Sage Paracon UK 2016 – The Warwick Castle Paranormal Investigation

Warwick Castle, Amazing Location, Enough Said!!

Right first things first, I cannot express how much of a fantastic location that Warwick Castle is! Seriously, I literally had to pick my lower jaw up off the floor as I walked through the grounds. MJ and the Sage Paranormal UK team truly outdone themselves on this one. Now there are a few places like this around the UK that often catch me off guard and completely throw me, but this truly knocked my socks off! So much so that I forgot to take any useful video footage or even photos, slight school boy error on my part. In fact school boy, could not be more perfect an explanation. Just like the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker, walking into Warwick Castle threw me a little and brought out that inner child. Problem is that inner child takes his eye off the ball and fails to gather good photographic or video to work with later.

So, hands up and apologies for not having anything to show you that I captured. However if you are reading this and you were there with us, please feel free to share you photo’s and videos with on my Facebook Page (link on the right).

Sage Paranormal’s Ghostly Visit Before Hand…

Now usually this post would be all about the night in question, which was the Friday night when Sage Paracon UK kicked off. However like an excellent investigator and event organiser she is, MJ from Sage Paranormal visited Warwick Castle before hand. Also, in order to understand the location she shot a few pictures. One such room was the Kenilworth bedroom which was more than a little famous for paranormal activity.

This particular room wasn’t only associated with some rather odd spiritual stuff that suggested the possibility of a girl being raised from the dead in the bed, but the room was also associated with Séance activity held by no other than Aleister Crowley. A guy that was connected to some very interesting, but possibly dark occultism in his day. He will have to be a subject of a future post all by himself I think.

Right, so now I’ve set the scene and in order to gather some understanding of the location MJ visited the Kenilworth bedroom and began to take some photographs. In particular she took a picture of the information plaque at the foot of the bed.

Now at the time she was alone in the room and simply took the photo then headed off. When she looked through her photos later at home she was surprised to find a figure in the window on the right. However not one to jump to conclusions MJ contacted Warwick Castle to confirm she was both alone in the room and that there were no wax work dummies in the room. There were neither! The question now becomes, who the heck is guy in the window?

Our Ghostly Night at Warwick Castle

Back to the Sage Paracon UK 2016 event at Warwick Castle and after I managed to pick my jaw up off the ground, we all gathered in the cafe area I believe. After MJ ensured that everyone was there and ready to go, we started the evening with a tour, which would equally identify the areas we would be holding vigils in later that night.

The tour of Warwick Castle was actually really good, as you can imagine it would be for such an iconic location. We started off our tour in the Ghost Tower, then onto the main building where we passed the library, the Kenilworth Bedroom, the main hall and a few more amazing spaces. We also stopped off at the dungeons, which included a room full of mirrors, never a good thing right?

The tour ended back at cafe for a break before we began the evenings vigils. Which was also chance to move around the room and chat to a few of the people attending.

Vigils at Warwick Castle

The Sage Paranormal UK Team lead this part of the night by allocating the guest speakers; Jeff Belanger, Frank Cinelli (Dr Spectre), Greg Lawson, Graham Smyth and I particular areas in Warwick Castle. Graham and I were given the Ghost Tower, so headed off there with our first group.

Although both Graham and I may have been considered a slight double act (we are serious researchers and investigators honest) we done our best to get our groups involved in the investigation of the Ghost Tower, with some interesting results. Our initial approach was to talk with our groups to see what gadgets they had brought to the tower, but also if any of them were particularly ‘sensitive’ to spirit. Luckily for us all the groups we had did have an excellent mixture of both.

In one of our first vigils we tried communicating using one of the groups own gadget. Alan Smith’s small device would pick up changes in the static field (I believe) when something moved closer to it. Placed on one side of the highest room in the Ghost Tower we were asking various questions and on a few occasions we did appear to receive some kind of response via the device. As it illuminated a few times as if someone or something had moved closer. We attempted to back this communication up using other devices, but unfortunately only Alan’s device reacted. As ever it’s not definitive proof of communication and it is very subjective as we dont have all the data on a very variable environment, but heck whilst you’re in a darkened room that has the name Ghost Tower, it was interesting.

