Write your post here.Investigating and Science

What do you consider "scientific" about paranormal field investigations? Or, what makes a field investigation scientifically valid?

Write your post here.Channeling

Channeling is where a person enters into an changed state of consciousness' which allows the person to become a instrument or 'channel' for the spirit of another, who can then use the channel to speak and take limited actions. This is, in essence, what a medium does to communicate with the dead. The channeling sometimes involves the identity of the channeled being taking full control of the channel for a short period of time. I am going to put aside the many of those who channel out there who are well aware they're lying to us.

Ethics

As each day passes, I become more knowledgeable about things pertaining to the paranormal. Each day I try and set out to understand maybe, a different point of view, or different idea or theory, or even a different technique. Some of these things are difficult for me to clutch and understand, but that is OK, because I know it is all part of the adventure. There is one thing that I read about almost on a daily basis that I will never understand. I read about cemeteries, historical buildings, being vandalized or left in disarray.

Making the right choice.

 As the team leader for our team, I often have to make choices. I try to consider , if the call I am going to make, is one filled with the right principles, reasons and purposes for our team. I mull over the decision and try and make the right call for our journey. Like some of you, I sometimes can feel things when we are investigating, I don't feel them all the time just sometimes and some of these are more intense than others. I really wish there was some way to explain these things to others without sounding like I am wacky. I am having a wee bit of a dilemma with a choice that I made on Sunday night during our investigation. While in the attic of one of the houses, we came in contact with something that seemed very angry and not so nice. I am not saying it was evil in the demonic sense, but more like it was pissed because we were up there. All I could see in my head was this spirit pacing back and forth with his hands clinched. So here is my dilemma. I did not mention this to any of the team because the team was so excited about being on this investigation. I didn't want them to miss out on a chance to possibly collect some valuable information. So I said lets continue. We had some things tossed our way. These things could have hurt someone if they would have made contact. After the first item was thrown (a small 24 volt transformer) I could see everyone was visibly shaken by this experience. As I look back now I probably should have said let's leave, but I didn't. I decided to see if it could do it again. I found to be angry myself, I don't know why I just was. I actually heard myself on the video getting more and more angry. I told it to do it again and this time it tossed a ceramic coffee cup and it landed at my feet. It was at this time I decide it was time to go. I know, I know, you are saying get to the point. Well my point is this. I think, I made a poor choice by allowing my overwhelming curiosity for the truth cloud my judgment. I feel as if I may have put my team in harm's way. I know there are so many variables to this following question, but was the right choice made and if you felt the way I did when we went up there would you have continued? ~ Tracy

What do you consider "scientific" about paranormal field investigations? Or, what makes a field investigation scientifically valid? 

 I think we should look at what a science actually is. According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, the definition of science is "knowledge attained through study or practice," or "knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method concerned with the physical world." What does that really mean? Science refers to a system of obtaining knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. The term science also refers to the organized body of knowledge, people have gained using that system. Less formally, the word science often explains any methodical field of study or the knowledge gained from it. This is exactly what we do as investigators, isn't it? We set out to observe a phenomena and through experimentation we try to get a better understanding of this phenomena. We collect information and test new ideas while possibly disproving other ideas. Now if that is not a science then I don't know what is.-Tracy

Chain of Command. 

