get back home as early as you've estimated. 

11. Printed Map and Hard Copy of Client Contact Information: I've spent many years investigating throughout rural West Virginia, and even in 2022, there are still huge sections of the state where cell service, especially internet access, is limited or non-existent. In the event of technical difficulties, you may not be able to rely on GPS to get you to your location, so make sure you have a printed map or directions to where you need to go. Similarly, make sure you have the client's contact information written down somewhere in case you need to find a payphone/landline to contact them at some point.

12. Cash/Coins: This tip applied much more back when I started investigating in the early 2000's, but can still come in handy. Make sure you carry some cash on you during an investigation. Waaay back in the day, it wasn't uncommon for the only gas station in a 30-mile radius to not take debit/credit, and coins were awesome if you could find a pay phone if needed. Today, you might consider having cash on hand for unexpected tolls, vending machine snacks, easily splitting up food or other costs with your teammates, small donations to the location, and purchasing souvenirs from whatever business or historical location with a gift shop you're investigating! 

13. Blanket/Pillow: These are handy to just throw in your vehicle in case you find yourself needing to get in a quick nap during your overnight investigation, or otherwise find yourself spending the night away from home.

14. Masks/Gloves/PPE: Even before the days of Covid, many investigators would include various PPE into their kit. Old buildings can be filled with dust, mold, rodent droppings, and even asbestos. A good mask can keep you safer and more comfortable while investigating, while gloves can keep your hands clean and cut down on contamination if you need to touch something questionable or collect a sample/specimen.

15. Plastic Bags: So, as an investigator who works mainly with hauntings, as opposed to cryptids or UFOs, I haven't found too many times where I wanted to take an actual sample or collect a specimen (although I have been given things such as possible bone fragments before, lol). But, should the need arise, you want to keep it safe. Plastic sandwich bags are great for this type of thing, and can be used in other ways as well, such as organizing small items that may otherwise get lost in your bag. Regular sized trash bags can also come in handy. You want to leave a location in the same or better condition than what you found it, so be sure to pack out all your garbage. 

16. Measuring Tape/Level: These are useful tools to have on any investigation. When you have reports of objects moving, especially balls rolling, you want to make sure the floor is level. Falls on staircases, which are sometimes blamed on being pushed by paranormal forces, can sometimes be ruled out when shown that the steps are uneven. A measuring tape can also help determine this, and can give you a visual representation of how far an object is said to have moved, the distance between pieces of equipment, etc. 

17. Bug Spray: If you're investigating an outdoor location, or even an indoor location that is exposed to the elements, bug spray will be a life saver! The last time I went out to the TNT area in Pt. Pleasant, I think I lost about a pint of blood to the local mosquitos. Seriously, those things would give Mothman a run for his money.

18. Multi-Tool: Some equipment (for example, the camera mounts we used with HPIR) requires a screwdriver. A good multi-tool will provide that and many other useful functions during your investigation. If it has a good enough knife/scissors, that's one less thing you can leave off your packing list.

19. Camping Chair: Much of the time spent on an investigation is sitting around, quietly observing. Many locations are low, or completely devoid of seating, so consider bringing a camping or folding chair with you.

20. Towel/Old Blanket: Like the camping chair, you can use an old towel or blanket to sit on, but it can also be used to wipe mud off shoes, keep you warm in an emergency, or cover up an area that needs to be covered up.

21. Cold/Hot Weather Gear: Investigating can get cold! Supplies like extra gloves and hats, as well as Hot Hands will help keep you warm, but be prepared for bad weather, too. Keep an ice scraper in your car in case temperatures plummet during your investigation. Snow chains for your tires, kitty litter, and a portable car battery charger can all be useful when investigating in the winter. On the other hand, investigating can also get very HOT. Personal fans and cooling towels, as well as dressing in layers, can help keep you cool.

22. Trigger Objects: Trigger objects can be just about anything you can think of that might help elicit a reaction from an entity, or get them to interact. If you know a little about the history and the alleged hauntings of the location, try to bring some trigger objects along that are specially tailored to that location. For example, antique toys, coins with specific dates, coal company scrip, cigars, etc.

