How do you feel about psychics, mediums, sensitives?
Dave: I am probably one of the group's biggest skeptics, (no jokes about weight, guys). Although I am not skeptical about the possibility of the paranormal, I know that exists, I am very skeptical about some of the evidence I have seen from both clients and other group's websites I have viewed.
We at PPS are very meticulous in both our evidence collection methods and their subsequent analysis. We employ both scientific, mechanical methods of evidence collection and the investigators’ personal observations during the investigation. However, only concrete, recorded evidence is used to determine paranormal occurrences, or is presented to the client. The "feelings" purported sensitives, clairvoyants, etc. obtain cannot be substantiated and therefore are not used.
While I am certain there are those who have honed this innate skill and can actually "see" past events, they are few and far between. The ability for a non-psychic to fabricate these "feelings" is very easy. I feel that employing a true psychic would not be beneficial to an investigation during the actual investigation. The feelings the psychic reported could lead the investigators to center on the psychics impressions instead of the entire area around them and cause them to lose their objectivity. Should a group have access to a true psychic, using them "post-investigation", without any knowledge of either the reported activity, or the results of the investigation could lend either confirmation of findings, or a further insight to the activity at the site.
I would caution anyone considering using either a psychic, or a paranormal investigation group that has staff psychics to think through that decision. In the search for answers to what you are experiencing, feel certain that the help you choose is not reporting something to you that isn't fully factual.
Jake: I do not believe for one second that there can be any credence lent to psychics, mediums and sensitives. I am hardly an expert, but I've never seen any evidence that these people have any skill other than acting. It doesn't help that Miss Cleo and Johnathan Edwards are huge phonies that lend no legitimacy to the being psychic. I feel it's a joke, and I would never personally consider anything a psychic, medium or sensitive says to be true, unless backed up with solid proof.
Rex: I've always been very skeptical when it comes to psychic ability. It seems that every group out there claims to have at least one and even one group in Florida has a psychic cat that they take on investigations. Most of these so-called mediums just state the obvious and treat it as a vision. I'm reminded of an episode of Most Haunted (when I used to watch it) where the world famous Derek Acorah was in the ruins of a church and started in on one of his "visions" and said "I'm sensing a monk" WOW, a monk in a church who would have guessed. The same goes for other tv psychics(Sylvia Brown, John Edward, etc.) who use a method of asking questions and reading people's reactions on where to go next. They also talk rather fast making several ambiguous statements at once, this just plays into the odds that sooner or later they'll get one right. Every now and then we get asked to recommend a "real" psychic or one that isn't a hack, the truth is we haven't found one.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Daily Topic 3/14/09
From time to time we receive questions from various people, this is one of those questions along with our answer.
I was wondering if ghosts/spirits/entities are able to follow people?
It depends on the circumstances. In some cases a family member is hanging around, this is what we call a visitation haunting. These type of hauntings usually happen immediately after death and slow down over time. Although they can last longer and happen to several family members(sometimes at once) over long distances.
Other situations where an entity may "follow" revolve around an object not a person. There have been many cases where people who have bought used items at flea markets or antique shops, start experiencing paranormal phenomena after bringing these items home. Hauntings occur due to an attachment, this may be to a house, location, person or an object.
If you have questions about the paranormal send an email to help@pasadenaparanormal.com
I was wondering if ghosts/spirits/entities are able to follow people?
It depends on the circumstances. In some cases a family member is hanging around, this is what we call a visitation haunting. These type of hauntings usually happen immediately after death and slow down over time. Although they can last longer and happen to several family members(sometimes at once) over long distances.
Other situations where an entity may "follow" revolve around an object not a person. There have been many cases where people who have bought used items at flea markets or antique shops, start experiencing paranormal phenomena after bringing these items home. Hauntings occur due to an attachment, this may be to a house, location, person or an object.
If you have questions about the paranormal send an email to help@pasadenaparanormal.com
Friday, March 13, 2009
Daily Topic 3/13/09
Since becoming a paranormal investigator what is the one thing that has surprised you the most about this field?
Dave: This was a tough question for me. Not because I haven't been surprised during my time investigating the paranormal, but choosing the one thing that stands out above all other surprises was difficult to isolate.
