My Thoughts For The New Year

So, it's now 2011. Another new year and another year to see what thoughts I can share with others of like-mindedness. I like to share my thoughts. People seem to be interested in what I have to say. I don't know why. I have come across a few "groupies" this last year and had a few people still recognize me from my "TV days". I am greatly amused because I am nobody. I did a few things with a few people that were considered celebrities and people think I'm something. I wish I could follow through with that and really do something great but that's not going to happen. But who knows!!

Looking at last year has been very disappointing. The amount of people out there that want to be ghost hunters is incredible. The amount of people that want to learn how to be a ghost hunter is also incredible. Unfortunately, it's not the incredible that is of a good way. People just want to go out and do it. They don't want to learn the simple basics of ghost hunting. I find this very sad. It only behooves people to learn so that when the next round of ghost hunters go to the very same spot, they are not chastised or driven off because of some silly action the previous group has done. I hear far too often of ghost hunters that are accused of stealing, destroying property or ruining an invitation so others can't follow behind. It's very distressing. Learning is cheap. It usually doesn't cost anything other time, considering the amount of people doing what I'm doing right now which is blogging or putting information on their websites.

People continue to contact me to form a coalition. My question again to everyone is why. People cannot see eye-to-eye. There are always bad feelings, hard feelings, nasty comments, backstabbing....the list goes on and on. Check your egos at the door - PLEASE!! People do not understand what I, as an oldster (not old, just older than the young'uns that are trying to walk in my footsteps right now), have tried to do and the timing was not right. Form a coalition? Did that. Build an investigation database? Did that. Join groups together on an investigation? Did that. All these things failed because of the list of problems I talked about.

Now that my whine session is concluded, here are my thoughts for 2011:

1. I hope that psychics and mediums can do a great job. Not a good job but a great job. It would make more of us believers and be able to work better with us instead of us still being skeptical.
2. I hope the skeptics would take a day and have an open mind. It would make my work so much easier when I actually get around to proving something to them.
3. I hope the paranormal community could find a way to work with each other instead of without each other. Again, check your egos at the door.
4. Since the paranormal community can't work together, let's find a nice way to avoid each other and not post nasty comments about each other or a group online. They always do find a way to bite you in the behind and it's just not nice.
5. Remember that not everything you do should be geared toward getting that next big TV/movie/documentary deal. You should be in this for research and fun and vice versa.
6. I hope that those that go to "haunted" sites do not ruin, destroy, delapidate, wreck, etc., any site and make it virtually impossible for those of us who would like to visit.
7. I hope that ghost hunters remember there is nothing that is "yours". Property belongs to everybody unless you own it. Put down your territorial walls and let others in. Share. There should be no exclusivity unless you own the property. Share.
8. Lastly, and most importantly, be excellent to each other!!! Stop all the in-fighting, nastiness, anger, hatred and backstabbing. If you choose to be a nasty, angry person, keep it to yourself. Let all those others be happy and have a good time. Don't ruin things for everyone else.

Well, there it is. My hopes and thoughts for a better 2011. Will it work? Will anyone listen? Probably not. It's not the way things are nor how they work. People have different emotions and personalities and getting them to all be happy and work in a way that we would like just isn't the way life goes. I can only hope that maybe some time we can all see that wonderful light and smile!!

Things are looking up!!

The Experiments Are Tested Again

Currently, while we have ongoing investigations and other events that are part of our regular activities, we also make every effort to conduct experiments every chance we get. These experiments can take many different forms. An experiment can be viewing video footage from an area we've been at using different cameras using the same area. It can be testing ones' self using different equipment and its' relationship to the particular person or area or just researching using different archival sites and trying to find the correlation in this area, building or property.