23. Power Strips/Surge Protectors: We investigators have a lot of equipment, some of which needs to either be plugged in throughout the investigation, or periodically charged. Even if your location has electricity, outlets may be in short supply, or not exactly where you need them to be. Bring your own power strip/surge protector and a few extension cords. 

24.Chargers and Extra Batteries: This last suggestion should be a no-brainer...but make sure you bring everything you need to charge your phone, including the proper cord, brick, or car adaptor. Also consider a few portable charging rods or similar items, which can be purchased just about anywhere for fairly cheap. Similarly, make sure you have backup chargers, cords and extra batteries for ALL of your equipment. Batteries drain much quicker than you realize, and some locations seem to drain the life out of our equipment much more frequently. Be sure to pack up everything you'll need to keep your equipment running all evening. 

I hope this list has inspired you to check and double check your own paranormal investigation packing list, and possibly add a few new items. But, like I said, each investigation is different and requires different items. Each investigator is also different, and will require slightly different things to keep them comfortable and safe, and to get the most out of the investigation experience. This is just a quick list of things I came up with. Let me know in the comments below (or join me over on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State Facebook) what items YOU'D never be caught dead without! 

*You can find more paranormal investigation tips and tricks on the Theresa's Articles Page of Theresa's Haunted History!*

Paranormal Fraud

Whether your involvement in the paranormal research field involves intense, hands-on field research, armchair detective work, or anything in between, one thing's for sure: You've seen someone claiming something is paranormal when it obviously isn't. Paranormal fraud affects all areas of the paranormal field, from cryptozoology to ufology, to parapsychology. No one studying the unknown is immune to the occasional too-good-to-be-true photo, recording, or story. And although the ease of sharing information over the internet has definitely made paranormal fraud all the more prevalent, the concept is certainly not new---a point clearly illustrated by the fraudulent mediums/psychics during the heyday of the Spiritualist Movement. But why are people so apt at trying to pass off fraudulent claims as the real deal? Let's take a look at three fairly broad explanations:

*Ignorance: It's my opinion that the majority of false paranormal claims, especially photographic evidence, are not shared maliciously. Rather, people simply don't know that what they're claiming to be paranormal is, in fact, NOT paranormal. Over the years, you've probably seen hundreds of 'ghost' photos submitted online, featuring a strange vortex (camera straps/hair/cobwebs), glowing orbs (airborne particles, sunspots, bugs, dust, digital artifacts, etc.), and even full-bodied apparitions! It doesn't take a professional photographer to immediately spot most of the natural phenomenon that get misidentified as ghostly manifestations, and it's easy to see where someone who doesn't have a lot of experience in the paranormal could make a simple mistake. But what about these weird full-bodied apparitions, or spooky faces in the trees?

Again, we first need to look for simple natural phenomenon that can mimic perceived paranormal images. Maybe that full-bodied apparition is a real person that simply wasn't noticed when the photo was taken. Perhaps they appear translucent because of low light and show shutter speeds. Those creepy faces? Probably nothing more than pareidolia---our brain's natural tendency to take random patterns and make sense of them. However, once in awhile you'll come across a photo that is obviously manipulated in some way. Taking a look at the EXIF data, or even recognizing the ghostly image from either a popular movie or a database of ghost hoax apps can easily prove that the photo isn't what it appears to be, but that still doesn't mean the person sharing it is maliciously or purposefully trying to be deceptive.  In some cases, someone might be trying to fool them! When asked for details about the photo, they often state that they either found it online and thought it was a great capture, or that their son/nephew/brother/sister/niece/daughter/friend/friend of a friend/etc. took it in a place known to be haunted or where a tragedy occurred. Often, the person who shares the photo with them or who notices it the first time is someone they claim can be trusted or who would never do such a thing...until they do. 

Dealing with someone who truly believes their experience or piece of evidence is proof-positive can be a little frustrating. When presented with evidence contradicting their claims, some are open-minded and grateful for the education. The overwhelming majority I've found, however, are quite stubborn, no matter how much proof to the contrary is shown. Some of it has to do with confirmation bias. People who feel like their home may be haunted want the validation that they're not crazy. If they truly believe that they're haunted or perhaps have a psychic ability, any spooky experience or strange photo can be proof. Trying to tell them they may be mistaken can be interpreted as a personal attack. They may feel like you're downplaying their beliefs, their knowledge, and their very character, and as a result, can lash out. In rare cases, these people may actually be mentally ill and experiencing hallucinations and other disruptions of normal thought. What they're telling you is very real to them, and being told its not would be very confusing.

