My Life as an Investigative Medium

Types of Paranormal Teams

2012-02-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

In all my research I have found that there are several classifications of groups but most have taken a public stance on one side of the fence or another; believer or non-believer. From the thousands of websites I have visited, and the thousands of people I have talked to regarding paranormal activity one word always makes my hair stand on edge; scientific.

Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.^[1] To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning.^[2] The Oxford English Dictionary says that scientific method is: "a method or procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses."^{[3] ~ Wikipedia}

This definition can either make a whole lot of sense, or it could mean absolutely everything and anything we experience on a daily basis. By common phrase, “Scientific” ALWAYS coincides with the word “Measure.”

In order to measure something, one must first have several steps involved. These include collection, organization, comparison, and; most importantly, analytical interpretation of data. The simple fact of the matter is that most people do not have the educational background, time, or experience necessary to pull this off successfully. This method is extremely useful in acquiring measurable data and “evidence” for or against something, but often is indeterminate and leaves more questions than answers. Often groups will corrupt the data by integrating their personal experiences, beliefs, and opinions with the collection method as well as the interpretation.

Here is an example; Mary claims that her house is haunted. She reports to investigators that she hears loud bangs throughout the house, temperature variances, hears voices, has odd feelings and dreams, and has witnessed several inanimate objects moving as if doing so on their own.

A “scientific” team would contact several professionals within different fields. First they would have the entire house inspected by a licensed electrician, plumber, acoustic engineer, architect, contractors, and also interview several of the property’s previous owners. Each professional would have a written statement regarding their findings; they would NOT be informed that the property is subject to a paranormal investigation because to do so would contaminate their findings due to a bias. That would be the first of several thousands of dollars spent.

Next the team would collect measurable data over a designated period of time. This includes long-term data related to temperature changes within the home, air flow, utilities usage, pedestrian traffic patterns, resident schedules, toxicology samples, soil and foundation analysis, a map of utility connections, a map of the property including blue-prints for all buildings, weather patterns through various seasons, external traffic patterns (including pedestrian), and many many other factors. This is also several thousands of dollars to spend.

Only after all this data was collected, organized, compared, and analysed could you fully understand whether or not the experiences reported were valid and warrant an investigation.

During the investigation, no “Paranormal Investigators” would be present because even including the word “Paranormal” suggests that you are biased. The house would need to be lived in for a period of time by randomly selected people who were unaware of the reason they were to be spending time in the house. They would be asked to do certain tasks on a schedule which would create a control. For example, they would have to sleep in a certain room from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am every night. Every activity in the house would be documented using commercial grade cameras and audio recording equipment.

The footage would then be analyzed by a professional analyst or editor and their findings would be documented.

Any odd audio anomaly would need to be triangulated using decibel meters in order to determine the location of its origin. The louder it is, the closer you are to the sound thus locating its origin. Other equipment would be necessary in order to collect data from various sources such as Gauss Meters, Hydrometers, and other environmental measurements. The more data available, the better results you would find.

Any subjective evidence (experienced by a person) would be documented and included in the overall findings; however the weight of the experiences would be minimal without proper documentation.

After all the data was collected, it would be compiled into a report. The findings would be submitted to a committee or audience and their opinions would be the determinate outcome. There are only two possible outcomes of all this work; explained or unexplained.

Nearly 99% of all teams do not have the resources to provide this extraordinary methodology. Any research compiled would need to have sizable funding behind it, and unfortunately even most parapsychology departments of universities do not have the funds necessary to complete an investigation of this magnitude.

A few teams around the world have found a way to take this methodology and downsize it into a manageable process. It’s by specification of the industry that some of this may actually come to light. Many groups have begun to focus their attention specifically to one method of collection. A good example is the work of “EVP Specialists,” who have determined that they would focus on the collection and analysis of audio data. Instead of having several different methods of collecting data, they choose one specific method allowing themselves to perfect it and become quite successful.

Other teams are very aware that they are not scientists, nor do they have the time or means to produce an investigation of this magnitude. It is this methodology that is most common among paranormal investigators.

“Believers” have made up their mind and choose to conduct themselves in a few different ways. Some come from a background involving paranormal experiences that they have not been able to explain to themselves. Other’s want to experience something unexplained or feel the rush of possibly being affected by an unseen force. Many want to help a family understand that some things can’t be explained away easily and want to get answers for the families. Unfortunately, other’s want the fame and fortune attributed by media coverage or want to claim that they are the true way to rid your house of your unseen guests.

Really, there are no right or wrong way to investigate. Each group has a persona of their own, overall beliefs, and general goals that they wish to accomplish. They are no different than a single investigator. However many groups will publicly argue until they are blue in the face that they are “scientific” because they had bought thousands of dollars of equipment. One time, I even met a “scientific investigator” who failed to graduate high-school and was currently working in a fast-food chain. (This is not meant to be an insult to those who make my food; I do enjoy my burgers. This is more so an observation that he did not quite comprehend the amount of work and education needed to complete my order let alone document paranormal activity within a frightened client’s home.)

As I read back over what I have written, the overall tone of this blog entry does seem to be a bit negative. I must apologize because it is not my intent at all. I am just trying to voice some of the observations I have made over the last couple years. All groups have their place in the industry from the highly educated, well funded, documentarians to the low-budget, local group. The important part I feel is to be honest with yourselves and be honest with your clients. Know exactly where your team stands in the field and where you want it to go. Are you in it to experience the rush? Are you looking to prove the existence of an afterlife? Do you want to make people feel safe in their home? Any group that is honest about their abilities, and honest about what they wish to accomplish is a good group. There is always a “safe” list of rules to adhere to in any business practice or personal relationship.

1) Be honest with yourself and those you interact with.

2) Do not make promises that you cannot or do not plan on following through with.

3) Know when you are in over your head, and ask for help by any means necessary if you cannot complete your obligations.

4) Do not let ego stand in the way of helping ANYONE.

5) Be respectful of both the living and the dead.

6) Remember that it is better to be extremely good at one or a few things than it is to be sub-par at everything.

For those of you who read my blog, please let me know what you think. I appreciate all criticisms and comments regarding my writing and opinions. I am in no way a professional writer, so I must apologize for my poor grammar. Please feel free to post comments, suggestions, and opinions on this blog or even contact me through my group’s website www.edmontonparanormal.ca.

Thanks for reading!

Animals and The Field Of Paranormal Research...

2012-02-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

Animals have always held a special place next to or hearts. Pets have been a part of human being’s lives for centuries and we have walked hand-in-paw quite well.

Have you ever asked yourself why?

