I WANT PROOF, beyond a shadow of a doubt

I have to laugh.....

As a paranormal investigator and one who believe in the paranormal 100%, I get people who put out videos and photos online and claim those as proof positive of the existence of the paranormal.

Having a video of an orb, blinking, seeming to interact with you, obeying a voice command, hovering, or one a hundred other things, that has been recreated in a sterile lab under scientific conditions proves you have a video of dust. Now, one of the supposedly pieces of dust, might not be dust, but till you can prove that scientifically, it's para-interesting period! Just as getting an evp reading from a site is cool, it is not "proof".

I have just gotten done in a discussion with someone on a page on FaceBook who then deleted the whole post for not agreeing with him. You post a photo or a video and only want those that will agree with you comment, PLEASE SPARE US ALL and don't post it if you cannot take what others are going to tell you - or post, "ONLY those that agree that this is proof, need respond".  That way those of us that have read scientific journals, and study as well as participate in this field will know you don’t want to know the truth. It's called learning and evolving. I once thought the same thing about orbs, and people once thought the world was flat.....and we were proven wrong.

The funny part of all this is that I BELIEVE in the paranormal and the afterlife....but I want to be more than a believer, I WANT PROOF, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they existence......don’t you!

Smartphone Apps and FAKE "GHOSTS"

There are few things that infuriate me more than someone that posts a photo with help of one of the hundred apps out there with a fake ghost for attention.  The fact that they do it in the first place isn't enough, then they defend it and get offended when you question them about the validity of the photo..... REALLY?

Here are just a few fake images we obtained from different apps..(we've put them on one photo as a collage for demonstration purposes)

These are just a few of the images and applications that are available.  I would also like to point your attention to this site on facebook to help point out these fake photos.  

https://www.facebook.com/Ghostfake

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ghost-App-Ghosts/423618617673367

We, as Paranormal Investigators that truly believe in the existence of "ghosts and the afterlife", would like nothing more than to have CONCRETE proof of what we believe.  Those that submit these FAKE photos and made up stories for attention are hurting those of us that take this seriously and are using scientific methods to debunk all findings, including our own, so that only what is left might become the proof of what we want to find.

I don't know how else to say this, but STOP making fake photos and posting them as the real thing.  You want to make one as a party gag, ok, but don't post them on the internet for others to post as the "real thing".  Cause we can tell, we are collecting data and evidence to disprove these as well. 

“Para-Interesting”, is what this is, until it is proven otherwise ……

Over the last few days I have participated in various discussions on different Paranormal sites on FaceBook over people submitting ONE photo to show PROOF POSITIVE that they've captured the paranormal.  I've them asked if did anyone take reference pictures? This is what you get when putting you camera in "burst" mode when taking pictures during an investigation. Most cameras have that option. It will take 3-5 pictures back to back, and give you a reference for your photos if you stay still. If you catch something on one picture and not the others, you MAY have proof of the unknown.  I asked if they lived close enough, had they tried to go back and re-create what they captured if they didn't have reference pictures. Plus, was there any other corroborating evidence, like and evp’s, videos, meter readings etc...?

The answer was no, no and no. Yet, they clung to their passionate belief that their photo was proof positive all by itself.   With so many Smartphone apps out there that can easily insert a "ghostly apparition" into any picture these days, one photo is no longer evidence at all without the proper back up to prove the possibility otherwise.

As Paranormal Investigator we have to take the stance that it is probably not paranormal BUT, we would not be so quick to throw it out either. Nor would we be able to present it to a client as is without more research.  So, “Para-Interesting”, is what this is, until it is proven otherwise …… with the key word being proven, as in scientifically …. Not to what you believe …. As a Paranormal Investigator, isn't it our job to prove the existence of all things paranormal? How can you do that without quieting the doubts of your harshest skeptics with irrefutable proof based on scientific testing?  The answer is, You cannot….

Be it an orb, a face or line of light..... if there is another explanation for that being in your photo, then you need more to prove it otherwise or you are relying on just hope and belief.  You have to have scientific proof positive.  You have to become your own harshest critic in order to do this; even though you are the one that believes.

And if you are someone who post a photo on the internet and then become offended when someone questions its validity, then please, DON’T POST IT.  With so many FAKES out there, you are not being realistic.  If you have belief in something, then your goal should be to make your case intelligently and with an informed perspective with a civil exchange of ideas.  That is how people learn. I have been proven wrong in my prior beliefs regarding orbs.  I once was a staunch defender that they were of the paranormal realm.  Now seeing sterile rooms where researchers were able to reproduce and show that orbs are just dust and light, I have had to evolve to find other evidence to prove the existence of the Paranormal.

When in doubt toss it out is out motto.  Science has proven over and over again that Orbs can be recreated to do all the spectacular things Paranormal Investigators once used as proof.  We need to evolve every time that scientific evidence is presented and find new ways to prove what we believe. Because of conditions we as humans are susceptible to, such as Pareidolia and Apophenia that can affect our ability to see what is actually right in front of us. Human perception is a tricky thing, especially to those of us trying to prove the existence of the Paranormal!   

Rock County Paranormal Society

http://www.rcparanormal.com/

Are you a "Good or a Bad Witch" and Wiccan Practices

Everyone has heard of the infamous Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, but do you know what a Witch or someone that has chosen to practice Wicca Religion really is?  