*Fame, Money, Prestige and Attention: Although I really believe that most fraudulent claims are innocent, there are plenty of people willingly trying to deceive the paranormal community, and the public as a whole, in order to get what they want. Unfortunately, we've seen this time and time again in the paranormal field. Harry Houdini devoted his life to uncovering fraudulent spiritualist mediums, and there are dedicated groups and individuals even today that are dedicated to exposing paranormal trickery of all sorts. 

There are a variety of reasons that tend to fall under this category. Everyone wants to be the first to discover that Holy Grail of paranormal evidence, whether it be an actual Bigfoot body, proof of UFO's, or the perfect photograph of life after death. Some are willing to lie about it. There are still plenty of news outlets willing to buy stories and 'evidence,' and money CAN be made through video streaming, donations, podcasts, media appearances, and working the convention circuit. These are certainly ways to get attention and fame as well...if you don't get caught.

Another aspect of fraud we as investigators and researchers have to deal with is locations actually 'creating' stories and experiences. When you pay a great deal of money to attend an investigation or similar event at a popular haunted place, there's an expectation for that location to perform. As we all know, the paranormal field is an unpredictable one, and even the most haunted of locations may go through periods of complete inactivity. In order to keep the patrons happy and to keep the narrative alive, there have been locations that have fabricated stories, shared misinformation regarding historical research, and even have rigged up electronic devices to simulate a haunting!

Similarly, I think a lot of psychics, including our psychic mediums from the Spiritualism Movement, have fallen into a related trap. Perhaps they do have some inkling of ability that can be classified as ESP, but they aren't always correct in their information, or can't always perform to standards when asked. As a result, they turn to trickery to keep up their reputation. This extends beyond the world of commercial psychics, however. I won't mention names, but there once was a very popular ghost hunting television show that started off quite respectably, showing the truth behind paranormal investigations. But, in order to keep ratings up and keep the audience coming back for more, I think things evolved from just slight production tricks to outright falsified evidence. 

There's a fairly rare sub-category to this, and that's a phenomenon you see a lot in poltergeist cases. Often, a poltergeist case will begin with legitimate activity. However, this activity tends to disappear as quickly as it started, often with no warning. More than one young person, acting as an agent of a poltergeist haunting, has found that the attention given to them by the media and by researchers is something they like, and that they don't want to disappoint. So, when the activity ceases, they might resort to faking. 

*Trolling: Finally, there are a handful of people out there who do this for fun, or to make fun of someone, rather. Once again, those apps where you can insert a phony ghost image into your photos are a favorite way for some to scare the crap out of their friends and family. Usually, these pranks are fairly innocent, but sometimes they go a little too far. Then you have the hardcore non-believers who manufacture evidence in an attempt to fool paranormal researchers. If the researcher doesn't immediately spot it as a fake, then the hoaxer can claim just how uneducated or underqualified those in this field are, and how the paranormal is not a legitimate field of research. As malicious as these attacks can be, luckily I've found them to be few and far between. As an added note, I think this category sometimes overlaps with the previous one---I think some people may start out as faking evidence in order to gain money or fame, but when they get caught, they use the excuse that they were 'testing' the 'experts.' 

So how should you respond if you think you're being presented with falsified evidence or an outlandish story that's just too good to be true? My best advice is to remain objective, calm, and tactful. Listen to the claims and thoroughly analyze the evidence. Ask plenty of questions so that you're getting the whole story. In the case of alleged evidence, request original copies. Do your own research to see if you can locate any sort of proof or documentation that either backs up, or debunks the claims. Seek out other opinions, both from those in the field of paranormal research and those who have a specialty (such as photography/audio/zoology) outside of paranormal research that may be applicable. 

If you're convinced that you're being presented with an outright fake, again, just approach with tact. Don't just tell someone their evidence or story is fake. Rather, provide them with documentation and concrete examples as to why this is the most likely scenario. Don't be afraid to let them know your qualifications and any educational background that helped lead you to your conclusions. Don't assume they are necessarily trying to deceive you. As stated before, someone might have been trying to fool THEM, or they might just be making a simple misidentification. And don't get into a huge throw down! There are plenty of people out there who can be presented with all the factual information in the world and still desperately hold onto their own personal truths. If you've presented your argument, backed it up, and done so in a tactful and professional manner, there's not much more you can do. Nothing is going to change that person's mind. But, that does lead to a controversial next step...