Many species throughout the animal kingdom depend upon one another; some without realizing it. Cleaner Shrimp use their tiny arms to clean off fish scales while they swim, Clownfish use sea anemones for security, and Caimans use birds and butterflies to clean off their teeth and skin. Throughout the planet animals use a co-operative arrangement in order to survive.

So how does this apply to the human being? Does it apply to the paranormal?

There is something to be said for a growling dog. It evokes fear in the target and promotes safety for its owners as well as the rest of its pack. Being the owner of a dog myself; I know that having them around makes me feel safer. I know that their senses are more attuned and I find that I myself am very aware of their states of mind and mannerisms. As with anything else, over time you become familiar with their personality, character traits, and actions.

Animals seem to have a presence that is clearly different from that of a human being. They are easily startled (generally speaking) and can even seem to have an extrasensory perception.

The best example of this is something you can easily test with two people living in the home. The only requirement is one person away from home, while the other one is at home with the pets to watch their reaction.

The theory is that animals will react when the person away from home begins their journey towards their house. So next time the situation is set up, try this.

The person at home watches the pet behavior; usually it will be a reaction of extra energy or excitement. Have the person coming home text the other at the time of departure from work. The pets usually begin to gain excitement as the person is leaving their current location towards home.

I have tried this on several locations and 98% of the time, our animals will react without even knowing that the other person is on their way. I have tried it at different times of day (to avoid possible patterns) and even tried it while away from the home with the help of a video camera. It is actually quite fascinating that upon departure, the animals begin to react and get excited for your arrival.

There are really more questions than answers in this topic. Does it happen to humans? Can it apply to our “unseen friends?” If they react to this, do they react to other unknown stimuli?

Animals have been used in several fields such as subject detection, search and rescue, protection services, labor, and recently a wave of experiments with paranormal investigation.

In the past several years many paranormal investigation teams have begun to train and use animals in the field. Investigators use their reactions as evidence towards possible unexplained phenomena and also to verify their feelings and claims of activity. It is easily detectable, easily documented, and also adds to the validation of any experiences.

Many people who have experienced paranormal phenomena have also included their pet’s reactions to the activity. Claims include pets staring at “unseen” targets, following them, playing with them, barking, and; in extreme accounts, the animals are tormented or even die mysteriously.

So what can their reactions tell paranormal investigators about the source of the phenomena?

Animals acting out of defense often react in a fearful or aggressive manner; the flight or fight response. A dog’s actions may include growling, barking, cowering, urinating, excreting their anal glands, yelping, and whimpering. Usually their ears will perk up or lower back in a physical response to alert the pack to what it is detecting. Their tails may tuck between their hind legs, or fluff up in response and their body language will either display a smaller retreated position or an aggressive and firm stance. This is usually a warning sign of possible negative activity.

As always I suggest having the pet looked at by a licensed veterinarian or pet behavior expert, this will help you find out if there may be any issues with the pet’s health (first concern). It also helps investigators have a documented paper-trail to say that the pet is in good health and is actually acting out of the normal.

Animals have much more keen senses and a completely different view of the world. Humans tend to think before reacting, we fight our urges of fight or flight in order to fully understand the situation prior to making a move. Animals react physically first, they immediately draw attention to their subject by alerting the rest of the pack and utilizing strength in numbers; often buying themselves time to analyze the threat or allow the pack leader a chance to make the decision. A large difference between our methods of communication is that human’s use language and cognitive movements while animals rely on reaction orientated body language and attention grabbing noises.

I am always reminded of a case I once attended for Edmonton Paranormal Society. We were called to an out of town location of a woman in distress. We attempted an experiment with her two Chihuahuas by leaving them unattended in their kennels while we spent time away from the home. We had originally set up the experiment as a control to watch how the animals normally behaved while alone in the home. What we captured spoke of a different story.

We had left the animals in their kennel while we left to go for breakfast at a restaurant a few kilometers away. We left one camera aimed at the kennels hoping that we would prove that the animals were anxious while we were out of the home and reacting to everyday sounds and activities originating outside the home. We were right; in a way.

Both Chihuahuas were fairly anxious while unattended; they paced within their kennels and barked at the noises of the neighborhood children playing in the street. Eventually they began to calm and even lied down in their kennels patiently awaiting their owner to return.

About twenty two minutes into the recording, we noticed an odd sound that seemed to originate from within the home. The Chihuahuas reacted by standing up in their kennels, perking their ears, and barking. They were standing on their hind legs and moving their heads to try and get a better view of the interior of the home.

The client had claimed that sounds were a regular occurrence from within the home; footsteps and other bumps and bangs were part of the reason why she had contacted us in the first place.

Once again, we attempted to reenact this experiment. We set up more video cameras throughout the home, audio recorders, as well as we placed an active two way radio as a monitor to what was happening within the building. We then left in the same manner that we had originally left in, including getting into the car, moving it down the street, and going for a brief walk. Upon review of the footage, the animals were sleeping the entire time. They did not react to any outside sounds; including the children still playing in the street, and barely made a sound aside from chasing a fly that seemed to buzz around their kennel for a few minutes.

Later on in the evening we began to investigate the home. We divided up the work and unfortunately did not get many results. One event did stand out however, and this is where the story begins to get interesting.

During the evening the team decided that the claims of activity tended to happen when men were not present within the home. We left it in our case manager Cathy Roger’s capable hands. The men moved out into the vehicle parked in the driveway while Cathy and the client remained within the home.

We had barely begun when Gary Larsen; a fellow investigator, and I heard a woman scream. We immediately got on the radio to find out if the two girls were ok. They replied that they were fine. At this point I noticed that the curtains in the front window began to move, I utilized our radio once again and the response was normal. A mere second later we received the transmission that Cathy needed us to come back into the home; the client was beginning to have an emotional breakdown.

The rest of the team responded, we entered the house through the front door and immediately turned on all the lights to reveal a frightened client in a hysterical crouched position. She was clearly shaking and emotional. We calmed her down a bit and attempted to get her impression of what had happened.

She claimed that she had heard a growly whisper in her ear, and it had frightened her. Cathy stayed with the client as we removed her from the location in hopes that a drive would help her calm down. Clint, Gary, and I remained within the home in order to attempt to organize our thoughts and figure out what our best and safest method to help the client would be.

I was frustrated; during this case I did not pick up on any “presence.” Normally I am able to see, hear, or at least sense the entities in question. I normally can pick up names, dates, ages, stories, or any other information that can lead to the identification of what may be in the home. On this case, I did experience some activity but it’s origins I was unable to detect; an example being I could hear the footsteps in front of me but could not see the source of them.