If anyone that was present has any audio or video footage of that Vigil or other Vigils that night, I would be interested in looking at it and you never know it might make a future post on my website and YouTube Channel .

Other Vigils in the Ghost Tower were more spiritual in my with less tech and more information being passed through the group via mediumship.

I remember that a couple of the guests picked up on quite a few things related to the location including a very dramatic fire there. Some of this information also appeared to centre around one particular woman. I always find this transference of information fascinating.

In a later group, which included Rach and Selwyn from the Royal Oak Pub in Swanage where I conducted the Victorian Seance Singapore Theory Experiement; we had some interesting communication or telepathy depending on your perspective. One of the guests picked up on a very specific unique piece of information that to her seemed very random and possibly incorrect. However it became apparent following the Vigil that this information she picked up on was actually had a direct relationship to another member of that group. Unfortunately its not really my place to post what that information was here as it relates to an individual, but should they wish to share their story please use the comments below. Suffice to say this was a great example of localised Telepathic Interaction. Oddly this group also picked up on a name directly to Warwick Castle and one of the guests too.

Free Time Vigils

The last part of the night began after a final break where all the guests could venture out to a location of their own choice. For me I had to visit the Kenilworth Bedroom and investigate that area a little more. This wasn’t just because of its connection with the infamous Aleister Crowley, but oddly because some of the panelling was bugging me a little. I never got to the bottom of the panelling really, but we did spend some quality time in the room. Earlier on during the night another group picked up some interesting stuff in the Kenilworth Room, I believe on device one of our American friends Susan had with her. I would be interested to see that footage too.

Suffice to say I left the Kenilworth Bedroom wanting more, that room needs a thorough investigation and quite possibly a good old fashion Séance. Maybe one day I will get back in to do that.

Warwick Castle Round Up

Warwick Castle is a fantastic location, which needs far more than just one visit as there is so much to be had there. You need a good weekend there, hmm!

The Sage Paranormal UK Team ensured that we all had a great night at a fabulous location, a night that I will long remember. The location houses so much history and possible hauntings that its going to need a few more visits I think.

In all fairness we had a great bunch of people there that Friday night, all the VIPs, Guest Speakers, the Sage Paranormal UK Team and the Warwick Castle Guide were great and influential in ensuring we all had a great night. So, thank you to all.

If you were there that night, please feel free to share your experiences of Warwick Castle in the comments below.

After Investigation Party

Ok it wasn’t so much a party, but a small gathering outside when we returned to Wroxall Abbey, those involved know what I mean! I just thought it was important to mention that its good to have a sit and chat following a good night at such an epic location. Something else that my investigations of the paranormal has given me is the friendship of some very interesting people the world over now. Often its not just about investigating haunted locations, but the friendships you gain along the way. Its most definitely not always the destination, but the journey itself that helps you grow. So, this is a small footnote mention to all of you out there in the paranormal who I am lucky enough to call friend, thank you all. As MJ of Sage Paranormal might say, you’re like my para-family.

Wherever you may be investigating next, good luck and enjoy the journey.

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Ashley Mortimer Talks To Me About Doreen Valiente, Witchcraft, Wicca & A Little Paganism

Sage Paracon UK 2016

www.sageparacon.co.uk — Sage Paracon UK 2016

On the 8th & 9th October 2016 Sage Paranormal will be hosting their very own Paranormal Convention at Wroxall Abbey Estate in Warwickshire. I know this because it’s well advertised, and because I have the pleasure of being one of the guest speakers. Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a great weekend and pop over to their website later and purchase your tickets. There are some great deals available.

So, as we begin to run up to the event I thought I would make a few of my posts all about some of the things going on over the weekend at Sage Paracon UK 2016. Hopefully as you follow the posts, which I will try to make as frequent as possible, you can join me on a virtual journey into the paranormal world. Our final destination will be the Wroxall Abbey Estate on the 8th October and Sage Paracon UK 2016.