Who should you share your findings with? 

As to who you should share your conclusions with and where to 'call out' the deception really depends on the situation. You don't want to embarrass someone who made an honest mistake, but at the same time, you want to educate them and hopefully educate others at the same time. And, if someone is being maliciously deceptive, you probably want EVERYONE to know, so that it doesn't happen again. Therefore, my advice is to just use your best judgement. Obviously, if someone is posting their 'evidence' or experience on social media, as long as you remember to be tactful and professional, I see no problem in commenting your opinion, especially if its a public forum; that's the point of social media. As a caveat, however, there are some instances that I tend to walk away from. If someone is obviously grieving the loss of a loved one and thinks their orb photo or butterfly sighting is proof that they've come to visit and everything is okay, I'm not going to say anything. I'm not going to take that away from them when for all I know, maybe that IS a sign from their loved one. If it brings them peace and its not necessarily hurting the field, I'm okay with keeping my mouth shut.

I'm not okay with keeping my mouth shut, however, when someone keeps knowingly spreading misinformation, doubly so if they are billing themselves as a professional paranormal investigator or expert. If commenting on social media doesn't seem to be doing the trick, I'll sometimes hop on over to my blog and do a more in-depth explanation of my analysis, especially with photos. I hate drama, so I tend to not mention groups or individual researchers by name, but instead provide an educational look at the situation and hopefully, someone will learn something new. Obviously, if a person comes to me or my group privately with falsified evidence, I won't share my findings publicly. Once in awhile, a situation will arise when I'm contacted by another group who has investigated the same location as me, or who has spoken with the same client about the same issue, and wants my opinion. This is why we have clients sign paperwork! We have a clause in our evidence release allowing the client to grant or deny us permission to share certain information with other investigators. I will not share personal details or things said in confidence, but I'll let others know whether I feel that certain claims need to be further researched or not. 

Final Thoughts:

Paranormal fraud isn't going away. No matter what we do, there is always going to be someone out there trying to trick someone, or someone who is simply grossly misinformed about a topic. I think the best thing we can do as paranormal enthusiasts is to keep educating ourselves, keep an open mind, and approach incidents of fraud with a professional manner. Stay smart, and stay spooky! 

*Want to know more about paranormal fraud? Check out the blog post, Desperately Deceptive, by Living Life in Full Spectrum (LLIFS)!*

Investigation Safety: The Investigator's Shinbone

 

Today's blog is another one of my Friday Funnies combined with some legitimate paranormal advice!  I'm sure you've probably seen the above-graphic, or some variation of it, posted on social media over the last few years, and with good reason.  It's something that most paranormal investigators and/or ghost hunters can relate to on some level.  I know I've personally whacked my shin directly into chairs, beds, coffee tables, and anything else that might be at shin level!  And, while it definitely doesn't feel good, and usually doesn't do any damage, it does bring up an important safety factor that I'd like to address. 

Although this graphic highlights the comical side of it, stumbling around in the dark, in an unfamiliar location CAN be dangerous. Luckily, there are a few ways to mitigate the risks. 

Whether it is your first trip to a location, or you've been there many times before, I suggest you start off each investigation with a thorough walk-through of the entire property.  If this is an indoor location, make sure the lights are on.  If you're at an outdoor location, arrive early to take advantage of full daylight. If you're being shown around by the client and/or property owner, be sure to ask them of any safety hazards you should be aware of.  Take note of where furniture and other large items are located, and locations where you'll be setting up stationary equipment.  I like to take baseline, reference pictures of the entire space before the investigation, and you can take it a step further by making a quick sketch of the area to be investigated, noting potential hazards and obstacles. 

If there are any areas of concern found, make sure they are pointed out to EVERY investigator/guest on site. If there are objects blocking high traffic areas, or fragile items that could easily get bumped, see if the client would be willing to move them out of the way for you.