 The order in which authority and power in an organization is wielded and delegated from top management to every employee at every level of the organization. The chain of command, is the formal line of authority, communication, and responsibility within an organization. The chain of command identifies the clear assignment of duties and responsibilities. By utilizing the chain of command, and its visible authority relationships, the principle of unity of command is maintained. Unity of command means that each subordinate reports to one and only one superior. While it may have started with the military, most organizations have an established chain of command that is essential for effective management, accountability, and a strong means of operation. Is it important to have a chain of command on a Paranormal investigation team? I personally think it does.  IMO, I believe the Chain of command is very important in our organizations because it enhances the effectiveness of the overall team. Now, most of our teams are pretty relaxed, and easy going. Everyone gets along, there are no arguments, and we, all as a team get the job done, right. So what is the need for formal title like a chain of command. I will use my team for an example. I am Founder and lead investigator, Susan, is co-founder, investigator, and case manager, Dee and Jeff are both investigators and equipment techs. I know it sounds rude and crude but I am at the top of the chain and Dee and Jeff are on the bottom. Not a very long chain with only 4 links, but they are strong links and it is because of them the chain has not been broken. On our team each one of us knows where the buck stops. This may sound like a dictatorship but is not. My whole reasoning behind this post is this. When I was in the military there was a chain of command. During our war time missions our chain of command was condensed to the other service members that were in our fire team. These fire teams consisted of 4 members, each one had a specific duty within the fire team and there was one leader. The leader made all the calls and the others followed. What if the leader was taken out? would the other members know what to do? Is there one person on the team that would take over and continue the mission? Yes they knew what to do and who was in charge next. It was all given to them in the briefings and having a rank structure really was the key. I think these questions can apply to our investigation teams. If a team leader was to be taken out, not literally of course, but what if for some reason this leader got tangled up with a spirit on an investigation that kind of took over their abilities to think rational, or made them so emotional that they couldn't carry on, or what if the leader just became so sick the evening of the investigation that I couldn't attend would the other team members know what to do. When it comes to my team I believe they would. I have all the faith in the world in my team because for one of who they are and two this is part of our chain of command they each know what to do if something like this happens. They know who is to take charge next and handle the situation. It is all about the mission. I think we, could all agree that we as investigators would pretty much do anything to keep the mission going as long as it was not illegal, immoral, or unjust. So I believe that having a chain of command even if you don't call it a chain of command because it may be to formal is a must on our teams. The mission must continue. ~Tracy

PERCEPTIONS

Terms such as pedophilia  matrixing, apophenia, and simulacrum are terms paranormal investigators hear often. These terms pretty much mean the same thing. They are imagined perceptions of a pattern or meaning where it does not actually exist or our very own mind makes us see something that isn't really there. Skeptics love to use words like this to describe any evidence that we investigators may capture because I think that it is the easiest way for them to debunk our findings and to prove there point.  However, these words can in fact be used as true explanations for some of our findings. There are times that images we see, or electronic voice phenomena we hear could be created not so much by a spirit but by our own subconscious minds or by a reflection, or by another team member. I am a true believer of this. Some people like to explain how the pixels in your camera are not set right or because of the amount of light in the room can cause an anomaly. They talk about how sound waves work and because of how they work then EVP cannot be captured. I believe we as paranormal investigators should probably have an understanding knowledge of different types of sound waves and pixels and things such as EMF fields, radiation fields, and any other thing that could affect our evidence. Here is the thing though. Once we have gained the understanding on how such things work and we truly understand how these things work, does or can this knowledge make us lean more towards our evidence being not so credible. ~Tracy  

Setting Expectations

 Have you ever been contacted by a client who needed your help because they allowed a team in to their abode or business only to be left with nothing. I believe that people are either happy or unhappy with a level of service they receive based on whether it did or did not live up to their expectations. Let's face it - if you promise them the moon and the stars, they won't be happy when you only deliver the moon. Now if you had promised them only the hillside and delivered the moon, then they are stunned and amazed. We can determine how a client reacts to our services by providing them with a reasonable (a.k.a. easily attainable for us) set of expectations. I think it is a must that you advise them of the services you provide, perhaps even have it wrote down for them to read. Explain your process and the way you will be conducting the investigation in great detail. Let them be aware  of what is expected of them and what they can expect from you. When you set the clients' expectations for them, they don't have the chance to set those expectations anywhere else. It leaves no room for them to be overly demanding without seeming unreasonable. What I mean by demanding here is the clients persistence that what they are experiencing is let's say Uncle Wilfred. It is crucial that we do not inform the client that it is Uncle Wilfred until you have all your results. I think another important part would be not promising more. When you sit down with the client be reasonable and rational when setting the expectations and the services you will provide. The bottom line is that your clients don't know what to expect until you tell them. Set your clients' expectations at a reasonable level and then exceed them. Do this consistently and you'll watch your repeat business grow, thusly allowing you to continue your search. This is just my opinion ~ Tracy

