Paranormal Pursuits

Aliens and Time Travel

2014-06-11T13:36:00.001-04:00

Recently I came across some articles about a man who was talking to people online and telling him he was from the future. While it seemed pretty apparent that the man was just pretending, he did present some interesting theories.

One of the ideas he talked about was the idea that aliens, as we see and recognize them today, may not actually be visiting from another planet or universe, but instead might be a highly evolved human, travelling back from the future.

In some ways this makes sense. Our culture has been favoring things like large eyes, smooth skin and slender bodies. Most recent depictions of aliens all have these traits, only taken to extreme measures.

If this theory was true, it would raise some interesting questions, like why wouldn’t the visitors try to communicate with us, or warn us of certain events? Perhaps there could be repercussions for interacting in a current timeline, but why would they allow themselves to been seen? Are the people claiming to see extraterrestrials accidently catching glimpses of time travelers?

While we will probably never know what people are seeing, but it raises a lot of interesting questions. Do you think aliens are real? If so, where do you think they come from?

The 5 Best places to see a Ghost

2014-05-27T13:52:00.002-04:00

If you are trying to catch a glimpse of a spirit, here’s a list of some places you might be able to catch one!

An old building. Ghosts like to visit places they used to hang out.
The site of a tragedy. There are theories that spirits get trapped at locations when they die. It can’t hurt to look for them at these places.
Near water. A lot of people believe water is a natural conductor of paranormal energy. It makes sense that ghosts might travel by water.
Anywhere isolated. In my experience, ghosts tend to stay away from large groups of people and like to keep to themselves.
Cemeteries. Some people insist this is the best place to see a ghost (for obvious reasons) but I’ve never personally encountered one in a cemetery. It can’t hurt to keep an eye out though if you do step in one of these places.

The Devil's Box

2014-05-14T13:29:00.001-04:00

I’ve been hearing a bit of stir lately about investigator’s using something called a Devil’s Box during investigations. This is a simple box made of mirrors that is set out on an investigation with the hope that it will lure a spirit. Once the ghost goes into the box to take a closer look, the spirit is supposedly trapped inside the box. The people using the box can then question the spirit or remove it from the premises.

Personally, I’m pretty doubtful of any of this. Anyone with experience with ghosts knows that they are usually pretty intelligent. They would know better than to get themselves stuck in a simple box. Even if one did decide to investigate, they would certainly be able to figure out how to exit the same way they entered. Spirits are also frequently observed moving through walls. I don’t see why a simple mirror would prevent them from using this ability.

While it would be amazing if a ghost hunter did figure out a way to pin down a ghost, I doubt it’s something that we will ever really understand, unless some serious, thorough scientific studies are done on ghosts. If we don’t understand what they are, we certainly can’t understand how to capture them.

What do you think? Do you think ghosts can be captured? Would you use a Devil’s Box?

Loch Ness Monster Photo

2014-04-30T13:35:00.001-04:00

Lately, a satellite image taken at Loch Ness has lots of people saying it may be a photo of Nessie. If you haven't seen the image, you can see it here. I'm personally not convinced the image is of anything other than a large fish or possibly a boat. There's a comparison of the photo with a boat image here. I've always loved the idea of cryptids and Nessie is one of my favorites, but she is also one of the ones I'm pretty convinced doesn't physically exist. I just haven't seen enough evidence to prove otherwise. I would love to be proved wrong though.

I'm curious if everyone else thinks Nessie could be out there swimming around. What do you think? Is she a real creature?

Ghost Hunting Gadgets

2014-04-17T16:26:00.003-04:00

Most ghost hunters take a variety of equipment out with them on a hunt. It can range from anything from a flashlight and basic camera to expensive video and audio equipment. Every item has a different purpose and can add value to an investigation. Here are a few of the gadgets being used by ghost hunters today.

-Digital recorder-this simple device allows investigators to take sound recordings that can be played back later. Occasionally they will capture a voice or sound that wasn’t heard at the time of recording.

-EMF detector- This device measure how much EMF (electromagnetic frequency) is present in a particular location. There are all kinds of theories about how high EMF’s may increased paranormal activity. People also believe that EMF’s can have physical effects on people that may be confused for things that are paranormal.