For other hazards, glow sticks work great. You can use glow sticks to mark potential trip hazards, loose floorboards, uneven stairs, or furniture with sharp, dark, pointy corners. Portable touch lights can be set up in locations, such as staircases, that need a little bit of extra light. And, yellow caution tape can be used to mark off larger areas that need to be avoided altogether. 

When moving from place to place or room to room, pay attention to what you're doing.  It's easy to get distracted by your equipment, especially if you're filming with a handheld video camera or taking readings, but take a moment to look away from your devices to make sure you're not going to walk directly into something.

And finally, weigh the costs of whether or not you really DO need to go dark and/or investigate solely at night. There are plenty of reasons for and against going 'lights out,' which you can read about in my blog: Ghost FAQs: Going Dark. If you are in an area that has quite a few hazards and safety risks associated with low visibility, it might be worth sticking to daytime or lights on activities. And, as always, make sure a well-stocked first aid kit is part of your ghost hunting arsenal. 

I hope you got a knowing chuckle out of today's little graphic, but also picked up a few tips on keeping a silly situation from becoming something a little more dangerous. Have a safe and spooky weekend, and if your plans include any investigating, make sure to watch out for furniture and other safety hazards! 

Paranormal Social Distancing: Part 1 Education

It's difficult being a paranormal investigator and not being able to actually go out and investigate!  As world events are forcing many of us to lock down, stay-at-home, and even quarantine ourselves until further notice, how do we paranormal enthusiasts, researchers, and investigators get our spooky fix?  Here are just a few suggestions for activities you can try during these trying times.

Part 1:  EDUCATE YOURSELF

1. Read Books:  I read a ton of paranormal nonfiction, and always have quite the TBR pile waiting for me to find the time to get to it.  You've probably got some books at home you've been meaning to read, or re-read, and now is the perfect time to do so. These books can focus more on the academic and technical side of paranormal research, or you can simply have fun with a collection of local ghost stories!

If your bookshelves are bare, don't worry; you still have plenty of options.  As of this writing, many retailers, including Amazon and The West Virginia Book Company are still shipping books.  If you have a Kindle or the Kindle app on any of your devices, you can download e-books from Amazon and other locations, sometimes for FREE.  Project Gutenberg has some really interesting free titles from the late 1800's and early 1900's (as does Amazon) and can easily be read online as well as downloaded. Also check with your local library system; many are offering a variety of online services, including access to journals and databases, and of course, checking out ebooks. If you're looking for suggestions on new reading material, you can always check out Theresa's Book Reviews.

2. Read Articles and Blogs: There are plenty of things besides books to read!  Catch up on your favorite paranormal blogs (I'm a huge fan of The Southern Spirit Guide, Spook-Eats, and many others!). Or, read articles from your favorite paranormal websites about specific topics in the field that interest you.  You can always check out my posts on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook for inspiration.

3. Watch Documentaries and/or Ghost Hunting Series:  If you have any of the popular streaming services, you have a wealth of entertaining and interesting paranormal shows at your disposal.  Small Town Monsters has released quite a bit of its collection on Amazon Prime and Ghost Adventures can be found on Hulu.  YouTube also offers a great selection of FREE documentaries, network shows, lectures/conferences, and other video content to keep you occupied indefinitely.  Look for my suggestions of what to watch on Facebook and in an upcoming blog!

4. Listen to Podcasts: I'd love to be able to share all the awesome podcasts that I listen to, but that'd take FOREVER.  There are so many great podcasts covering the paranormal field and a simple internet search should help you discover something awesome to listen to in whatever paranormal topic you choose.  I'm always posting suggestions on my Facebook page, but a few of my favorites to get you started:  The Haunted Halls of WVU, Southern Ghost Stories, and LORE.

5. Take an Online Class:  Ghost hunting is a multidisciplinary approach.  Just about any topic you could have an interest in can be applied to paranormal research and investigation!  And, just about any topic you could have an interest in, probably has an online class available for it!  Sites such as Coursera and FutureLearn offer a variety of FREE college-level classes, or you could do a search for a topic and see what is available elsewhere in your price range.  I personally gravitate towards classes in history and genealogy, but photography classes and classes in ANY of the sciences (including psychology) are also good picks.  Plus, you can sometimes find classes devoted specifically to the paranormal and paranormal topics! 