Sometimes I will conduct an impromptu experiment as I did in the Meek Mansion and McConaghy House that was an integral part of our 2010 conference. We had world renowned psychic detective, John J. Oliver, as a guest speaker and, while the attendees to our conference waited patiently (in very cold weather I might add - what troopers!!), I had John walk through the buildings and give me his impressions to see exactly what I might find. I found this experiment to be successful as a few people have told me that they had "deja vu" events (as did John in the Meek Mansion) as well as other psychic impressions. Many were very close or right on the mark.

Another experiment I have been working on for close to three years is trying to see just how psychic I can be. I have never considered myself psychic. I have never told anyone that I was psychic because I didn't feel I was. I have talked to many, many, MANY "psychics" who have told me that all I needed to do was one thing - listen to as many CD's on psychic development as I could. I have had more than one "psychic" tell me this. Many told me to attend as many psychic classes as I could but I just haven't taken the time for those. Nevertheless, my thought was perhaps there was something to this line of thinking. While many followed up their thoughts with, "you must believe you are psychic", I did have trouble with that because how can you believe that you are psychic if you are not psychic or don't think you are. But an experiment is an experiment.

I have bought so many CD's over the years that I think I can verbalize them all without even putting them on the player. I placed them on my iPod. I have walked with them. I have slept with them. I have gently "fondled" my iPod - much more so than my sleeping husband - in the hopes of having a breakthrough. All of this to no avail. While I have noticed some very subtle differences, it is difficult to distinguish if this is the CD's or just the fact that I try to meditate. Note I said try to meditate. I have discovered that I'm not very good at that but I continue to try and in the midst of trying, I happen to fall asleep. Believe it or not, I have had "psychics" tell me that falling asleep is okay too, that that means that I was meditating so deeply that I fell asleep. Okay, I'll take that.

I have quite a collection of these CD's from all the "name brand" psychics. Each with a different thought on how to become a psychic and develop my gifts. Again, all I have been able to do is try to meditate but I have noticed that I can be a bit of a beacon. It is difficult to distinguish if this is doing any good at all in my quest to become psychic because my home is apparently semi-haunted anyway. I have noticed the typical noises, doors closing, motion detected lights going on by themselves, footsteps and the occasional humming. So am I a beacon as those who are "real" psychics? I fear not.

While people say that they want to be like me, I tell them I want to be like John or many of the other psychics who have this ability to help. That is really my quest. To help as they do.

This does bring me to another point. The fact that I am currently working on a case for a very nice gentleman and his family. I have had "impressions" or pictures in my head that occur when I am emailing him. While I question these pictures, I have again put myself in experimental mode and told myself that these pictures are the real thing and pass this information on to this client. Interestingly and amazingly, we are striking gold. I have been communicating with him for probably close to two months and some very interesting things have been occurring. I am beside myself with giddiness. I was told not to rethink myself, to keep pushing and trying and to believe what I am doing.

Well John, you are correct. It seems that I am doing something right and I have you to thank. You did not steer me to CD's, having my aura read, having a reading for myself or the necessity to attend any classes. You told me things and I listened. You were matter-of-fact about your information and did not try to unduly influence other than to say things that were simple and easy to understand.

While I appreciated his information during his lecture, his easygoing and approachable nature, I am further intimidated by the fact that this man who has this amazing ability was able to get me to listen to him. I find it difficult at times to listen to anyone, yet I listened. I hope this is the beginning of a new found appreciation of this ability and another experiment that seems to be working!!!

Our 2010 Conference's Results

Another year, another conference. I'm running out of places but it's been a great run so far. This year's conference was nice, intimate and a lot of fun. The people that attended were great. They were interested and willing to put ideas into action.

Everyone wanted to know the results of my experiment of placing John J. Oliver, psychic detective, one of our guest speakers, into the mansions before our attendees went through to get his impressions and then compare them with the impressions and/or history of these mansions. Here are his impressions as we walked through each mansion.

