I found myself in Spartanburg, South Carolina during an extensive road trip to Atlanta, Georgie. My good friend, Tally Johnson, just happens to be an expert on the area when it comes to legends and hauntings. In fact, he’s written a book about it! Tally has actually written MANY books about the hauntings in South Carolina. Check them out when you get the chance! He was kind enough to take me to the famous haunted Tanning Yard of Spartanburg. He also shared with me a few legends of the area. Tally also shared a hilarious personal story of his own encounter with the woman in white…but it’s not what you think!
I’m not going to tell his story for him. So, you’ll need to watch the video to find out!
What is a Tanning Yard?
Okay, this California girl has no idea what a tanning yard is. It’s basically where cowhides were tanned for leather. At this particular tanning yard, it’s right under a railroad bridge, with a creek that runs underneath.
The Legend
When Tally mentioned visiting the Tanning Yard, Google directed me to a site that called it one of the most haunted places in Upstate South Carolina. Needless to say, this had my attention. According to legend, this tanning yard was home to multiple homicides nearby. We’re talking serial killer status.
Also according to legend, in the mid-1900s a bunch of cars were dumped with bodies inside. Also, Tally mentioned about a story from the 1960s and a religious cult that collected a virgin from each local high school, dress them in a white virginal gown, and sacrifice them. One girl managed to escape using the creek.
I also read that there used to be an old amusement park nearby. Also, the same girl who escaped using the creek may also be the girl who was murdered by strangulation by the Gaffney Strangler; Lee Roy Martin…also in the 1960s.
It’s amazing how all of these legends start merging together, doesn’t it?
The Hauntings
Tally calls this area “Cry Baby Bridge.” To be fair, almost every town in America has their own version of the Cry Baby Bridge legend. Babies and children can be heard crying, and red eyes have been seen glowing in the creek. A woman in white is also seen running down the creek, waving cars to stop for her. Visitors also report feeling a sense of sadness and dread.
Tally also said that if people honk their horn three times and leave the car in neutral, something moves the car. Could it be the woman in white telling you to get a move on so she can get away from her assailants?
There are also reports that there’s a micheivious ghost that comes out at night. Of course, being in a haunted spot after dark is sure to make you feel a little more nervous than usual. Could it be human nerves or something paranormal?
If you go there today to explore, I wouldn’t recommend it. This is because it is much more populated today than it was in Tally’s time. There’s actually a beautiful mansion right across the street from the creek. I can’t help but wonder if those folks have ever sensed anything weird, or is it just the tourists looking for the woman in white?
Could a traumatic event be so powerful that the land absorbs its energy? While battlefields are well known for having this kind of phenomenon, we don’t hear it about very often on a smaller scale. Or, in this case, a train wreck that occurred just outside of Statesville, NC.
I heard about this haunting from one of my team members when we were first exploring the Trivette Clinic, which is located in Hamptonville, NC. It’s not a far drive from Statesville. Being a California native, I’m still very new to the history of North Carolina and its fascinating local legends. One of the biggest standouts for me is the ghost stories and train culture.
This particular event is so disturbing, and the subsequent events that followed are truly horrifying.
On August 27th, 1891, a passenger train in North Carolina was trying to make up for lost time. It was the Richmond & Danville engine number 9. The train was pulling six cars which included a baggage car, a second-class car, a first-class coach, a tender, a private car for R&D’s superintendent, and a Pullman sleeper. It departed Statesville (Iredell County) around 2:30 am. They were already running 34 minutes late, so the train was going much faster than it should.
Only 5 minutes later, the train lurched off the Bostian Bridge. It fell 60-feet and hit the creek below, known as Third Creek. Because the train was going so fast, survivors say that the train was actually airborne! The sleeper car ended up hitting the ground 153 feet away from where it left the bridge.
Survivors ended up walking and running back to Statesville to report the accident. The entire town dedicated itself to rescuing survivors and recovering the deceased. They cut people out of the wreckage. Approximately, 20-23 people lost their lives, and 30 people injured. If people didn’t die from the crash, they drowned because the creek waters were high. Sadly, Statesville didn’t have a hospital at the time. So the injured were treated by the locals in their homes. The deceased was laid out in the Farmers’ Tobacco Warehouse so they could be identified.
