by Springwolf
The Ænigma
Project is a discussion group focused on the realm of the
supernatural, paranormal and mysterious events that sometimes
take place in our lives. Through multiple view points and experiences,
we seek to enlighten our listeners and elucidate that which has
become hidden beneath the many layers of misunderstanding and
fear. Join creator Paul Cagle with co-hosts Sushi and Springwolf
for a weekly discussion, every Monday night at 9pm eastern on
TenacityRadio.com.
This is not a transcript of the show; it's merely a supporting
article to share some of the information we may not have had
time to cover, and links that you might find interesting.
On Monday night June 25, 2012, Paul Cagle, Sushi and Springwolf
sat at their round table with our guest Dan Renegar for The Ænigma
Project. We held a discussion about:
Ghost Hunting tools and Alternative Equipment
Ghost Hunting tools, specifically the alternative equipment that ghost hunters use in the field. We will discuss equipment such as the Ghost Meter Pro, the Ovilus, the Mel Meter and the Geophone, just to name a few.
Ghost Hunting tools and Alternative Equipment
Ghost Hunting tools, specifically the alternative equipment that ghost hunters use in the field. We will discuss equipment such as the Ghost Meter Pro, the Ovilus, the Mel Meter and the Geophone, just to name a few.
Ghost Hunting, also known as Paranormal
Investigation has risen in great interest over the last 10 years
or so. With the advent of reality TV, cable networks have discovered
a new audience with great interest in ghost investigations. Shows
like Ghost Adventures, Paranormal Challenge, Paranormal State,
The Haunted, and Celebrity Ghost Hunt are only a few of these
types of reality shows that can be found in the U.S. There are
many more around the world.
As with any industry, Paranormal Investigation has it's own
lingo and it's own tools. But there are some basic questions
that the general novice asks, and we address those at the beginning
of the show.
Why do Ghost Hunters, hunt at night?
There's a couple of reasons for this. Starting with photographic
equipment, low light levels help capture light energy in the
area being investigated. Less light, less likelihood an image
is being created from an alternative light source. The world
in general is a little quieter at night as well. Less traffic
noise, kids outside playing, or general living activity in a
home or public building helps to create an environment where
electronic recordings can be taken. And finally, during the day
humans are conditioned to noises or movements. We become desensitized
to the world around us and focus on tasks at hand. But at night,
our senses become more acute and we're more aware of what's going
on in our world, especially if we're in our own home. Here we
take notice of the little noises and wonder if it was an animal
outside, or burglars? Do we need to call the police or is something
else going on?
Do ghosts tell time and only come out at night?
No. Apparitions can occur any time of the day or night. But they're
more noticeable at night because the before mentioned reasons.
But individuals have seen ghosts during the daylight hours as
well. Here in the mid-Atlantic states of the U.S. you might find
a number of visitors to Civil War battlefields and buildings
recant a story of seeing a soldier or two. Walking into a house
that was used as a medical facility can be especially active
for ghost encounters. Many people have reported seeing a soldier
in uniform sitting on the ground or in a chair, taking off his
boot exposing a wound or pointing to his shoulder under his coat
showing the blood on his shirt. As the visitor approaches or
calls for help, they turn back and the soldier has vanished.
They're always around, but we aren't always 'looking' for them
or in a state of mind to acknowledge their presence.
When investigations do occur, how do you know you're hunting
a Ghost vs. a Spiritual Entity? Is there a difference?
Yes, there is a difference between a ghost and a spiritual entity.
Metaphysics teaches us that the chakra centers (energy vortices
that align the spine) are the physical manifestation of the soul
in the physical body. This is how the soul connects to our physical
existence. The upper chakra centers (from the belly button up),
are our spiritual centers. This is energy that goes with us from
incarnation to incarnation. They're always there, in the physical
and spiritual forms of existence. However, the lower chakra centers
(from the belly button down), are known as our physical centers
and they are renewed with each physical embodiment. When we leave
this world, we let go of the physical connections and move into
a spiritual existence on what Metaphysics calls the ethereal
realm. From here we can still visit family and friends we left
behind, but when we do, we appear from the torso up. Ghosts who
don't want to leave the physical world, who are angry that they're
dead, or who were taken out of tragedy, such as war or murder,
may not realize they're dead. They hold onto the physical connection
and therefore they hold onto their lower physical chakras. They
can be seen from head to toe.
Are Ghosts bad or negative?
