You could say that Alexander Hamilton is not only popular in the theatre right now.
I wrote an article for the Association of Paranormal Study about the ghosts of Hamilton as well as Aaron Burr. We all know Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical, Hamilton, took off. I often wonder if Lin got the divine inspiration to write the show. If not from God, maybe the ghost of Alexander Hamilton himself?
What if the widespread popularity that is Hamilton has reawakened the restless spirits of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr? I’m no stranger to ghosts from the Revolutionary War. For example, the ghost of George Washington led the 20th Maine regiment during the Battle of Gettysburg. It should be no surprise that Hamilton and Burr might still be hanging around our modern times.
Turn on your Hamilton original cast recording, and let’s go on a Hamilton-themed supernatural journey.
The Hauntings of Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton has been seen around his impressive tomb at Trinity Church right near Wall Street. Given that Hamilton’s death was premature, it’s no surprise that he may be feeling a bit cheated out of a long life. He wasn’t even 50 when he died.
Hamilton didn’t die in New Jersey where the duel took place. Instead, he died the next day at the home of his friend, William Bayard. The address of this location is 80-82 Jane Street. There is a plaque on the building that marks where Hamilton passed. Before his death, Hamilton had been treated for his gunshot wound by John Francis, who lived at 27 Jane Street.
An artist by the name of Jean Karsavina has lived at 27 Jane Street since 1939 reported seeing paranormal activity like footsteps, blurs, shadows, things moving, the works. Hans Holzer even investigated these claims.
Why Here, Alexander?
Around the time that Hamilton rose to popularity, activity at 71 Jane Street started to escalate. 71 Jane Street is located across the stress and a few houses east of the infamous plaque. That house is owned by Joe Hamilton, who bought the property in 1994. Even after the home was purchased, Hamilton and her family heard crashes and other weird noises that were so bad that the family had to wear earplugs to sleep at night. Joe bought the house from Irene Connors, who believes that 71 Jane Street is indeed haunted by Alexander Hamilton. Why? She saw him with her own eyes. She described him as slim, wearing knee-length trousers, and wearing a white-powdered wig.
A medium was brought to 71 Jane Street. She didn’t pick up the spirit of Hamilton, but she saw a little boy. The medium and the crew used a Ouija board. When the medium asked the child what his mother’s name is, it answered, “Eliza.” Some have speculated that maybe this was the Hamiltons’ son, Philip, who died from a duel in 1801.
But why 71 Jane Street? Well, what’s interesting is that 71 Jane Street sits right in the middle between 27 Jane Street and 82 Jane Street.
The Hauntings of Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr’s legacy is forever known as the man who shot Hamilton. If you want to meet the ghost of Aaron Burr for yourself, visit the New York City restaurant, “One If By Land, Two If By Sea.” Legend says he’s responsible for crashing dishes and moving chairs. The staff at the restaurant rarely want to be there alone after dark.
Like Hamilton, Burr’s ghost has been found in more than one place. After the duel with Hamilton, Burr fled to New Hope, Pennsylvania and stayed with an old friend for a week. While the house was known as The Painted Lady, today, it is known as the Aaron Burr House. Burr’s ghost has been seen roaming around the house and peering around the corners. He has also been seeing going up and down the staircase and tugging on the clothes of guests. Burr has also been sighted around the town of New Hope and has been seen looking over his shoulder, as if someone was following him.
A Marriage of Convenience
Towards the end of his life, Burr married Eliza Jumel at the age of 77. Eliza was one of the wealthiest women in the country. Burr quickly drained her assets, and then he passed away. The marriage barely lasted a year. In fact, their divorced finalized on the day of his death. Ouch.
Today, a desk that belonged to Aaron Burr still sits in the mansion. He has also been seen around the house along with Eliza, who died years later at the age of 90. Today, the mansion is known as the Morris-Jumel House and is available for paranormal investigations.
Waiting for Nothing
Finally, one of the sadder parts of Aaron Burr’s life was losing his young daughter at sea when she was just 29. She was heading to New York City by ship from South Carolina and never arrived to her destination. Burr’s ghost has often been seen at Battery Park at the American Merchant Marine Memorial. It’s believed that Burr is still waiting for his daughter to return.
Do you think the ghosts of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr still lingering on this earth?
It seems so cliche…children seeing ghosts. Maybe we have that infamous scene from “Poltergeist” to thank. Remember? “They’re heeeeere.” Children seeing ghosts has been a powerful plot device in some of the most popular books, movies, and television shows. But when it happens in real life, it’s not quite so entertaining. It can be downright terrifying.
For centuries, there have been countless stories of children seeing ghosts. Some may call them imaginary friends, some call them Grandma and Grandpa. As a paranormal investigator who works on residential cases, I’m not unfamiliar with this phenomenon. Well, hearing the stories at least. I have only experienced this once.
Before We Begin
Moving forward, we’re going to go with the idea that what children are seeing is spirits. There are so many ways we can debunk these stories.
According to Dr. Kim Peirano, children have the ability to see ghosts because their awareness is much higher than us old biddies in adulthood. Children have yet to build up their walls, and therefore, notice more than we can.
Some Background
Since I got my bachelor’s degree, I’ve been in the classroom in some form or another. I’ve also run and designed camps at the local YMCA in college. I’ve been working with kids in some capacity for over ten years from all different age levels. In 2014, I found myself working as a preschool teacher for pre-kindergarten.
When you’re a preschool teacher for Pre-K with a class of 18 students, you get to know these kids pretty well. You’re with them for eight hours per day, five days per week. You get to know their families, their habits, what makes them thrive, what upsets them, are they tattle tells, are they quiet and reserved, the list goes on. I’m also aware that children at this age (four and five year olds) can be highly imaginative and make up stories.