 Drinking While Investigating

 My question is, do you allow members or guest of your team to consume alcohol beverages right before or during the scope of the investigation—i.e., “drinking on the job".  If you do, then please explain to me why you would.  I personally think, allowing your staff to drink on the job is the ultimate act of stupidity, irresponsibility, and disrespect for the welfare of your team and your client. Not only that, alcohol affects judgment and impairs one’s ability to rationalize or perform a function that requires effectual understanding or quick reaction. “Misreading” a situation is ordinary for anyone consuming alcoholic beverages, regardless of the amount consumed. Making a judgment call, responding to a pressure situation, can only be done with a clear mind. Alcohol is not a “performance enhancer”; but a sedative that affects the body almost immediately. Alcohol in your bloodstream affects your prefrontal cortex: the part of your brain responsible for logic and judgment. When it is sedated by alcohol, fears that would normally prevent you from performing certain actions are also sedated. This is why some people often refer to alcohol as "Liquid Courage." Alcohol depresses your nervous system and impairs your ability to process information. Your sense of judgment suffers and you are inclined to behave in ways you would not normally behave. People who suffer from loss of judgment due to alcohol often overstep boundaries, make poor decisions, exhibit loud and obnoxious behavior, and demonstrate emotional irrationality. I would even go so far as to say that most could have one drink and not really be affected as long as that one drink was not a gallon of Kentucky's finest. With all the effects that alcohol has on our bodies and minds, and with all the things we may encounter during an investigation, I would just assume that drinking during or right before an investigation would be highly discouraged, Am I wrong. or what ~ Tracy

The Demon Phenomena 

 There has been a lot of talk recently about the demon phenomena and since this is something I may encounter one day I figured I'd best get to studying it. These are a few things that I have found and I thought I might share them with you. I tried to take several opinions on this matter and combine them to make up one synopsis. Often a demon will begin just as ghost activity would. You may see movement out of the corner of your eye, have a feeling of uneasiness, or possibly hear noises that couldn't be coming from a natural source.

The Human Element

 Often times I feel that too many paranormal investigative groups focus on trying to prove a location is haunted without taking into account the human element. I believe that the conclusion aspect is often ignored. To me this is what is missing with so many groups. To achieve this takes time, effort, and knowledge. I feel that investigating cases that are self-generated, such as news of apparitions seen along the roadside, paranormal investigators have the comfort of being able to put the investigation first, as there are no clients to deal with. They may proceed with the investigation without having to consider the impact the investigation may have on their clients, so they can experiment with new equipment and techniques. But, most often the team will be called in to investigate when there is paranormal activity that is affecting people's lives. I think that sometimes investigators who embark on challenging cases are so wrapped up in the thrill of the hunt that they forget the human aspects of the job. If an investigative team is called in to discover the reasons behind paranormal activity, it is usually because truly troubling or frightening events have disrupted the lives of the clients. Although every client will be different, one constant seems to be that the situation will have reached a stage that is disturbing to the people in the environment. We, as serious investigators, must take on the responsibility of reassuring the client that the right decision was made to call the team in. We must act as professionally and calmly as possible during the execution of the interview all the way through to the reveal. Any evidence (if any) that we decide to reveal to the client should be done with tact and care. You have to remember that these cases involve real people and should not be treated just as a notch on your tool belt. -Tracy

The right equipment.