I moved into the bedroom, frustrated that I couldn’t understand what may be happening within the home. It was at this point that I brushed past the armoire placed just inside the bedroom. The door was ajar and when I pressed against it, it made a slow creaking sound; the exact sound that was on the first recording of the dogs in the kennel. This was double checked by placing the camera in its position during the original recording and moving the door back and forth at different speeds until it was clearly the match.

Originally, we had arrived at the location at 10:30 at night on a Friday; we had departed Edmonton after work and made the long drive out to the location. Upon arriving at the location we chose to conduct a preliminary then set one camera up for the night; simply because only two of us were present and we had planned to investigate the location the next evening after the rest of our team had arrived.

One of the first areas that the client had claimed activity was the armoire inside her bedroom. She believed that something unseen was often inside. I immediately brought out one of our KII meters; an EMF meter used to detect household electrical currents, and all of the lights were illuminated. This showed that there was a large electromagnetic field in the general area. I moved the armoire away from the wall and on it was a duplex receptacle that had a transformer used to charge two-way radios plugged into it. As soon as I unplugged the transformer, the field dissipated leading us to believe that this was the origin of the feeling of a “presence.”

This basically threw us for a loop, we had originally believed we had “debunked” the armoire yet here I was staring at the origin of a previously unexplained sound.

We eventually were able to contact friends of the client and arranged for her and her pets to stay at their place for the evening. We decided that we were no longer going to investigate out of respect for the client’s state of mind and chose to spend the evening debunking our previous experiences and experiments.

The client was in an extremely stressful state of mind; in denial about it, but clearly under duress. Her career was a high-stress position in the health care industry, until one day she was hurt in a job-related accident and was unable to work due to permanent injury. Unfortunately, she was unable to have children because of her health condition, and was not allowed to lift anything over 5lbs for the rest of her life. She had family stresses originating from an extremist religion which demanded that she be disfellowshipped due to her lifestyle. She had recently lost a pet dog in an innocent accident caused by a child of a friend, replacing it within a few days by another Chihuahua. Her husband was out of town often for training and education related to his health-care position, leaving her alone in the house quite often.

She was at a place in life where chaos seemed to consume her, one problem after another piled into her life causing her to feel lost and alone. Luckily she had some very sound mind neighbors who were also her close friends. They had experiences within their home as had some of the other people in the neighborhood and all of them were able to discuss them freely without feeling judged.

We classified this case as poltergeist activity, the origins seemed to have no correlation to the location, and we were unable to determine whether or not there was an identity causing the activity. During the investigation we did hear footsteps and a witness few unexplained things, but they seemed random and only ever correlated with emotional peaks and lows that the client was experiencing. Coupled with my inability to get any information; which is very unusual to not get any information at all, it all pointed to her extreme emotions and state of mind.

Each group has variations on definitions of types of activity. At Edmonton Paranormal Society, we classify ‘Poltergeist Activity’ as paranormal activity caused by a living person. Most of the time a “presence” seems non-existent, and activity tends to stem from a person’s stress level and emotions. This is completely subconscious and in no way is it the subject’s fault; it seems as if the environment is reacting to the subject’s emotions and reaction. Unfortunately, it becomes a vicious cycle; the subject becomes stressed, activity begins to happen, and then the subject becomes more anxious because of the activity. Its closest definition is “involuntary telekinesis.” Sometimes the location is home to an entity that may be falsely accused of causing the activity, or it may be using the heightened emotional energy to cause some of the activity. Often they are just as confused as everyone else, and just try to stay out of the way.

The only way to relieve poltergeist activity is to relieve the client. With counseling and support the subject increases their confidence and betters their state of mind. Encouragement of positive life choices alleviates the activity. As the subject’s mental state becomes healthier and constant, the activity decreases until it is nearly non-existent.

Many questions stem from this theory, none of which seem to have a good answer. Here are a few I have thought of, especially related to animals.

If a human being can be the cause of poltergeist activity, can an anxious animal also cause unexplained occurrences?

If we remain conscious after death do we continue to learn? If we continue to learn, do animals?

Are we more afraid of paranormal activity than animals?

Can animals be used accurately to validate, verify, or detect origins of activity?

Why do animals seem to react more harshly to extreme activity? In extreme cases they are mysteriously found dead or harmed, does that happen to humans too?

Which animal would be the most sensitive to paranormal activity?

It is an interesting field of exploration that has recently become popular; mostly in the United States. It is often difficult to invent new technology primarily because we are researching something that hasn’t yet been proven to exist. It’s like trying to discover electricity again, something that doesn’t classify in modern science but hasn’t been proven to not exist either. Activity seems to be caused by a type of matter that has not been classified, explained, or discovered yet and it will constantly be opening up a box of new questions.

First, we prove that something unexplained caused a physical reaction, and then we can begin to experiment with what may be causing it. We need to follow a chain of events and discover exactly what we are reacting to before we can determine the origins of it. “Ghosts” are believed to be the departed energy or soul of a previously living person. Unfortunately, we may experience the activity but the source is yet to be determined. Paranormal Activity is an action or reaction that has no logical explanation; whether or not it is caused by a deceased person is a completely different field of study.

By utilizing animals in research, we may be able to narrow down the senses they use to detect possible unexplained phenomena. We can then follow that information further to determine exactly how they sense the phenomena and how we can manufacture a tool that can detect the same or similar stimuli.

For more information, to suggest topics for my blogs, to ask questions, or book investigations please visit our website www.edmontonparanormal.ca.

Lost Loved Ones: How They May Try and Communicate – By Ehren Ackerman

2012-01-14T10:19:00.000-08:00

As a medium I make it a personal rule that I do not attempt to communicate with the recently departed. I provide readings for friends, family, and clients free of charge. I also take into account their current emotional status because sometimes the information I get can be sensitive; especially to a grieving loved one. I personally believe that the process of grief is a necessity and if I provide a reading during the process it may extend the process rather than help it along. Grief is a highly emotional state, and although the information I get may be validated it doesn’t necessarily mean that it was accurate due to the increased emotional states of the clients and the departed.

Assuming that there is consciousness after death, the grief process would still be applicable to those who have passed on. They have lost their lives and the ability to contact and interact with those they love and are forced to watch from the stands while their families go through their mourning period.

The stages of grief are as follows (According to the Kubler-Ross Model):

The stages, popularly known by the acronym DABDA, include:^[2]

Denial — "I feel fine."; "This can't be happening, not to me."
Denial is usually only a temporary defence for the individual. This feeling is generally replaced with heightened awareness of possessions and individuals that will be left behind after death.
Anger — "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; '"Who is to blame?"
Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy.
Bargaining — "I'll do anything for a few more years."; "I will give my life savings if..."
The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. Psychologically, the individual is saying, "I understand I will die, but if I could just do something to buy more time..."
Depression — "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon so what's the point... What's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?"
During the fourth stage, the dying person begins to understand the certainty of death. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and grieving. This process allows the dying person to disconnect from things of love and affection. It is not recommended to attempt to cheer up an individual who is in this stage. It is an important time for grieving that must be processed.
Acceptance — "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."
In this last stage, individuals begin to come to terms with their mortality, or that of a loved one, or other tragic event. ~ Wikipedia.com

This is a very important model in the world of paranormal investigation that many new groups fail to acknowledge. In order to understand the mind-states of their clients or the possible mind-states of the departed one must first understand what may be attracting the activity in the first place.

