Graveyard Ghost Hunters Beware

If you’ve ever gone ghost hunting, odds are you’ve been to at least one graveyard hunt, either during the day, or at night. While it may be interesting during the day, it is more fun at night, simply for the “boo factor.” However, there are a few things you should know before you strike out at night heading for your local graveyard.

1. Observe the hours of the graveyard you are visiting. If you will be there later, ask permission. Those that don’t follow this rule can be arrested for trespassing. You can also ruin it for the rest of the people who like to ghost hunt and can actually follow the rules.

2. Know where you are going. Visit the graveyard during the day so you know the lay of the land. Graveyards can be dangerous at night, especially in areas that weren’t laid out on a grid like most graveyards are today. Older graveyards can be especially dangerous in the dark.

3. Don’t move or change anything in a graveyard. You are there to observe, period. How would you like someone to come to your house and start moving things around?

4. Always come prepared. Carry your equipment in padded bags (protect cameras from bumps on granite headstones). Put items, such as EVP equipment, in easy to find pockets of your bags. Always carry flashlights and extra batteries.

5. Never travel alone, even if you are familiar with the area. If something were to happen to you, even a twisted ankle, there wouldn’t be anyone close by to assist you.

The summer months are perfect for conducting ghost hunts in graveyards. However, it is hallowed ground and you should show the proper respect when visiting these areas. Many towns have security or police that frequent the graveyards, looking for kids partying or defacing the area. If you will be there after hours, always seek permission so security personnel will know you are there.

Have fun and be safe!

Charlotte, Ghosts4You.com

Psychic Kids – Gifted or Posessed?

I guess you could say that this is a follow-up to yesterday’s post. I was reading some other posts around the net about Halloween, Ghosts and random thoughts on psychics. I was thinking about what I had read regarding the children who can see ghosts, and how some fundamentalist Christians believe they are possessed by demons. Personally, I have to disagree, and yes, I’m also a Christian. I think many people “read between the lines” passages from the Bible and infer what they want. If enough people say the same thing, eventually it becomes a “truth,” even if it isn’t a direct quote from the Bible. And before everyone whips out their Bible, I would like to remind everyone that the Bible wasn’t originally written in English, nor had it been edited to suit certain rulers of our time (hint: King James)… and if we have to remember a quote from the Bible, how about, “judge not lest ye be judged.”

However, I don’t want this to be a lesson on the scripture.

Most children who are considered gifted psychically don’t use Ouija boards, tarot cards or worship the devil. They simply see things that are going on around us, they are more aware. If we currently only use 33 percent of our brain, what makes us so sure that if we used even 50 percent of our brain that many of us wouldn’t be able to see the same things? Why is it so hard to believe that our spirits could move onto a different plane of existence, as opposed to lying as ashes in a box in the ground, unable to escape until God calls us home? Isn’t it possible that our spirits could be freed from their earth bound bodies upon death?

I don’t believe that spirits of those that have gone before us do only one of the following: either they go to heaven/hell, never to see us again until we die, or they hover around us or a favorite place, unable to go anywhere else. I believe they do a combination of both- why would our free will end when we die? I don’t believe God rescinds this upon death.

I guess I’m concerned when certain people want to decide for the rest of us that their way is the best way, and they are free to interpret the Bible how they choose and foist those beliefs upon us. I don’t want to believe that they would be willing to cause harm to someone, especially children, because they can’t believe in alternate existence theories. I think we are all still children in this universe, and we will constantly evolve and understand more about the universe we live in. For centuries people have said that certain things can’t be possible, yet the impossible continues to happen.

As a Catholic, we believe in the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost – a little heavy on the ghost part in my case.

Read more about ghosts and psychics at Ghosts4You.com

Psychics – Real or Fraudulent?

It is really easy to be a skeptic – I’m sure there are plenty of people who check out this blog and think I’ve lost my mind! Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I’ve worked in law enforcement, so I think I have a healthy dose of skepticism for all things paranormal and always cast an eye of caution towards individuals claiming to help to find the dead.

I used to think it was pretty weird that people could connect with dead people who need to be found, until it happened to me. Without going into detail, I can honestly say that it is possible to connect with the dead, and when you least expect it. My story is pretty simple: I’ve had “abilities” since I was about 11 years old and I’ve had intermittent experiences for most of my adult life (some 30 years now). Personally, I don’t get involved in any investigations other than helping out as a civilian when things arise in my area. The bottom line: I don’t advertise any services.