What it isn't, is the flash, popularity and drama that television and movies have lent to it. First of all People that practice Wicca are NOT Witches, but all Witches practice Wicca. Some use the terms interchangeably.  But they are not the same thing.  Much like being a Christian, does not necessarily make you a Methodist, simply because you claim to be Christian.  You could be Catholic, Protestant, or one of many other denominations or you could just choose to believe in a higher power and may not participate at all in organized religion.

Next we need to distinguish between magic and Magick.  Magic is illusion done for entertainment.  Famous people that you may have heard of are David Copperfield and Houdini.  They make people “disappear” and saw people in half.  These are tricks and their secrets are coveted.  If you knew the “tricks” behind these, you too could do what they do.

Magick is studied techniques for harnessing internal and external energies that will help us change ourselves and our environment.  Aleister Crowley  is the one credited with using the spelling to mark a  difference between the two words and meaning when he had an experience in Egypt in 1904.  To genuine practitioners, we'd know exactly what we were talking about and the only time we even have to bother to differentiate or explain is when we are talking with someone outside the Wiccan Religion or the Art of Magick.

Now I’d like to dispel some common misconceptions. 

Asking someone if they are a good Witch or a bad Witch is like asking someone if they are a good catholic or a bad catholic.  It has to do with ethical standards.  Wiccans believe in the ethical guideline called the "Threefold Law," which states that whatever a person wishes upon someone else returns to them three times over, according to "Wiccan Spirituality" (Green Magic, 2002).  Wicca opposes the use of negative, harmful magic and discourages people from hurting others physically or emotionally, according to "Wicca for Life" (Citadel Press, 2003).  Witches, Druids and other pagan belief systems and religions have their own ethical standards.  

So, to finally answer that questions, I need to say that just as in everyday life, there are good people and bad people.  Most people are both good and bad simultaneously and the path they choose and the ethics their culture and religions adhere to are what eventually labels them as good or bad in that particular society.  Most people walk what Wicca calls the "middle way".

Next, neither Witches nor Wiccans worship Satan.  Satan is part of Christianity and Muslim Religions and Satanism.  And the Pentagram is NOT Satanic.  That impression is thanks to Hollywood and novels.  The five pointed star represents the elements, Air, Earth, Fire & Water and the top point to “Spirit”.  Negative connotations of witchcraft  led its followers to stop referring to themselves as witches and go by "Wiccans" instead, according to "Wicca A to Z" (Citadel Press, 1998). 

Although it's based on ancient beliefs, including aspects of paganism and nature-based spirituality, Wicca was founded by anthropologist Gerald Gardner in the early 1950s, according to "Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic Activities" (CRC Press, 2008).  

"Wicca is a new religion that combines surviving folk traditions and more modern elements. It is loosely based on Western European pagan rites and rituals that have been performed for centuries — before, during and after the time of Jesus — such as reverence of nature, observance of the cycle of the seasons, celebration of the harvest, and doing magic," according to "Wicca for Beginners" (Llewellyn Worldwide, 2006).

There is no bible that Wiccans follow. Wiccans may make a "Book of Shadows" for themselves, or may pass one down from a teacher of the faith to his or her student, but that BoS serves as a reference book, according to "Living Wicca" (Llewellyn Worldwide, 1993).  Also referred to as a grimoire, mirror book or magical diary, a BoS is a customized book in which a Wiccan records information he or she finds useful to practicing the faith. While not every Wiccan has a BoS, those that do fill theirs with myths, ceremonies, spells, religious ritual instructions, prayers, herbal lore or personal records of dreams, according to "Living Wicca."

I think this is enough to digest in one sitting.  I will write more later…….

This was a simplistic overview of facts after I was asked what it meant to be a good Witch.  In dealing with the paranormal in my research and everyday life, I have found that when writing things like this, I often learn as much about myself as I mean to convey.  I am a believer in a higher power/energy, but I don’t believe in the “Hallmark” photo of God, Jesus or of a Heaven and Hell.  I do believe that our energy goes on to something else. I also believe that everyone is on their own journey.  I will allow you to believe what you want and please allow me the same courtesy.  So mode it be…. 

Faces in Mirrors, Windows, Clouds, Smoke, Etc... Pareidolia and Apophenia

The mind is an incredible thing; it can turn some blobs on your grilled cheese sandwich into a face, a cloud into a face and reflections of light from your flash on a mirror into a face. Faces, as found by the scientists at the University of Bremen in Germany, were given different priority in your brain. In fact they believe that there is a whole section of the brain specifically for face recognition. This study was published in the October 2007 edition of the Journal Science.


MIT as well as many other accredited scientific research facilities have also dedicated years of study to the phenomena and found that "These turn out to be very simple relationships, things like the eyes are always darker than the forehead, and the mouth is darker than the cheeks," Sinha said. "If you put together about 12 of these relationships, you get a template that you can use to locate a face." Eventually, they entered in the information they got from MRI studies on what our brains were recognizing when we were shown faces, even those with less than 12 pixels of resolution and found that the computer could do as good a job as the human brain. "This suggests that, like the computer, the human brain processes faces holistically, like coherent landscapes, rather than one feature at a time."

Once in a while, MIT found that the computer emits a false alarm. "This is a good analogy for what the human brain might be doing," Sinha said. "Like the computer, it's trying to determine what the regularities are in all of these faces to create a prototype.

"But this prototype is not perfect. Sometimes genuine faces do not match these regularities, and sometimes non faces satisfy them."people have gotten so used to seeing faces everywhere that sensitivity to them is high enough to produce constant false positives.