Often, the recently dead are still working their way through these five stages. Their loved ones who are still grieving for them are also in the same boat. It is a sensitive and emotional time that cannot be rushed or influenced. The stages of grief are subjective and the length of the mourning period is different from person to person. There is no “set length of time” it takes for individuals to complete their mourning; some may take months others may take years.

I choose to focus on reports of activity rather than contacting recently departed spirits. On occasion, a case will connect a recently departed person with a living loved one but the intention of my reading was to find the source of the activity. Investigating recently departed entities is a very specialized area of expertise that requires the understanding of modern psychology theories as well as experience in coping with loss that I feel most people are not prepared for. Usually these types of cases can become highly emotional and due to the involvement of my own emotions as well as those around me; dead or alive, it can be difficult to get accurate information. Also; due to the wound being fairly fresh people’s minds and desperation for contact, opinions tend to lean towards belief rather than scepticism. This mimics validation when rather it is our wants and emotions steering us towards a predetermined outcome rather than accurately obtaining information and objectively reaching an honest opinion.

Look at it this way; if things were being thrown around in your house and you recently lost a loved one, would you want it to be that loved one attempting contact rather than some stranger or something darker? The fact is, most people will choose to believe that the activity is caused by their loved one rather than look at the activity and see the truth. It may very well be them, but I would rather know for sure than act based off of my wants.

Some activity may actually be caused by a recently departed loved one; I have found this to be the case in a few investigations we have conducted. There are a few ways that the activity may be able to help you determine whether or not what you are experiencing is the result of a recent loss and some things to watch out for that may suggest otherwise.

The recently departed are inexperienced in their new forms. This usually means that anything drastic you experience is either accidental or caused by something else. It takes a while for them to be able to interact with the living in any way let alone with purpose and accuracy. Activity such as moving objects and physical interaction would suggest against a recently deceased person.

Witnessing apparitions or hearing voices can suggest a loved one. The cases I have investigated suggest that hearing the voice of a loved one or seeing partial/full apparitions of them is more common with recently deceased. This can be due to their desperation to connect with their family and friends and their comfort with being physical. In many cases they can be disturbing because the departed is frantic or emotional and when they are finally seen or heard it is out of frustration or sadness. So the voice may sound like a shout or sob but that’s because you didn’t hear their previous attempts. Anger and sadness are two of the most common types of EVP’s (Electronic Voice Phenomena) captured by paranormal investigators. I believe it is because of this desperation that they can be heard and often is just a small clip of what they were trying to say. A shout or scream may have been out of frustration and may be misinterpreted unless the words are clearly heard and are threatening or suggest something else.

Dreams are often experienced after the loss of a loved one. Some studies suggest that the hypnagogic state (the very short period between awake and asleep) can reveal very accurate information and is often when people experience claims of visions or hallucinations. Many claims suggest that this is a period at which we are completely at rest and open to any small factors that our physical bodies experience but our minds are still physically active. It is also the state in which we sometimes experience the “hypnagogic jerk” or “the falling dream” where we are startled awake by a sense of suddenly dropping.

Activity and dreams will not be terrifying; generally speaking. If you are familiar with the presence of someone you shouldn’t be afraid of them. Even if they are not physically there, their “energy”; for the lack of a better word, should seem familiar and comforting. If you are scared, feel threatened, or are uncomfortable this would suggest an unfamiliar presence rather than someone you have known. It doesn’t necessarily mean that what you sense is negative or bad, but it defiantly does not suggest a well known friend or family member.

After several months or even years go by, the activity will become more focused and localized. It will seem “playful” or “hinting” rather than spontaneous or random. The person or people the entity is trying to reach will begin to notice hints. The things that once belonged to that person or places they once enjoyed may be affected more than other areas. The departed are trying to send you a hint as to who the culprit of the activity is, this is not usually the case with other entities. It is also conducted in a way that the entity feels would startle you the least while still getting your attention. They do not intend to scare you and would rather you investigate it than run screaming from the house. Usually, they are trying to provide you with any information they can as to who they are; which is the exact opposite from theoretical “demonic” activity.

The biggest thing to remember is that it is better to be safe than sorry. If you have any questions or are feeling threatened in any way you should contact a local investigative team, paranormal expert, psychologist, or religious figure and ask questions. Often, and outside opinion is exactly what you need to feel safe in your home. More often than not, the activity is harmless and can actually be quite enjoyable if you know that it is not dangerous. Little things that once bothered or unnerved you can become everyday activity and you can relax in knowing that it is just happening to let you know it’s there and you aren’t alone. It can be a comfort knowing that you have a friend who is looking out for your home and family from a different side of the fence.

As long as it doesn’t pose a threat or impose too much on your life, you can be safe in knowing that you have an unseen roommate.

This being said, I would strongly suggest researching a medium or investigative team prior to allowing them the chance to spend time in your house. There are some very good teams in the field who have the client’s best interest in mind and some very genuine mediums who want to help you.

If you are dealing with a recent loss, I would suggest holding off on contacting a team unless the physical activity experienced is too much to handle or makes you feel uncomfortable. The best suggestion I can give for those who are dealing with grief is to contact a local psychologist, councillor, or support group and visit with people who have experienced it themselves. Mental health is very important, and with a strong state of mind you will think more clearly and often the origin of activity will become clearer to you.

For more information about this or any other paranormal topic please feel free to visit my team’s website. We are happy to answer questions or provide information about our services, social clubs, and we have contacts that we can provide to you if you require an investigation, information, or need help in any way.

www.edmontonparanormal.ca

My Life as an Investigative Medium "Atheist or Christian?"

2011-12-31T12:36:00.000-08:00

Atheist or Christian? – By Ehren Ackerman

Arguments have raged for centuries regarding the belief in god and the following of his written word; The Bible. Wars have been fought in the name of God, oppression has been placed on those who do not follow his word, and Churches became government out of his following. For centuries Christianity and Catholicism have guided people in their lives by providing answers to their questions and giving them a strong belief that a higher power cares for them and looks over them. In order to argue the case, one must first do their research into their own beliefs and find the root of their own morals.

