- My House IS Haunted (???)

Find out if YOUR house is haunted !!!

I have never denied thinking that "I have a ghost", but never considered my house to be HAUNTED. I mean, "my" ghost doesn't haunt me, it just makes itself known that it's still here upon occasion - by typical means.

However, as I am trying to learn about the paranormal, I am already finding that my efforts are not going to waste - after only a week. A brief definition of "Haunted House" can be summed as "a residence believed to be inhabited by ghosts". hmmmmm....

A more detailed meaning goes something like this, "A haunted house is a house that is believed to be a center for supernatural occurrences or paranormal activity by ghosts, poltergeists and/or demons".... BELIEVED TO BE ?!?!?! When then, hell yeah mine is !!!

Now I'm NOT trying to be skeptical of these so-called definitions but I am a self-proclaimed realist and have an extremely analytical mentality - which by the way is already evident to myself in the posts I have written, causing thoughts of being a "debunker" to cross my mind.... but I'll get into that in great detail in a future post - HA, hopefully I don't debunk my hobby altogether !!!!!

Anyway, even the detailed explanation posed a dilemma with my analytics. I needed more !!! Let's start by defining the definitions a bit... just so we understand what we're talking about here... from CrimeBrat...

Ghost - The soul or spirit of a dead person, reflecting the appearance of his or her living body but less substantial. Ghosts may exist in a state of semi-awareness or be completely cognizant of their loving observers.

Poltergeist - A ghost that manifests its presence through noises, rappings, the moving of objects, and the creation of disorder. The relocation of furniture is an indication of poltergeist activity.

... while a Demon (hmmm, eerily similar to the word Damien) could be considered a negative or evil spirit, ghost or poltergeist. (although some beliefs point toward the existence of "good"demons).

Now we're getting somewhere !!! I now understand that more-so than a ghost, I have a poltergeist in my house... I've definitely experienced noises, footsteps and "missing" objects... and I'd swear that when I type on my keyboard, different words appear than what I actually type... hell I've even caught a glimpse of said poltergeist... looks nothing like Slimer, by the way.

So, My House IS Haunted !!!! BUUUUUUUUUUT... wait a minute !!!!! [insert analytical senses here] I've been experiencing the same phenomena for many years... in SEVERAL different houses. So how could my HOUSE be haunted ?!?!? Once again, CrimeBrat to the rescue....

Haunting - The manifestation of a ghostly presence attached to a specific person or location.

NOW, I understand... it isn't my HOUSE that is haunted... it is I that am haunted !!! THAT'S a relief !!!! UHHHHHHH... So, now I am CERTAIN that I personally am haunted by a "pesky" poltergeist... certainly not a demon as I have experienced NO evil phenomena... YET !!!

Since embarking on my "hobby", I have already received several messages indicating experiences with paranormal phenomena in their houses. I have compiled a (check) list of some signs that your house may be haunted so you can evaluate your own personal situations.

"Common" Phenomena:

• Unexplained noises - footsteps, scratching, bangs, knocks etc. *
• Doors and cabinets opening and closing - not personally witnessed, but if you do see this then... *
• Lights, switches, electronics or appliances turning themselves off/ on - again, not often actually seen but... *
• Disappearing, "lost", reappearing items - "borrower's phenomena"; items disappear from someplace you KNOW you left them.. then reappear exactly in that spot *
• Unusual Pet Behavior - animals have sharper senses than humans...
• Feelings of being watched - not an uncommon feeling but combined with other activity can certainly be an important factor *

Moderate phenomena:

• Unexplained Shadows - catching glimpses of shapes or shadows out of the corner of your eye for no apparent reason. *
• Mild Psychokinetic - actually witnessing a door close or switch or appliance turning off or on
• Feelings of being touched - feeling something brush by, touch your hair or even a hand on your shoulder - or a nudge *
• Hearing voices - hearing a voice (or music) from no apparent source... could be a whisper, cry or even your name being said *
• Cold/Hots spots - sudden and sometimes extreme changes in temperature; a cold draft or warm breath on your neck, for instance *
• Unexplained Odors - cologne/perfume, cigarette or other odors from no apparent source