There are many other scientific studies that have been done that all come to the same conclusion. With that being said, would a ghost, that has multiple other ways of manifesting and making itself known really need to be a partially smear or unrecognizable possible face?

Both scientist and trained photographers have known for years that this is a quirk of the human brain and pixilation.  The human imagination and need to find faces in everything is just how we are wired and finding faces where they really are not is just an environmental anomaly and not something paranormal at all...... and neither is the face of "Jesus" or Marilyn Monroe in your grilled cheese sandwich.....

ORBS and the Paranormal........

As a paranormal investigator, you'd think I'd support every orb as being something other worldly, but in fact, I am just the opposite. Being an investigator means that you are there to prove that something is an actual paranormal event by ruling out any other possibility. Not simply claiming that everything you see is that, just because you wish it to be so. With this being said, here is what I believe and the common theories by others that support my findings.

I agree that 95% of orbs are not paranormal....but there are some that change direction, hover, blink, etc... caught on video, just cannot be explained away...... and those are what I believe are paranormal.

There was a FALSE ORB EXPERIMENT done by MidNight Walkers Paranormal Research Society, click on this link to see the full findings: MidNight Walkers Experiment

Their experiment came to this conclusion:

Their "experiment had no intention to disprove the existence of real paranormal orbs. Its intention was to supply pictures of false orbs for comparing an unknown orb image in determining its authenticity."

Which is similar to what I am saying..... they also provided so many photos of known items that look very much like what many people catch everyday and are dust, insects and more..... this image is from the study......insects

this is is also from the study, but is of dust

I want to prove that ghosts and an afterlife exists, so I won't take a photo that I cannot recreate, and subject to the harshest scrutiny rather than claim that upon seeing it, that it's paranormal.  Only after examination and ruling out any other possibility, will I claim that......

Earth-Bound Spirits, Lost Souls, Ghosts & Poltergeists

First of all, Earth-Bound Spirits, Lost Souls, Ghosts and Poltergeists are HUMAN SOULS. In this case, we are not dealing with "demons", lower astral beings, negative entities, etc., however they are distinct from one another.

Earthbound spirits:  In short Earth-bound or Lost Souls haven't been around for a long time.   They tend to haunt people they knew in life. They could drift around for years, never finding a way to communicate with us. Or they might get lucky; bring their message across to us and then go, that is, return to the spirit world where they belong.  But how do they get stuck here in the first place?

Most everyone has read or heard somewhere that a sudden/abrupt or unexpected death could cause a soul to become lost or confused about what’s happening to them and perhaps that’s why the linger.  But not all souls that are here have passed in that manner.  So what else could cause a soul to stay in our plain here on earth?

Another theory is that when someone carries guilt about things they've done wrong, they simply don’t believe they are worthy and refuse to move to the light and avoid the invitations from angels and loved ones there.  Along these same lines those that were taught by religions that hell is real, and have abused or lived lifestyles that they were taught was unworthy, now fear the light because they are afraid of not being accepted into heaven.  Then you have those who hate and want revenge for their departure and will linger here for eternity to achieve that goal.

Other than those that are confused or unaware of what has happened to them, fear is the single biggest reason that people get lost between plains.  With this bring said, those of us here on earth should not label lost souls as being bad, evil or anything other than a person that is no longer alive.  They still have feelings like you or I and may be confused, lost, frightened, and angry and even grieve their own deaths.  We should instead be willing to help them move on to the next plain of existence.

For the majority, if we treat them with respect, even if being in their presence and behavior is disturbing, lost souls will respond to good faith reasoning and are considered non-violent. Our focus should be on the fact that they need our help to move on to the next realm and most of them are completely harmless.

Very rarely, some can be so confused, so lost, or so angry that one can become threatened physically.  If violence occurs, cease contact IMMEDIATELY and find a medium/healer or priest that is trained to deal with this situation.  Whom you choose is based on your own personal and religious beliefs.  Again, these situations are RARE, not as frequent as television and movies would have you believe.  If you see one of these in your entire lifetime; that would even be rare.  I am not saying that this does not exist, however, the majority are simply confused and do not mean you harm.

Lost Souls,  Ghost & Poltergeists will generally cause some the following types of disturbances

Ø Toys move across the floor by themselves

Ø Knock items off shelves onto the floor

Ø Rattling, knocking, scraping noises

Ø Shadows moving around the home or building

Ø Talking in the distance

Ø  Walking into areas and being overwhelmed with emotions you did not currently feel

Ø Very Cold Spots

The longer they've been around the more activity you will get....

Ghosts:

Ghosts are people who usually lost their lives a long time, even centuries, ago. Unlike earthbound spirits, they usually prefer to haunt specific places rather than people. Perhaps one of the reasons for this may be because the people that they knew in life are probably all dead by now. Ghosts have lost all attachment to people on Earth, however they are comforted by their old, familiar mansion, surrounded by comforting, familiar sights, sounds and breezes. An earthbound soul could indeed run the risk of turning into a ghost if it isn't aware that it is dead, or that it has any alternatives to drifting aimlessly about its old home. It may hang around; at first it is happy to be in the presence of its family.  But one day, the family leaves or they die and pass joyfully into the spirit world. And the ghost is left all alone and adrift on the earth plane, neither a fully formed human being nor a spirit where it belongs.