An investigation was conducted to find the cause of the accident. It was discovered that rail spikes had been removed. Others blamed it on the poor maintenance of the R&D railroad.
A Public Spectacle
When news spread of this tragic accident, thousands of people gathered to check out the wreck and search through the debris for souvenirs. Photographers gathered to take photos and sold them to various publications around the area and state. You could say this was very much a disrespectful way to handle the situation. After detectives questioned people, two men already incarcerated were convicted of the crime based on their supposed confession to fellow inmates.
A Ghostly Anniversary
Train Wreck of Bostian Bridge, Iredell County, NC. Wreck occured August 27, 1891, near Statesville. Photos by Stimson Studio, Statesville, NC
The tragedy of the this train wreck has never been forgotten. Why? Because it seems that this tragic event replays itself every year on the anniversary on August 27th. It started in 1941 when a couple were stranded by the bridge due to a flat tire. The husband left his wife alone to get help. While she was waiting, she heard the whistle of an approaching train. She saw the headlights and saw an old-fashioned train made of wood. As the train crossed the bridge, she heard a horrible crashed and witnessed the train fly off the bridge. To her horror, she heard the moans and screams of wounded people. She went down by the creek to get a better look and saw the full tragedy unfold.
When the woman saw a car approaching, she ran up and waved for help. As it turns out, her husband was in the car. She told her husband and the driver that a terrible accident took place. When they went to look. Nothing was there.
Insisting something had happened, the wife asked the husband to stop by the train station in Statesville. When the couple approached the ticket window, the wife asked the ticket agent if there was a train accident. The ticket agent explained that there was a terrible wreck on that same night, 50 years ago.
Echoes of the Past
I made a Facebook post about the Ghost Train of Bostian Bridge in July 2020, and it went viral. In the comments, I read countless stories of people who have felt weird things in the area. Those who worked near the bridge noted phantom train sounds coming from the area late at night. It seems there is still ghostly activity taking place, reminding the locals that the tragedy still resonates today.
People have also reported hearing screeching tracks, as well as seeing a ghost light on the tracks. The ghost light is seen often by locals. The ghost of a uniformed railroad employee with a golden watch has been seen as well. It is believed to be the spirit of Baggage Master Hugh K. Linster, who was found in the wreckage with a broken neck.
Since this legend became well known, people have flocked to Bostian Bridge each year on August 27th. This is all in hopes of catching a glimpse of the infamous ghost train. Keep in mind that the Bostian Bridge is still an active railroad. This means that there are still real trains traveling on this railroad, and therefore, it’s dangerous.
Sadly, on August 27th, 2010, about 119 years after the original accident, a ghost hunter named Christopher Kaiser was killed after he was hit by a real train on the Bostian Bridge. There were about a dozen people present to check out the legend. He and his team were in the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of the ghost train. Kaiser managed to save his girlfriend from getting hit by pushing her off the tracks. One other man fell off the tracks and was injured. Why didn’t they run off the tracks earlier? According to WBTV, they thought the train sounds were the ghost train.
On that note, if you want to check out the ghost train for yourself, do it from a safe distance and stay off the tracks.
Better yet, light a candle for the victims from the safety of your own home.
I realize I broke away from my weekly routine, but there’s a good reason for that! After this recent Gettysburg trip, I was EXHAUSTED. Just a few days after my return, I had to have major surgery. That kicked my butt. I’m just NOW feeling like my old self again. I have some limitations. But luckily, I can write and make a quick video.
Originally, I was heading to Gettysburg for the Battlefield Bash, which was supposed to take place July 24th-26th. Because of COVID-19 and event restrictions, the event had to be canceled. Such is life in a COVID world. But, the AirBnB that my team and I booked was non-refundable. So, we were going anyway!