So, what I’m saying is that by the Spring of 2016, I knew my class pretty well by this point.
“She Won’t Leave Me Alone”
It was our afternoon playground time after snack. This playtime usually lasts about 45-minutes. But on this particular day. We have three Pre-K classes. We all eat together and play together on the playground. While I’m not with all 54 kids all the time, I know every one of them and most of their names. I tend to get to know faces and personalities more than knowing their names.
So one of the kids from another class comes running to me saying, “Ms. Alex! Karen won’t leave me alone!” in his tone of when he’s tattling on one of the kids…whining inflection, pained look in his face, the whole shebang. For purposes of privacy, I’ll call him Billy.
I quickly call out Karen’s name to talk to her, and I quickly realize that out of the three classes, we do not have a Karen. We don’t even have a Karen in the whole preschool, which goes from infants to 5 years old. But the Pre-K kids play together, and we don’t mix age groups.
I stop and ask Billy, “Are you sure your friend’s name is Karen?”
Billy: “Yes!”
I confirm that he wasn’t meaning one of the other little girls. He says no.
So I ask him to point Karen out to me. I’m thinking maybe even after being in that class for 10 months (our “school year” is from August to July), maybe he forgot his friend’s names or he was stating a nickname.
Billy: It’s that girl over there in the white shirt!
I look over and there is no girl in a white shirt as all the girls are in pinks, purples, oranges, and blues. So I tell Billy to take me to Karen. He takes me to the fence and points to the woods next to the playground. I ask him if he sees her now and he whines, “Yes! Karen won’t leave me alone!” I told Billy to go play at the slide and ignore Karen, and my coworker and I just looked at each other with big eyes.
Explaining it All
Now, there’s a chance that little Billy was trying to project his issues onto an imaginary friend because he was too intimidated to point out the real Karen. There’s also a huge possibility that Karen was imaginary and he was trying to engage in some sort of social structure and explore communication.
Did you see ghosts when you were a kid? Or are you a parent of a child who has seen ghosts? Share your story in the comments!
I was alerted to the app, Randonautica, by one of my Instagram friends. It is an app that has taken the world by storm and has made people become explorers in the community around them. What is interesting about Randonautica is that it has you set an intention before your adventure begins. Not only that, but people have been finding things that you could consider paranormal, if not downright creepy.
The app made waves recently after some teens found a dead body in a suitcase in Seattle thanks to Randonautica. The video was shared on TikTok and it went viral. This is likely what gave the app it’s creepy turn and has had people scouring their towns looking for something haunted or just as disturbing.
Of course, being the curious person that I am, I decided to give Randonautica a try. I’ll share my initial thoughts later. Let’s talk about the app.
How Does Randonautica Work?
Randonautica has to have access to your GPS so that it can pinpoint very specific coordinates for you to go out and explore. These coordinates are created using a random number generator. You set an intention and the numbers come up. Random number generators have quite the paranormal history and have been said to predict major events like September 11th and one of the major tsunamis to hit Asia.
Want to Try It?
If you’re ready to try this, here’s how:
Click on the blue, “Randonaut” button to get started.
The app will ask you if you want to find an Anamoly, Attractor, Void, and Pseudo. What do all these terms mean?
Anamoly – According to an article on Medium.com, “An Intention Driven Anomaly is just a name given to describe both voids and attractors. Intention Driven Anomalies are areas of pattern found in quantum random number data. This means that these are the areas hypothesized to have been influenced by human thought.” You’re choosing a stronger point between the attractor and the void.
Attractor – Areas where quantum points are highly concentrated and most dense.
Void – According to randonauts.com, “A void-point is an area where quantum-points are sparse. Void-points are the opposite of attractor-points, which is where quantum-points are most dense. The more sparse the void, the stronger it’s power is, and the higher significance it has towards your intention.”
Pseudo – From my understanding, this point is created through a random number algorithm.
This is all supposed to work with your mind and synchronicity, where your thoughts are being manifested using the map. Setting your intent is important when it comes to using this app.
RNG: What is ANU & Temporal?
Next, the app will ask you to select RNG, or random number generator.
ANU is the random number generator by the Australian National University. You can get more information about this generator online by clicking here.
I’m not sure what Temporal means, but I’m guesisng it might have something to do with a random number generator connected to the date and time the app is used.
Set Your Intention
After you select your RNG, you will set your intention. This can be anything that is on your mind, whether it’s a sign, a message, a want, or a need.
After that, you may have to wait a few minutes while the app processes your intent and accesses the random number generator.
My First Try
Similar to my experience with TikTok, I am curious about the app and I want to see what all the fuss was about.
I had some time after dropping my kitties off at the vet, so my boyfriend and I decided to go randonauting. Yes, that is cool term the kids are using these days. I set my intention on wanting to see something weird. It was pretty general. I honestly have never used a random number generator before.
The first hit I got was a void. So, we started driving and we ended up in a residential neighborhood. All of the houses had short driveways. The coordinates were sending us to a house with a long driveway and hidden by trees. My boyfriend and I decided that trespassing was not a part of the plans, so we turned around.
After making a grocery run, I turned on the app again. This time, this sent us to an attractor in a different residential neighborhood. What was interesting with this neighborhood was that it was same type of area that we want to move to, and it was 5 minutes down the road from our apartment. Did I mention we’re looking to buy a house in the next year or two?
Again, these coordinates would have put us in someone’s backyard, so we decided to not go further.
I turned the app on one more time. This time, the attractor looked more promising and looked like it was away from any neighborhood. Cool. Let’s try it.
This third one had us going to a construction site, which was blocked off. So we would have had to get out of the car to access it. Again, I’m not about that trespassing life, especially on a construction site.
