ARTICLES

CLEANSING

In most cases when MPE is called in to do an investigation, we are there to determine whether or not a haunting is taking place. Occasionally our evidence indicates that there may be paranormal activity present. In many of those cases, the haunting seems to be residual or an imprint of past activity or personalities so there isn't a question of ridding the premises of any spirits. In some cases though, we feel that there may be an entity or entities present and the client will ask us to do a cleansing or clearing of their home. Cleansings are not a service we offer but as many groups out there know, you do occasionally get asked to perform them. In our experience, once people understand what is going in their home, they aren't as frightened or anxious to be rid of their resident ghost. In fact many people tell us that once they have an explanation for what is happening around them and we assure them that they aren't crazy, they see things differently and what they previously saw as a threat, isn't any longer.

We have learned several things through our experience. First of all, there is no single cleansing ritual that works for all situations. It seems that the belief system of the residents is what determines the most effective cleansing for their situation. In other words, if they don't believe that it will work, it won't. When people are in a frightening situation that they don't understand or feel they don't have any control over, they generate a considerable amount of negative energy. That energy is a tangible thing and when there is paranormal activity present, it often fuels it - making the situation worse. Once they understand what is happening, they relax a little more and the atmosphere is much less charged. Often, this in itself is enough to resolve a situation. Next, there is absolutely no guarantee that the cleansing will be effective. We have seen many instances where initially a cleansing appears to have some effect in quieting the activity only to find a few days later that things are worse than ever. In our opinion it is irresponsible - even unethical to guarantee results. It is disturbing to see the increase in the number of those offering cleansings for a hefty fee. We will suggest different options available which in most cases don't cost a thing. Often local clergy will come out and bless a home at no charge - especially if you are a member of that church. None of the reputable paranormal investigative groups we know of charge a fee to do a cleansing. The good ones will tell you up front that there are no guarantees but will often do whatever they can to help. There are many gifted psychics who also offer their help at no charge. If anyone charges a fee for a cleansing, run the other way! Lastly, there are many methods used for clearing or cleansing spaces and they can work when done properly by knowledgeable individuals. Some are very involved rituals but more often than not, it can be as simple as reclaiming your space out loud. We have found that a cleansing of any kind is more effective when the home owner is actively involved and the method is one that has meaning for them. If they feel they have control back in their home, they will feel safe and many times the situation resolves itself.

Kathy Conder and the World's Leading Ghost Hunters Unite to Produce Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Ghostly Locales From Around the World

Kathy, cofounder and lead investigator of Michigan Paranormal Encounters, contributes her ghost investigation notes and expertise on haunted hot spots to the first book written by dozens of paranormal investigators from around the globe.

September 29, 2005 “ There are haunted homes, restaurants, battlefields, cemeteries, inns, castles, and ghost towns in every corner of the globe. Though spirits and specters are often the fodder for frightening local legends, there are people who actually go looking for ghosts “ they're the paranormal investigators. The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Ghostly Locales From Around the World is the first book to be written by scores of these investigators. The Encyclopedia includes ghost hunters investigation notes from some of the worlds most notable haunts and more obscure locales that only regional investigators would know about. Kathy, who resides in Galesburg, Michigan, contributed her investigation findings of a haunted castle in North Wales, a haunted B&B in Key West, and the oldest haunted bar in Florida to the endeavor.

Michigan Paranormal Encounters is committed to exploring paranormal phenomena, said Jeff Belanger, founder of Ghostvillage.com and editor and compiler for the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. Their contributions to this project were integral in making this book the successful venture that it was. Paranormal investigators from around the world came together to write about the haunted locations they know best.

Ghost hunting is one of the fastest growing fields of study in the world today. Families are taking haunted and historic ghost tours in cities around the world, and individuals who are interested in the paranormal are coming together to investigate reported ghostly activity using both scientific and esoteric means. People are talking about ghosts and many want to learn more and see the phenomenon for themselves. To look for ghosts and spirits is to touch history. It's a quest for tangible evidence of life after death. Kathy adds, "Thanks in great part to exposure through movies, books and television, people today are more and more aware of the existence of the paranormal and are increasingly curious about its exploration. Serious paranormal investigators are exploring areas that continue to yield fascinating results."

