"I feel a presence...."

How many shows with investigators or psychics have any of us watched where at some point comes the inevitable "I feel a presence"? This statement always elicits a mental response from me of "Oh, please..." It's easy to feel like something is hovering in a dark corner or just out of sight in any place that is creepy to begin with. I have certainly experienced this unnerving sensation in such situations, but does that mean that there really is a paranormal presence there? I don't think so (and many people will certainly disagree with me). It's so subjective, and so hard to prove or verify.

Having said this, I will admit that there was one time that I experienced this feeling in a way that does make me give it more credence than I used to. I do real estate photography and have done hundreds of houses. In one house the realtor was downstairs with the seller while I was shooting the master suite. The suite had a long hallway into the actual bedroom area with double closets on one side and the master bath on the other. I was shooting an office area off the back of the bedroom with my back to the hallway into the room. I thought the agent had come up and was walking in, and I turned to see nothing. Mentally shrugging I aimed my camera again, and I definitely sensed her walk in and up behind my left shoulder. I actually said, "one more second - almost done" and after taking the photo, turned with my mouth open to say "okay, all set" to see no one. I went out to the landing and heard the agent and seller talking downstairs. Could have been a spirit, could have been my imagination. There's no way to ever really know. And that's my point (problem) with this type of "evidence". It's not true evidence at all.

EVPs

Anyone else out there getting tired of International Ghost Hunters' obsession with EVPs? It seems like their technique of choice lately. Whereas Jason and Grant's investigations used it at times, this team seems to always have their trusty mini recorders on and asking questions. The strangest aspect to this is that many of their investigations are in countries where the deceased they're trying to communicate with wouldn't know English!!! I find also that their EVPs are even more vague than usual and yet they think they're clearly saying what they want to hear in them.

Personally, I have always been very skeptical of EVPs. There are so many air waves carrying radio, TV, cell phone, and computer communications it would surprise me if a tape recorder left running didn't pick something up. The day an EVP has a voice speaking clearly in sentences relaying information very unique to the situation/question I'll be impressed.

Has anyone gotten an EVP that is clear, is more than a word or two and is specific to the situation? What do others think about this technique as a tool for investigating the paranormal?

Ouija Boards

When I was young ouija boards were a part of many sleepover parties. Now there are warnings throughout paranormal articles, books and TV shows about the dangers of using one. The predominant opinion seems to be that they can "open a door" for evil spirits to come through. I guess it's best to take the "better safe than sorry" approach. Although my experiences never resulted in any horrific or lasting results, it seems that others have had very negative experiences.

Are ouija boards' movements performed by spirits at all? Could most or all of the answers from beyond be from our own subconscious? If previously unknown facts are offered, couldn't ESP be a factor and the board a vehicle for the psychic ability of an individual?

If anyone has any ouija board experiences to share or thoughts about its validity and how it works, please comment!

Welcome

Hi, welcome to my Haunted Blog. Here I'll post on various aspects of the paranormal: haunted places, books/movies, thoughts and experiences.

Some of my general opinions on the paranormal: I believe in ghosts and also in ESP. I do not believe that "orbs" in photos are ghosts or spirits and I also do not believe in demonology. The book Psience is the most fascinating book I've attempting to explain the paranormal and I am so excited that people are starting to think that quantum physics may hold some answers that explain what we now call paranormal events.

You can email me your stories and experiences and I will "paste" them in here as posts so others can read them. Again, welcome and feel free to share your thoughts!