A Warning
Could all of these points mean something to us? Maybe. I feel like I could justify every one of our stops. But the common denominator here is that Randonautica took us to a private property every time. This brings me to my next point; please PLEASE please do not trespass. Don’t go through a stranger’s backyard to get to your coordinates.
I would also say that you shouldn’t go randonauting after dark or by yourself. Try to go with a group of friends, especially when you don’t know where you’re going.
Also, if you see anything suspicious, don’t touch anything and call the cops.
Have you tried Randonautica? Let me know what you think in the comments below!
This week marks the 157th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 1st, 1863, Union and Confederate soldiers came head-to-head in the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. For three days, these men fought their hearts out. In total, there were over 51,000 casualties and losses from both sides. Today, we remember Gettysburg as a major turning point of the Civil War.
I fell in love with Gettysburg in May 2000. It was during my first journey to the East Coast for my 8th-grade trip. The furthest east I had ever been to was Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. Oddly enough, Gettysburg was very familiar to this 14-year old teen. Even though we spent part of the day there, it wasn’t enough. I wouldn’t get back until 2011.
In addition to researching these incredible battles, I think it’s important to read about the people who lived through these historical events. Often, the individual stories are fascinating, and we learn so much about unsung heroes. The story I’m going to tell you is really interesting, and it still has an unsolved mystery.
The Backstory
Monument for the 91st PA at Gettysburg, circa 1904
Private Stephen Kelly was born between 1833-1835 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was part of the 91st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in Company E. He mustered on August 21st, 1861. Before Gettysburg, the regiment fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville. Around this time, regiments in the Union wanted to defend their home states. The 91st PA Infantry was no different. They wanted to defend their home. When word came that Lee’s army was heading North, the urge to fight was fiercer than ever.
On July 1st at 8pm, the regiment started their journey to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. They arrived on July 2nd, 1863. That afternoon, they marched to Little Round Top and fought against Confederate sharpshooters hiding in Devil’s Den. On the Fourth of July, they managed to take in several Confederate prisoners.
In all, the 91st PA Infantry regiment suffered 21 casualties, which included 19 enlisted men and 2 officers.
Staring Death in the Face
Sometime after the Battle of Gettysburg, a veteran was wandering around the Pennsylvania section of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. He stopped at Stephen Kelly’s grave and looked bewildered. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
The veteran was Stephen Kelly.
How could this be? Was he a ghost? Was he looking at his future? There was a lot of confusion because Kelly was very much alive and well. The body in the pine box below was not his.
According to a few sources, Stephen Kelly wasn’t even at the Battle of Gettysburg. Well, maybe. According to one source, he was sick and in the hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. This means he may have never stepped foot in Gettsyburg in July 1863. On October 9, 1863, it was reported that Kelly was “regained from missing in action.“ How was this error never corrected? He mustered out on September 8th, 1864 after serving his term.
How Did This Happen?
After the Battle of Gettysburg, Samuel Weaver was enlisted to recover the bodies of Union soldiers and bury them in what would become the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. Even when Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address in November 1863, the cemetery was still incomplete. To help him take on this massive task, Weaver enlisted several contractors to dig up shallow graves. They put the remains in pine boxes for the cemetery, which was an improvement from the shallow graves on the battlefield. With so much work at hand, there were sure to be errors. The soldiers were identified by their personal belongings that were either on them or close by.
According to William C. Reiff, a canteen with Kelly’s name had been found next to the unknown soldier on Little Round Top. Some say that the unknown soldier took (or even stole) Kelly’s knapsack while he was sick.
Every Memorial Day, Kelly visited the grave of the unknown soldier. He decorated his cemetery marker with flowers, all for the poor, anonymous soul that lost his life. The world will never know who he was.
Stephen Kelly tried to correct the error, but he was unsuccessful. So, he decided to continue honoring the soldier who died in his place. Eventually, his name was removed. Today, the grave is marked as “Unknown.”
Kelly lived the rest of his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his life, he held a few different jobs including a painter and a chair maker. In life, Kelly was a hermit who lived alone. On January 29th, 1889, he passed away. He was buried in a local cemetery in Philadelphia.
If you would like to visit this unknown soldier’s grave and lay some flowers yourself, go to the Pennsylvania area in Section A, Site #88.
Sources
Harrisburg Telegraph, September 9th, 1907, Page 10
So, I’m not psychic. I’m about as psychic as a wet towel.
But, I’ve worked with a LOT of psychics over the 10+ years I’ve been investigating the paranormal. Throughout this time, I’ve gotten pretty familiar with working with psychics, how to find a good one, and when I know I’m being taken for a ride. I’m often questioned about this since sometimes people are scammed by self-proclaimed psychics more often these days. Luckily, I’ve managed to find a few good psychics that I think are legit, and I’m here to tell you how you can do that as well.
If you possess psychic and mediumship abilities, this is also for you. If you’re wondering what goes through a client’s heading during a reading, and you’re looking to improve your skills, then these tips and pet peeves will be very helpful to you on your journey.
What I’m going to do is share the pet peeve, and then share the tip to help resolve the pet peeve. Think of it as a problem-solution model for this blog. This is not only for psychics but for anyone who is interested in working with psychics and are wondering how to approach this. Stick around through the end, and I’ll tell you what the good psychics do!
If you want to watch the video version of this blog where you hear the tips directly from me with other commentaries, click here or see below.
Pet Peeve #1: Being Too General
If you’re not familiar with the concept of cold reading, this is definitely something to look into before your next session with a psychic. Basically, it means that the psychic will ask an incredible general question that could apply to anyone.
For example, the psychic may ask or say to me, “I sense an older woman in your life.”