No, not always. Most ghosts simply stay in an area they are most
familiar with or feel comfortable in. Some become stuck replaying
the last hours of their lives over and over again. If you visit
a battlefield, you may notice a company of soldiers rushing down
a gully or up a hill as if they're in the midst of battle. Sometimes
you may see them come into contact with a modern change to their
environment and they look confused, knowing this wasn't here
before. In a very few cases, a ghost may be angry at the cause
of their demise, or the invasion of what they view as their property
and they lash out at those who come into that area. But not all
ghosts are malevolent.
Paranormal Investigations
Today modern Ghost Hunters use a variety of tools to bring science
into what is generally considered to be a spiritual concept.
For eons psychics have seen and heard spirits and ghosts, delivering
messages and sharing information about why a ghost might be stuck
on the physical plane. But over the last century, there have
been scientists and engineers who believe in the existence of
the soul and therefore ghosts and have tried to develop ways
to capture them on film, or recordings. Some of these tools have
been used to create scientific proof of the existence of ghosts.
And some have used them simply to document an investigation and
what occurs during a visitation. Sort of supporting documentation
for a wide variety of investigative research.
So tools aren't the only things Investigators use. Traditional
techniques such as conducting interviews and researching the
history of a site are also employed. All of which is documented
to provide a record of the investigation, along with an in person
visit, what tools were used and what results were discovered
or recorded. Some investigation teams will also employ professional
psychics who might try to communicate with a ghost in a reported
area, or help direct or guide the team to a 'hot spot' of activity
in a house or building.
Lingo of the Trade
One of the first things to overcome for the novice is the industry
language. Like all professions, investigators utilize acronyms
and terminology that may be down right foreign to the average
person. So here's a few linguistics to keep in mind.
EMF - Electromagnetic field. A
field of force associated with a moving electric charge equivalent
to an electric field and a magnetic field at right angles to
each other and to the direction of propagation. ....say what?..Think
of it as ghost energy.
EVP - Electronic Voice Phenomena. Unexplained noises or sounds
that may be interpreted as disembodied voices.
Ghost Box - These devices are used by some investigators to
provide a possible one-on-one conversation with the dead. They
pick up on noise vibrations and try to interpret what those vibrations
are 'saying'. At first this term was associated with a specific
type of tool known as a Franks Box. It appears that over time,
this term has become a generic label for any type of tool that
falls into the same category.
IR - Infra-red. When using photographic tools such as cameras
or digital recorders, infra-red and night vision are two of the
most important aspects of the device. IR filters are also used
to sharpen images and recordings.
ITC - Instrumental Trans-Communication refers to paranormal
communication that is captured by any sort of electronic device
such as tape recorders, fax machines, television sets or computers
between spirits or other discarnate entities and the living.
RF - Radio Frequency waves that can be captured and recorded
by various devices.
Tools of the Trade
Paranormal Investigators will utilize Audio, Visual and Video
detection methods during an investigation. It's important to
note that most hunters are ethical individuals who utilize their
equipment to make a record of their investigations, rule out
natural occurring circumstances or explanations to what a novice
may think is ghost related. When the possible causes are ruled
out, then they may say you have a ghost. But don't expect a ghost
hunter to walk in your home and immediately agree with you that
there's a ghost present.
EMF Detectors are one of the first tools of the trade in a
Paranormal Investigator's arsenal. Detecting and recording slight
EMFs in an area can be the first step to identifying a ghost.
Today with the advent of smart phones, ..you guessed it.. There's
an App for that. Both the iPhone and iPad provide EMF apps that
you can download and utilize on your devices. However this technology
doesn't lend itself well to accurate readings. This is a case
of "if we build it, they pay for it whither it works or
not". And many people pay the .99 and think they have an
accurate tool for ghost hunting on their phone. While the makers
of the app, are selling 10s of thousands of units and walking
away with financial abundance. Most people don't complain, it's
only .99 cents. And most don't realize the app with the phone/tablet
doesn't really work.
There are a variety of EMF Detectors on the market starting
from $25.00 and up.
EVP Recorders can be used to capture
paranormal sounds, but they are not perfect and sometimes what
they do capture can be left up to interpretation. Auditory pareidolia
is a situation created when the brain incorrectly interprets
random patterns as being familiar patterns. An EVP might capture
a sound that one person hears as "He's a pill" where
as another may hear the same sound but interpret it as "Kill
Bill".