First Time for Everything
This was my first time staying in an actual house in Gettysburg. Previously, I had always stayed in a hotel or a motel. This house is known as “Pearl’s Place” on AirBnB, and it was overall, a fantastic experience. We’re pretty sure it’s haunted as well. During my first night, while trying to sleep, I kept feeling tugs on my CPAP tube and it kept waking me up. When I checked the tube, nothing was catching it. After the third time of this happening, I said, “This helps me breathe when I sleep.” After that…nothing. I slept peacefully.
I also encountered shadows and footsteps in the hallway. During our first few nights, we were aggressively trying to debunk any sounds we were hearing through experimentation. It’s fun to go on adventures with your team! The resident ghost(s) made other appearances in different ways, but that’s a story for my teammates to tell when they’re ready.
With Gettysburg Ghost Tours, we went to the farmhouse and the McCurdy School House. We also investigated the Farnsworth House Inn as well as the Jennie Wade House and the Orphanage. Even though I’ve been to the farmhouse, Jennie Wade, and the Orphanage before, I had completely new experiences.
Why is Gettysburg Haunted?
As I reflect on this trip, it made me ponder exactly why Gettysburg is haunted. I’ve compiled a shortlist of my theories and reasons why it’s haunted.
Reason #1: A Lot Happened
Between July 1-3, 1863, a lot happened in Gettysburg. This was one of the bloodiest battles happening on American soil. And the townsfolk of Gettysburg also had their own trials and tribulations just trying to survive. This was a literal assault on the grounds and it was like a lightning strike of turmoil and death. Gettysburg was absolutely traumatized and ravaged from the battle, and it took them years to recover. That alone is enough to warrant some sort of lingering energy. Perhaps there are spirits that still wander the land, confused as to what actually happened to them.
One could even argue that a lot of the intelligent hauntings that are taking place at Gettysburg are those of spirits who don’t know who are dead, because everything happened so fast. On the other end, my friend Michelle Hamilton told me about the idea that Jennie Wade is still haunting Gettysburg and is very aware of what is happening around her. She’s even considered the town gossip of the paranormal world. I guess if she didn’t live long enough to live her best life in the 1800s, she’s doing it right now.
Reason #2: Stone Tape Theory
While the Stone Tape Theory itself is a bit of an unstable claim to base this on. I’ll go about the idea that the land itself absorbed all of that energy from the battle. For decades, people have commented that there’s a special kind of energy at Gettysburg. You can feel the difference. You can feel the trauma and the aftermath of the battle itself. With the absorption of all of that energy, it’s sure to bleed out.
In this case, since we are still feeling that energy over 150 years later. Maybe that’s why people report hearing rebel yells, cannon fire, gunshots, and seeing reenactors (even though no reenactment is scheduled)? These aren’t intelligent hauntings. Instead, this is residual energy that is replaying over and over like a broken record.
Reason #3: Retelling the Story
The story of Gettysburg has never had a chance to rest. Even after the battle, the town was focused on recovering the town and trying to get back to normal. Just a few months after the battle, Lincoln came to town and gave his famous Gettysburg Address when the Soldiers’ National Cemetery opened. The town’s identity became the Battle of Gettysburg.
Today, people are constantly retelling the story. Whether it’s the museum with its film, cyclorama, and artifacts, people taking the Auto Tour, or even just shopping around, the story is constantly being retold. That energy is being reawakened on a daily basis. Because of this, you could say that the energy from retelling is story is constantly charging up the hauntings at Gettysburg.
Reason #4: We Want it to Be Haunted
This is not only a case of self-fulfilling prophecy but also a case where we can explore the ideas of thoughtforms and tulpas. In the event of self-fulfilling prophecy, if we ghost hunters go out to look for a ghost, and in Gettysburg of all places, then usually, a ghost shall be found. This happens more often than we think. When different tour companies tell us their ghost stories before the ghost hunt or candlelight tour, we have a heightened sense of anticipation. When this happens, we may very well mistake a simple creak as a terrifying ghost. From there, more stories are created.
On a completely nerdy note, there’s also the idea that people can create their own ghosts and hauntings. Some people call these “thoughtforms” or “tulpas.” The Philip Experiment is a great example of this. However, the experiment took years with a group of people meeting once a week. A tulpa takes years of intense concentration to manifest. Because humans typically don’t spend this amount of time on concentration during a ghost hunt, I’m not completely satisfied with this idea.