 As paranormal investigators, we use a wide variety of equipment. This equipment has been bought and paid for with monies that we have saved, while working at our everyday jobs. We always find and buy the best equipment that we can afford. It would be nice to have someone else pick up the tab for some of this stuff, then maybe we too could have the latest and greatest stuff. I understand that it does not take high dollar equipment to get great evidence. I believe you can achieve great results with absolutely no equipment by your side. You don't have to have all these electronic devices to speak to those who have passed. All you need is heart, and an open mind to hear them. These devices come into play when you need to prove your findings with others. There is a lot more to our equipment and what we use it for and believe me I know that. The thing that really gets my goat is when other folks from other teams think that if you don't use the exact equipment they use then your results are worthless. I was listening to a radio show, and one of the guest that was on stated basically that he used brand X voice recorder, brand Y video recorder, and brand Z video camera. He stated on the show that he pretty much could explain away any evidence that was caught on any voice recorder, DVR, or video camera unless it was the brand listed above. I thought to myself what nerve this guy has to say that the evidence that I have collected is no good because I don't use those brands. I looked up these items and saw 2 things, number one they were pretty high priced and number two these items looked a lot like the ones that certain people carry while doing their television shows. I was going to call into the show so he could explain to me why he thinks what he thinks, but figured my heart just would not be able to handle the sudden increase in blood pressure. All I know is this, we at ECPC do not have the most expensive equipment out there, we have had the same equipment for some time now and we have been able to collect some of the best indisputable (well practically undisputable cause we all know there will be one or two who you will never convince) evidence. I really have a hard time understanding people such as this. What makes them any better than me and my team or you and your team for that matter? How can he justify himself as being a paranormal investigator by making such statements. I just don't get it. Please somebody help me understand. Please do not ask me who this was or what show it was on. ~ Tracy

Thinking to much These last couple of days I have been feverously trying to stay away from the paranormal side of my life. It was coming to the point to where every moment was spent thinking about it.  I would start as soon as I would wake up in the morning and it wouldn't stop until I feel asleep thinking about it. I would contemplate  about it so much that it started to affect my job, it started to affect my ability to get a good night's rest. There is so many more questions than answers in the paranormal, and that is where my problem lays. I try and figure each one of them out. I sit and listen and watch our investigation evidence along with other evidence from other teams and try to come up with a sensible answer. Every time I do, I think of 20 other things that it could be. I start thinking about my own religious beliefs and how they play a part in it and then realize it is just a vicious circle. I know that our brains are built for thinking, but there comes a point when it gets to be too much, and now I needed to figure out how the best way for me to turn it off, so to speak  for a while, but still keep the desire and passion I have for the paranormal alive. So how was I going to do this? I really didn't know, because for me to figure it out was going to take some serious thinking on my part which was what I was trying to shut off. I spoke to Susan (My wife and best friend) about this and she gave me some great advice. I spoke with a couple of great friends of mine in the field, Gary, Julie, and John and they also gave me great advice. I was really glad to know that I was not the only one who has felt this necessity to turn it off. Julie stated to me something that I think is the best solution to my issue. She stated that she believed that no one is going to have the answers, because we are not meant to know all the answers, and the best we can do is to continue on. I need to try and start thinking that way, instead of always trying to figure every little detail out about a particular investigation or particular evidence. I know, as a paranormal investigator I am suppose to figure things out that is what I do, and I will continue to do that, but when the answer is not clear, I have to step back, and understand that maybe it is because I am not suppose to know the answer at that time, but will eventually attain the answer if I just continue on. I am good with that.  So, now that I have stepped back and pretty much have had nothing to do with the paranormal for the last few days and trying not to think about it has lead me to know this. I know that I can’t just stop thinking about it. My thoughts about it are here to stay.  My brain wants to think. So I will think, but I will do it differently. I will stop dwelling on all of the "what if's" and concentrate more on the what I know now. I believe, there will be a lot less burden in this way of thinking than there is about the "what if's". I will be much more productive doing what needs to be done now. I must continually remember that thoughts are just thoughts and the most important detail to remember when you start to think too much is that these are just thoughts and I will not give them more power than they deserve. I don’t have to be dominated by my thoughts. I want to thank Susan, Julie, Gary, and John for assisting me in getting over this hurdle, and people tell me there is no Paranormal Unity. Now that I know what I have to do I am ready for our next great adventure in being a paranormal investigator. ~ Tracy

~

The most common question I get as a Paranormal Investigator is. How do I become one and what does it take to become one. Well, actually I get asked what it takes to be a ghost hunter. My answer to them is always "Are you really ready to become one?" Once, I ask them that question, I usually get this odd look from them as if to say, "uh yeah I am ready". This look is always the same. Ok, I say to them, you are ready, so now tell me what it is you think I do. The answer I can best depict is this: I think you do what I see the ghost hunters on TV do.