That’s pretty general. Given that majority of the world’s population has an older woman in their life, whether it’s a mother, grandmother, etc., this can easily be picked up. Another one would be, “I’m sensing someone with the letter A in their name.” Again, this is a vowel, and that’s fairly common in most names.
If this is a group setting in where you are receiving your reading with multiple people, then it’s even more likely that the general statements will apply to a person. Usually, in the cold reading pattern, once a person verifies that they have a grandmother with the letter A in their name, the psychic will then read the body language and verbal/non-verbal cues from the client to pursue further.
Another general statement that I’ve heard numerous times from people with abilities is, “This is very old land.”
Okay, so…I’m pretty sure most land is old. Unless you live near a volcano with running lava that is constantly making new land.
Tip for the Psychic: Be Specific
I appreciate specificity more so than generality, even if you’re wrong. If you’re sensing a woman with dark hair and her name is Agatha…say it. I know sometimes psychics may feel a bit self-conscious about the validity of their readings, so they may go for something more general. I also know there are people that don’t like silence, and so they will say things to fill in the gaps while they’re still processing information. Embrace the silence and be as specific as you can.
Tip for the Client: Stay Neutral
It can be tempting to verify and validate a psychic as they go with an enthusiastic, “Yes!” or try to fill in the blanks. Here’s a tip: don’t. Try to stay neutral as much as possible and don’t give away information.
Pet Peeve #2: Reading the Room
This means that the psychic is looking at elements in your home, your clothing choices, what kind of shoes you’re wearing, the type of purse you have, etc. They are basically reading you as a person. If they’re in your home, they’re looking for clues like if you have kids, if you live under powerlines, how close your house is with your neighbor’s, etc.
One experience I had was in a haunted location where I accompanied the psychic during their walkthrough. They walked into the husband’s study and immediately said, “This is a man’s room. I’m sensing male energy.” Given the decoration included leather furniture and a set of antlers on the wall with military maps and such…this wasn’t coming from any metaphysical gifts.
Tip for the Psychic: Go in Blindfolded
If you’re feeling really edgy and brave and you don’t want to be tainted by the aesthetic in the room, close your eyes or use a blindfold. I’ve seen multiple psychics do this, and it seems to be effective. But removing a blatant bias in the room (ie photos, decor, etc.), they ended up depending on a different part of their abilities to read the room.
Tip for the Client: Call it Out
You don’t have to be rude about it. Using the “man’s room” example, I would say something to the effect of, “Oh yeah, the antlers REALLY give it away.” I would say this very lightheartedly because the psychic may not know that their bias is at play here. When you point this out, it will make the psychic become self-aware.
Pet Peeve #3: Not Asking for Consent
This one drives me batty. This is something I will call out in a public forum if I see it. Even if you’re going with a group for a reading, you don’t have to participate if you’re not comfortable. I tend to see this trend on social media as well as in haunted locations where spooky stuff is already on everyone’s mind. The psychic will approach someone and start spouting off a reading right off the bat before the person has a chance to really grasp what is happening. More often than not, this happens publicly and exposes sensitive information in front of strangers.
This is gross. This is violating. Don’t do it.
Tip for the Psychic: Ask for Permission
If you’re really itching to talk to someone about what you’re picking up, pull them aside and ask for permission. If this is happening on social media, ask if you can send a personal message to that person. Then, ask for permission. Never do this in a public forum, especially without permission. Doing it without consent, and in front of a crowd makes it look like you’re trying to put on a show and impress people at another’s expense.
Tip for the Client: You Are in Control
If you’re approached by a psychic because they have a message to give you, don’t hesitate to ask questions. It’s also okay to say no. But if the psychic seems genuine, and you feel comfortable, then go for it. Also, be on the lookout for the psychic trying to charge you for their services after the fact. Or, they leave you on a cliffhanger and say, “For $50 I can find out more.” Walk away. It’s a scam. If the psychic then claims you have a family curse and it will cost $XXXX to remove it, walk away. Call the cops.
Pet Peeve #4: Giving Medical Advice
This is one of those legal points that we often don’t think about in the paranormal. Even if you’re a doctor, you should never…NEVER…give medical advice as a psychic reader. For real. I’ve seen psychics tell their clients they can stop taking their anti-psychotics. The result? The client will no longer listen to their doctor. Needless to say, it has ended up badly. Not just for the client, but a few times, the psychic will be taken to court. I’ve seen psychics sued for pain and suffering, amongst other issues.
There is a difference between a psychic telling you to get a part of your body checked out versus telling you how to treat the condition. If the psychic tells you something concerning your health and body, definitely follow up with your doctor.
Tips for the Psychic: Don’t Treat the Condition
If you are using your client’s spirit guides, and they are alerting you to the ailment at hand, then passing on the message is important. Of course, this can be terrifying to your client, so approach this with as much empathy as possible. Also, be sure to tell your client that you’re not a medical expert and encourage them to follow up with their doctor. Never give advice on how to treat the condition even if you know what you’re doing. You don’t want to open yourself up to legal trouble.
Tip for the Client: Follow Up with Your Doctor
Just to be safe, don’t take any medical advice from a psychic. If they suggest that something is wrong, follow up with your doctor. If any psychic is trying to give you advice on your current treatment, suggest that you change meds, etc. don’t do it until you’ve spoken with your doctor. For some, this could mean the difference between life and death. At the very least, making sure you maintain a good quality of life.
Pet Peeve #5: Refusing to Be Wrong
This one bothers me, especially when it’s highly likely that a psychic is wrong. I know that this will offend people, but it has to be said. I’ve found myself sometimes redirecting psychics if they’re going down the wrong rabbit hole, meaning they’re trusting the wrong vibe. I once had a psychic tell me that she knew I had a living child and I said no. I had lost a few pregnancies, and I initially thought that maybe she was picking up on them. No. She insisted I had a child that was alive and she thought I was lying to her. I even told her my history, and she never budged. I never used her again.