-Laser grid-This device is like one of those little laser pointers except is projects a wall of laser dots against a surface. This can make it easier to see movement or shadows in certain spaces.

-Ghost box-this device scans radio waves at a rapid frequency with the possibility that a spirit may be able to manipulate the box in order to speak.

-Full spectrum cameras- These cameras have been adapted to photograph using all the light in a room-not just visible light, with the hopes they can capture a wider range of shadows and possibly spirits.

EVP's

2014-04-08T12:57:00.001-04:00

In the paranormal world, EVP’s, the mysterious voices captured on various recording devices, are a huge deal. Investigators spend hundreds of hours collecting, reviewing and studying sound recordings in the hopes of hearing voices that may give them some indication that there may be a paranormal presence somewhere.

EVP’s are also one of the easiest bits of paranormal activity to capture. A simple digital recorder and some free time is all it takes to be able to try and capture these voices.

Over the years, I’ve heard hundreds of EVP’s with groups I’ve worked with and through other groups. Some are small, hard to understand noises. Others are clear, loud, and easily defined sentences.

Everyone assumes these voices are from people who have passed away, but there are other possibilities as well. They could be noises carried over from nearby buildings or rooms, something being carried over radio frequencies, or even some phenomenon we haven’t discovered yet.

But I’ve also heard a few that were so clear and pointed straight to a specific deceased person. I’ve heard enough of these that I have little doubt that at least some EVP’s are really being caused by spirits.

Have you ever heard an EVP? Do you think they are caused by ghosts or something else altogether?

Ghost Hunting Groups

2014-03-26T14:17:00.007-04:00

Over the years I’ve had the good fortune of meeting and working with a lot of different ghost hunters. One thing I’ve figured out is that ghost hunting groups are as different and varied as the people in them. Here are a few of the types of groups I’ve encountered. I don’t think one is better than the others-they just all have different perspectives on what ghost hunting is.

-The Scientists- These groups approach ghost hunting as a serious science. They will implement any equipment, gadgets or theories they find in a quest to prove (or disprove) the existence of ghosts.

-The Spiritualists- The people in these groups focus more on the religious and spiritual acts of ghost hunting. They often use psychics, perform house blessings and might even bring in a priest or two if things get too heavy.

-The Thrill Seekers- Some people go on a ghost hunt with one thing in mind-having a good time. Most of them are just curious people looking for a quick scare.

-The Fame Seekers- A few people get into ghost hunting simply because they see it as an easy way to get a little attention. A handful of people have become successful radio or TV personalities after getting involved in the paranormal and others often try to copy their success.

It’s important if you are looking for a group to work with that you find one that meets your personal needs and works with your ideas and view points of the paranormal.

The 5 Best Places to Tell Ghost Stories

2014-03-18T13:40:00.002-04:00

Everyone loves a good spooky story, but there are some places that are perfect for sharing ghost tales. Here’s a list of my favorite places to tell them.

1.Around a campfire- Most people have at least a memory or two of sitting around a campfire listening to a ghost story. Being in the woods at night is the perfect setting for a scare.

2. At a slumber party-Young girls love scaring each other, and if anyone gets too frightened they can always hide in a sleeping bag or call their parents.

3.At a carnival, amusement park or special event-It’s fun making up stories about that strange person you see off in the corner. Who knows, they could really be a ghost.

4. At school-Many a ghost stories have been told in high school (and college) bathrooms. There’s even a good change there were rumors floating around of a spirit haunting the dorm hallway you stayed in.

5. At home- There’s really no reason you can’t scare your own friends and family with a good ghost story from time to time.

Do you have a favorite place to tell scary stories?

A Bit of Change

2014-03-12T12:58:00.000-04:00

I've been doing some thinking about this blog, and I think I want to change my posting schedule a bit. I've been getting a bit bored doing a weekly news round-up, so I think I'm going to streamline the blog to one weekly post where I'll discuss paranormal topics or a random paranormal news article. Hopefully I'll be able to add a bit more variety and diversity this way. My goal is to post on Mondays, but that may change depending on my schedule.

I also love getting feedback, so if there are any topics or issues you want to hear about, shoot me a message or comment!