If you missed my previous posts on Sage Paracon UK, here’s a few for you to catch up on:-

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – History is a Ghost Story – Jeff Belanger

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Ghost Adventures Guest & Paranormal Tech Guy Carl Hutchinson

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – What to expect

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – A Sneak Peak at Wroxall Abbey

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Talking with Elizabeth Saint from Ghosts of Shepherdstown

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Liz Cormell on Mediumship

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Frank Cinelli aka Dr Spectre

Ashley Rebelled Against the Church Only To Find Something Divine In Nature

Ashley has clearly had an interesting spiritual life journey that has allowed him to look into and study various approaches including traditional Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism to name a few. However these are not generally paths we hear a lot about, so asked him what made him choose this particular spiritual path.

“The truthful answer is: a rebellious spirit as a teenager! I’d go to church and hear about the greatness of God . . . and imagine him speaking to everyone else there, but he didn’t speak to me at all. I wanted to spend Sundays out and about, fishing, climbing trees, running through the woods with my mates and I figured that if God was anywhere it was out there in the wider world, in nature not inside a dusty stone building on a Sunday. So I rebelled against the church, the people who I discovered weren’t hearing from God directly either and eventually against the whole notion of religion completely! I relented later when I came to find something divine in the natural world that did communicate with me though. A chance encounter with some second hand books while on holiday one summer and I discovered how to start learning to communicate back . . .and when I tried it started to work . . “

Ashley Mortimer on Witchcraft

Witchcraft is often misunderstood in my opinion and that’s made dramatically clear by the history of the Witch trials. Both history and media have seemingly given us a couple of stereotypes for Witches, which many appear to accept. So, I asked Ashley what he’s understanding of a Witch and someone that follows Witchcraft as their chosen spiritual path was.

“Well most of the people who were accused and tried under the witchcraft laws probably didn’t consider themselves witches, and if they had any understanding of it at all it wouldn’t match up with my contemporary understanding. For me the Craft is about understanding your own place in the great scheme of the universe, acknowledging the great forces of nature (the divine as manifest and personified as goddesses and gods) and connecting with them. So from that perspective it is, for me, really a religion (you know, the thing I rebelled against as a teenager!) which teaches the use of latent “magical” abilities as the means of communication with the deities and other invisible forces and powers of the natural universe.”

Witches are often associated with having the ability to do magic, cast certain spells and conduct varied rituals. I decided to ask Ashley if there were any truth to these claims and if he could tell us a little about the rituals perhaps.

“Well modern day Witchcraft as I practice it really has all the traits of a religion – all of which involve ritual and “magic”. The ritual celebration of the annual solar cycle through the seasons with ceremonies to mark the solstices and equinoxes and the following of a similar lunar cycle with rituals for the moon phases to honour the symbolic personified lunar deity, as well as the usual passage rites that religions tend to have really does make it the same. If you think of “magic” and “spells” as a mechanism to affect the physical world through non-physical means, then we all do some kind of magic all the time and certainly all religions practice exactly that – for example a Christian mass involving transubstantiation of the bread and wine into body and blood is, basically an act of symbolic sympathetic magic. So yes, these things are true . . but are not unfamiliar or unusual activities, just under a different nomenclature.”

In all fairness perhaps there is magic and ritual in all we do, perhaps the realisation of this may help us all steer a better path in life.

I asked Ashley if he thought that popularity in modern Witchcraft, Wicca and Paganism had increased over recent years.

“I think my own story is very typical, actually, I think people had become dissatisfied with the WAY that religion has come to be practiced. I think they found a desire for spiritual freedom and experimentation that was being strangled by the notion that religion and its practices were set in stone, unchangeable and unable to be updated to make sense so easily in contemporary times. And I think “new” religions, in their formative phases are always more evolutionary anyway . . . but modern pagan ones embrace that notion of fluidity, less of belief but more of practice and I think that is one of the crucial factors in their rise in modern times – they caught a current among people who wanted to explore their spirituality but needed a supportive framework to do that in.”