Reason #5: Modern Hauntings Mistaken for Civil War Hauntings
I don’t think all of the hauntings people encounter are tied to the Civil War. I often wonder if the strength of the Civil War-based paranormal world has given strength to more modern hauntings. Sadly, I do wonder if maybe the hauntings that have started after the Battle have been automatically contributed to the events of 1863. It’s odd because while trying to preserve history, we may very well be a part of the problem that is erasing it.
After Thoughts
I have to also wonder what the percentage of hauntings and ghosts stories are from the battle and how many others are just “regular” hauntings from the most normal things. Gettysburg continues to be a place where ghost hunters will often flock to in order to have that one amazing experience that may very well prove the existence of ghosts. But, how many people will encounter a ghost when they weren’t looking for it? Like, they’re just there to be tourists and take in the history of that great battle. When this happens, I have to wonder if there will always be lost souls wandering this great battlefield, looking for someone who can hear them.
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!
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?
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.
This week, the New York Times released an article titled, Quarantining with a Ghost? It’s Scary. The article shared stories of different people who were dealing with hauntings and being quarantined in their home with said ghosts. I found this interesting because this has been a thought in the back of my mind when the lockdowns were being put in place. How is the dynamic between the living and the supernatural when neither are able to leave the house? If you’re in this situation, you’re not alone. Luckily, you don’t have to take this sitting down either and just accept your circumstances. It doesn’t have to be scary, and you are not the victim in this situation.
I’ve compiled a list of tips on how to get through the quarantine when you’re sharing spaces with a ghost. These tips can also help even after the quarantine is over. This is all similar to the advice we give our clients at Association of Paranormal Study. Please note that these tips are not guaranteed to resolve your haunting or make life easier for you with your ghostly roommate.
Things to Consider
Many times when there is activity in your home, after basic home incidents ruled out, that perhaps there may be a ghost that is trying to communicate with you for some reason.
Find out if other people in your home are also experiencing activity. If it’s just you, be sure to check in with your doctor and look at the side effects of any medication you’re taking just to rule out something medical. If others in your household are having experiences as well, that will give you some validation.
1. Learn the Language of Your House
I learned this tip from one of my team members, Pat Parisi, and it’s brilliant. Learning the language of your house, or any haunted location, means that you know all the creaks, unevenness, cracks, and plumbing. basically all the sounds you hear and sensations you feel in your house. This means just sitting and listening for a bit. This is actually a really useful tip for any paranormal investigation. Once you have an idea of what sort of sounds the house makes, you’ll be able to better debunk stuff.
2. Take Notes
John Tenney mentioned this great tip in the NYT article. Taking notes and making note of the date and time will help you see if there is a pattern to the activity you’re experiencing. It’s also helpful to take notes while listening to the language of your house. If it sounds like footsteps going up and down the stairs, make a note of the day, time, and what was happening before the incident happened. You’ll be able to rule out whether it could be anomalous, or if it happens when someone walks in the kitchen.
3. Set Boundaries
This is something we always try to help our clients with. Regardless of whether your ghostly guest is good or evil, you want to set some boundaries. This could mean anything like, “This is my house, please do not make noise at 1:00am because I’m trying to sleep.” Try to avoid phrases like, “Could you please…”, or “It would be great if you could…” because that is giving the ghost a choice. You don’t have to be mean or angry about it. Being assertive doesn’t mean being rude.
4. Open the Doors and Windows
When you’re stuck inside all day, especially with family, loved ones, pets, etc. things can get stuffy. In this situation, you have so much energy running around your space, that maybe it isn’t even a ghost. But instead, it could be just the accumulation of energy. I definitely recommend opening some windows, and maybe even a door or two to let all that energy out and let the house breathe. If you want to do other things to clear your space like sage or energy healing, be sure to keep things open so the energy has places to go.