Weekly News Round-up 2/20/14

2014-02-20T13:06:00.003-05:00

Project Preternatural posted an article discussing a photo of a mysterious figure. You can read about it here.

A town in Brazil is under werewolf alert after some suspicious video surfaced online. I think the animal looks more like a primate than a wolf, but you can be the judge. Check it out here.

An art gallery has a project testing the idea that dreams are part of a collective conscious. You can read about it here.

Partial Apparitions

2014-02-12T14:08:00.000-05:00

There’s a weird phenomenon I’ve noticed in the paranormal world. People often describe seeing ghosts-but not the entire thing. Many people claim to only see a face or a head and torso in front of their eyes. This raises a lot of questions. If these people really are seeing ghosts, why aren’t they seeing the whole thing?

I’ve got a couple of theories on this.

One possible explanation is that ghosts use or need energy to manifest in this world. Maybe the ghosts have a limited amount of energy and chose to use it to make the most important features appear to others. A facial expression can relay a lot more information than a random foot or arm could.

Another theory is that the people seeing the ghosts are in a state of shock and only notice part of what is appearing before them.

It’s also possible that ghosts have no control over what part of them appears and that people who are seeing them are simply getting an accidental glimpse of another dimension. Maybe the spirit can’t control what the window shows.

No matter the reason, it’s an interesting occurrence. I wish more investigators would spend time trying to understand why this is happening. Maybe it could give us a better understanding of the spirit world.

Weekly News Round-up 2/6/14

2014-02-06T10:58:00.001-05:00

One of Florida's most haunted houses is up for sale. Read about it here.

A girl in Yemen has been crying stones instead of tears. Doctors don't seem to know why. If you're feeling brave, you can watching a video of it here. Warning: It's pretty gross.

A woman claims she raised a baby Bigfoot when she was younger. Read the story here.

Weekly News Round-up 1/29/14

2014-01-29T13:21:00.001-05:00

The Blaze posted several articles about a home that claimed to be possessed with demons. You can read about it here.

Bubble News posted a link to a NASA video that shows what looks like some sort of UFO. What do you think?

Ghost Theory posted a collection of stories police officers shared after receiving paranormal related calls. Check it out here.

Weekly News Round-up 1/23/14

2014-01-23T13:49:00.001-05:00

Psychology Magazine has an article about a man using his psychic abilities to help clients. You can read about it here.

National Geographic discusses a study done on ESP. The article is here.

Someone is selling a 'slightly haunted' house. Any takers? Read about it here.

Cicada 3011

2014-01-14T14:15:00.001-05:00

I've been following the latest round of Cicada 3011 this year, and have become a bit fascinated with the whole thing. If you aren't familiar with it, it's sort of an online scavenger hunt. It's not paranormal, but no one seems to know who runs it or what the prize is for winning, which means it falls under the 'mystery' category, and I like blogging about things that are mysterious.

Part of what makes Cicada 3011 fascinating is that it's incredibly difficult to solve. You have to have pretty extensive knowledge of computer programming, obscure literature, mathematics, Latin, steganography and a wide range of other topics to figure out the clues.

For people who have no idea what they are doing, a bit of googling will let them follow along with the progress of other people who are playing the game. It's fun and a bit addicting to see how the progress has been moving forward.

There are lots of theories about who is responsible for Cicada 3011. Some people think it's a recruiting tool for a government agency like the CIA or some sort of think tank. Others believe it's a group of hackers who are trying to develop something or accomplish some goal.

Whoever is responsible has brought a lot of intrigue into the online world. To everyone who is playing- good luck!

Weekly News Round-up 1/10/14

2014-01-10T14:16:00.001-05:00

Some sad new this week, a popular ghost hunting spot and landmark in Ohio caught on fire and was mostly destroyed. You can read about it and Emmitt House here.

A river mysteriously turned red last week, but after a lot of speculation, a rational explanation was found for the strange coloring. Read about it here.

A strange mystery game has been surfacing. Messages show up leading to a website full of puzzles, then shut down after a certain number of people have accessed them. No one seems to know who is responsible. Read more about it here.

Are Ghosts Affected by Temperature Changes?