Poltergeists:

One theory on Poltergeists; is that they have been formless spirits for so long that they don’t remember they were once human.  Another belief is that some pre-adolescents have the ability to subconsciously act in a manner resembling poltergeist behavior that they two are confused….but let’s focus on actual true Poltergeists.

In being in existence for centuries at the very least, that they have acquired a great deal of knowledge and expertise about how to survive and use their natural resources to their advantage. They are the ones blamed for moving objects, telekinesis and materializations.  This isn’t saying that others could not also do this.  But it is believed that it would take time to figure out how to do this.

Spirits that are here on the earth plain do have access to a source of power and energy.  As humans, we eat to get energy.  As spirits, they must find a source in order to do anything.  They can take it from people, from batteries, electrical storms or any other source that they wish.

Earthbound spirits:

Earthbound spirits usually get that energy from their loved ones. They don't suck the energy from their loved ones on purpose, or because they wish to harm their loved ones, but instinctually for survival. They NEED that energy to remain alive as souls.

Ghosts:

They like to suck energy from their surroundings and environment rather than from people.

Poltergeists:

Poltergeists absolutely LOVE to terrorize people! That is literally what gives them life. And since it is something that they also do so consummately well, thanks in large part to their terrific telekinetic abilities, they are in no danger of running out of victims to supply them with life energy and vital force in the very near future.

Like negative non-human, lower astral entities (which I will write about in a future blog), poltergeists thrive and prosper in an environment chock full of negativity, heaving, heavy human emotions, fear, terror, rage and frustration. That is why you will so often find them lurking about troubled individuals, who feed them a constant stream of power with their unremitting unhappiness.

Earthbound spirits:

As I said before, earthbound spirits tend to just hang around. They don't do much else. They may be actively in search of a psychic medium to help them out. Or maybe they just like to be around their granddaughter and her young, fresh energy.  They might accidentally make a noise or move something, but it probably wasn't intentional.

Ghosts:

Ghosts haunt. That is what they do, that is what makes them ghosts. Outside of haunting, I believe that there are very few other activities that appeal especially to them.  However, they do on occasion scare the living daylights out of people with their mere, generally inoffensive presence. They also tend to be distressed and sorrowful beings, and all that unhappiness, we do have to admit, does tend to rub off on us and make us also feel downright bad and stressed-out when we find ourselves around ghosts.

Poltergeists:

What poltergeists do is more than obvious, and you can read a great deal about them in the paranormal literature that abounds out there in bookshops and libraries. Poltergeists like to haunt families and places. They move objects, often quite violently, since they are themselves usually of a violent, perverted and aberrant character, oftentimes with more than a healthy dose of feelings of hatred and spite towards other people and the human race in general.  Poltergeists like to play around with people, just simply because they can.

This was a simplistic overview of what basic theories of Earth-Bound Spirits, Lost Souls, Ghost’s & Poltergeists may be.  In dealing with the paranormal in my research and life, I have found that when writing things like this, I often learn as much about myself as I mean to convey.  I am a believer in a higher power/energy, but I don’t believe in the “Hallmark” photo of God, Jesus or of a Heaven and Hell.  I do believe that our energy goes on to something else. I also believe that everyone is on their own journey.  I will allow you to believe what you want and please allow me the same courtesy.  So mode it be…. 

Mold and the PARANORMAL........

There are connections between ghosts / hauntings, demonic possession, related so called paranormal activity and black mold.

All the home remodeling shows have shown just how common and present mold is in most homes....even the ones that you can't see on the surface.

Mold spores are very easily transported to different areas by attaching themselves to various hosts. These hosts would include people, animals, shoes and they even enter through open windows and doors. The spores then thrive and grow where it is damp and moist. Very toxic molds can develop from water seepage, and while black mold is "less common than other mold species it is not rare".

Some people may not experience severe health problems from toxic black mold while others will. Out of those people affected by the mycotoxins from toxic black mold, people with weaker immune systems, children and the elderly will suffer worse health issues.

Toxic black mold (aka Stachybotrys chartarum) can cause serious health problems and symptoms in humans such as debilitating mental effects, breathing problems, damage to internal organs and in some cases has even caused death.

Besides being toxic, the spores from toxic black mold are also allergenic and so they can cause the allergic reactions in humans that other more common household molds do such as sneezing, sore eyes and a runny nose.

The mycotoxins produced by toxic black mold cause toxic symptoms in humans. These symptoms include:

- mental and neurological symptoms
- respiratory symptoms
- circulatory symptoms
- vision and eye symptoms
- skin symptoms
- immune system symptoms
- reproductive symptoms
- tiredness and discomfort symptoms
- other illnesses and health symptoms.

The trichothecene mycotoxins produced by toxic black mold are neurotoxic which means they can kill neurons in the brain and impair mental ability, as well as cause nervous disorders such as tremors. Exposure to toxic black mold's mycotoxins also causes personality changes such as mood swings and irritability.

Symptoms:

- Confusion
- Brain fog
- Shortened attention span
- Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
- Slowed reflexes
- Disorientation
- Dizziness
- Memory loss and memory problems
- Impaired learning ability
- Hallucinations
- Shock
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Aggression and other personality changes
- Tingling
- Trembling
- Shaking
- Seizure
- Numbness

People living in homes with toxic black mold are exposed to the mold mostly through breathing in black mold spores and mycotoxins. The mycotoxins of toxic black mold create irritation and a burning sensation in the air passages of a person such as in the nasal cavity, mouth and throat. These mycotoxins which are breathed in can become lodged in the mucous membranes, sinuses and the lungs which then causes a burning feeling, breathing problems and bleeding in the lungs.