Meek Mansion

1. Walking through the door, John felt that it had a long history of family.
2. Walking into the great room to the left, first floor, he felt that there was a lot of arguing in that room or heavy discussions.
3. Walking to the second floor, he felt as though there were deaths in some of the bedrooms to the left.
4. Walking to the bedroom that was the last to the left, he felt as though there was a woman in a long dress and a bun in her hair looking out the window on the right and that a man in period dress was looking out the window on the left. This was actually a sitting room that was part of the bedroom.
5. Walking to the servants quarters on the right side of that floor, the second room most western, he felt that there was a rape that occurred in that room, not a violent act, but a rape nonetheless.
6. On the third floor where the children's play room was, he felt as though there was sickness in that room. There were children but some were sick or displayed a sickness.
7. In the cuppola, he felt as though a man of the house would go up there and think or that it was his office and that he paced up there a lot.

McConaghy House

1. Upon first walking into the house, you walk into the kitchen. He said there was very heavy residual impressions. He explained that there was a lot going on but that it was residual, layer upon layer, probably over many years of different things going on.
2. He walked into the hall and standing on the stairwell felt as though someone had been watching us as we were in the kitchen and walked into the hallway. He said he also felt as though someone had run passed us as we ascended the stairs through the hallway.
3. The room in the front felt as though someone was still there, just sitting, as though waiting.
4. The second floor has a series of rooms and the first to the west, which is behind or to the left up the stairs, had a feeling of many, many people that stayed in that room.
5. The room next to the left, most east, had a feeling of someone looking out that window and feeling as though they are lonely.
6. Across the hall in Mary's room, he felt loneliness, depression, a feeling of not being able to relax as though there were unfinished business and a feeling of why did they miss an opportunity.
7. The room in the front of that towards the front of the house, he felt as though someone had died in that room and was not happy at all. There seemed to be a very tense feeling.
8. John had a feeling of deja vu and vividly described being there in another time, perhaps in a dream, and coming out of the room that was locked and across the hall and pouring tea, picking it up after stirring it and taking a drink from a fragile, porcelain beautiful cup. He had that feeling twice once quickly and second in a complete beginning-to-end fashion.
9. In the attic, he felt as though this was a place where a young girl (?16-17) and boy would secretly meet to be together. He had no bad feelings in this area.

John spent a great deal of time in these houses and even walked the perimeter of them trying to pick up one impressions. While he had no impressions regarding the perimeter of the McConaghy house, he did not feel completely safe about the Meek Mansion. There were many reports of homeless people hanging around outside and drug dealing and drinking going on inside the park itself. We decided to stay where the other people were to be safe.

The conference was great and I, myself am now a great fan of John Oliver and his abilities. While I had seen him on "Haunting Evidence" and had heard of him, I did not have an opportunity prior to this to know him. He is a wonderful man, generous of time, gracious when talking to him. I hope to again cross paths with him in the future as he touched everyone at the conference in one way or another.

Okay, it's 2008 - What now??

So here we are, the second day into 2008, what now??? Normally I might write my list of resolutions but since no one (including me) abides by them (I can barely keep up with what I gave up for Lent), I won't bother with them. I have decided to give my take on what's going on in the paranormal world. All of these are my opinions, of which I have many, but they hit very close to home for many.

What was bad about 2007:

1. A paranormal program on SciFi had mainly reruns.
2. A paranormal program on SciFi has been picked up for another year.
3. A paranormal program on SciFi has also got a new spin-off.
4. A paranormal program on A&E that's even sillier than the one on the SciFi channel just started. Good grief!!!
5. Too many paranormal meet-up groups, so little time.
6. Too many .com paranormal groups, all wanting to be the same and going to the same places.
7. Too much in-fighting among paranormal groups.
8. Too much in-fighting among paranormal groups all to be the bigger, better dog.
9. Too much in-fighting among paranormal groups all for the almighty pen or camera, i.e., newspaper column or TV stint.
10. Way too many groups trying to put on a conference without any knowledge of how.
11. Way too many groups with no knowledge of what they're doing.
12. Way too many groups that still have the "me" syndrome.
13. Way too many groups that still have the "mine" syndrome.
14. There was unbearable cold for too long in California this year.