5. Ask for Protection
Whatever religious belief you fall into, it doesn’t hurt to pray, meditate, etc. and ask for protection. For many, this may be something as simple as asking God or their deceased relatives to come protect them. If you want to add an extra layer of protection for yourself and your home, there are exercises on grounding and shielding to help keep darker entities, or all entities, at bay.
6. Avoid Communication on Your Own
It’s sort of an unspoken guideline that you should avoid investigating your own home. Even for me, as a seasoned paranormal investigator, I try to avoid ghost hunting in my own space. This is especially true if you don’t know what you’re doing. Before trying anything, try to get in touch with a paranormal team and ask them for their advice. Depending on where you live, they might even be able to come to you if they are exercising safety when it comes to social distancing, sanitizing, wearing masks, etc. I also know that there are teams doing Zoom meetings with their clients so that they can still help you from a distance.
If the ghost is trying to communicate with you, then you may want to explore the possibility of responding. Again, not without the guidance of a paranormal team. Sometimes, if you do listen to what the ghost has to say, they may end up finding peace and move on.
7. Encourage Them to Cross Over
You should have the guidance of a paranormal team or a reputable medium if you want to go this route. A spirit that is residing in your house may not realize that they’re deceased, or they are hesitant to cross over because of things that happened in life. There are a lot of resources online to help a ghost cross over. If this is unfamiliar territory for you, then don’t move forward without talking to someone experienced. There’s a chance you could make the haunting worse instead of better if this isn’t done right.
8. Don’t Antagonize It
During this time of being stuck inside, the last thing you want to do is try to be a big, bad ghost hunter that you see on TV. Don’t do things to make it mad, and definitely don’t provoke. Antagonizing the ghost will not make it want to leave anytime soon. Plus, it will make life quite a bit more hectic and turbulent.
9. Fill Your Space with Positive Energy
This can be hard with the current situation. One of the things I really don’t like is false and toxic positivity. Self-care is more important than ever before! I try to do something positive for myself at least once per day. That might be a dance party, exercising, eating my favorite food, watching Disney, watching something that will make me laugh, the list goes on. You don’t have to be constantly happy, but doing something to bring in a little more positivity can make a big difference. Taking care of yourself is the first step to taking care of your space.
10. Ignore It
This is advice I often see when it comes to dealing with a haunting. I don’t think this is the perfect way, but this is an option. Many will ignore their haunting long enough in hopes that the ghost will get bored and go away on its own. On the other hand, as mentioned before, if the ghost wants to communicate and has something to say, then it will continue to make a ruckus until you sit down and listen to it.
11. Learn to Live with It
If you have a ghost that is fairly calm with the occasional activity, then you have the choice to just learn to live with it. For example, I have a ghost in my kitchen, who I named Frank. He doesn’t really do much except the occasional floating objects and pushing bread off the bar. He does make the occasional appearance down the hall that leads to the kitchen. Besides that, I barely notice him. I can live with an entity like that. If the activity is much more disruptive and volatile, then there would be no way I could continue living with the entity, and it would have to go.
Final Thoughts
Think of the ghost as a roommate. You are sharing the same space and it’s inevitable that you may bump into each other occasionally. The idea of ghosts can be scary, but what has helped me in dealing with that fear is the fact that ghosts are people just like you and me. They just exist in a different state. Think of how you treat the people that live with you and give the ghost that same courtesy.
Do you have any tips on getting through the quarantine while living in a haunted space? Share them in the comments!
It’s a weird time right now. Most of the world is under some sort of “stay at home” order, whether’s it a complete lockdown, quarantine, etc. Movie releases are being delayed indefinitely. TV shows are putting productions on hold. Essential businesses like grocery stores, auto repair, the post office, etc. are still open. But non-essential businesses like parks, hair salons, gyms, etc. are closed until further notice.
Unfortunately, haunted locations are closed as well. While it may be hard to stomach, ghost hunting is not an essential business. Truly…it’s not. Does it mean that ghost hunting doesn’t matter? Of course not. It’s just not something we need to survive like food, medical needs, etc.