Pagan rituals or Witchcraft have often been associated with dark arts and the summoning of spirits at some locations with the odd local blaming these for an increase in paranormal activity. I wondered what Ashley may think about this and if perhaps there are some disrespectful towards the craft performing these darker rituals, if indeed they are possible at all.

“Well, as we’ve been saying above, the idea of rituals to summon spirits (non-physical entities) are really just the mainstay of all religions. I guess the question is which ones get summoned and why! I don’t think the nature of spirits, angels, saints, deities or whatever other names people want to use for, basically, non-physical, sentient entities – is necessarily to be “good” or “bad” within themselves, it’s a matter of intent and of behaviour – to use a rather coarse example, you’d not describe a dog who bit you because to tried to beat it as “bad”. The same with the practice of magic – its all about the intent of the practitioner – and I don’t doubt there are some who have harmful intentions though this is the absolute opposite of what the modern Craft teaches its initiates. Unfortunately one other danger with spiritual freedom is that people want to experiment – the rise of interest in the wider subject of the occult and the description of modern systems like the Craft by those who aren’t actually trained or initiated into it has led people to dabble. And like with anything not constrained by authority, this will mean people getting out of their depth. If everyone who fancied driving just hopped behind the wheel and had a go we’d be in chaos ! Just look at how complex a system we’ve had to create (with laws, road taxes, instruction, examinations and qualifications) just to manage something fairly simple. So I’m not advocating total religious and magical control (lol) but I am saying that systems like the Craft and other magical orders do at least provide a measure of proper training in magical matters and, if you like, some semblance of a “magical proficiency test” (lol again). Sometimes the job of those who are properly trained and know what they are doing is to sort out the results of the dabblers. I suppose this is one obvious place that Witchcraft crosses over to the paranormal investigation world and certainly the place where I, as an initiate of the Craft, have crossed over to assist and advise on cases.”

Given my own interest in the paranormal and search to understand if human consciousness might survive death, I decided to ask Ashley what Pagans, Witches and Wicca might believe happens to us when we die.

“Ask 100 pagans a question like this, you’ll get 200 answers!! Though one common belief is the notion of reincarnation, the idea that we are all in our spiritual essence part of the same “great spirit” and death of the physical body is merely a stage in the energetic/spiritual recycling process. Many witches believe they have previous human incarnations and often say that those who have been of the Craft in a past life are called back to it again in subsequent ones – that’s common to other paths and traditions too.”

I kind of like the idea of reincarnation, the ability to return to world again seems like an excellent one, but it would be a great deal more helpful if we could retain the memories from previous lives. Especially the lessons learnt, hence the classical ‘if I knew then , what I know now’.

The Doreen Valiente Foundation

Ashley Mortimer is a trustee of the Doreen Valiente Foundation, so I asked if he could tell us a little about the Foundation, this remarkable and most influential woman in modern witchcraft.

“Doreen helped Gerald Gardner during the 1950s and 60s to update and develop the practices of pagan witchcraft as they both understood it when they encountered it. She had a profound influence because she gave it logic, organisation and structure and some splendid wording for some of the rituals. I believe it was her input that made it scalable and translatable so that it was able to spread globally over the next few decades and this was one of the factors in the wider rise of modern day paganism – witchcraft as Doreen and Gerald practised it (which many will know as “Wicca”) is really only one of many modern pagan paths if perhaps the best known and she can be fairly considered one of it’s founders in its modern interpretation. When she died in 1999 she left her legacy of artefacts, magical tools, books, documents and writings (including some of hers and Gerald’s source materials for Wicca) to her last High Priest John Belham-Payne who, with my help and a few others formed a charitable trust called the Doreen Valiente Foundation to whom he donated the whole collection so that it would be protected for all time, never split up or sold off and always used to help educate people about Witchcraft and paganism, overcoming prejudices and representing religious freedom, just as Doreen had done through her own life.”