In the mind of us humans, there is an elusive yet almost compatible border between dreams and reality. It is said that blessed are those who dream in color and great sensory detail, and especially blessed are those who vividly remember everything, or almost everything, from their dreams. Others, however, may not be as fortunate. These people wake up clueless or confused, wanting to remember the night before but are helpless about it. Dreams are the doorways and trapdoors to our Unconscious. We don't just dream just so we can have a leisurely adventure time during our sleep. We dream because it is our Unconscious mind's turn to process everything we have experienced during our waking hours. ~Tracy

So many of us are busily marking tasks off our "To Do" list but how many of us are thoughtfully creating our "To Be" list? The only way to create and execute on a meaningful "To Be" list is to also have a "Stop Doing" list. Aristotle said it best: "Excellence is not an art. It is a habit." We can't be excellent, half of the time and be in a comfort zone the other half. We're either excellent or we're not I think that the path of starting a legacy is placing a notion into the future that impacts the future and how we live in the moment into the future. It all starts with this notion. Creating who you want to be and then expanding into how you want to be remembered. Upon that groundwork we are able to noticeably touch the lives of those around us and after us by carefully placing powerful thoughts into the future. When you die they'll indicate on your tomb the year of your birth and the year of your death separated by a dash (1960 — 2020). The dash is your life. What you did. How you lived. Whose life you touched. The legacy you left behind. The more purposefully engaged you are in helping others, the deeper and finer and more memorable is your dash.~ Tracy  

When someone expresses an opinion that differs from mine, I think there is good reason for me to stop and listen. After all, I can be wrong! I think back, to how many ideas, that I have had in the past five years that I have changed. It's impossible for me to improve without changing. My thoughts, opinions, and beliefs sometimes need to be broadened or improved by the ideas of others. I remain open-minded and I willingly embrace the ideas of others. The open-minded see the reality in diverse things. I need those diversities, for they offer me with more options and possibilities, making me stronger and wiser investigator and they offer me an opportunity to give the valued gifts of tolerance and acceptance to others. So, always try to be open-minded. When others speak, don't look for points to disagree with, but look for wisdom that you can add to your own. By surrendering our right to be right and turning over power to others we grant them the right to be themselves.  Perhaps we can't all be experts in the paranormal field, but we don't have to be. All we have to do is respect others and abandon our need to be right. As long as we do the right thing, things will work out right. Finally, be careful of what you think of others, for you can rise no higher than your lowest opinion of another. ~ Tracy

To the Non Believers I do believe that many things in the paranormal field exist. It really amazes me how laughable the subject can be when you bring it up in front of non-believers. I think some people laugh at this subject because they are not mindful enough to realize that there is more to nature than our own universal accepted laws or they may be fearful so they just laugh at it rather than acknowledge it. People ask me often do spirits still walk the earth,? I usually tell them that Spirits do not "walk the earth". They have better things to do than to hang around watching people doing mundane things like yourself. They will however come to join us when there is a reason for them to do so, like their wish to contact us or bring a message, or simply be heard. They will join us when we show them the compassion that they perhaps once felt and are in need of it again. I will also tell these non-believers that they should remember this conversation for one day they, themselves may need to pass along a message or you may be in need of a little compassion themselves and if it wasn't for us believers there would be no one there to hear your voice or give you the love you so desperately miss. ~ Tracy

I think that everyone has a fear of the unknown, some more than others but, it is still perhaps one of the most often felt phobias. It is true that this fear has possibly a number of bad consequences and this fear is a quite natural thing. Unfortunately too much of this fear, without the realization that this fear is actually an ally, can stop you from taking any kind of positive action and can be something that will stop any great success in your Investigations. I feel that there isn't going to be any likelihood of success, or progress forward without discovery. This success comes when we gain new knowledge and this new knowledge can only be gained by facing our fear of the unknown. If you can get through these unknowns, you may be able to find the correct path that leads towards the accomplishment of your goal. I think we must also be prepared to overcome any fears of failing that may arise. The best way to overcome these failures is to rationally and objectively look at the reasons why you are afraid and then to realize that this fear is not capable of stopping you. If you are doing something that you truly wish to do and that you know will expand your abilities, then objectively you will see that this fear is just a good warning to help you achieve your best and that it is not a barrier that can stop you. Stay true to your beliefs my Friends and find the path and overcome the fears that keep you from pressing on. ~ Tracy