My expectations that we wouldn't ever obtain evidence has been pleasantly surprising. While video evidence has been fleeting, the volumes of EVP evidence has been outstanding. While I expected to possibly log one, or two actual EVPs as some televised investigations obtain, we exceed 20 (+) class B, or better EVPs on every case.
The professionalism of the paranormal groups I have researched has been an unpleasant surprise. While there are good groups out there, they are few and far between. We deal with clients whose lives are being adversely affected by what they are experiencing. To think that groups with questionable; character, methods and mentality are responsible for improving the lives of their clients, scares me.
But if I had to choose the one thing that has had the most impact in my life since I entered into this field, it would be this. That the communication we receive from entities that are no longer in the physical provide, to me at least, proof that the soul does indeed survive death. I believe that the promises made to us in the Bible of everlasting life continue to be proven through these communications. I hope as other researches do that one day we will perfect the ability to have two-way communication with the spirit world and through that, a better idea of what lies in store for us in all our futures.
Jake: Since joining PPS in October, I've been involved in a really productive investigation in Pasadena as well as a very long 21-hour investigation in Towson. I think two things have really surprised me so far.
First, investigating can be horribly uneventful, but never boring. Much of what is found during investigations comes in the form of an EVP, so physically hearing or seeing evidence is rare, and is usually only uncovered during the analysis, days and sometimes weeks later. But it's never dull ... when you're not actually in the process of investigating, you have the opportunity to run the tech center and watch the live video feeds as well as audio. You absolutely get a different perspective on the things that go bump in the night when you're running tech.
Secondly, the level of professionalism and the lengths that PPS is willing to go to in efforts to debunk evidence as opposed to simply accepting it without discussion has surprised me. Nobody on our team hears a noise during investigation and says, "Did you hear that ghost?" We will recreate instances and then thoroughly analyze it during analysis (as we did just last weekend) before we ever introduce it to the client.
Rex: I guess the biggest surprise for me is how accustomed to evp I have become. I remember the first time I heard a voice on my recorder, I got chills and this rush of excitement. Now when I go back to listen to that recording I kind of think "that sucks." It takes a lot more to impress me now but what really surprises me is that this is a voice from beyond and it doesn't phase me at all.
Dave: This was a tough question for me. Not because I haven't been surprised during my time investigating the paranormal, but choosing the one thing that stands out above all other surprises was difficult to isolate.
My expectations that we wouldn't ever obtain evidence has been pleasantly surprising. While video evidence has been fleeting, the volumes of EVP evidence has been outstanding. While I expected to possibly log one, or two actual EVPs as some televised investigations obtain, we exceed 20 (+) class B, or better EVPs on every case.
The professionalism of the paranormal groups I have researched has been an unpleasant surprise. While there are good groups out there, they are few and far between. We deal with clients whose lives are being adversely affected by what they are experiencing. To think that groups with questionable; character, methods and mentality are responsible for improving the lives of their clients, scares me.
But if I had to choose the one thing that has had the most impact in my life since I entered into this field, it would be this. That the communication we receive from entities that are no longer in the physical provide, to me at least, proof that the soul does indeed survive death. I believe that the promises made to us in the Bible of everlasting life continue to be proven through these communications. I hope as other researches do that one day we will perfect the ability to have two-way communication with the spirit world and through that, a better idea of what lies in store for us in all our futures.
Jake: Since joining PPS in October, I've been involved in a really productive investigation in Pasadena as well as a very long 21-hour investigation in Towson. I think two things have really surprised me so far.
First, investigating can be horribly uneventful, but never boring. Much of what is found during investigations comes in the form of an EVP, so physically hearing or seeing evidence is rare, and is usually only uncovered during the analysis, days and sometimes weeks later. But it's never dull ... when you're not actually in the process of investigating, you have the opportunity to run the tech center and watch the live video feeds as well as audio. You absolutely get a different perspective on the things that go bump in the night when you're running tech.