Impacts of COVID-19
All of these new orders are for good reason. It sucks My ghost hunting plans for spring and summer of 2020 are pretty much shot. I truly feel for the ghost hunters who are out there doing fieldwork several times a month. I know there are several teams that go out on a weekly basis (you are rock stars). This current time has got to be hard.
Taking a Forced Break from Ghost Hunting
But guess what? You don’t have to go out there doing fieldwork to be considered a ghost hunter or a paranormal researcher. If you’re truly looking for something to do to help amp up your ghost hunting skills and resume, there are things you can do! I compiled this list based on what I’m currently doing at the moment. Most of these are free.
Research
Is there a paranormal topic you’ve been wanting to learn more about? Do you want to understand why orbs aren’t ghosts? Want to know where the “woman in white” legend came from? This is the perfect time to research a legend or area of the paranormal. If you need an idea of where to start, think of different areas of paranormal research. Choose the one where you feel the most uncomfortable, or you can’t define in more than two sentences. That’s the topic you pick!
Go Through the Evidence That You Haven’t Watched, Listened to, Etc.
I’ll be the first to admit that data and evidence review is something I dread. Especially for longer investigations. For me, I’ve been spending 1 hour each day reviewing my backlog. 1 hour is pretty much my limit right now.
Read a Ghost Hunting Book
This may seem…too simple. For some, it is. For others, especially the ones doing fieldwork, reviewing evidence, networking, planning, etc. reading a book may be on the back burner. Take this opportunity to read about the ways other people are ghost hunting. I’ll take this opportunity to shamelessly plugin my book, The Brave Mortal’s Guide to Ghost Hunting.
Give Back to the Community
If you’re in a position where you can throw a few dollars at a paranormal location (especially if they’re non-profit), it would be a huge help. Many of these locations will be suffering significant financial loss because of canceled ghost hunts. If you’re not able to give financially, spreading the word and sharing content can make a big difference. You can even do live streams on Facebook and fundraise for the location.
Plan Your Next Ghost Hunting Adventure
Sure, we’re not sure how long this is going to last, especially in the United States. But, we can get ahead of the game by already planning our next adventure. Whether it’s mapping out where you’re going to go, your ghost hunting plan, equipment list, etc., planning your next ghost hunt will also give you something to look forward to in the future.
Take Inventory & Tidy Up
I know for me, at the end of an investigation, I sometimes will throw my equipment into some random bag or case, mainly because I’m packing up quickly. I’ve been taking this time to reorganize my equipment and make a list of what I need like batteries, new flashlights, etc.
Watch TV
Yep. Watch some TV. I do sometimes watch ghost hunting shows, but not for anything educational (sorry). Ghost hunting shows are meant to be entertainment. I’m watching them to be entertained, find new locations to check out, and also review their investigation skills and see what I could do better. Watching how other investigators do things, even if it’s on TV, can be valuable. You’ll either get validation for your own methods, get new ideas, or know what NOT to do.
Network
If there was any time to network with other ghost hunters, this is the time to do it. Whether it’s through Facebook or some other social media platform, take the time to meet other ghost hunters. Ask to have an online meeting on a platform like Google Hangouts and chat for a bit. This is also super helpful mental health-wise, as conversing with friends during this time can really help you. Most therapists are recommending that we connect with people for about 30 minutes per day.
Create Content
If you have the energy, definitely create content. This means creating images, videos, memes, videos, blogging, writing, live streaming, webinars, basically creating things that people can enjoy. If you’re a paranormal team, this can drive people to your page and website. If you’re a solo ghost hunter, same deal. Right now, we have to move to an all-digital platform, and creating appropriate content can still drive engagement with your work.
Self-Care
Most importantly, take care of yourself. If you’re not able to do anything on this list…that is okay! If you need to just veg on the couch and just exist…that’s okay. If you need to clean everything, that’s okay. Basically, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to accomplish things. This is a very trying time in our world right now, and we’re not quite sure when it will all be over. People are also on edge and many are feeling angry and need someone to lash out at. If you have to walk away from a discussion, argument, etc., do it! Take one day at a time, and we’ll get through all of this together!
Paranormal friends: What are you doing during your quarantine? Share your ideas in the comments.