Symptoms:

- Difficulty breathing - breathlessness or shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Pulmonary edema - swelling of the lungs
- Pulmonary hemorrhage - bleeding in the lungs
- Sore throat
- Burning sensation of the mouth
- Bleeding gums
- Runny nose
- Itchy nose
- Stuffy, blocked nose
- Nose bleeds

Black mold mycotoxins or spores which are breathed in, ingested, or absorbed through the skin or eyes eventually find their way into a person's blood stream and heart. This can lead to heart damage and problems with blood clotting and internal or external hemorrhaging.

Symptoms:

- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart inflammation
- Damage to heart
- Low blood pressure
- Bone marrow disruption
- Bleeding tendency
- Blood not clotting properly
- Hemorrhage - internal bleeding
- Vomiting up blood
- Bleeding in the brain and in other organs

Airborne toxic black mold mycotoxins can enter into a person's body through the eyes. The mycotoxins are cytotoxic and can damage the cells they contact, inflaming and injuring the eyes and creating vision problems.

Symptoms:

- Eye inflammation and soreness
- Red or bloodshot eyes
- Eye damage
- Blurry vision and vision worsening
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes)


Skin contact is one of the three main routes of black mold mycotoxins exposure. In cases where humans handled hay contaminated with toxic black mold, they developed more severe rashes and skin problems on the area of contact and on sweaty areas such as the armpits.

Symptoms:

- Crawling skin
- Dermatitis - skin inflammation, rash, blisters, itchiness
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)

Toxic black mold emits chemicals which suppress the immune system, further helping black mold's mycotoxins to overwhelm a person's health. Many immunosuppressive drugs are actually derived from toxic molds. A person immunocompromised from black mold exposure will be more susceptible to infections and sickness.

Symptoms:

- Immunosuppression - immune system not functioning properly
- Infections recurring


Mycotoxins from toxic black mold are teratogenic meaning they can cause abnormalities in the fetus during pregnancy which lead to birth defects. Toxic black mold mycotoxins are also cytotoxic and mutagenic, inhibiting protein synthesis including DNA and RNA.

Symptoms:

- Infertility
- Miscarriage
- Impotence
- Fetal development problems


During exposure to toxic black mold the immune system may release a sedative called Chloral Hydrate as a defense to try to slow the effects of the mold down. This also makes the person tired and causes fatigue. Toxic black mold exposure can also cause soreness of the muscles and joints.

Symptoms:

- Chronic fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Aches and pains
- Muscle pain
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
- Malaise - general discomfort
- Headaches
- Cold or flu type symptoms or recurring colds
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea

Like other molds, toxic black mold and its spores are allergenic and so they can cause allergic reactions in humans such as breathing problems, sore eyes, runny nose, itchiness, sneezing and sore throat.

Following are 16 signs that your house is haunted per about.com, and you will see that they can be attributed to black mold by a logical scientist or trained professional researcher:

1. Unexplained noises
2. Doors, cabinets and cupboards opening and closing
3. Lights turning off and on
4. Items disappearing and reappearing
5. unexplained shadows
6. Strange animal behavior
7. Feelings of being watched
8. Mild psychokinetic phenomena
9. Feelings of being touched
10. Cries and whispers
11. Cold or hot spots
12. Unexplained smells
13. Moving or levitating objects
14. Physical assault
15. Other physical evidence
16. Apparitions

This article was even quick to point out the following, "Before you decide there's a ghost in your house or move out from fear, do your best to find rational explanations for what you are experiencing. Virtually all of the phenomena listed on the previous page could have perfectly natural causes:

- noises could be house settling, plumbing or even vermin such as mice and squirrels
- opening and closing doors could be faulty hinges or caused by drafts
- DOPPler phenomena could just be carelessness and forgetfulness
- shadows could be just that - shadows caused, perhaps, by a passing car's headlights
- as real as some of these things might seem to you, they really could be just products of your imagination."

When so-called paranormal events are looked at in the light of logic and reason, the true cause of the believed phenomena will be found and will be less sensationalistic than the paranormal offers.

So, to members of the paranormal collective, the proof for a rational and logical explanation of the paranormal, based on scientific and medical research to members of a logical society, puts an end, without doubt, to the paranormal activity of ghosts, hauntings, demonic possession and other strange, weird, bizarre believed to be caused by paranormal entities.

As a paranormal investigator myself, I am the biggest debunker because I am trying to prove actual experiences I have had as being real and not fake, imagined or induced by some other force, even mold....... One has to take everything into consideration when considering a paranormal, metaphysical or any other event that we believe is happening.....

There are connections between ghosts / hauntings, demonic possession, related so called paranormal activity and black mold.

All the home remodeling shows have shown just how common and present mold is in most homes....even the ones that you can't see on the surface.

Mold spores are very easily transported to different areas by attaching themselves to various hosts. These hosts would include people, animals, shoes and they even enter through open windows and doors. The spores then thrive and grow where it is damp and moist. Very toxic molds can develop from water seepage, and while black mold is "less common than other mold species it is not rare".

Some people may not experience severe health problems from toxic black mold while others will. Out of those people affected by the mycotoxins from toxic black mold, people with weaker immune systems, children and the elderly will suffer worse health issues.