We are paranormal investigators and we know that there will most likely be no parades for us, no keys to the city for us and no monuments created in our honor. But that does not lessen our possible impact, for I believe that there are those people who have passed that wait for someone just like us to come along; people to share their compassion's with. We set out to collect evidence, so in doing so get the answers we all seek, but what if we were able to give these lost souls the compassion they may have be missing and because we took the time to share what we had to give, we were able to actually help them feel normal. Too often we underestimate the strength of our own love, a smile, a kind word a listening ear, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn an investigation around. Is it really that overwhelming to consider, all the constant opportunities there are to make our love felt either by sharing them on a day to day bases or by sharing them with someone who has passed. I think not. ~Tracy

We all have our strengths and weakness, What may bend the mind of one may seem more clear to others. The truth about the paranormal is never a clear stream. This stream is often clouded with the mud that others tend to throw and stir up. The thing about a muddy stream is this, even though the water is dirty at the time the stream still flows. As it flows the mud that was once mixed in starts to settle at the bottom and the more the stream runs the clearer it gets. However if you allow this mud that others like to throw to build up, it will eventually stop the stream from flowing causing a pool of stagnate, dirty water. Don't let the mud build up. Keep the stream flowing and allow the mud to settle to be left behind on the bottom. ~ Tracy

A person can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else. Let’s face it, failure is inevitable if you want to live a remarkable life. I know you want to live a life full of passion, meaning, and purpose. We all do. But it’s not going to happen if you succumb to your fears and try to look for a more comfortable way out, because there is none. Sooner or later you will have to overcome the fear of failure, and you will have to overcome many other fears during your lifetime. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, frustrating, and exhausting. I know, I've been there, but the more you move through tough periods, the faster you’ll grow. If you want the life of your dreams, make failure a part of your life. Embrace it. ~ Tracy

I think that sometimes in order to move forward you have to try and un stick your mind. Maybe you got hit with an emotional blow that may have caused you to become stuck and instead of standing your ground and lowering our shoulder, you curled up and started throwing in the towel. It is at these times that you must don your divine armor and prepare for battle. Claim One battle at a time! One fight at a time! As you start to move forward, occasionally take look ahead to your next horizon, and let the next challenge you see give you the drive to keep moving. Once you have gain the momentum forward, try and remain focused on the bright side. To stay moving you may have to forget and let go of the some of your past for these things, even though they may be pain full, will only stand in your way like a brick wall. Don't let these walls stop you and find away to keep moving either over, under or around. Once you have cleared these walls never allow yourself to look back and dwell on them. You have come so far to quit now, so just keep moving forward. You have to stay true to your passion because this will make things possible. Stay positive and do not entertain failures in your mind. Treat the failures as mere intermissions to the real thing. The best is yet to come, so just keep going. ~ Tracy

Have you ever been to a race track and noticed that the sound of the cars coming your way slowly builds and builds, reaching an incredibly loud sound only to fall off dramatically as they leave. In fact, the sound of the car approaching you is louder to you than the sound of the car leaving you at equal distances from you. So how does this happen? The sound made by the car is sent out like a ripple in the water, equal in all directions. But when the car moves forward, the sound waves from the car get closer to each other in the direction of the motion, increasing their frequency and sound, while the waves behind the object get farther and farther apart, decreasing their frequency and sound sharply. This effect is known as the Doppler effect. So what does this have to do with me?1) We all have vibrations we emit out into the universe. 2) Our vibrations are be felt by others. 3) Our vibrations can be positive or negative. 4) These vibrations can determine how others perceive us, receive us, and regard us. So if you are emitting negative vibrations, you will be perceived as negative, and more so as you approach them. If you emit positive vibrations, you will perceived by others as very positive. You would be received warmly by all and missed by all as your positive vibrations fell off as you left. So know that -A positive vibration, no matter how small, can build into an enormous positive expression. A negative vibration, no matter how small, can build into an enormous negative expression. Imagine what the smallest of positive vibrations could do for you and others. The smallest of thoughts/vibrations you create can affect the way people perceive you, receive you and in the end regard you. Hmmmm, makes you wonder if it also affects our investigations. `Tracy