That'll do it for Part One of this multi-part series devoted to giving you some ideas on how to stay connected with the paranormal world even if you can't get out and investigate right now.  Check back tomorrow for Part 2: Research and Investigating While NOT Investigating!  Stay safe.  Stay spooky. And if you have any suggestions for books, shows, channels, podcasts, websites or other resources, please comment down below! 

Do Ghosts Watch Me Shower?

Happy Friday, everyone!  I hope you've had a great week and are looking forward to an even greater weekend!  Today's post is one of those Friday Funnies with just a tad of more serious information thrown in, lol.  Recently, my son was asking me some questions about ghosts and one thing he was particularly concerned with was whether or not ghosts were waiting around the bathroom, ready to watch him take his bath.

I told him what I tell others with similar concerns.  The short answer: yes, it's possible...but not very likely.

To stretch this opinion out a bit further, we have to make a few assumptions.  To start, it would seem that the majority of hauntings are not intelligent, but residual in nature. Simply put, that means that there is not a sentient entity at the location. Rather, any paranormal activity that may be witnessed is more like an imprint on the environment, being played back much like a movie on analog tape. There is nothing there to interact with you, let alone stalk your bathroom activities. You can watch a movie being replayed; the movie cannot watch you.

But, let's say that you have been experiencing some intelligent, interactive activity.  There are a lot of theories out there as to whether or not an intelligent haunting is caused by the location being haunted, a person being haunted, or both.  If you have a ghost/spirit/entity that follows you around wherever you go, you MIGHT have them sneaking a peek every once in awhile during your shower.  But, if you believe that intelligent entities are nothing more than people who have died, you have to ask yourself:  would they actually want to see you naked? What's in it for them? If you have any concerns, you may just want to ask them aloud to respect your privacy.  Most people, dead or alive, are apt to comply.

Similarly, if your location itself is haunted and you're concerned that your ghost is hanging out in your tub, ask them politely but firmly to leave you alone.  However, if an entity is tied to a specific location, even as an intelligent entity, it is probably more concerned with its own issues than with your hygiene habits. One of the most popular theories about why ghosts are still here is that they have unfinished business---and YOUR business isn't high on their radar.

So, again, its possible but not likely that you'd have a creepy Peeping Tom ghost watching you take a shower.  Having said that, however...it does seem like quite a few bathrooms have paranormal activity!  You can read more about Haunted Bathrooms on Theresa's Haunted History!

Faceless Ghosts

Photo Source

Today is Faceless Ghost Friday over on Theresa's Haunted History's Facebook!  Throughout the day, I'll be posting different spooky stories from throughout the tri-state featuring blank-visaged entities.  And, as promised, I thought I'd share some of my own ideas and theories behind this fascinating paranormal topic.

My inspiration for today's blog came from an awesome article by Ashley Hall of the Paranormal Guide.  Posted in 2013, Hall's article discusses several reasons behind the faceless ghost phenomena.  One theory (because, after all, this is a field of study that rarely makes it past the conjecture stage) that is proposed is that these faceless ghosts appear in such a manner because they have no identity---they have forgotten who they were in life.

This is the theory that most closely aligns with my personal beliefs on the subject because I tend to think that ghosts (in this case, meaning human entities that have died, but have not crossed over and come back) have the ability to manifest themselves to witnesses in a way that reflects how they feel or perceive themselves.

The idea of ghosts being able to manifest themselves this way is a handy theory that can help explain more than just the faceless ghost phenomenon.  It can explain why some ghosts are seen bloodied and battered---literally how they appeared at the time of their death.  It can explain why some ghosts appear 'normal,' or even younger than they did in real life.  It can also even explain why ghosts manifest wearing clothes.  If it can do all that, then it makes sense to me that the theory can also cause an entity who has no idea who they are to manifest as faceless.

Another theory that I don't think Hall covers is one that I have also come across several times during my research, although not directly linked to faceless ghosts.  Ghosts manifest in a variety of ways.  They can appear as full-bodied apparitions, partial-bodied apparitions, or even just a singular body part.  They can manifest as indistinguishable from a living person, as a misty cloud, or as a shadowy humanoid.  Again, with no real scientific evidence available from which to draw, all we can go on is conjecture.  But, what if a manifestation takes a certain amount of energy and/or skill to achieve?  A ghost may not have the energy or ability to fully manifest (or perhaps was interrupted during the process), resulting in missing pieces.  With individual facial features being fairly detailed, manifesting an actual face may be difficult.