Toxic black mold (aka Stachybotrys chartarum) can cause serious health problems and symptoms in humans such as debilitating mental effects, breathing problems, damage to internal organs and in some cases has even caused death.

Besides being toxic, the spores from toxic black mold are also allergenic and so they can cause the allergic reactions in humans that other more common household molds do such as sneezing, sore eyes and a runny nose.

The mycotoxins produced by toxic black mold cause toxic symptoms in humans. These symptoms include:

- mental and neurological symptoms
- respiratory symptoms
- circulatory symptoms
- vision and eye symptoms
- skin symptoms
- immune system symptoms
- reproductive symptoms
- tiredness and discomfort symptoms
- other illnesses and health symptoms.

The trichothecene mycotoxins produced by toxic black mold are neurotoxic which means they can kill neurons in the brain and impair mental ability, as well as cause nervous disorders such as tremors. Exposure to toxic black mold's mycotoxins also causes personality changes such as mood swings and irritability.

Symptoms:

- Confusion
- Brain fog
- Shortened attention span
- Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
- Slowed reflexes
- Disorientation
- Dizziness
- Memory loss and memory problems
- Impaired learning ability
- Hallucinations
- Shock
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Aggression and other personality changes
- Tingling
- Trembling
- Shaking
- Seizure
- Numbness

People living in homes with toxic black mold are exposed to the mold mostly through breathing in black mold spores and mycotoxins. The mycotoxins of toxic black mold create irritation and a burning sensation in the air passages of a person such as in the nasal cavity, mouth and throat. These mycotoxins which are breathed in can become lodged in the mucous membranes, sinuses and the lungs which then causes a burning feeling, breathing problems and bleeding in the lungs.

Symptoms:

- Difficulty breathing - breathlessness or shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Pulmonary edema - swelling of the lungs
- Pulmonary hemorrhage - bleeding in the lungs
- Sore throat
- Burning sensation of the mouth
- Bleeding gums
- Runny nose
- Itchy nose
- Stuffy, blocked nose
- Nose bleeds

Black mold mycotoxins or spores which are breathed in, ingested, or absorbed through the skin or eyes eventually find their way into a person's blood stream and heart. This can lead to heart damage and problems with blood clotting and internal or external hemorrhaging.

Symptoms:

- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart inflammation
- Damage to heart
- Low blood pressure
- Bone marrow disruption
- Bleeding tendency
- Blood not clotting properly
- Hemorrhage - internal bleeding
- Vomiting up blood
- Bleeding in the brain and in other organs

Airborne toxic black mold mycotoxins can enter into a person's body through the eyes. The mycotoxins are cytotoxic and can damage the cells they contact, inflaming and injuring the eyes and creating vision problems.

Symptoms:

- Eye inflammation and soreness
- Red or bloodshot eyes
- Eye damage
- Blurry vision and vision worsening
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes)


Skin contact is one of the three main routes of black mold mycotoxins exposure. In cases where humans handled hay contaminated with toxic black mold, they developed more severe rashes and skin problems on the area of contact and on sweaty areas such as the armpits.

Symptoms:

- Crawling skin
- Dermatitis - skin inflammation, rash, blisters, itchiness
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)

Toxic black mold emits chemicals which suppress the immune system, further helping black mold's mycotoxins to overwhelm a person's health. Many immunosuppressive drugs are actually derived from toxic molds. A person immunocompromised from black mold exposure will be more susceptible to infections and sickness.

Symptoms:

- Immunosuppression - immune system not functioning properly
- Infections recurring


Mycotoxins from toxic black mold are teratogenic meaning they can cause abnormalities in the fetus during pregnancy which lead to birth defects. Toxic black mold mycotoxins are also cytotoxic and mutagenic, inhibiting protein synthesis including DNA and RNA.

Symptoms:

- Infertility
- Miscarriage
- Impotence
- Fetal development problems


During exposure to toxic black mold the immune system may release a sedative called Chloral Hydrate as a defense to try to slow the effects of the mold down. This also makes the person tired and causes fatigue. Toxic black mold exposure can also cause soreness of the muscles and joints.

Symptoms:

- Chronic fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Aches and pains
- Muscle pain
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
- Malaise - general discomfort
- Headaches
- Cold or flu type symptoms or recurring colds
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea

Like other molds, toxic black mold and its spores are allergenic and so they can cause allergic reactions in humans such as breathing problems, sore eyes, runny nose, itchiness, sneezing and sore throat.

Following are 16 signs that your house is haunted per about.com, and you will see that they can be attributed to black mold by a logical scientist or trained professional researcher:

1. Unexplained noises
2. Doors, cabinets and cupboards opening and closing
3. Lights turning off and on
4. Items disappearing and reappearing
5. unexplained shadows
6. Strange animal behavior
7. Feelings of being watched
8. Mild psychokinetic phenomena
9. Feelings of being touched
10. Cries and whispers
11. Cold or hot spots
12. Unexplained smells
13. Moving or levitating objects
14. Physical assault
15. Other physical evidence
16. Apparitions

This article was even quick to point out the following, "Before you decide there's a ghost in your house or move out from fear, do your best to find rational explanations for what you are experiencing. Virtually all of the phenomena listed on the previous page could have perfectly natural causes:

- noises could be house settling, plumbing or even vermin such as mice and squirrels
- opening and closing doors could be faulty hinges or caused by drafts
- DOPPler phenomena could just be carelessness and forgetfulness
- shadows could be just that - shadows caused, perhaps, by a passing car's headlights
- as real as some of these things might seem to you, they really could be just products of your imagination."