Tip for the Psychic: It’s Okay to Be Wrong
I’m much more willing to work with a psychic who is open to being wrong, than a psychic who is over-confident to the point where they’re never wrong. Being wrong opens yourself up to a wealth of learning opportunities that will only improve your abilities once you embrace them.
Tip for the Client: Be Gentle
As I mentioned to the psychic, it’s okay if they’re wrong. It may mean that they’re not the right psychic for you, their gifts are different from what you need, or something is amiss. If the psychic ends up being wrong, be gentle and honest with them, and possibly redirect them. Sometimes a nudge in the right direction is all they need and then they’re spot on.
Pet Peeve #6: Reading a Famous Location Like It’s a New Place
If I take a psychic to Gettysburg, and the first thing they tell me is, “I get the feeling a massive battle happened here”, my reply is going to be, “No sh*t, Sherlock.” True story. This happened. When it comes to reading famous places, I’ll be honest and say that I take what the psychic says with a grain of salt. This is because I don’t know if they’ve researched the area ahead of time.
Tip for the Psychic: Be Specific
This goes back to my tip about specificity. While you may not be able to read a location on a large scale, you can downsize and tune into one smaller thing. It could be that you click with a spirit that haunts the location. If you’re on a ghost hunt, you might be able to help guide the investigation (don’t take it over) so that the conversation is productive.
Tip for the Client: Call it Out & Ask for Specifics
Going back to the Gettysburg example, I called it out almost immediately. We all know a great battle happened there. When a psychic gets too general, I try to ask specific questions. I may say something like, “Is there anything here in this spot that you might be feeling?” I may even point out a toy, an area, a building, etc. and ask them what they pick up on. Unless they did thorough research on every little thing about a location, this simple redirection can help them without making them feel bad.
Pet Peeve #7: Taking Over & Tainting a Ghost Hunt
This one is HARD to manage. As the director of a team where the psychics used to outnumber the muggles, this one is like herding cats. An example of this situation is that one psychic speaks up (I call this person the alpha-psychic), and then the other psychics in the room start supporting what the alpha-psychic said. It turns into a situation where the psychics in the room are already tainted and may struggle to share any information that is different. It then turns into a mess where two or more psychics are bouncing ideas off each other that could very well be wrong. They’re more interested in validating each other than reading the room.
Tip for the Psychic: Take Precise Notes
You want to create a paper trail that is timestamped and dated as much as possible. If you’re picking up on something ahead of time before your investigation or reading, send an email to your friend, spouse, yourself…just something that shows the time and date. During your walkthrough and investigation, take notes on what you’re picking up. If you have to share it with someone, share it with the leader of the group and go with their guidance on how much to share.
Tip for the Client: Record Everything
The solution to this is setting aside time so that each psychic can do a walkthrough of the property. Have a regular, non-psychic person record the walkthrough on video so that the initial findings are recorded. That way, if there is a hit, we can reference back to the video. If there are common reports about certain areas during the reading, it’s documented. I can’t take credit for this one. My amazing lead psychic, Katlyn, came up with this.
Pet Peeve #8: Caving In Too Easily with Other Psychics
This pet peeve is the complete opposite of number seven. If you’re picking up something, and you share it with the leader of the ghost hunt, be confident in what you’re picking up. I’ve witnessed many psychics tell me one thing, but when another psychic says something different, they’ll completely switch gears and jump on board with the alpha. What’s worse is that I’ve seen some pretend that their differing reading never happened (remember, record). This makes me sad when this happens, because whose to say that the alpha is right? Instead of being tainted and unable to do the reading, this psychic will completely change their alignment and cave in when there’s differing opinions.
Tip for the Psychic: Stay Strong
If you are getting something completely different from what the alpha-psychic is saying, stay strong and say something. Just because you’re picking up on something completely different doesn’t mean you’re wrong. I’ve yet to meet two psychics with the exact same gifts. You might pick up on something different because you’re energy is intune with it.
Tip for the Client: Be the Psychic’s Advocate
If you’re leading a ghost hunt, and you see this happen, don’t let the psychic that caved in off the hook. Mention their initial reading with them and ask what changed. I would recommend doing this in private so that the psychic doesn’t feel embarrassed. Remind them that while it’s okay to be wrong, there’s a chance they could be right, and they should stay confident. Also, tell them to not base their reading off of someone else just because they may be more dominant.
At the end of the day, whether you’re a psychic or a consumer of psychic readings, always be sure to be true to yourself, call out discrepancies as you see them, and don’t be shy when uplifting each other. Today’s world is hard to deal with and it’s stressful enough right now.
So, What Do the Good Psychics Do?
They are open to being wrong. The good psychics not only open their minds but their hearts as well. These folks will have confidence in their readings, but their confidence is also flexible. They will go with the flow of the leader of the investigation or their client. The good psychic will not be pushy or impose their beliefs onto their client or their work. They are adaptable and respectful. These folks acknowledge that they are tools in the process and they are the bridge between the physical and spiritual world. They are constantly curious and they will always study their work. The good psychic is always trying to improve.
What tips and tricks do you have for psychics? Share them in the comments!
When I saw this story, I was shocked. This isn’t the first time that there have been paranormal investigations that resulted in violence. As I started digging into the story, I started to see that this story wasn’t what it appeared to be. Ghost hunters screwing up can make for interesting news. But it can harm the teams that are doing it right, especially if they’re trying to get into historic places.