Secondly, the level of professionalism and the lengths that PPS is willing to go to in efforts to debunk evidence as opposed to simply accepting it without discussion has surprised me. Nobody on our team hears a noise during investigation and says, "Did you hear that ghost?" We will recreate instances and then thoroughly analyze it during analysis (as we did just last weekend) before we ever introduce it to the client.
Rex: I guess the biggest surprise for me is how accustomed to evp I have become. I remember the first time I heard a voice on my recorder, I got chills and this rush of excitement. Now when I go back to listen to that recording I kind of think "that sucks." It takes a lot more to impress me now but what really surprises me is that this is a voice from beyond and it doesn't phase me at all.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Daily Topic 3/12/09
The official stance of PPS in regards to provoking is that we will not provoke during a residential investigation. We do not want to cause any more problems for the homeowners by making a spirit angry. The question is, how do you feel about provoking as a method of getting a spirit to react? is it safe in some cases or should it never be used?
Dave: This question is an important one as it defines what role the paranormal investigator plays in the lives of others. PPS does not provoke a spirit in the attempt to cause the activity level to increase so that we can obtain evidence. Our role as paranormal investigators are to investigate the reported activity in the home, or business and try to determine whether the cause is normal, or paranormal. If we do determine the activity is not of earthly origin, we educate the client as to what we believe is happening and support them as needed on an ongoing basis. To date, no client has requested that we come to their location to "Stir up the entities."
I believe that an investigator that provokes an entity in the attempt to capture evidence of its presence is there for their own benefit, and not that of the client. Paranormal Investigators must remember that we get to go home after the investigation. Our actions and efforts that we leave behind should adhere to the outcome the client anticipates. It is one of the most important traits that determines the professionalism and purpose of the group.
This is why we are so meticulous in determining the activity level frequency and duration when deciding if a full investigation is warranted. If there has been no activity for six months, what benefit would we provide in disrupting the property owner for the duration of the investigation and then leaving empty handed? Groups need to provide a service that is congruent with what the property owner experiences on a normal day, without provoking the entity to react. Remember, there is a difference in asking the entity to provide evidence of their presence and that of telling the entity that its mother was a drunken slut, in an attempt to coax it out. The ultimate goal is to educate the client that they can live with what is there without compounding the problem.
Jake: Provoking a spirit should be considered in the same manner one would consider provoking a human or an animal. While we think we might be able to predict the reaction of a person or animal --- or entity --- during provocation, the technique is only as smart as the investigators using it.
And maybe provoking a spirit works 99% of the time. Lord knows that Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) had a very good track record with sneaking up on animals and using his lack of fear to get up close and personal with an array of dangerous animals. But the one time it backfired, it was fatal. If investigators use provocation and it works 99% of the time, that means that there is still someone out there who now has not only the original haunting, but maybe an open Pandora's Box of other activity, and that is not fair to them. The investigators are able to leave the home at some point, but the residents will have to deal with any potential fallout.
While I think provoking spirits is effective toward drawing them out into the open, it's not effective for the proper dismissal of spirits from someone's home.
James: I believe in the same methods of pps. One cannot be sure of what it is that is affecting a resident. If we piss it off who knows what that could do.
Rex: I am in complete agreement with the PPS stance, we can never be completely sure of the consequences that could occur due to provocation. I have seen succesful and unsuccessful attempts of provoking, meaning that it gets a response, and basically it gives about the same success rate as not provoking. With that in mind its not worth the risk to endanger yourself, your team-mates or your clients, after all they have to return to the location while you get to leave.
Dave: This question is an important one as it defines what role the paranormal investigator plays in the lives of others. PPS does not provoke a spirit in the attempt to cause the activity level to increase so that we can obtain evidence. Our role as paranormal investigators are to investigate the reported activity in the home, or business and try to determine whether the cause is normal, or paranormal. If we do determine the activity is not of earthly origin, we educate the client as to what we believe is happening and support them as needed on an ongoing basis. To date, no client has requested that we come to their location to "Stir up the entities."
I believe that an investigator that provokes an entity in the attempt to capture evidence of its presence is there for their own benefit, and not that of the client. Paranormal Investigators must remember that we get to go home after the investigation. Our actions and efforts that we leave behind should adhere to the outcome the client anticipates. It is one of the most important traits that determines the professionalism and purpose of the group.