Extreme Phenomena:

• Severe Psychokinetic - witnessing moving or levitating objects
• Apparitions - physical manifestation of a spirit; mists, transparent forms or even solid forms that disappear *
• Physical assault - pushes, slaps, punches; even causing bruises of other injury
• Direct contact - a spirit addresses you and even speaks to you personally, knowing your name
• Negative Energy - negativity, depression, dizziness, head-aches, extreme mood swings; even nightmares ( can also be attributed to other reasons INCLUDING carbon monoxide poisoning)
• Other physical evidence - writings on the wall, footprints, handprints; light orbs or apparitions showing up in photographs **

So what to do NOW ?!?!?! Analyze your own experiences against the list above. Obviously, the more the "merrier". It is believed that if you have experienced 7 or more (LESS if you've experienced the Extreme) then there is a good possibility that your house (or you) may be haunted. The same holds true for buildings, woods, etc.

HOWEVER, do NOT rush to grab your phone and call your local paranormal research group. They are very busy and take this very seriously. Although each service has their own approach, they all have a standard questionnaire which they will initiate to try to debunk (find a reasonable explanation for) the validity of your claims. Their objective isn't to doubt you but to gain a better understanding of your situation... and to help you gain a better understanding too.

Your first course of action should be to try to find a reasonable explanation yourself for the phenomena you have experienced - you know yourself and your situation better than anyone else. It will help to do some research on the history of the property and it's location - you WILL need this info if you decide you need to call the experts. You may be surprised at the phenomena you can rationalize yourself - doors closing due to faulty hinges or drafts.... noises/falling objects being caused by plumbing, house-settling, mice, even minor earth tremors.... disappearing objects just being forgetfulness... shadows being cast by passing cars.... or simply an over-active imagination.

If you CAN'T rule out the experiences by rational explanations (and your situation isn't EXTREME), you will want to keep a journal to record the hauntings - which may also be needed by the experts. In the journal be sure to record as much information as possible both of the experience and the conditions at the time... time of day, your physical location, others involved, weather conditions etc. The more information you record, the more help you will be to the experts, or to yourself in analyzing the experiences.

NOW, if you feel you absolutely need to involve a research team, you should be prepared when you make that phone call. Along with everything mentioned above, there is a lot of specific information they will ask you for in order to "triage" your particular situation. Again, they are there to help, but no matter how grave (no pun) you deem your experiences, THEY ARE THE EXPERTS !!!!

So, it would be in every one's best interest to not only have specific answers to the phenomena witnessed (hopefully from your detailed journal) but also, at the very least, readily have the answers to the additional questions they will ask. Such as (but not limited to):

1. How old is the site (building)?
2. How many floors - basement and attic - and number of rooms?
3. How long have you lived there?
4. What are your religious and "occult" beliefs?
5. How many occupants and pets? Including personal information about each...
6. Is there a sacred or Native American history?
7. Is the site near power lines, earthquake fault lines, crop circles or underground water?
8. What is the bedrock composition of the area?
9. Has there ever been a tragic death, murder or suicide at the location?
10. History of previous owners?
11. Has there ever been a Ouija board used at the site?
12. Are there other witnesses (to confirm and/or further describe)?

Again, there will be more that they ask you and the more information that you have readily available, the better....

NOW, Certainly there are more signs of being haunted but the ones listed are very critical. And for the record, I put an asterisk (*) after each phenomena I have personally experienced on a regular basis, from house to house. I haven't even counted BUT... I KNOW I'm haunted, are YOU !!!!!!!!!

Oh and, in case you wondered about the item above with the (**)... perhaps this will explain THAT !!!!!!!!