As humans, we have an overwhelming urge to pursue a search for the truth behind the existence of omniscient beings. We cherish the belief that on Earth, we are the highest step on the evolutionary food chain and the highest priority beings on our planet. Humans are very special creatures, in that we have a higher sense of awareness and knowledge; compared to our counterparts, which we have collected over centuries of research and discovery. We constantly analyse our environment and document it so that we may teach it to future generations or provide more information to our fellow human beings that may help them in their own discoveries. So in this world of self discovery and constant search for the truth, where does God fit in?

In order to understand our own beliefs, we must conduct research into what other people choose to believe. One of the most accessible and most popular sources for this information stems from a book called “The Bible.”

In order to grasp a basic knowledge of the bible we must first understand its history. The bible consists of several different books and writings compiled into one. The New Testament is primarily followed by modern Christians; it is a shorter version that excludes many of the older doctrine still followed by their Jewish counterparts who still honour the “Old Testament” writings. The New Testament is estimated to have been compiled no later than 150 A.D.

The bible goes into amazing detail regarding the lives of its characters and contains inspirational tales of extraordinary people. Some examples are (Stated on http://www.biblestudygames.com)

Creation universal	Genesis 1:1-25
Creation of mankind	Genesis 1:26-31
Adam formed	Genesis 2:7-8
Eve made	Genesis 2:20-25
Garden of Eden	Genesis 3
Cain and Abel	Genesis 4
Noah's flood	Genesis 6 to 8
God's blessings and covenant with Noah	Genesis 9:1-17
Tower of Babel	Genesis 11:1-9
Abraham's call	Genesis 12:1-3
God's covenant with Abraham	Genesis 15
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah	Genesis 18:16 to 19:29
Isaac's birth	Genesis 21:1-8
Sacrifice of Isaac (Abraham being tested)	Genesis 22:1-19
Marriage of Isaac	Genesis 24
Birth of Jacob and Esau	Genesis 25:19-26
Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for food	Genesis 25:27-34
Jacob and Rebekah's deception of Isaac and Esau for Isaac's blessing	Genesis 27:1-40
Jacob's ladder vision	Genesis 28:10-22
Jacob's wrestle with the angel and has his named changed to Israel	Genesis 32:24-32
Israel's (Jacob) trouble in the land	Genesis 34, 35 and 37
Three burials: Deborah, Rachel and Isaac	Genesis 35
Joseph's coat, dreams and sold by his brothers for twenty pieces of silver	Genesis 37
Israel (Jacob) blesses his twelve sons and then dies	Genesis 49
Birth of Moses and found by Pharaoh's daughter	Exodus 2:1-10
Moses kills an Egyptian, goes to Midian and gets a wife	Exodus 2:11-25
Burning bush - God speaks to Moses	Exodus 3:1 to 4:17
Egypt's nine plagues	Exodus 7:14 to 10:29
Tenth plague against Egypt threatened	Exodus 11
The Passover instituted	Exodus 12:1-20
The Passover communicated	Exodus 12:21-28
Tenth plague against Egypt inflicted	Exodus 12:29-30
The Exodus - God's deliverance of Israel	Exodus 12:31-51
Crossing the Red sea	Exodus 14
The Ten Commandments	Exodus 20:1-17
Golden calf made by Aaron	Exodus 32
Spies sent to Canaan	Numbers 13:1 to 14:45
City of Jericho	Joshua 6
Deborah and Barak	Judges 4
Gideon	Judges 6:1 to 8:35
Samson	Judges 13:1 to 16:31
Samson and Delilah	Judges 16:4-20
Ruth	Ruth 1:1 to 4:22
Samuel's birth	I Samuel 1
Hannah's (Samuel's mom) prayer to the Lord	I Samuel 2:1-10
David chosen by God	I Samuel 16:1-13
David and Goliath	I Samuel 17
David anointed king of Judah	II Samuel 2:1-11
David anointed king of Israel	II Samuel 5:1-12
David and Bathsheba	II Samuel 11
God is displeased with David	II Samuel 12:1-14
Solomon anointed king	I Kings 1:28-40
God's first appearance to Solomon	I Kings 3:2-15
God's second appearance to Solomon	I Kings 9:1-9
Queen of Sheba	I Kings 10:1-13
God is angry with Solomon	I Kings 11
Elijah and the prophets of Baal	I Kings 18:17-40
Elijah taken to heaven	II Kings 2:1-11
Job afflicted by Satan	Job 1:1 to 2:13
God speaks to Job	Job 38:1 to 42:9
God blesses Job	Job 42:10-13
Ezekiel's vision of dry bones	Ezekiel 37:1-14
Daniel and the kings food	Daniel 1:1-16
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego put in the fiery furnace	Daniel 3
Daniel put in the lions den	Daniel 6
Jonah in the belly of the fish	Jonah 1:1 to 2:10

Here is a list of some of the greatest New Testament Bible stories.

New Testament Bible stories

Birth of John the Baptist	Luke 1
Birth of Jesus Christ	Matthew 1:1 to 2:23 Luke 1:26-56 and 2:1-52
Temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness	Matthew 4:1-11 Luke 4:1-13
Sermon on the mount	Matthew 5:1 to 7:29
Jesus Christ calming the storm	Matthew 8:23-27 Mark 4:35-41 Luke 8:22-25
Jesus Christ feeding five thousand	Matthew 14:15-21 Luke 9:12-17
Transfiguration of Jesus Christ	Mark 9:2-10 Luke 9:28-36
Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem	Matthew 21:1-11 Mark 11:1-11 Luke 19:29-44
Cleansing the temple of money changers	Matthew 21:12-16 Luke 19:45-46
Last supper	Matthew 26:14-29 Mark 14:12-25 Luke 22:8-38 John 13:1 to 17:26
Lord before Pilate and crucifixion	Matthew 27:11-54 Mark 15:1-39 Luke 23:1-47 John 18:28 to 19:30
Empty tomb and appearances	Matthew 28 Mark 16 Luke 24 John 20:1 to 21:15
Ascension	Luke 24:51-53 Acts 1:1-11
Paul's conversion	Acts 9:1-30

After reading several of these stories, I myself find it difficult to comprehend the extraordinary abilities of the characters as well as the overall physical “impossibilities” that occur throughout the books. My brain tends to push these stories towards the fantasy part of my brain and cannot make myself believe that most of this has actually happened.

The world is currently divided into religious beliefs and ideologies, but the current target of “non-believers” in North America tends to be Christian and Catholic doctrine. Several Atheists wish to disprove the idea that the Bible is the word of god and often seek to disprove the belief that any god exists. But will that help the world?

To see both sides of the fence, one must walk along a fine line and be careful to not bias themselves one way or another. One must be both analytical as well as sceptical and open minded; a trying task indeed.