The Story
via KATV
On June 9, 2020, a story broke that a man was stabbed after ghost hunting in a cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette referred to it as “paranormal hunting.” Okay, that’s a new one. According to the unnamed female witness, she, Mark Galloway, and James Patterson were in a cemetery. Around 1:50 am Patterson and the female wanted to leave, but Galloway wanted to stay. As a result, the group started to argue.
But according to ABC-7 KATV, the argument started because there was a disagreement over who was going to drive back. Galloway insisted on driving, but Patterson and the woman didn’t want Galloway to drive.
They all got into a tan Ford 500, and Galloway started driving away. The woman said she couldn’t breathe, so she asked Galloway to stop. He refused. She tried to take the keys out of the ignition. Patterson tried to get control of the vehicle. Because of this, Galloway started to stab him. Patterson had stab wounds in his thigh and torso.
Police were called to a Rodeway Inn & Suites after there were reports of a stabbing. Patterson was bleeding heavily, and Galloway was arrested and charged with first-degree battery and false imprisonment. He was booked at the Pulaski County Jail.
Digging Deeper
I decided to dig deeper into this story to see what I could learn about Mark Galloway and James Patterson. Coast to Coast labeled them as ghost hunters, along with other news outlets. Were they actual ghost hunters?
First, I couldn’t find any connection to any paranormal team for Galloway or Patterson. I tried to find them in some of the larger paranormal Facebook groups I’m a part of. Based on this, I’m going to assume that these were people hanging out in a cemetery looking for something scare them.
In this case, I have suspicions based on Galloway’s mugshot and the sequence of events. Between the nature of their visit to the cemetery, the incident in the car, and the Rodeway Inn…yeah. Galloway also has a criminal record. In May 2016 for aggravated assault and false imprisonment for kidnapping his 19-year old girlfriend.
What was incredibly frustrating to read was the comments on the various postings of this story. People immediately jumped to the “demon” word and said Galloway was possessed. This doesn’t help the paranormal community at all. It only perpetuates the idea that these people aren’t responsible for their actions and we can blame the paranormal. That has to stop.
We can’t keep jumping to conclusions like this without thinking critically about the events of the story. This doesn’t help in creating a separation from amateur thrill seekers to serious paranormal investigators.
Burning Down History
This isn’t the first time that the mistakes of amateurs have made headlines. Sadly, labeling these people as “ghost hunters” doesn’t help the cause at all.
One of the most heartbreaking incidents that happened was when the LeBeau Plantation in Old Arabi, Louisiana, was burned down by ghost hunters. This group was also using marijuana and drinking alcohol. In the midst of their hazy stupor, plus the frustration that no ghosts were responding, one of the men decided it would be a good idea to burn the place down. I’m sorry, WHAT?
The seven men, ranging in age from 17-31, were trespassing. So they weren’t supposed to be there in the first place. But again, would we call these men ghost hunters? Definitely not.
However, it’s a catchy term, and the media will continue to use it.
What Do We Do?
Thankfully, there’s a few things we can do when this happens. We can speak out when these stories go public and reassure the community that this isn’t us. We can make our process known so that the community, and these historic locations, can be rest assured that we will take care of them.
Teams can also adopt a code of ethics as well as a non-disclosure agreement. Respecting the location’s wishes is a top priority. If ghost hunters can show that they can take care of and respect property, then how can they gain anyone’s trust?
Valak may be one of the most terrifying demons in The Conjuring Universe, but this demonic entity’s roots lie in centuries-old lore. What’s the truth behind this infamous figure?
I saw the following meme floating around Facebook:
I get that it’s a meme and it has to keep things short and high level for the sake of keeping it short and sweet. After reading the comments, I saw that there a lot of assumptions made that could be harmful for people who don’t know what they’re doing. Granted, I think summoning an ancient demon might be a bad idea anyway.
I take issue with the statement, “who in actuality is a demon named Valak.” Anyone who has watched “The Conjuring 2” and “The Nun” knows that the demon’s name is Valak. It’s a major plot point in “The Conjuring 2.” Why is this being presented as new information?
The Real Enfield Poltergeist
First of all, there was no demonic activity with the Enfield Poltergeist. This means that the family was not tormented by a demon named Valak. If you want more info on the case, I highly recommend reading the book, “This House is Haunted” by Guy Lyon Playfair, to get a detailed account from the team involved in the case. There’s also “The Enfield Poltergeist Tapes” by Dr. Melvyn Willin. For anyone interested in the case, it’s considered an essential read.
The Warrens’ true involvement in the Enfield Poltergeist has been a center of controversy. There are conflicting reports. Many folks said they showed up on the front doorstep and were quickly sent away. Others claim they had time to interview the family. I recommend researching this on your own and come to your own conclusion, and you can also contact me personally to talk this out.
Boy with Angel Wings
Valak isn’t a nun at all. Valak wasn’t present at Enfield. There is no lore that has ever portrayed Valak as a nun. Instead, he is depicted as more of a cherubim-like creature, or, “a boy with angel wings, riding on a two-headed dragon.” But don’t let the angelic look fool you into thinking he isn’t fierce. He rides a two-headed dragon, which is a strong indication that he’s a bad*ss. Depending on which book you’re looking at, Valak has been spelled as Valac, Volac, Valu, Ualac, Volach, and even Coolor and Doolas.
Original Text
The first time we see Valak appear in written form is in “The False Monarchy of Demons” (or Pseudomonarchia Daemonum) which was an appendix in Johann Weyer’s “On the Tricks of Demons” (De praestigiis daemonum). It contains a list of 69 demons with the rituals needed to conjure them. In this text, he is referred to as President Volac. Weyer was a Dutch physician, occultist, and demonologist who was one of the first to speak out against the persecution of witches.