True, I have blocked out the faces of my son's friends for identity purposes, BUT that apparition was NOT invited to this photo shoot !!!!!!!!

HAPPY H(A)UNTING !!!!!!!

Come Inside...

- Wednesday's Word - "Paranormal"

In doing my research I am stumbling upon many words that I thought I knew but are realizing that their meanings go much deeper or I flat out misinterpreted them due to my own ignorance. So, I decided to start a theme for a weekly post... uh, "Wednesday's Word", in which I will take a word and dissect it until I have a much better understanding as to what I am talking about.

In order to "start at the very beginning", I deemed it appropriate to apply my "research skills" to the word... PARANORMAL... As the precipitous for this blog and part of it's very description, I felt it necessary to personally understand EXACTLY what it meant and share that as I have been referred to as "Jason" (uh, of Friday the 13th infamy) and I added an icon of an alien, which absolutely aroused my need to be sure I know what I'm talking about on here.

Let's first take a look at the make-up of the word itself.... "para" - Latin for "above" or "against"... "normal"... uh, we all know what that means. So, "paranormal" literally means above (or against) what is normal.... But, if I drank a 30-pack in 30 minutes, is THAT paranormal???

So, would that make paranormal a synonym for "abnormal" - "deviating from what is considered normal or average"? But, WTF is "normal"? And whose standard of what "normal" is do we go by, being that everyone has their own interpretation of what THEY consider normal? A brief definition of normal is "in accordance with scientific laws"..

Again, I thank CrimeBrat for supplying me with that glossary of many of the common terms associated with the theme of my new "hobby", INCLUDING, "paranormal"... as, on the surface paranormal seems similar to abnormal, BUT the true meaning lies deep within.

"Paranormal - The realm of occurrences and phenomena removed from those which people are exposed in everyday experience."

Allow me to expand on that definition by adding... "seemingly outside normal sensory channels" or EXTRASENSORY", which means "being outside the normal range or bounds of the senses"... and "NOT in accordance with scientific laws".. or as Wikipedia explains "unusual experiences or phenomena alleged to be outside science's current ability to explain or measure"... HA, NOW we're talking... THAT would seem to be much more accurate than abnormal !!!!!!!! Hmmmmm...

So, now I had the meaning of the word but I still had a limited understanding as to what "occurrences" could/should be considered paranormal. Certainly "apparitions" (future Wednesday Word) and "witchcraft" (ANOTHER future Wednesday Word). But, my limited knowledge made me think that UFO's are considered paranormal phenomena too.

Soooooooooooooooooo, wanting to be as accurate as possible, I needed to search further to find out what is "commonly" known as paranormal phenomena. That research allowed me to compile the list (from several sources) as to what is commonly included under the umbrella of the term PARANORMAL... here's a compilation that I came up with, including, but NOT limited to:

• Astrology
• Aura
• Clairvoyance and Prophecy
• Channeling
• Dowsing
• ESP
• Faith/Spiritual Healing
• Hypnotism
• Demonic Possession
• Distance Healing
• Ghosts/Spirits
• Graphology
• Homeopathy
• Levitation
• Numerology
• Palmistry
• Haunted Houses
• Phrenology
• Physiognomy
• Precognition
• Psychic Surgery
• Psychokinesis
• Psychometry
• Pyramid Power
• Qiqong
• Reality Shift
• Reflexology
• Reincarnation
• Remote viewing
• Spontaneous Combustion (human)
• Telepathy
• UFO's and Extraterrestrials
• Witches and witchcraft

Well, that's a pretty impressive list. Honestly there are several I've never heard of. And certainly scientists have done their best to "DEBUNK" (another future Word) many of the subjects involved. Obviously specific topics fall under the headings above like, Bigfoot, Yetti, the Lock Ness Monster, Tarot Cards, even the Bermuda Triangle, etc... DAMN, what HAVE I gotten myself into???... perhaps I need to specialize... BUT, suffice to say, if science can't rationalize an experience, it is considered paranormal...