The original definition of Atheism was to reject the idea of deities. The “godless” people have been documented as far back as ancient Greece, but the first use of the word Atheist appeared circa 1577 A.D. Modern use of the word Atheist also now includes the disbelief in Supernatural, Spiritual, or Transcendental ideologies.

Many modern Atheist movements have included public attempts to remove the use of the word “God” from public occasions such as graduations, weddings, speeches, and forms of government.

Many passionate Atheists argue the existence of an omniscient being such as God and many have sought out to find mistakes and flaws found in the pages of the bible in order to disprove the idea that God had anything to do with the writing of “The Bible.”

Some arguments from atheists are as follows:

“Using genealogy, we can roughly estimate the age of the earth, as stated by the Bible, to be 6500 years. The very top estimate would be close to 10,000 years, but that’s a stretch. Science has proven that the earth is closer to 4.5 billion years old. Radiometric dating has shown us this, and has remained consistent with lunar and terrestrial samples. In other words, we haven’t just tested this once in one situation, it’s been extensively tested.” (http://www.the-atheist.com)

“We, as human beings, were created 6500 years ago, according to the Bible, starting with Adam and then Eve. The oldest discovered human fossil is approximately 1,300,000 (1.3 million) years old.” (http://www.the-atheist.com)

“God decided that the earth needed cleansing, so he instructed Noah to gather up two of every species to save. Everything other than Noah, his family (or part of his family) and the animals he chose to save would be killed. There are around 10 MILLION known species of animal on our planet. Male and female, that would be 20 million animals Noah saved. I’ve never seen a boat that big, even with modern engineering techniques. Noah also would have had to travel to different parts of the earth to collect the various animals.” (http://www.the-atheist.com)

There is also the argument that several deities have striking similarities to the story of Jesus Christ that actually predate his alleged existence such as Krishna, Buddha, Horus, Zoroaster, Mithras, and Attis. Many of which were reported to have been born of a virgin birth, had disciples, performed similar miracles, preached similar beliefs, as well as were resurrected after being sacrificed for the good of mankind.

In these days of modern discovery it can be difficult to organize one’s own belief structure. With modern technology and scientific advancements influencing our choices and ways of living we can only do our best to try and figure it out for ourselves. However there are things that both Atheists as well as Christians can agree on in the general sense of the word, these are the Ten Commandments paraphrased into modern speech and overall non-religious belief.

1 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Give and you shall receive, help one another out and we can all get along and acknowledge those who have helped you out. Re-phrase this by saying “My friend has helped me out in a big way; I should appreciate it and let them know that I appreciate it.

2 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.”

If you are obsessive about the afterlife, you will miss what you have on earth. Do not take things at face value and research what you are getting in to. There are people and organizations that do not have your best interest in mind and you yourself are in charge of making your own decisions. You may end up hurting those who care for you if you blindly follow others. When you are in a position to help others, you should take advantage of the situation so that others can benefit from you.

3 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Don’t take other people’s reputations and drag them through the mud. Don’t mistreat the reputation of others especially when they have your best interests in mind.

4 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

Spend time with those you love and take a break once in a while. Overworking yourself will only result in fatigue and mistakes. Taking a step back to look at your life once in a while will help you appreciate what you have and give you focus.

5 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

Most parents do their best to teach their children how to survive and be independent. They choose to provide for you and keep you safe; giving them a “thank you” never hurts.

6 “You shall not murder.”

You probably will end up in jail and that doesn’t benefit anyone. It is not your job to take anything from someone else, especially their lives. This also helps us to unite as a species rather than causing problems for the overall community.

7 “You shall not commit adultery.”

If you wanted to be with someone else, you wouldn’t be married. Marriage is a promise to another person that you will respect their wishes. Adultery is being dishonest with that person, it’s alright to long for something or to want something more, but it is your responsibility to problem solve. Basically keep your promises to others and be honest with them.

8 “You shall not steal.”

Earn what you want out of life and don’t rob others of their hard earned belongings. If you really want something set it as a goal and problem solve as to how to get it. Stealing is being lazy.

9 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

The sense of community is important, and those around you are there for safety. Human beings group together for safety and to work together towards collective goals. Making enemies only segregates you from the community, and separation from resources causes more work and difficulty.

10 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.”

Be proud with what you have, you worked hard for it. Competing only diminishes the value of what others have and caters to ego. Ego is the feeling of superiority and separates you from others by placing yourself in a higher standard. Not only does it push negativity towards other people, but it also forces you to neglect what is truly important and necessary in order to be in competition.

I myself am not religious; I do not believe in a god or gods, however I don’t spend my time doubting it. My interest lies solely in researching other people’s beliefs. I have no interest in finding out how the universe and life was created; I would rather spend my energy on seeing where it is going. The development of popular belief has been vast over the last several centuries and from the earliest civilization it has dramatically changed form. Demographics, transfer of information from person to person, and education have all played a major role in the development of our beliefs. With the rapidly increasing ability to communicate with one another and the discovery of new theories we are living in an exciting and confusing time. Ease of access to information regarding religious doctrine and history allows for easier research into what people believe and why they choose to believe in it but it also allows for individual interpretation to be placed for viewing in the public eye.

We are now living in a new era of religious development and it is solely individual. Religion is now becoming a personal interpretation of information being provided and is subject to the factors influencing that interpretation. What you read, what you see, what you experience are all now playing major roles in your religious development and it is important for us to take a step back and be non-judgemental.

I choose to stand free of a determinate position for what I may read or learn tomorrow could influence my overall belief structure. I may meet a person who I can learn from which helps me develop what I believe to be true. We no longer have to congregate in order to investigate other people’s belief structure and can remain anonymous when we do. We no longer feel the pressure placed on us to “belong” when we can read or view the information at our discretion and free from outside influence until we choose to speak with one another in person with an arsenal of information at our fingertips. I believe now to be the most religiously free time in human history so far, and with the freedom to explore we gain the freedom to make our own minds up and choose what to believe based off of our own research. It is an independence that we have not experienced yet and it is also what may ultimately unite us.

Once we acknowledge each other’s differences we no longer feel the need to discriminate. With no separate groups to belong to, we are all forced to be united.

My Life as an Investigative Medium 2

2011-10-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

My Life as an Investigative Medium 2

Lately, I have heard a lot of people speaking about the competition between paranormal groups. There has been a lot of discussion about whose methods are better and who knows more about the paranormal. To me this seems like a rather inappropriate and often uneducated approach to what should be viewed as a fellowship. Paranormal Investigators seem to gain an ego when in this industry; perhaps it is due to the possibility of fame and fortune that has recently been present over the last several years, however I still find it hard to wrap my head around it.