Anyway, these are some random ramblings.  I hope I've made myself clear enough to understand, lol.  Go check out Hall's article on Faceless Ghosts, and then hop on over to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page to let me know YOUR thoughts on these strange entities of the paranormal world.  Happy Haunting!

FACELESS GHOST BONUS

In Japan, there is a type of faceless ghost called the Nopperabo.  These classic yokai are generally seen as harmless pranksters who appear in human form, but then scare unsuspecting witnesses by wiping their face clean of any facial features, revealing a blank visage underneath. 

Keeping a Journal

In general, journaling has a ton of benefits. It's a great outlet for one's creativity and even has some therapeutic properties. It's also a great way to organize thoughts and keep a written record of things to remember.  And that's why I HIGHLY recommend journaling as a first step to anyone who is experiencing paranormal activity!

Journaling is really important if you're dealing with potentially paranormal events, and especially if you plan on calling in a paranormal investigation team to help you sort things out. But WHY is it so important? There are plenty of reasons why journaling is a good idea, but there's two main reasons I want to focus on---documentation and analysis.

Documentation:  The human memory is not that great. Not only do we tend to easily forget things, but we tend to not remember things very accurately. And the more time that passes between the actual event and when you try to recall it, the fuzzier the details are going to be. So, writing everything down as soon as possible gives you the best possible chance for accuracy. Further, if you're experiencing paranormal activity on a fairly regular basis, you might not be able to remember the details for every single event. If you have a paranormal investigation team come to your location to check out the claims, this is absolutely crucial. With journaling, you are able to give them a more complete look at what is going on and how often it is going on. Which, leads to the next major benefit of journaling: analysis.

Analysis: So, you've got your written record of what is going on. What are you going to do with it? Keeping a journal can actually help you and anyone else you call in come to some conclusions. You might start seeing some patterns emerge. Perhaps activity increases during certain times of the year or only at certain times of the day. An investigator can use this information to plan on the best possible date and time for an investigation. Perhaps you notice that potential poltergeist phenomenon is preceded by the sound of a train whistle---you or a paranormal investigator can use that information to see if the activity is correlated, either as being a naturally explained result of a train going by, or perhaps some paranormal reason.  In order to best see patterns emerge, there has to be enough good information included in each journal entry.

What to Include:
1. Date and exact time of experience.
2. How long the experience lasted.
3. Who witnessed the activity.
4. Who else was present, but did NOT witness the activity.
5. Exact location of the activity.
6. Weather conditions.
7. Explain what you SAW in as much detail as possible.
8. Explain what you HEARD in as much detail as possible.
9. Consider adding a drawing of anything you saw.
10. What did you SMELL, if anything?
11. How did the activity end? Did you see/hear the conclusion to the event, or did you leave the area?
12. Did you try to interact with the activity? If so, what was the result?
13. What did you do to try to explain/debunk the activity?
14. How did you FEEL---before, during, and after the activity?
15. Has the location changed physically lately...moved furniture, renovations, etc.?
16. Have there been any visitors to the property lately---anyone that doesn't live/work/etc. there?
17. Have there been any major personal changes, such as new job, new baby, divorce, etc.?
18. Include anything else that you feel may be relevant to the activity.
19. If you've done any research on your own, consider adding documentation of that to your journal.

A few extra things to keep in mind when journaling your paranormal experiences:

1. Each person who has witnessed the activity should provide their own journal entry.

2. Each person should write up their experience BEFORE discussing the event with any other witnesses.

3. Journaling doesn't have to be done in a standard notebook. If you're more comfortable, you can keep your notes type-written on your computer (just make sure you have a back-up saved) or if you prefer, you can even keep audio notes with a voice recorder or voice recording software.

4. Children who witness the activity can journal, too! They can draw pictures of what they experienced, and/or you can transcribe for them if they are too young to get their thoughts written down. Just be careful to avoid leading questions and influencing the child's experience with your own thoughts.

5. Most importantly, document the event(s) as soon as possible after they occur! The fresher they are in your mind, the more accurate your information is likely to be. You can always go back and add additional details later as they come to you.