Now, certainly we're all at least familiar with the popularity of the paranormal as Hollywood has "glorified" the topic in a long history of movies dedicated to the subject dating back to at least the '50s.... everyone's out to make a buck.

But don't be fooled by the difference between a paranormal movie and a horror movie. Although many horror movies involve the paranormal, not ALL paranormal movies are horror movies. "ET", "Close Encounters" and "Ghostbusters" come to mind... CERTAINLY all paranormal movies and also CERTAINLY are not horror movies.

My thoughts gravitate toward the fact that horror movies prey on people's fears while paranormal movies depict theories and possibilities that are meant to provoke thought and "understanding", not necessarily fear, although definitely some of them are scary.... "Amityville Horror" (debunked) and "Haunting In Connecticut" (also reported as debunked) come to mind. That's my story and I'm sticking to it... unless someone will debunk my theory... and I may be partial because I don't scare easily.

Certainly, this is a small sampling of Hollywood's depictions. You all know what they are and all have the ability to draw your own conclusions. The purpose of this site is to shed some insight on MY own personal beliefs, research, education and experiences... and for the record... I DO BELIEVE !!!

So, as the latest movie, "Paranormal Activity" is currently at the theaters, keep that in mind with me as I am definitely feeling the need to view it.......

As always there a number of sites that contributed to this post. Here are the most influential, as well as some other very interesting sites I found along the way. I encourage anyone with interest to look further....

Resources:

Wikipedia

Studies of the Paranormal

Ghost Hunter

Skeptic's Dictionary

ForteanTimes

On another note, I have been working hard for a few days trying to customize the site. In doing so I have used both the Firefox and Safari browsers. UNFORTUNATELY, different browsers apparently read "scripts" differently as when I viewed the site using Firefox, some of the elements looked different than they do using Safari (which is my browser of choice). I ask anyone that encounters something unusual (besides the subject matter) to please send me an email at soxfan3369@gmail.com so that I can look into it and correct it.... Thanks and

Happy H(A)UNTING !!!!

Come Inside...

- Time to go to school !!!!!!!!

First, I'd like to point out the photo. Up on the hill is the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse where Hale was schoolmaster in 1773 and 1774. The schoolhouse is in East Haddam, CT, serves as a small museum and is about a 10 minute drive for me from Colchester. Although I don't know of any paranormal activity (YET) at the school itself, the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, CT is documented as being haunted. So, I figured this would be somewhat appropriate - plus I think it's a cool view of the school looking past the headstones at it...

I received an email today from CrimeBrat... uh, GG.. GG must be clairvoyant because the reason she sent me this email was to supply me with a glossary of "ghost-hunting" terms. I found this ironic as I had started a list of terms I came across during research so that I could put together a list to share on here.

So, thank you very much GG for saving me the trouble. If you read this list, I'm sure there are many terms you've all heard - and some I've even used in my posts. BUT, now we can all have a better understanding as to what these terms actually mean. SOOOOO... time to brush up on your paranormal lingo !!!

I'd also like to note that I have added a new resource link that I stumbled across. My brief perusal of the site leads me to believe this can be an invaluable reference, educational and interesting tool whether you're interested in ghost-hunting or simply interested in learning more about the paranormal. Check out the CT Paranormal Research Society...

Apparition - A disembodied spirit visible to human beings.

Astral Plane - A level of existence separate from, and in some sense higher than, the physical world, according to certain philosophies and religious teachings.

Cold Spot - A place that is cooler than the surrounding area. It is thought by some to be an indication of a supernatural presence drawing energy from its environment in order to manifest.

Digital Infrared Camera - A device used to capture images invisible to the human eye at the “hot” end of the light spectrum. It is capable of feeding information to a computer, where its infrared images may be stored on a hard drive.