I want to be 100% honest with everyone who reads my writings or speaks with me personally and I write the blogs and articles as a way of evoking more people to speak about their beliefs and their experiences, not to teach other’s my way. I offer my opinion and I hope that you; the reader, can draw your own conclusions and develop your own opinion to share with your friends and those you choose to speak with.

I; like most of you, would gladly accept an offer for a television contract and would love to be able to get paid to work in an industry that was new, exciting, and I love to be involved with. I will not however, sacrifice my morals to make this happen. Help should always be free, knowledge should always be shared, and experiences are personal and subjective.

It really makes me sad that the industry has become so separated; groups have histories and learning experiences just as individuals do, but those who cannot let go of past decisions often miss the opportunity to experience new ones. Those who have developed a successful group should be proud of what they have accomplished and shouldn’t have to feel that they are compared to another group or need to challenge any other group out there unless they are without a doubt dangerous and it is backed up 100%.

I know or have known many investigators and many other teams. I pride myself in collecting knowledge regarding other teams and their services primarily because I want to find ways to help our clients in any way possible; even if that means putting my own ego aside or swallowing my pride a bit. Just like everyone else in the world; I have made decisions in my life that I am not proud of or may have approached the situation wrong. My belief is that I learned from it, I don’t ever want to make the same mistakes twice if I don’t have to. I made decisions to the best of my ability at the time; which is all that we can really do.

I believe each group has a particular set of skills or characteristics that makes them unique and appeals to different people. One group’s belief may not necessarily be my own, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t have a right to be in existence or a right to conduct themselves in whatever way they choose. It has nothing to do with me; I can however, choose to not associate with them. Actions speak louder than words and words can make somebody look like something they are not. This is extremely present when reading online articles and websites, editing and proof reading are fantastic marketing tools, however they can be deceptive and if used incorrectly can get you into trouble.

This is why I choose not to speak poorly about any other group or individuals. I may have had past relationships that didn’t work out and I definitely have lost friends along the way. However my intentions were never to cause harm or pain, and I do appreciate hearing positive updates regarding their well-being.

Sometimes I do get caught between a rock and a hard place; happens quite often in this industry, but I hate the idea that someone out there may hold a grudge. Personally, I am not that type of person. I may get angry once in a while just like everyone else, but I analyse why I feel that way. I don’t want that feeling to last so I need to put myself in perspective so I can make better decisions in the future. I have been hurt in the past; just like everyone else, but I know that they usually did not intend for it to happen. Sometimes it is just time to say goodbye even though it may hurt, but separations are ways of giving space and room to breathe is usually good therapy. In my opinion; anger and frustration are introverted emotions, they are reflections of you and you’re hardships. Emotions are selfish and often a puzzle that needs to be put together to see the whole picture.

That being said, the groups and individuals that I have met and had the opportunity to work with; even those who I no longer associate with, have fantastic strengths that hopefully will help them be successful. Each group has a personality of its own and all have a purpose; some may be more specific purposes, but all of them are useful and have a right to their opinions and methods. I stand by them no matter what, because they are trying their best to make sense of their lives but choose to help others in their own ways.

I know of several groups in the area that offer great lectures, investigations, insight, experiences, and have a drive to be successful no matter what the cost. It is an admirable trait and there is always room for more in the community. Some other groups are dedicated to helping spread their knowledge one person at a time; which may be time consuming, but in the long run only add to their ability to help the next person they interact with.

People sometimes ask me what my goal is for Edmonton Paranormal Society and what I hope to achieve by running such a group. I tell them that my goal is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to explore in their own way. I want people to have a support network so that while they are journeying into the dark, they aren’t alone. I want exactly what our name states; a Society where each person can be free to develop themselves as they see fit and contribute to the industry as a whole. I want people involved, I want different opinions, I want to get this group to grow as large as it possibly can and show the industry that you don’t have to be an expert. Each person can help and each person can feel safe in knowing that there are friends that you can turn to. Those who choose to stand alone often fall the hardest because all of the weight is on their shoulders, but as a society we can all stand together and explore in whichever direction we choose.

There is no right and wrong, there are no definitive answers; there are only different sides of the fence. My question is why is there a fence in the first place?

My Life As An Investigative Medium 1

2011-10-16T01:09:00.001-07:00

Many people ask me how I do what I do, and honestly I wish I had an easy answer for them. Most people; none that I’ve met so far, have never and will never see the things that I do on a daily basis. In a way it segregates me from the rest of society but not in the way you would initially believe. So many people attend our meetings, events, and speak with me one on one and everybody says the same things. “I wish I could have your abilities...” or “I wish I could do that.” To an extent, I wish that others could see what I do so I wouldn’t feel so alone, so I would have someone who truly understands what it is like to see death the way that I do.

I was once like that, which is why I completely understand why people ask these things. The other mediums that I have met find these questions burdensome or annoying; wishing to further their own development rather than entertain needy clients or cause excitement for those with monotonous lifestyles. When I look at what I am typing out when describing my abilities, I do tend to have a negative outlook on the whole experience and this is not always the case. I just wish for one day, those of you who ask me what it is like would have the chance to experience it.

Before the guided meditation; which increased my abilities, I was claircognitive meaning that I was only capable of “knowing” information that was not provided to me by regular means. I saw no apparitions, I heard no disembodied voices, I only knew. I was fairly accurate; I would close my eyes and imagine what it was that seemed to be around. This left me second guessing myself often, asking the same questions many of you do when you practice your intuition. “Is this just my imagination?” saying things like “that can’t be right,” or “I don’t want to be wrong.” These are all natural thoughts and feelings; anyone will feel like an idiot when they first become involved in the world of paranormal investigation or practicing your intuition. Ask any investigator and they will tell you that their first EVP session was awkward to say the least as they sat in the dark asking questions to an empty room. As time goes on and you gain more and more experiences, you will come to realize that you are no longer the non-practicing sceptic that you once were.

My first rule is that there are no sceptics in the world of paranormal investigation; you wouldn’t be involved in the field if you had absolutely no belief. There are only two type’s people in the field, those who choose to react and create conclusions based off of scientific fact and tried research, and those who choose to trust their heart and mind but are open to new ideas and both types are asking for their opinions to be changed.