Have you ever wanted to conduct an paranormal investigation at a location that you knew unequivocally was a place that would further your search for the truth by the evidence you could collect, but only to be halted from this place because of the actions of a previous team? No matter which of these categories you may align yourself with there is one item that applies to all ghost hunters, paranormal researchers and paranormal investigators above all else: when performing field investigations, interviews and other work we must manage these actions with professionalism and temper them with respect. Granted, paranormal investigation is an unregulated trade in the 48 contiguous states according to the Department of Professional Regulation, however, the lack of a uniform process is not an excuse, nor does it pardon us, from acting maturely in our work. Additionally, in order for us to gain any manner of respect in the public opinion we must first exhibit respect in our procedures and, in order to get any manner of integrity within the scientific community, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard of integrity that allows us to rise above the cohesion of other similar organizations. I believe that the implementation of these most basic rules of etiquette can, and will, go a long way in improving the way that paranormal investigations are seen in both the private and professional sector. Perhaps this is something we should all buy into. It is something that can and should be done, not only for ourselves but for the individuals that may come behind you. I am asking you to follow through with this request and answer the call to professionalism. As a united whole we can demonstrate, unequivocally, that paranormal investigations are a science that deserves to be taken seriously and that we are, indeed, professionals in every sense of the word. ~ Tracy

Curiosity helps you simplify problems, ideas, and situations, and it encourages you to explore how they could be different. Actively exploring the environment, asking questions, investigating possibilities, and possessing a sense of wonder are all part of being curious. Questions are key. Once you open up to the nuances of life, it's easy to find things that fascinate you and to begin wondering "why?" and "how?" These questions take you to a deeper level of knowing. When you develop heightened curiosity, you improve the quality of yourself by asking better questions and being receptive to new things. Let this desire expand your understanding and let it motivate you to go beyond the surface. I think that if you do this you will learn more because you have a desire to know more. When you approach an idea, or situation, whether you are investigating or just doing everyday things let your curiosity run wild. Just remember that even when you can't immediately apply what you learn, you are in training, to keep your curiosity muscles healthy.~ Tracy

Who we are is nothing less than someone who is capable of excelling in any environment, situation, or challenge if you are willing to accept that you can do just that.  When you look in the many mirrors that you have in your life - YOU must allow the reflection to be what you need it to be. It’s up to you whether or not you will trust yourself enough to stand strong in any mirror that presents itself in your life. ~ Tracy 

We are in this particular forum because we all believe in Paranormal Unity. We all understand that it will take the collation of our knowledge, beliefs and evidence to ever get any definitive proof. I personally think that no one person will be able to accomplish this. So how do we achieve this? I really don’t know. I know when it comes to our knowledge and beliefs we are more apt to share that, with everyone than the evidence we collect. I know the reasons why. We are so afraid of what ever ridicule we may get. I know how tired we get of defending our findings. The evidence our team collects gets posted all the time. I for one accept anything that is ever said about this evidence both good and bad. I also put my conclusions to our investigations on paper. I put in these papers the normal stuff like time and date and moon phase etc… I put in these papers what evidence we caught. I will also do this when I see other evidence post from other teams especially if there is something In their evidence that has a similarity to some of ours. I try and see if there could be a link. I do this because I think that combining our evidence and others evidence we will get the proof we need to, if nothing else create the next stepping stone. ~Tracy