Obviously, I’m fascinated by other people who have similar abilities, especially those that have demonstrated abilities and have worked with law enforcement to solve crimes and recover the dead. I’ve read on some other websites that there is no evidence of this, but there is. There are psychics that have helped law enforcement, and you can see their stories, including the officers who they work with, on Psychic Investigators.

I urge you to check out this television show’s website if for no other reason than curiosity. The shows are pretty interesting to watch, especially if you have an interest in how missing persons/homicide investigations are worked and solved. Some cases are solved by psychics who live hundreds of miles away from where the crimes have taken place – pretty amazing by anyone’s standards.

Rocky Mountain Paranormal Society

Hello fellow paranormal enthusiasts! Today’s Shout Out goes to the Rocky Mountain Paranormal Society. They have a neat page on their website, Ghosts in the News. Check it out for a neat list of ghosts that have made it posthumously into the news (talk about being desperate for those 15 minutes of fame!).

A little info about the Rocky Mountain Paranormal Society – this group is located in Westminster, Colorado. They take the scientific approach, which is helpful, and take nothing at face value. They prefer to debunk hauntings as opposed to supporting a haunting theory. If you need help with ghosts, and live in the Westminster area, these are the folks to contact.

Haunted Breast Implants

Okay, on the humorous side, this headline definitely caught my eye.  I had to think about how breast implants could become haunted in the first place.  Did surgeons re-use breast implants from dead people?  Did an evil spirit take up residence in silicone?  Just how exactly does one discover they have haunted breast implants to begin with?  Do  they start doing things independent of normal movement?  Do they twirl like a stripper’s pasties?

If you are tittering hopelessly by now, you aren’t alone.  As it turns out, this was a telephone prank pulled by Crank Yankers (Comedy Central) on a paranormal investigator.

Want to learn more about this (assuming you can stop laughing long enough to click this link)?  Check out Rochester Paranormal (New York) here.

Lily Dale NY and Meetup.com

Happy Fourth of July!

If any of you are out and about, you probably aren’t reading this blog today, but this listing can be used on other days as well.

First, if you are looking for a group of ghost hunters to hook up with, consider going to Meetup.com and type in “ghosts” in the search box and type in your zip code. This will pull up a bunch of ghost-related groups in your area. Perhaps you’ll find a group nearby with similar ghostly interests!

Next, I wanted to mention Lily Dale as a neat place to visit if you’re in New York. Check out the town’s website, Lily Dale Assembly, Inc. for more information on this spiritualist community. The summer is the best time to visit this community- they have workshops on the healing arts, Reiki, astral projection, angels, mediumship, astrology, sweatlodges and much more. You can also visit many of the mediums that reside in this town and enjoy the beautiful scenery here as well. It is located off of Interstate 90 at exit 59 near the town of Cassadega. Maps, driving instructions, workshop registration and accommodation information can all be found on the Lily Dale website.

Gettysburg Ghostly Photo Contest

Hi Everyone!

I just got back from a road trip so I apologize for not writing anything for the past few days. I’m sure many of you either remember, or are still suffering with, dial-up! Need I say more?

This is the latest photo contest for ghosts I found out about on my latest trip to Gettysburg (as quoted from their flier):

Ghostly Images will be holding a contest to select the BEST GHOSTLY IMAGES (from Gettysburg, PA) we receive throughout the year. A winner and runner up will be selected on:

• May 1st for entries received between Feb 1st and April 30th
• July 1st from May and June entries
• Sept. 1st from July and August entries
• Dec. 1st from entries received between Sept. 1 -Nov. 30th

Each winner will receive autographed copies of Ghostly Images books – Catch the Spirits and Let the Spirits Be With You and a Ghostly Images T-Shirt. Runner up will receive an autographed copy of Catch the Spirits, a souvenir pen, key chain and bumper sticker.

A Grand Prize winner will receive a private ghost tour through the Jennie Wade House, The Orphanage and the Cellar of the Hall of Presidents for up to 10 guests. Date to be determined by winner’s convenience.

Send entries to:

• Ghostly Images of Gettysburg
• c/o Photo Contest
• 778 Baltimore St
• Gettysburg, PA 17325

or email: ghostlyimages@embarqmail.com, Subject- Photo Contest

Include name, address, phone number and email, if available. Only winners will be notified. List of winners will be available in December upon request.

So, if you have a few good photos from a trip to Gettysburg, PA laying around, send ‘em in!