This is why we are so meticulous in determining the activity level frequency and duration when deciding if a full investigation is warranted. If there has been no activity for six months, what benefit would we provide in disrupting the property owner for the duration of the investigation and then leaving empty handed? Groups need to provide a service that is congruent with what the property owner experiences on a normal day, without provoking the entity to react. Remember, there is a difference in asking the entity to provide evidence of their presence and that of telling the entity that its mother was a drunken slut, in an attempt to coax it out. The ultimate goal is to educate the client that they can live with what is there without compounding the problem.
Jake: Provoking a spirit should be considered in the same manner one would consider provoking a human or an animal. While we think we might be able to predict the reaction of a person or animal --- or entity --- during provocation, the technique is only as smart as the investigators using it.
And maybe provoking a spirit works 99% of the time. Lord knows that Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) had a very good track record with sneaking up on animals and using his lack of fear to get up close and personal with an array of dangerous animals. But the one time it backfired, it was fatal. If investigators use provocation and it works 99% of the time, that means that there is still someone out there who now has not only the original haunting, but maybe an open Pandora's Box of other activity, and that is not fair to them. The investigators are able to leave the home at some point, but the residents will have to deal with any potential fallout.
While I think provoking spirits is effective toward drawing them out into the open, it's not effective for the proper dismissal of spirits from someone's home.
James: I believe in the same methods of pps. One cannot be sure of what it is that is affecting a resident. If we piss it off who knows what that could do.
Rex: I am in complete agreement with the PPS stance, we can never be completely sure of the consequences that could occur due to provocation. I have seen succesful and unsuccessful attempts of provoking, meaning that it gets a response, and basically it gives about the same success rate as not provoking. With that in mind its not worth the risk to endanger yourself, your team-mates or your clients, after all they have to return to the location while you get to leave.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Daily Topic 3/11/09
We will be starting something new here at PPS, we will post a daily topic for discussion. The idea is to provide our site visitors some insight as to our views on various paranormal topics. There will be a topic or question provided as well as answers from some of our team members. If you would like to add anything please click the topic title, you will be redirected to the official blog page where you can comment.
Today's question
What are your thoughts on ouija boards? Something evil, a useful paranormal tool or just a kids toy?
The official PPS stance on this topic is that we do not endorse the use of Ouija Boards for use by anyone. That being said, a few of our team members have their own feelings on this topic.
Dave: The common theory is that by employing the board and summoning a spirit response to their questions, individuals could unknowingly invite an entity into their home. I do not know if there are any documented cases of this happening, but it is a common belief among many in the paranormal field. I do not believe it is the board itself that is to blame, but more than likely it is the single act of several people soliciting an entity to respond to them. We as investigators basically perform the same function during EVP recording sessions; however our line of questioning is not as open ended to include a request for any entity that does not already inhabit the area.
The danger with any attempt to communicate with spirits is that we are dealing with the unknown. Experienced paranormal investigators will protect themselves with a preliminary prayer asking God for protection from negative, malevolent entities. Inexperienced, freelance investigators and homeowners may via the Ouija Board, or their own recorders get more than they bargained for. The sheer number of people inspired by the proliferation of Paranormal themed television shows grows everyday, so I anticipate the reports of entity activity to grow as well.
The main thing I would like to impress upon anyone either considering using a device such as a Ouija Board, or starting their own paranormal investigations is this; do your homework. By this I mean educating themselves with all the information they need to follow current safe practices and possibly prevent causing a problem where one may have never existed before.
Jake: Ouija boards are a completely manufactured tool of the trade --- literally! How can something that is made by Parker Brothers attract anything paranormal? I could never take a Ouija board seriously, unless we drag it out after a "spirited" game of Hungry Hungry Hippos. Considering a Ouija board as a tool for communicating with the paranormal is the same as considering a Cabbage Patch Kid as an actual child. My apologies to Xavier Roberts!
Rex: There are a lot of people out there that believe that they should not be
used because it could invite the wrong kind of spirits(demonic or evil) while this theory could very well be true most of these people have no problem with conducting an EVP session. To me communicating with the dead in any form could bring in anything unwanted.