These Ghost Boxes have been studied, mostly in parapsychology
and psychology departments at Universities. The Department of
Psychology at the University of Western Ontario published their
findings in the Journal of Scientific Exploration in 2001. In
2005, the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research published
a report by paranormal investigator Alexander MacRae. Both articles
discuss Radio Frequency contamination that can impact EVP devices
and the potential for misinterpretation. At least one study,
by psychologist Imants Barušs, finds that EVP cannot be
replicated under controlled conditions. Course some would argue,
how can you create a controlled condition with a ghost?
Still EVP enthusiasts utilize these tools during paranormal
investigations to document noise that may be interpreted by people
as ghost talk. Reputable investigators will attempt to rule out
all natural causes of the noise before claiming the communication
is really ghost related. Recordings fall into 3 categories or
classifications of quality.
- Class A - A clear and distinct voice or sound that is universally accepted and undisputed, because it must be understood by anyone with normal hearing and without being told or prompted to what is being said or heard. It can be heard without the use of headphones.
- Class B - A voice or sound that is distinct and fairly loud. This class of voice is more common and can be heard by most people after being told what to listen for. It is usually audible to experienced persons who have learned the skill of listening to EVP. It can sometimes be heard without the use of headphones.
- Class C - A faint and whispery voice or sound that can barely be heard and is sometimes indecipherable and unintelligible. It may have paranormal characteristics, such as a mechanical sound. Most investigators would apply objectivity and disregard it, but may save it for reference purposes.
There are various types of EVPs on the market. Like EMFs they
range from reasonable to the expensive.
The Spiricom - A type of Ghost Box. In 1980, William O'Neil
constructed an electronic audio device called "The Spiricom."
O'Neil claimed the device was built to specifications which he
received psychically from George Mueller, a scientist who had
died six years previously.
Franks Box - What many call the original Ghost Box. Created
in 2002 by EVP enthusiast Frank Sumption for supposed real-time
communication with the dead. Sumption claims he received his
design instructions from the spirit world.
Ovilus - The Ovilus or Puck, is an electronic speech-synthesis
device which utters words depending on environmental readings,
including electromagnetic waves. The device was created by Bill
Chappell, a retired electronics engineer interested in the paranormal
who creates devices for the field. This is a modern type of Ghost
Box.
Kirlian Photography is one method
of capturing energy in a given area. Kirlian photography refers
to a form of photogram made with electricity. It is named after
Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an
object on a photographic plate is connected to a source of voltage
an image is produced on the photographic plate. Over time, Kirlian
and others discovered that living objects, from humans to plants
and animals have their own source of electricity that can be
captured and recorded. This idea has been verified or validated
if you will by modern technologies as well. All living things
have a vibration or movement and these vibrations can be measured.
Think of a cat scan that records activity within the brain and
you'll have an idea of electrical pulses that can be captured
and recorded.
Video Recording is another method of capturing events and
activities during an investigation. Investigators utilize video
cameras with good High Definition, Night Vision and Infra-red
capabilities. They also select cameras that will perform well
in low light. Sony's night vision with an Infra-red filter are
one of the best recorders to use for night investigations. But
even video cameras aren't without their issues.
In recent years even the mainstream news media have broadcast
security camera video of what appears to be a ghost walking past
the camera.
One such story appeared on NBC a few years ago with
an image of what looks like a blurry somewhat transparent figure
walking in a door through a small hall and out another door.
Paranormal Investigator Dan Renegar explains the image could
be something as simple as a bug on the camera. It's blurry because
it's on the lens and moving from one side to the other. In the
overall image, it appears something walked from one door at the
top of video to another door on the bottom right of the video;
but it may have been a fly walking across the lens.
As with all industries, professional interpretation and experience
is a key component to interpreting data and reviewing all evidence
to make accurate determinations about events and circumstances.
To the novice some of this equipment can be the scientific proof
they're looking for to justify their fear and experiences. But
to the experienced Investigator, this equipment is used to capture
the events surrounding an investigation to rule in or out natural
causes and explanations. When the unusual can't be explained,
the real ghost hunting begins.
Links:
- Sushi's Links - http://aenigmaproject.com/sushis-links
- South Eastern Paranormal Society - http://www.sepsparanormal.org
- Wikipedia Ghost Hunting - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_hunting
- Kirlian Photography - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirlian_photography
If you miss the show, you can listen on the Tenacity Radio Archives for the The Ænigma
Project (2012-06-25), or the The Ænigma Project blog and iTunes.
© 2012 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D.
All Rights Reserved.
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