In “The Book of the Office of Spirits” (Liber Officiorum Spirituum), Valak is referred to as Coolor and Doolas. Why the drastic change in name? Well, it looks like Weyer used Liber Officiorum Spirituum as a reference. The traits of Valak/Coolor/Doolas and their rituals were the same. I have to wonder if Weyer is responsible for the sinister name we have now.
“The Lesser Key of Solomon” was written in the mid-1600s, and it is a grimoire on demonology. “The Lesser Key of Solomon” is compiled of older books. One could argue that the content is much older.
Who Was Valak?
“The Conjuring” franchise has made Valak the great connector between The Conjuring 2 and The Nun. This was purely for entertainment purposes, as Valak, let alone a demonic nun, has never appeared in the Warrens’ case files. From a filmmaking standpoint, I love Valak as a character. I have to admit that I’ve enjoyed all of the movies in the franchise. While I think the movies are very well done, we can’t look at them as true.
The majority of these historical texts refer to him as, “President Valak.” In “The Lesser Key of Solomon”, Valak is referred to as the Grand President of Hell who rules over legions of demons. He governs 38 legions of demons, and he can locate, summon, and control serpents.
If you try to summon Valak, it might not be worth your while, especially if you’re not worth HIS while. We don’t know how Valak measures worth, and all I can tell you is that he will ruin your life. As with most demon interactions, you’re at risk of getting possessed. I’m not going to tell you how to summon Valak. If you’re dying to know…it’s on the internet. Good luck with that.
Why a Nun?
James Wan completely owns that he made up Valak’s depiction as a nun. When he overheard Lorraine talking about how a dark entity was following her, and it was a swirling vortex of darkness, Wan realized that it would have to be CGI if he made it true to the story.
Here it in his words:
“I remember hearing that and my first thought was, ‘Oh crap, that’s going to be a CGI character.’ I didn’t want to do that,” said Wan. “And so, it kind of took me a while to cement in my head what this vision was. And it came across eventually in a very organic way. Because it is a demonic vision that haunts her, that only attacks her, I wanted something that would attack her faith. Something that would threaten the safety of her husband. And so that was eventually how the idea of this very iconographic image of a holy icon cemented in my head.”
The Monastery
The Cârța Monastery is the location where the movie, “The Nun”, takes place. Yes, this is a real place. It is located in Transylvania in Southern Romania. The monastery is considered to be haunted and is known as “The Haunted Abbey.”
You won’t find demons there. The abbey is a Cistercian monastery that was built in the 1200s. It was built in the shape of a cross. Sadly, the abbey was damaged because of the Mongol invasion of 1241. Since then, it has been restored numerous times throughout its life.
The abbey stopped running in the 1500s. This means it was not active when “The Nun” took place. Only the church building still stands today. If you were to visit the site now, it is a Lutheran Evangelical Church!
There have been reports of vibrating walls and moving chairs. There are reports apparitions of monks in white robes. Every day, the monks wore these white robes. These monks worked very hard every day, and their life expectancy was around 40 years old. Today, the monks are buried on the property along with soldiers from World War I.
I have to confess something; I make mistakes too. Maybe more than the average bear. It’s all part of the “trial and error” life of being a paranormal investigator. You try things that work, and you toss the things that don’t work. But the problem here was I was using a technique that had been VERY successful for the past several years.
When I’m out there doing a ghost hunt/paranormal investigation, I’m constantly trying to do it right. Sometimes, that ideal gets me into hot water. This isn’t with the living. But instead, it’s with the ghosts.
I got called out by a ghost for the first time.
The Background
It was my first paranormal investigation since December (ouch). It was our second time at this particular location, and since we had moderate success during our first visit, I wanted to approach the location the same way as last time. The location is rich in history with documentation to support it all. The location is honestly a dream come true!
I can’t say where the location is due to privacy reasons. This is about the lesson I learned during my latest investigation. Don’t get me wrong, the investigation was overall successful and we got some fascinating data, but I didn’t expect the response I would hear from the man of the house himself…who is a ghost.
The Interpretation
I did a lot of prep, but at the end of the day, the ghost felt like we were asking them to perform parlor tricks. They (the ghosts) thought we were looking to be entertained. While that was far from the truth, I can see why the spirits thought that way. I made the mistake of approaching the location like I approach most places; the ghosts want to talk about their feelings. Well, not all ghosts want to sit in the dark with us and talk through their emotions.
Lessons Learned
I honestly feel bad that we came across like a group of ghost hunters that wanted the spirits to perform. That has never been my intention, nor the intention of my time. We try to approach our investigations with a research perspective and bringing questions to the table from a contextual standpoint.
Because I’m an emotional person by nature, I immediately default to this approach. I try to use an empathetic approach to my investigational skills. Most of the time, the ghosts are eager to talk because they may not have had the opportunity to talk about this side of themselves in the past. It’s been a successful approach…until now.
There are ghosts who are present to get a job done. In this case, when the spirits saw us working, they respected us and wanted to join in. I even taught a VIPKid class the next morning in the location (that was a new one). The door kept unlatching and being pushed open. The area was known to have children, and they wanted to learn as well. That was huge.
Like I mentioned before, the investigation wasn’t a bust. We did manage to get some responses and have some information to follow up on to see if it makes sense.
What I’ll Do Next Time
I learned that I can’t use the same formula every time I go on a ghost hunt. Not only do I have to have a plan ready, but I have to have a Plan B ready when A isn’t working. I also need a Plan C, D, E, F…the letters go on.
I need to go back to my roots and hit hard with historical research…that’s critical. That way, I can prepare to change gears at a moment’s notice without derailing the process. Also, most importantly, I hope the spirits feel valued and respected.
How do you prep for your paranormal investigation? What do you do to get the ghosts to talk? Share your tips in the comments!