What was good about 2007:

1. People figured out the K-2 meter was no different than any other EMF meter.
2. People figured out that meet-ups were not that fun after all.
3. People figured out that in a meet-up, there still has to be a core group that doesn't include them.
4. People figured out the real truth about all those paranormal TV shows.
5. People are understanding more and more about paranormal activity every day.
6. Finally, scientists are willing to admit that there may be a parallel universe.

I'm sure there are many, many more things that I can't recall but these are the main points. It's about time we all took a look at which direction we want research to go. I'm willing to look at the good and bad points and make amends to make our group better. We have been fortunate to have lasting power (we have been a group since 1992) but it takes A LOT of work, time, effort, sweat. I have found out that you can't keep a group intact without all those points.

So here's my hopes for 2008:

1. I hope for less in-fighting between groups for any reason.
2. I hope for more standards, protocols and information if a group decides to continue (something I've been fighting for, for about 5 years).
3. I hope for more cohesiveness and cooperation between groups. There are more than enough ghosts to go around.
4. I hope for more scientific theories and methodologies to be tested, experimented and researched. Let's give the "real" scientific community a run for their money!!
5. Let's all work together on "real" equipment and its' uses.
6. I hope for every person's curiosity not to get the better of them and follow the rules and the law when ghost hunting. There are still people sneaking into places and putting themselves in the position of getting caught - making it bad for all of us.
7. I hope for less paranormal programs on the TV unless it's fun...think Scooby Doo.
8. I hope for less "stealing" of investigations when someone places the investigation site on their website for doing it in the future.
9. I hope for less backstabbing (what an ugly word, but it happens) among group leaders. Trust and loyalty is a much better way to be.

So, that's it!! Some things may work, some may not. Let's see what happens.

Happy, healthy, HAUNTING 2008!!

Surprised?? Not really!!!

It should come as no surprised to anyone that there are hundreds, no, maybe thousands of websites dedicated to ghosts, spirits, hauntings, psychics, mediums and any other number of things associated with these things. What a boom!!

In the old days, it was hard to get our word out and for people to believe us and now "every 10-year-old with an EMF meter is now a ghost hunter." You know who said that? The one and only Richard Senate, the ghost stalker himself. I think he is the only one who is old enough to remember when there wasn't anyone else. He has to have the oldest website around. The Ghost Trackers group has been a group for a long time (since 1992) but we only had a web presence when we noticed others had one and thought we also had a message to convey.

The ride has been wild. I look back at all the newspaper articles, the radio segments, television segments and other such things and remember how much fun it used to be to do those and share our experiences. It's still fun, don't get me wrong, but everyone that has a group has to compete for the almighty pen or camera pointed at them. All these groups have infiltrated every pore of every type of media. It's getting to the point where there are way too many of us. Add to that that many have the "me" syndrome of the 80's and it becomes almost distressing. Yet, no one discusses this except with whispers in the corner. Why can't we all just get along?

We all need to learn how to share our information. We all need to learn that we are NOT the only group out there. We all need to learn how to work together. There aren't going to be any scientific breakthroughs while we are all quibbling for this guest spot or that one. We all need to get back into the field and stop making silly accusations, snide remarks and dead (no pun intended) handshakes smiling at someone and yet, snarling at them behind their backs. One group is no better than another. I will have to wait until this fad slows down or stops altogether to make sense of the collateral damage that has occurred. I am not surprised at the outcome now. Everything goes through its' course in this way, but I'll wait until it slows down again because there will be a lot of people, good people, left in the wake of this wild ride who will need someone to help nurse them back to reality.

Ghosts are ghosts and have been around for many, many years and will be around for much more. Paranormal researchers are getting to be many but there is nothing coming from it. We all need to get back into the trenches and work.