Please see this blog post from Antietam Paranormal for more great tips on why and how to document your paranormal experiences! 

Keeping a Paranormal Journal 

Matrixing the Man in the Rock

Matrixing. If you've done any reading/research into the paranormal in the past 10-15 years, you've almost certainly heard this term being thrown around, especially when it comes to analyzing potentially paranormal faces/apparitions appearing on still photos and video. But what exactly IS matrixing?                                                                                                                                                         Matrixing is a term popularized by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of The Atlantic Paranormal Society, known more commonly as the stars of SyFy's Ghost Hunters.  However, I prefer to call the phenomenon by its slightly more scientific name:  'pareidolia.'

Pareidolia comes from the Greek words para (meaning faulty, wrong, instead of) and eidolon (meaning image, form, or shape). Merriam-Webster defines pareidolia as "the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern."  In laymen's terms, it means the tendency to see faces, animals, and other familiar images in random patterns. Have you ever gazed up at the clouds and thought they looked like bunny rabbits? You've experienced pareidolia. Have you ever sworn your bathtub has 'seen things, man?' You've experienced pareidolia. Have you ever taken a Rorschach inkblot test? Well, you get the picture. 

Many photographs that claim to contain evidence of ghostly or supernatural figures can be explained by pareidolia. If you're unsure whether or not a spooky face could be attributed to pareidolia, try to change up your perception. Turn the photograph upside down. Examine each half of the figure by itself and compare; are there any signs of symmetry (or lack thereof)? Does the image still make sense as a figure when looked at a piece at a time? What happens if you enlarge (or shrink) the photo? Does the image distort to the point where it is no longer recognizable as something familiar?

By definition and popular usage, the term pareidolia is used most often to describe visual phenomenon. However, any of the human senses can be perceptible to pareidolia. We might interpret two unrelated scents as being another scent altogether. As we listen to potential EVPs, we might take missing sounds and even whole syllables not heard by our ears and have our brain fill in to make recognizable words. As a result, a good tip when analyzing EVPs is to NOT tell others what YOU hear, at least at first, and let them listen without bias.

Pareidolia falls under the larger umbrella of the phenomenon of apophenia. Apophenia is defined as "the spontaneous perception of connections and meaningfulness of unrelated phenomena." It was coined by German neurologist and psychiatrist Klaus Conrad, whose research focused on the finding of abnormal meaning or significance in random experiences by psychotic people.                                                                                                                                                                                                The human brain is hard-wired to make sense out of stimuli. We want to find patterns and correlations in an otherwise chaotic world, and there's not too many things more confusing and chaotic than trying to make sense out of the paranormal! It may also be an evolutionary issue. If we can spot facial features of hidden predators, we have a greater chance of survival. Similarly, could we be applying that same principle to our interactions with the unknown?

Whatever the reasons behind the phenomena may be, apophenia and pareidolia are two issues that every paranormal investigator and researcher needs to be familiar with. Luckily, there is no shortage of articles and examples available out there to illustrate just how fascinating these concepts can be.

A great local example of matrixing, or pareidolia, is Fayette County's "Old Rock Head." This unique cliff face (pardon the pun) can be found on Route 21 at Honey Creek, right near the Chimney Corners area, where the Route 60 intersection is located. It doesn't take too much of a stretch of the imagination to see the outline of a man's face in profile, coming out of the rock.  Oddly enough, this isn't West Virginia's only rock face! While its much harder to access and, in my opinion, MUCH harder to see, there's a nearby cliff where, in 1901, railroad workers in the area claimed to see the image of President McKinley appear. Their superstitions of this death omen were realized when news that the President had been shot arrived shortly after. Please see President McKinley's Death Omen blog entry for more info! 

Photo from WV History on View

Photo by Robert W. McKinnon, courtesy of WV History on View

*Bonus Vocabulary Lesson!*

Simulacrum: "An image or representation of something." Simulacrum is sometimes confused with pareidolia, but unlike pareidolia, which happens naturally, simulacrum is when someone intentionally designs something to look like something else. While the rock formation above occurred accidentally, this example in Jackson County, WV, was carved to look that way by Otis Shinn. More information available in this Gazette article.