I am looking forward to Ashley’s lecture and mini Doreen Valiente museum at the Sage Paracon UK this weekend.

A Little on A Few Famous Pagan or Witchcraft Sites

As a paranormal investigator I have had the absolute pleasure of visiting some amazing historical sites over the years. Tomorrow night as a part of the Sage Paracon I will be a part of the team investigating the fantastic Warwick Castle, which is still blowing my mind slightly. With this in mind I wondered if Ashley might know of any particularly famous pagan or witchcraft sites that are worth visiting and if they are particularly active spiritually.

“Yes, there are many local ones, a dig through the library or the internet should always be a good place to start . . . or contact with the local pagan community (through groups like the Pagan Federation or the Children of Artemis) and a variety of independent groups who often meet publicly in a social environment (“down the local pub” !) and are open to non-pagans attending out of interest. Frankly I’d personally tend to avoid places like Stonehenge at the solstices simply for the crowds but the Henge, Avebury and many others are great places. If you’re lucky enough to live in Sussex you could check out Doreen Valiente’s book “Where Witchcraft Lives” and there will certainly be authors in every locality who have knowledge of places associated with Witchcraft and paganism. But I would say – be respectful, these are effectively religious sites and they are definitely sacred ones (as is every single square centimeter of the planet, actually!) – so leave only your footprints (even psychic ones) and be aware that the divine spiritual forces in nature are often manifest in places as well as more personified entities.”

I have to whole heartily agree with Ashley on this one and have always been brought up with the mindset that every part of this planet and the universe is actually sacred. Something else that my good old parents drilled into me when I was being brought up, which at times included helping my mum out with various conservation work too. Perhaps these days we see a lot of the materialistic world around us and fail to notice the beauty of the natural world all about us.

Ashley’s Top Five Places in the World Related to Witchcraft He Would Like to Visit

In line with my usual questions, I thought I would throw a classic ‘top five’ at Ashley too. So, I asked him what are he’s top five places in the world he would like to visit that could be related to witchcraft ?

“Oh dear . . that’s a tough one, cos I’m a bit of an oddbod . . . I used to live high up the Rocky Mountains in Canada, north of Calgary, and that is a place I felt a super-strong connection to the divine (not that there’s any great history of paganism or occultism half way up Mount Rundle or anything (lol) so that would be one. I’d like to go back to the plains of South Dakota too, I had some huge adventures there when I was travelling as a younger man, ones that still affect me strongly now so I’d like to go back there too. I would like to go to Toronto and visit some of my Craft friends there, certainly to meet the keepers of some of Gerald Gardner’s legacy and some of my Craft cousins there . . . and I do have a place in my heart for Crete too which is full of very ancient energy and paganism of “the old world”. Is that five? Have I broke the rules (again?) <snigger>”

Yep! Rules have been broken once again by the rebellious Ashley Mortimer! That was only four by my count, but they were pretty good answers so I will let Ashley off. Oddly I would like to visit Canada myself, but mainly because my parents used to live out there before I was born.

Ashley’s Encounter With a ‘Nasty’ Spirit

Given Ashley’s vast experience and knowledge I had to ask him if there had ever been any situations where he had encountered anything particularly nasty , spirit wise.

“Yes. Not very frequently but I have dealt with a few, what you might call “shockers”. And my experiences have been enough to make me guarded and wary every time I’m asked to look into a case of suspected spiritual disturbance. There ARE things in the non-physical world that are, as you say “nasty” and while there are ways of dealing with them that come from training and experience and, I think perhaps, a bit of natural aptitude for such tasks, its not a job for a dabbler! If I may just make use of another slightly comic analogy to make a serious point (cos I do that, I believe humour is an awesome communication tool) then I’d refer you to a quote from Terry Pratchett, the author: “If there is any power in demonology the demonologists discovered long ago that it rests firmly with the demons and the notion of trying to summon one to do your bidding is the spiritual equivalent of trying to beat a bear to death with a rattlesnake”! I think that rather sums up my thoughts on dealing with “the nasties”.”