When so-called paranormal events are looked at in the light of logic and reason, the true cause of the believed phenomena will be found and will be less sensationalistic than the paranormal offers.

So, to members of the paranormal collective, the proof for a rational and logical explanation of the paranormal, based on scientific and medical research to members of a logical society, puts an end, without doubt, to the paranormal activity of ghosts, hauntings, demonic possession and other strange, weird, bizarre believed to be caused by paranormal entities.

As a paranormal investigator myself, I am the biggest debunker because I am trying to prove actual experiences I have had as being real and not fake, imagined or induced by some other force, even mold....... One has to take everything into consideration when considering a paranormal, metaphysical or any other event that we believe is happening.....

Paranormal Qualities or Experiences of

 

Highly Sensitive Person Qualities or “SENSITIVES”

 

Here are some definitions of qualities that some may exhibit …..

1. Dreams. Vivid dreams. Astral projection. Lucid dreaming. Prophetic Dreams. Sometimes symbolic. Sometimes quite adventurous. And of course you dream in color! (When the scientists said that people dreamed in black and white you knew this to be untrue for you and were baffled.)

2.Paranormal sight. Seeing things or events that could be described as paranormal. Have you ever seriously ‘seen a ghost’ or ‘energy’ or ‘aura’? Have you seen things move with no provocation? 

3.Paranormal auditory. [Clairaudience] Have you heard things that could not be explained? For example, laughter in the other room when no one was in there. The jingle of a cat collar behind you in the kitchen but you have no cats. [Yet you suspect it was your cat who passed away.] Your dad calling your name from downstairs but he wasn’t home.

4.Paranormal feeling. [Clairsentience] Have you known a person’s ulterior motive yet their mouth was speaking differently than you were feeling? Contrary to maybe a group of people’s idea, did you know the idea to be different than what was being said? Were any of your feelings later validated?

5.Knowing. [Claircognizance] Have you ever met, viewed, heard, or watched someone and knew the condition of their spirit, mood, or life? Has someone ever told you a story and asked, “But I don’t know what they meant by that?” And as they were telling you the story, maybe you saw visions and images, and therefore you could share what YOU thought/knew what they meant by that? Later, of course, it was validated. Or have you just known how something was going to turn out? 

6.Thought reading. [Telepathy.] Particularly saying something that someone would confide “I was just thinking that.”? [I think everyone has. Among HSP’s we tend to exchange energy more freely with each other and perhaps occurs more frequently.]

7.Influence. [Telekinesis] Have you ever for example had your television go out and then with a “Oh stop” it came back? Have you ever (probably inadvertently) thought-suggested something and then your friend brings it up? 

8.Visions. Past, future or unexplained? Maybe you’ve had a dream, or a dream series that would later present itself

9.Seeker. Seeker/Fighter. Always searching for the higher spiritual calling. Have you understood, since you’ve been a small child that there was a special connection between you and the Divine? Have you particularly rebelled at this for whatever reason? Have you allowed alcohol, drugs, or other human distractions to numb you from this calling even if you knew it to be only temporary

10.Coincidence. [Synchronicity] Have you been prone to noticing the ease with which certain things occur for you? Can you notice when the Divine has you on a certain path or mission? Do these coincidences seemingly happen to you more so than other people to the extent that you don?t bother explaining when a casual friend is in awe that something you absolutely needed to happen happened? Do your friends think you’re charmed or, knowing how careless you physically seem to treat the material world and its [so-called] dangers, think you’re lucky to be alive? 

11.Empathic. Giving and Receiving Energy, Spirit, or Emotions. Do animals, children and certain people seem drawn to you? Are there people you know who have physically made you sick or very tired? Have you often felt so open that anxiety attacks seemed only seconds away? Do certain situations seem to be okay with other people, yet you’re feeling like ‘What the?’ Have you been depressed for no apparent reason to discover a loved one was in pain? Do you have friends ‘on your radar?’

Methods of Protection

In working with the paranormal, I have found that protection is something many don't even think about.  But, it is something that those that have found out the hard way, and brought someone or something home they hadn't planned on, wish they had done from the very beginning.  Even those that don't delve into this realm on purpose may just get caught up in a situation that they too could have avoided.

This protection is not something that you should take lightly or be afraid of, but rather, something you feel good about doing. It's like putting on your clothes everyday and eventually, it will be part of your routine.  You should be very conscience of it and committed to doing it each and every time,  at lease, before you ghost hunt. Dealing with the spirit world can be a very dangerous- albeit exciting- endeavor.  You need to be sure you are protected. You must learn how protect yourself.  Once an attachment has been formed, it is much more difficult, and sometimes impossible to severe that bond.

Next are some different beliefs and their specific prayers/chants - You may use one of these or one specific to that which you believe.  The believing is the important part of this....

Wicca Protection Chant

God and Goddess of the skies,

Please respond to my cries. Lift me up in your strong arms, Away from those who seek me harm. Shield me from the awful rage that shall face me day to day to day to day. Help me be strong in what I do, and help

my heart remain true. 

Give me strength to face each day, and the hardships 

before me lain. Let those

who I love, love me in return,

and everyday let me learn. 