2014-01-06T13:32:00.002-05:00

Right now, where I live, it’s currently 1 degrees out. The entire section of the country I live in is caught in an icy weather spurt, which got me wondering if ghosts would act differently in cold or warm weather.

I haven’t got enough experience ghost hunting to have a solid opinion on this. I’ve always avoided ghost hunting during cold temperatures, and it doesn’t get extremely hot where I live, so I’m not sure if a spirit might behave differently in extreme temperatures.

Personally, I’m more inclined to think that ghosts don’t actually feel temperature changes as many of them tend to hang out outside in the elements. They certainly aren’t hiding out just in the warmth of nice toasty houses with indoor heat and plumbing. In fact, many of them are drawn to old, empty buildings. Several of the places I’ve investigated had no heat at all, and still seemed to be a beacon for paranormal activity.

What do you think? Can ghosts feel changes in the temperature?

Merry Christmas!

2013-12-25T22:38:00.001-05:00

Just a quick post to wish everyone Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Weekly News Round-up 12/18/13

2013-12-18T14:08:00.001-05:00

A socialite took a photo where she claims a mysterious ghostly hand appeared. You can check out the photo here.

A man is predicting people's futures by reading their fecal matter. You can see a video of it here.

A British psychic is accused of planting a fake ghost during a ghost tour. Read about it here.

Weekly News Roundup 12/11/13

2013-12-11T16:28:00.003-05:00

Aliens were all over the news this week!

USA Today reported that President Obama became the first president to mention Area 51. The article is here.

Amazon is now selling a UFO detector. You can read all about it here.

The Guardian has an article stating that the US Congress has been discussing extraterrestrial life. Read it here.

Weekly News Round-up 12/4/13

2013-12-04T13:01:00.002-05:00

Want to check out some of the creepiest places around? This site has 10 pretty scary ones listed.

Some people think they an hear the voices of victims wailing at The New World Trade Center. Read about it here.

Mail Online has some photos of a strange UFO spotted recently.

Weekly News Round-up 11/27/13

2013-11-27T14:29:00.003-05:00

The LAPD are using zombies to scare people into locking their vehicles. Read about it here.

BBC has an article about how churches in Mexico believe they are under attack by Satan and looking for more exorcist. Check it out here.

In some sad paranormal news, a group of guys claiming to be ghost hunters burned a historic mansion to the ground. The people involved were all arrested. You can read about it here.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so for all of you celebrating, have a happy holiday!

Psychic Detectives

2013-11-20T15:19:00.001-05:00

There have been a lot of missing persons cases in the news lately. It got me thinking about the phenomenon of police working with psychics to solve cases. In some ways, I think this is totally fascinating. The idea of people being able to help locate missing people or save lives with just their minds would be an amazing thing. My curiosity got me researching it a bit and I was slightly surprised by what I found.

There was almost no real evidence of psychics actually solving any cases. There are tons of websites, groups, TV shows and documentaries about psychics working various agencies to help solve crimes, but if you are looking for solid, hard evidence, you might be out of luck.

Many people have claimed to have helped solve various crimes, but there is rarely enough evidence to back up their claims. It’s not surprising that most police agencies deny any involvement with psychics. Following tips brought in by psychics can eat up a lot of time and money, so discouraging psychic involvement makes sense from a business stand point.

I would actually love to come across real evidence that someone with psychic abilities was able to help assist in solving a case, so if anyone knows of any proof out there, feel free to send it my way.

What do you think? Can psychics help solve crimes? Should police try and work with them?

Weekly News Round-up

2013-11-14T13:53:00.001-05:00

A video has been circulating of a strange sea creature caught by an oil rig camera. Check it out here. What do you think it is?

Looking for a fun ghost-related vacation or activity? Someone sent me a link to a site that has all kinds of spooky vacation packages.

Mirror has an article about a collection of emergency calls all related to paranormal incidents. Check it out here.

Just a quick note!

2013-11-07T11:23:00.003-05:00

I'm planning on going back to using the blogger address for this blog, instead of www.paranormalpursuits.net. So if you use the .net address you will need to change it back to paranormalpursuits.blogspot.com. This should change around November 10th. Sorry for any inconvenience!