Now as I stated before, describing what I see and sense is very difficult to say the least. It means you have to understand where I come from on my platform of beliefs. I believe that I have experienced enough in my life to draw certain conclusions. One being that the laws of physics and nature do exist, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be any major developments or discoveries in the near future, or that we won’t find new information that may slightly alter what we now believe, but the fact of the matter is that the world is full of researchers and most of the smart ones document their findings. This information is shared with those who require it through publishing’s in papers, books, internet, or through word of mouth. It is a basic human need to share information with one another. Perhaps it is a way of passing the time until you can no longer do so, perhaps it is a need to be important and belong. Either way, this is what I have found in my personal journey to be true, humans need to connect and need to share information. Otherwise speech and communication would not exist, and we would be nomads only interacting to satisfy basic needs such as reproduction, protection, or the likes. The truth of the matter is if we feel important and loved, we are happy. If we feel neglected and hated we cower and wither, or; as some enigmas have done, we explode. Neglect only creates two possible outcomes overall; we either crawl into a dark space to disappear, or we do anything it takes to be in the spotlight and show the world what we can do. This is much like the spirits I have encountered in my career, many of whom need some form of interaction; either with one another or with us.

When I first stumbled upon my ability to see them, I had trouble adapting. Much like that of a war veteran I saw things that I would rather not have. I in no way feel that my situation is completely comparable to war because it takes a toll on a human mind worse than anything imaginable, but I do feel strained by many of the things I have witnessed. In my first week of being clairvoyant, I was seeing things that resemble no human shape, people missing body parts, I was hearing screams of pain, hysteria, shouting, crying, children missing their families, among many others. There were of course many positive ones just going about their day, not interacting, and I even had a young lady attempt to bring me out a drink of lemonade on a hot day. Unfortunately, it was hard to not let the negativity and frightening situations overcome the positive ones. Driving was nearly impossible, as I would be slamming on my breaks to narrowly avoid unseen pedestrians. I became a hermit by night, as this seemed to be the time that I was most likely to have to deal with these entities. I wasn’t sure how I wanted to proceed and found myself suffering from severe anxiety.

I am not the type to normally show my true emotions often, I practice cognitive dissonance; the act of feeling one emotion and showing the world a different one. I would be smiling at the people around me, while inside I wanted to cry because of their unseen friends following them in desperation trying to communicate.

I have never been a religious person, and I am actually very thankful that I wasn’t when this happened for those people choose to live in a very particular way that can often be a difficult path. They must choose between faiths rather than being shown a different side of things. I cannot lose my faith, for I never had any to begin with. It takes a great amount of restraint as well as courage to choose to believe that someone has it under control and that what we see and what we are told is the absolute truth and there is no further learning on the subjects taught. That’s why I was always interested in new and exciting things, because I had never believed any of it to be true in the first place.

The nice thing that I have been able to witness is the amount of support we have on the other side. I never believed in guardian angels, spirit guides, or that type of thing, but it is so eerily true. From what I understand and have been able to see, is the connection between one another. There is a type of “energy” that connects us all as a way of helping us communicate with one another. To most people, this is what the definition of an aura is. Quantum physics theorizes that the ability to be in two places at the same time is possible. This is similar to the energy I have noticed, as your guardian isn’t necessarily physically beside you and it could leave a kind of “mark” which would connect you with him or her. When I give a reading, I am simply focusing on this energy; the one that connects you with your guides, ancestors, or death related losses. An aura is your connection to everything that is you.

Honestly, as I read this back to myself I sound less logical than I mean to. I wish that I could explain exactly what I mean, but I came to an enlightenment as of recently. It was actually caused by a recent case that we were able to investigate. The encouragement came from one seventeen year old girl that I was asked to provide a reading for. The things that she had to overcome so far in life were greater than anything I had experienced in my own life even though I am eight years older than her and can see dead people. Her story was tragic, yet she was so brave for still having the occasional smile on her face despite it all. When my time with her was up and the investigation neared to an end she continued to stay in contact with me through texts. She was so curious about how I was able to provide so much information and why I didn’t think that other people should have to deal with what I do. The cool thing about her is that she was raised in nearly the exact opposite lifestyle from my own. She was raised very religious; she suffered from the loss of a parent, as well as another person who had filled the void of a parent figure, then was forced to lose a child before its birth. For such a young girl, she had dealt with more loss than anyone in my age category. I have never gone through any of that and hopefully it will be less tragic when and if it does happen to me. I was raised in a non-religious family, from an upper middle class household, I have not lost many of those close to me, and I hope I never have to suffer the loss of a child. Then she texted me this,” Well, I think that your ability is a gift and not a curse :) “

Sounds cliché right? I don’t know exactly why it meant so much to me. To me it meant that I was able to help someone who needed it. For whatever reason, I felt that I was exactly where I should be in my life. I was supposed to be there and it felt good and right. I had finally made peace with this accident happening, and I felt that I could take on the challenge and I wasn’t going to let it make me go crazy by over-thinking it.

I now feel more safe while in the dark because I know what’s in it. I don’t suffer from nightmares any more, when before I was plagued with them. I no longer feel any anxiety when it comes up my turn to do a “lone vigil” and sit with the camera alone in the dark in a room where our clients feel afraid. Whenever I run into some entity that seems scary or causes me anxiety, I challenge it back. Not disrespectfully, but I will stare it in the eye and tell it to physically pull me. Not a slap, not a punch, not a scratch, I need a pull in order for me to respect it’s capability of causing harm. Slapping and punching and scratching are quick movements that require a swing and momentum, a pull requires grip as well as it needs to inert a force in a pulling motion to physically move my body weight.

Some of you, who have read my prior articles, may remember the story of me being pulled out of bed. This is the first real time I had been scared so bad that it physically affected me and made me take a step back in my life to re-think my decision get involved with the paranormal. The important part was that I continued to step forward into my role as a paranormal investigator. I wanted to keep learning about it despite the fact to me that it was very real and no longer just a theory. So why would I view my abilities as a negative when I choose for this to happen. Overall, it was every step that I had taken that lead me to this event and there were a hell of a lot of steps behind me.

Science tells us that everything that happens has an equal and opposite reaction. Nature shows us that there is a function and purpose for everything that is not man-made. For example, the body that dies is decomposed and nothing is wasted there is no “by product.” To me this is also true when it comes to the steps behind me, each one was an interaction, was useful, and nothing is wasted. It may be changed or transformed, but everything has a purpose and everything has a use including our consciousness.

Many people ask me about inhuman entities, demons, and creatures. This is a much deeper subject than many people realize and the reason for this confusion is even more difficult to describe. The best way that I can describe it is this; evolution happens in both our world and theirs. Things change appearance, grow older, and gain knowledge. This doesn’t stop when we die, nor does it stop for animals, or anything else for that matter. So a horse that died 1000 years ago no longer completely resembles a horse. It may have been a horse before it died, but it has continued to live in a different way for so long and along the way it has learned more, and changed its appearance to be more efficient or suit different purposes. A 1000 year old horse is now smarter than the average living human. Now imagine what a 1000 year old human would be like. Makes you think doesn’t it?