Digital Thermometer - A device used to record the presence of cold spots and hot spots, sometimes during an apparent paranormal event. Some digital thermometers record temperatures second-by-second for PC storage and graphical charting.

Debunk - To find a rational and logical explanation for reported experiences rather than assume that they are paranormal in nature..

Ectoplasm -A filmy, quasi-solid substance that supposedly issues from the bodies of mediums while they are in trance states. Ectoplasm may issue from the mouth, the nostrils, the eyes, the ears, the naval, and the nipples. In photographs, ectoplasm resembles muslin fabric soaked in water.

Electromagnetic Field Recorder - A device used to record data on electromagnetic fields (EMFs) Its use is controversial among ghost hunters in that EMFs from power lines, t.v. sets, kitchen appliances, etc. surround us constantly, as well as the fact that it has yet to be categorically proven that ghosts emit EM energy. On the other hand, some researchers say ghosts disrupt EMFs.

EVP - "Electronic Voice Phenomena". Audio devices may record disembodied voices and other supernatural sounds that are inaudible to the human ear without mechanical intervention.

Exorcism - Ritual expulsion of invading spiritual or demonic entities from a person or dwelling. The term was brought into common vernacular by the 1973 film The Exorcist.

Floating Orb - A spherical image, usually a translucent white though sometimes a reddish or bluish hue, which inexplicably registers on film or videotape. Its presence is thought by some to be an indicator of supernatural activity.

Ghost - The soul or spirit of a dead person, reflecting the appearance of his or her living body but less substantial. Ghosts may exist in a state of semi-awareness or be completely cognizant of their loving observers.

Ghost Hunter/Investigator - A person who attempts to gather evidence of ghosts or other paranormal activity. This may be accomplished by means of still photography, video, audio, EMF recordings, EVP recordings, or other media.

Haunting - The manifestation of a ghostly presence attached to a specific person or location.

Inhuman Entity - A demon or other spirit intent on causing harm to living beings. Also known as negative entity.

Intelligent Haunting - A supernatural entity that is aware of its surroundings and/or observers and is capable of interaction with them.

Materialization - The procedure though which a ghost appears. Materialization can be sudden or gradual, resulting in an entity that is indistinct or seemingly quite solid.

Matrixing - The natural tendency of the human mind to assign details to sensory input (perceived) through the visual, auditory, olfactory, or tactile senses) so as to create a familiar or easily understood pattern. In effect, matrixing is mentally “filling in the blanks.”

Occult(ism) - Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural influences, agencies or phenomena.

Ouija Board - A wooden board pre-printed with letters, numbers, and words used by mediums t0 receive supernatural communications.

Paranormal - The realm of occurrences and phenomena removed from those which people are exposed in everyday experience.

Phantom Smell - Any scent which a supernatural entity is attempting to express itself. Typically, phantom smells are reminiscent of flowers, cigarettes, or perfume, but they don’t come from any identifiable source.

Poltergeist - A ghost that manifests its presence through noises, rappings, the moving of objects, and the creation of disorder. The relocation of furniture is an indication of poltergeist activity.

Residual Haunting - A scene from the past that continues to be played out over and over again, like a recording, with the witness to the phenomenon essentially peering into a former era. The ghostly participants in these time displacements often seem unaware of their living observers.

Sensitive - A medium or clairvoyant. A sensitive can see or feel people, objects, and events in the realm of the paranormal.

Thermal-Imaging Digital Camera - A device that records images of long-wavelength infrared radiation (i.e., heat) that are visible to the human eye. The thermal-imaging camera facilitates the capture of images in darkness, smoke, or fog.

Vortex - An anomaly that sometimes shows up in still photographs taken at the site of a suspected haunting, appearing as a translucent white tube or funnel-shaped mass. Some researchers believe vortices may be portals to the spirit realm.

HAPPY HUNTING !!!!!!!!!!!

Come Inside...