One recent morning, a friend alerted me to a new effect that was available on TikTok. They call it the Ripple Effect, and it creates multi colors around a moving thing, regardless of whether it’s a person, animal, or furniture. While many people were taking advantage of it for its intended person, there’s another audience that is using it to detect ghosts.
Because I’m curious in nature, it was time to give it a try. I already had the app installed, and quickly found the effect. I turned it on and started scanning my apartment. To be honest, I hoped it would go off where Frank the Kitchen Ghost likes to hang out. But I got nothing. Absolutely nothing. I walked to the bathroom, scanned each room, and still…nada. I was starting to think that maybe other users had rigged the app to go off on inanimate objects.
As I walked to the living room, I was intrigued to see that my bookshelf was radiating with colors. That bookshelf also happens to house my mother’s urn as well as a number of her trinkets. With the shape of the urn on the top shelf, it honestly looked like a person was standing there.
What was really interesting was that when I changed angles, the colors stopped.
The next step I made was to remove my mom’s urn. Even though my mom’s urn had been moved, the bookshelf was still triggering the ripple effect. What movement could be going on? This is where I wonder whether there were vibrations in the floor, or could it be the crystals in that bowl all creating their own little vibrations?
The shape also changed, and it completely enveloped the bookshelf, since the urn was no longer there to make the share of the head.
So, my third step was to remove the trinkets from the shelf. The trinkets included small statues as well as a bowl of stones and crystals my mom had. I did a video immediately after, and there was still movement. I almost decided that it was just the app itself making the ripple effect based on shape instead of movement. But then a friend told me to let the bookshelf breathe. I let the shelf sit for a bit without the trinkets, and I did another video.
I feel this kind of technology can be misleading for folks trying to find spirits. The way that apps like these are developed is that it’s creating to detect movement. If no movement is obvious, then the technology will work harder to create a pattern out of nothingness. It is very similar to the technology behind the SLS camera. Kenny Biddle does a great job explaining the technology behind the SLS camera and why it doesn’t detect ghosts. It’s all based on an algorithm. To keep it high level, it’s creating something out of nothing.
I’ve also considered the idea that all those stones and crystals my mom had, all in that bowl together, were creating some sort of vibration on their own. This is actual science. My friend actually managed to create a radio with crystals, without any electricity or frequency.
I also think perhaps the air vent may have had something to do with it, as the vent is right above the bookshelf. I forgot to take note of whether or not the air was on when I did the video. However, there are vents all over my apartment, and none of the other vents went off.
As more TikTok users flock to the ripple effect to try to find ghosts in their own homes, it just further proves that there is a thirst for more paranormal knowledge out there. As humans, we continue to be curious about the afterlife, and it means that many will grasp onto anything they can to get a taste of that experience.
I recently inherited the oracle card deck, “Healing with the Angels” by Doreen Virtue. I’m pretty skeptical, but I did my own reading last night and had an interesting result. So, I want to open it up to you all. We have less than 10 days left in May, but a lot can happen in those ten days!
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and ask your angels or guides what you need to focus on for the rest of the month. Then, open your eyes and choose a number. Don’t think about it. Choose the number/card you are drawn to.
If you got this card, it means that you are holding onto something tightly. Let go and allow the angels to take care of it for you. When you release this, it means that either something better will come to replace it, or it will come back to you fully restored and healed. If you don’t let go, the thing you are holding onto, whether it’s finances, career, love life, etc., it won’t have enough room to heal. The angels are telling you to stop trying to control this certain situation.
#2 Archangel Michael
If you chose this card, it means that this powerful angel is with you right now. The Archangel Michael represents power and courage from the confidence that God’s love is the most powerful love there is. He could even be making his presence known to you and letting you know that you are not alone. As you make changes and meet challenges in your life right now, Michael is letting you know that you are safe and secure. It is even suggested that you talk to Michael and unload your fears and troubles on him, and don’t worry about overloading him. He can handle it.
#3 Answered Prayer
If you received this card, it is letting you know that your prayers have been heard and they have been answered. If you feel that your prayers haven’t been answered, pay attention to any hunches, weird feelings, or something out of the ordinary that may have come to you recently. Maybe that book you’ve been meaning to read fell off the shelf. Those may be the angels telling you to read that book, as your solution is in there. The angels are asking you to be observant, and God may even enlist Earth angels to help you with your answered prayer.
#4 Emerging
If you chose this card, it means that your true self is now shining through. You are radiant, powerful, and intelligent. You are incredible and have been through an amazing journey to becoming the person you are today, in this moment. You are starting to trust and show your true self more easily than ever before. Your angels are guiding you and telling you to honor your true self and reveal your feelings to not only yourself but to others. If you are concerned about misunderstandings, the angels will help guide your words with love. You are standing on the precipice of reaching a new level of inner peace.
#5 Truth & Integrity
If you chose this card, it means that you are being guided to be honest with yourself, and to be true to yourself in your actions and activities. Remember that 98° song, “True to Your Heart”? That’s what the angels are telling you. Let go of anything that is inauthentic and anything that doesn’t reflect the highest intentions of yourself. The angels also say to expect a miracle to come to you when you are true to yourself. Once you release your worry, negativity, and trying to hide your true self, the Diving light has room to enter.
#6 Friendship
If you chose this card, it means that there are changes happening in your friendships. Appreciate the presence of true friendship in your life and being honest with yourself and your friends. Your life may be going through some changes and you fear you may lose common interests with old friends, or that you’re growing apart from your friends. While changes in friendships are natural, the angels want you to give the situation to them so that they can help you through this transition. This card also represents new friendships coming into your life with people who share your interests and ambitions.
Was the card you chose accurate to your life right now? Let me know in the comments!