I don't personally feel that an experienced person would have any more trouble with a ouija board than a recorder. The main problem I have with ouija board is that the human element involved creates way too much room for error or false results. With evp at least it is possible to completely remove the human element or discount any voices that are similar to those who were present at time of recording.
Today's question
What are your thoughts on ouija boards? Something evil, a useful paranormal tool or just a kids toy?
The official PPS stance on this topic is that we do not endorse the use of Ouija Boards for use by anyone. That being said, a few of our team members have their own feelings on this topic.
Dave: The common theory is that by employing the board and summoning a spirit response to their questions, individuals could unknowingly invite an entity into their home. I do not know if there are any documented cases of this happening, but it is a common belief among many in the paranormal field. I do not believe it is the board itself that is to blame, but more than likely it is the single act of several people soliciting an entity to respond to them. We as investigators basically perform the same function during EVP recording sessions; however our line of questioning is not as open ended to include a request for any entity that does not already inhabit the area.
The danger with any attempt to communicate with spirits is that we are dealing with the unknown. Experienced paranormal investigators will protect themselves with a preliminary prayer asking God for protection from negative, malevolent entities. Inexperienced, freelance investigators and homeowners may via the Ouija Board, or their own recorders get more than they bargained for. The sheer number of people inspired by the proliferation of Paranormal themed television shows grows everyday, so I anticipate the reports of entity activity to grow as well.
The main thing I would like to impress upon anyone either considering using a device such as a Ouija Board, or starting their own paranormal investigations is this; do your homework. By this I mean educating themselves with all the information they need to follow current safe practices and possibly prevent causing a problem where one may have never existed before.
Jake: Ouija boards are a completely manufactured tool of the trade --- literally! How can something that is made by Parker Brothers attract anything paranormal? I could never take a Ouija board seriously, unless we drag it out after a "spirited" game of Hungry Hungry Hippos. Considering a Ouija board as a tool for communicating with the paranormal is the same as considering a Cabbage Patch Kid as an actual child. My apologies to Xavier Roberts!
Rex: There are a lot of people out there that believe that they should not be
used because it could invite the wrong kind of spirits(demonic or evil) while this theory could very well be true most of these people have no problem with conducting an EVP session. To me communicating with the dead in any form could bring in anything unwanted.
I don't personally feel that an experienced person would have any more trouble with a ouija board than a recorder. The main problem I have with ouija board is that the human element involved creates way too much room for error or false results. With evp at least it is possible to completely remove the human element or discount any voices that are similar to those who were present at time of recording.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Pasadena Investigation
We have completed the investigation portion of the house in Pasadena, MD. We want to thank the homeowners for contacting us about their house and allowing us to perform the investigation. Now comes the task of analyzing all the audio, video and photographic evidence we collected. Please check back for updates.
-PPS
-PPS
Thursday, January 1, 2009
NEW YEAR
Happy New Year from Pasadena Paranormal
For 2009 we are launching a new version of the website. This blog/news post being one of the new changes. We will be using this blog as the news section of our site.
2008 was a great year for PPS, we've had some interesting cases that kept us busy. Our article in the Maryland Gazette during Halloween generated a lot of traffic and we thank those viewers for continuing to return. This year looks to be starting out right, we have a larger case load and we are looking to buy some more equipment and maybe bring on some new team members. For those that applied, we still have your applications and will be in touch when interviews are to take place.
Keep checking back for updates or subscribe to the news to receive email updates.
Again Have a Happy New Year.
-Pasadena Paranormal
For 2009 we are launching a new version of the website. This blog/news post being one of the new changes. We will be using this blog as the news section of our site.
2008 was a great year for PPS, we've had some interesting cases that kept us busy. Our article in the Maryland Gazette during Halloween generated a lot of traffic and we thank those viewers for continuing to return. This year looks to be starting out right, we have a larger case load and we are looking to buy some more equipment and maybe bring on some new team members. For those that applied, we still have your applications and will be in touch when interviews are to take place.
Keep checking back for updates or subscribe to the news to receive email updates.
Again Have a Happy New Year.
-Pasadena Paranormal
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