ORBS

One subject that continues to be a hot topic of contention in the paranormal research community is the orb and whether it is paranormal in origin or a naturally occurring phenomenon. There are supporters on each side of this debate, ranging from one extreme to the other. Some discount all orbs as pollen, dust and moisture while the other extreme sees every orb as a manifestation of spirit.

The truth is that there is no concrete proof existing that supports either viewpoint. It makes sense to us that this isn’t an issue of black and white but the truth most probably falls somewhere in the middle. It seems in our study of the paranormal that what we find often seems to fall into that “gray area.” Most of us know that when we take a digital photograph at night when it is raining, drizzling, or there is high humidity, our picture will be full of orbs. While this doesn’t mean that none of the orbs are spirit in origin, most of them we know to be rain so it discounts pretty much everything we catch in that photograph.

Driving through cemeteries at night stirs up dust and dirt and makes it much more difficult to say with certainty that the orbs caught in pictures taken there are paranormal in origin. Are some of those orbs in the cemetery paranormal? Most likely they are. So, how do we tell the difference? Again, we are dealing with an area that is continually debated with no proof on either side – just opinion.

Since the digital camera made its appearance, orbs are probably the most common anomalies that show up in pictures. So, how should we approach analyzing our pictures? First the most obvious thing is to avoid taking pictures in conditions that we know will produce natural orbs – like rain, snow, humidity, dust, or high pollen areas. Bugs are also often mistaken for spirit orbs or other paranormal anomalies. Many investigations take place outdoors during the summer when there are bugs everywhere. Each tiny mosquito, when it is hit with the flash, appears as a small – sometimes moving – ball of light that looks like an orb. We have videos full of “moving orbs” that are just bugs, moths, and sometimes small bats! During those same warm months, it isn’t unusual to find the bugs inside as well. Especially in old houses that have broken windows or those with no screens. Videos also capture moving dust particles that are stirred up by breezes or movement in old houses. In these instances, it is helpful in the case of photos to use a good computer program to enlarge the orb to a magnification that makes it easier to see exactly what you have captured.

With a video, it should be slowed down enough for it to be viewed frame by frame. Another thing that can prove helpful is to make an album of pictures taken with each camera you use in different conditions. If you typically use one digital and one 35 mm camera take a picture with both in the same position in different conditions – rain, snow, humidity, fog, etc. – and then post pictures side by side in the album with the date, camera type, and conditions under which it was taken. With this frame of reference, you can go back at any time with questionable pictures and make comparisons.

We have all heard of people catching their camera strap in a photograph and claiming it is a vortex. Because of that, it is also helpful to add other things to your album besides climate and atmospheric conditions. Have someone shake a throw rug and immediately snap a picture. See how the dust shows up in your picture. Dangle a hair in front of the camera lens and shoot that. When people see a hair that is photographed, they would never have imagined that was what it was. Hair is very distinctive when you know what to look for. Spider webs are another good example. When caught by a digital camera, they look very unusual and are often mistaken as paranormal anomalies.

There will be times when we get anomalies on film or with our digital cameras that we won’t be able to explain away and may feel that they are paranormal in origin. This is of course what we hope for as paranormal investigators. It just makes what we do get more credible if we thoroughly check out each photo to rule out explainable anomalies first. Most paranormal investigators know that we can take hundreds of pictures before capturing one that is paranormal.

With all of the technological progress being made, it shouldn’t be too long before equipment will become refined enough to help sort out the questions that we struggle with today. I think it is important in the meantime to do what we can to sort out evidence that is meaningful from what is obviously not valid. I think we also need to keep an open mind with regard to new and effective ways to validate our findings.

Kathy