What happens? Okay, so there you are, station outside of your body, you are wondering what just happened? At this point does someone appear to help you to the other side, or perhaps you see a glow of light in the distance, and begin to move toward it naturally. Is this the defining moment where "ghosts" are created. What if the person that just died did some really terrible things in their lifetime, and they just know that they are going to Hell forever. How likely are they to want to go towards the light? Not very! So they move away from the Light. Or maybe they don't know what that light is, so they are naturally afraid of it. This could be common for those who may not believe in heaven or hell, because maybe they just expect their consciousness to just "blink out" when they die. If that doesn't happen, they may become confused and may not realize that they can move on. Sometimes, if a person dies in a very sudden, unexpected way, they might have no idea that they are "dead." They find themselves standing at the scene of the accident, wondering what happened. As Paranormal investigators do we set out to find these answers? Are we capable of achieving these answers? Who knows right? ~ Tracy

A Different View. I will be the first to admit that I do not have all the answers, and I will admit that I do get hung up on wanting to see things through only my eyes. However, if you were given the opportunity to study a secluded valley, how many ways do you think you could look at it? You could look up and down the valley, you could inspect it from the riverside or stand and look across it from each hillside. You could walk it, drive along the road or take a boat down the river. You could study a photo. You could examine a map. Each one of these gives you a different view of the valley and each adds to your understanding of the valley. Could we and should we not do the same when it comes to the paranormal? I don't think we should immediately try to frame a solution before we have approached the concerns from multiple differing perspectives? Seeing things from a different perspective can take a good idea and change it into a marvelous idea! It is collaboration at its best. People that come together and share their ideas and viewpoints create powerful results. ~Tracy

 I would like to think that a successful paranormal investigation is not only based on how scientific or how sophisticated the tools we employ during field investigation are. I believe such success is also based on how much we understand the existence of the paranormal and how we accept their existence. The great tools are imbedded within our own personality. I believe spirits are human beings, who still retain their emotions and intelligence after death. Therefore, they still behave exactly like us, and like us they would like respect from the living. As a paranormal investigator, I understand the concept of humility that is related to positive behavior – showing respect and reverence for the dead will always create positive energy that in turn will attract the spirit to be involved in paranormal investigations. Nobody likes to be forced to do anything. Even in real life, we don’t like someone to order us to do things in an offensive manner. Asking in a polite manner. I think will always get a more positive response out of the listener and will definitely make them more apt to cooperate. We must remember that we are trying to build a relationship with these  spirits. I believe that if someone behaves in a hostile way towards the spirit by ordering the spirit to appear, so that the spirit can be captured, then we should be prepared to feel the negative reaction of the spirit towards us or we suffer the failure of getting success in the investigation. Nevertheless, the technology  that we use during a paranormal investigation is not the most important thing that brings success, but a mere tool that helps us to document spirit existence. I maintain and believe that the best attraction for spirits to participate in our investigations is by showing respect and reverence towards them. ~ Tracy

2 New Heroes 

   On Saturday, March 10 2012, Emerald Coast Paranormal Concepts was called in to investigate a local fire station. This particular station showed its age. There is part of the original building that still stood with many additions added on throughout the years. From the outside, the building looked like many other stations with engines sitting in the bays ready for the next call. There is equipment set in such a way for easy grab and go access. Nothing really out of the ordinary. The team had quite a few experiences while we were investigating and we were lucky enough to catch some nice EVP. As we were wrapping up the investigation I got to thinking, (I know a scary thought right.) about something that is in this station and what it means to have them here. There is a big plaque on the wall and on the plaque is a picture of the 9/11 event, even though that particular tragedy was just horrible by all means to all of us. The plaque had a quote on it about sacrifice. I stood there reading and then it hit me like a ton of spam cans.  In these walls of this fire station there were 2 former fire fighters buried. There ashes were in 2 boxes neatly nestled back into the block wall, there name plates neatly polished and clean. These 2 fire fighters, a husband and wife, were two of the first firefighters at this station. There last wish was to have their ashes kept at this station. I asked the Captain if this is a normal thing, and does it happen often. I know it was a silly question. The Captain said that these two firefighters knew that by having their ashes kept in the structure of this building, then the building could never be torn down and it would always stay a fire station. To these 2 firefighters I salute you. Not only did you preserve life when you were alive, your unselfish act in death has allowed others to continue to preserve life today. To me a hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares. I have 2 new heroes now and they lay sleeping watching over those who watch over others. ~ Tracy