I bid you both my spirits keep, 

while I’m awake and asleep.

So mote it is!

The Lords Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven hollowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

The Prayer to Saint Michael

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou. O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for

the ruin of the souls.

Amen!

Amulet, Crystals &  Medallions

Other ways to protect yourself are by wearing medallions or amulets.You can also keep stones in your pocket that have protective energies to them. You can get these by going to your local priest or new age stores (depending on your religious beliefs).

Protective Stones

Here is a list of stones that have protective energy sources

Kunzite, Fluorite, Carnelian, Amethyst, Citrine, Onyx

Jade, Tourmaline, Garnet, Smokey Quartz, Peridot

Jet, Jasper, Labradorite, Obsidian, and Prehnite

When you purchase these stones and want to carry them in your pocket, it is good to cleanse them when bringing them home. And after the investigation you should smudge them with Sage to clear them of any negative energy. A way to cleanse the stones is to place the stone or crystal in running water or immerse them in sea salt. You can also place them in the light of the sun or moon for a few hours. This can recharge its energy provided it does not fade in the sunlight and care is taken that it does not focus the rays where they could start a fire. Certain crystals also have the ability to cleanse other crystals so you can place some Carnelian in a bag of tumbled stones and you will never need to cleanse then doing any other method. 

~ ~ ~

Smudge Sticks and Sage

Smudge Sticks & Sage are other methods used to protect yourself before and after you go on investigation is to smudge yourself with Sage. Just light a small piece of sage and blow it out allowing the smoke to go all around you. This will draw the negative energy away from you.

Protect and Cleanse Your Home

If you can identify the actual spirit, locate the center point of the house. Standing there take a cup of red wine. After each of the following statements take a sip of wine, and drain the cup after the last direction. 

Facing East Say

Lady of love and power and all blessings, breathe love into this house, fill the air with good.  Through you, in you, I bless this house. Facing South: Lady of love and living all the blessings, warm this house with comfort, make whole its hearth. Through you, and in you, I bless this house. Facing west: Lady of tide and time and every blessings, let every hour flow sweetly in this house. Through you, and in you, I bless this house. Facing North: lady of strength and riches and all blessings, make this house strong and filled with earthly good. Through you, and in you, I bless this house. Walk around the house saying the following in each room (including attic and cupboards): Be comforted. All is well. Now you are blessed. You have life to nurture and nurture you. Be calm. Be easy. Be comforted. You are blessed.

If you can identify the spirit, say the following in the room most affected

It is time to leave here. 

All is well. 

There is nothing here for you. 

You must be gone. 

Go now, go complete your passing.  

Go, and with our blessing and farewell. 

Often commanding any evil spirits to leave at once, in the name of your deity three times works well. After this you could get a smudge stick of Sage, or Sage incense, and perform  a house blessing caring it docile around the property and form room to room, paying special attention to the doorways, crevices and windows, and also any places that “feel” cold.

As you do this with words from a house blessing, scatter salt and water, which has been consecrated and blessed. Have windows and doors open as you bless the house. Salt scattered along windowsills and doorways will prevent any entity re-entering the property.

These apply equally to investigators of paranormal phenomenon and average people afraid of coming under demonic attack.  People should rely on symbols their personal religious beliefs associate with the divine.  For example Catholics should rely on holy water and the cross while a Jewish person should consider putting a mezuzah at the doors of their home, and a Wiccan would rely upon the pentacle.  

Take a shaker of table salt and that’s all it really is, salt.  Take salt that has been properly blessed by a priest and it carries the strength of that priest’s faith through that faith the power of the divine.  Or the most powerful of all salt is Black Salt.  Black salt has a couple other names, including Sal Negro, Witches Salt, Drive Away Salt, Voodoo Salt and Santeria Salt. It can be used to drive away negative energies and evil spirits to protect a home or place of work, it can be sprinkled around your property or garden for protection, use it to remove jinxes, curses and hexes, or you can use it to cast a very strong circle of protection. Add to it a person’s own personal faith and it becomes a weapon that demonic spirits will hate and fear.  Beyond this there are specific things people can do that will help with protection.  Most important of all is the sort of person they are.  Happy, positive people who try to make the world a better place do not, usually, wind up plagued by demonic phenomenon.  Demons draw power from hatred, fear and human suffering and grow weaker in the presence of the positive.  Addictions go along with this as well as the use of mind altering substances can leave a person vulnerable to demonic attack.

Eliminating occult influences in a person’s life is another important aspect of protection as well.  Both Ed Warren of the New England Society for Psychic Research and Lou Gentile of Delaware Valley Demonology Research for example reported that most of the cases of demonic attack they were called on could be traced to the person using an Ouija board.  As obvious as it sounds as well the use of black magic, active participation in satanic rituals, or association with people who do so are all common causes of problems.  In general any occult activity that actively calls upon spirits can be risky especially when done by people who are inexperienced and unaware of the risks involved.  This also is true of investigating paranormal occurrences.

Beyond the general advice it’s important to realize demonic activity is fairly rare.  If a person hears strange noises in their house, or thinks a friend is possessed its likely there is a more mundane explanation.  It’s important to be aware that these dangers exist but seeing them behind every corner is unhealthy and eventually will lead to fear and paranoia without any reasonable source.  If it makes a person feel more comfortable they should consider a house blessing from a priest of their own faith or one they find compatible but otherwise not worry about the situation unless something more overt occurs.