Thank You Ashley

I would just like to thank Ashley for responding to my questions so quickly to make this post possible ahead of our visit to Sage Paracon UK this weekend at Wroxall Abbey. As ever I look forward to seeing you again. More importantly, great Christian name lol ; )

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event, follow the link below to the Sage Paranormal’s Paracon website to purchase your tickets now.

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Alternatively if you already have tickets to Sage Paracon UK, then please comment below to let us all know and make those not going a little jealous ha ha!
I look forward to seeing you all there and possibly talking paranormal at some point over the weekend. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for my future posts related to Sage Paracon UK 2016.

Sage Paracon UK – Frank Cinelli aka Dr Spectre

Sage Paracon UK 2016

On the 8th & 9th October 2016 Sage Paranormal will be hosting their very own Paranormal Convention at Wroxall Abbey Estate in Warwickshire. I know this because it’s well advertised, if you’ve missed it you’re social media blind and because I have the pleasure of being one of the guest speakers. Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a great weekend and pop over to their website later and purchase your tickets. There are some great deals available.

If you missed my previous posts on Sage Paracon UK, here’s a few for you to catch up on:-

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – History is a Ghost Story – Jeff Belanger

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Ghost Adventures Guest & Paranormal Tech Guy Carl Hutchinson

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Demonologist & Violent Hauntings Expert Jason Love

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – What to expect

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – A Sneak Peak at Wroxall Abbey

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Talking with Elizabeth Saint from Ghosts of Shepherdstown

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Liz Cormell on Mediumship

As Big Brother Was Watching, Frank Cinelli Started Investigating!

Back in 1984 as I was probably beginning to read about the paranormal in more detail, there was a guy that had just started to officially investigate all things paranormal. That guy was called Frank Cinelli and by this point he already had an excellent understanding of the field.

As Frank is due to join us all at Sage Paracon UK 2016 this weekend I caught up with him before he left the States to find out a little about the man that is possibly better known as Dr Spectre.

With an understanding of Frank’s commitment to the field and long experience within it, I wanted to know a little more about what started it all. How did his life long ‘obsession’ with the paranormal start?

“As far back as I can remember I have been attracted to paranormal experiences. I had an older sister who was into the paranormal, Ouija boards, seances and things like that. I was at my first seance at the age of 9 and saw the person they were trying to contact in the mirror; I never met the man, put was able to describe him to a T.”

I have to admit its a common response where many people have had early exposure to the paranormal such as Frank has, may find themselves attracted to it throughout their lives. It’s almost as if it was firmly built into their upbringing in some cases rather than being a probable taboo subject like it often can be too.

Frank Cinelli’s TV Inspiration

Back in good old 1984 there wasn’t many TV reality shows readily available in comparison to the amazing and varied shows out there today. I wondered if there were any particular TV shows that may have been an inspiration that fuelled his passion for the paranormal ?

“‘In Search of with Leonard Nimoy’ best show ever !!! Also I would read everything I could get my hands on. I officially started investigating in 1984, prior to that I would mess around and experiment with any thing I would read about. Mostly in cemeteries, abandoned buildings, basically anyplace that looked empty and creepy “

I had to do a quick google of ‘In Search of’ to familiarise myself with the TV series to be honest. However as soon as I did I am sure that I have seen a few of the episodes myself. Who could forget the enigmatic voice of Leonard Nimoy, the guy is a legend, plain and simple.

Frank Talks About Alternative Medicine, Bioenergy & The Affects of Investigations on Us

Frank Cinelli is noted for practicing alternative medicine for over 18 years, I wondered what made him take this path?

“I grew up with a father who was a D.O. ( doctor of osteopathic medicine ) He was way ahead of the curve with having an integrative practice. The More I learned about the body and the bodies energy, the more I felt this was a perfect fit. I am considered a bioenergetic practitioner. My practice is mostly holistic with a touch standard thrown in.”

Combining things like his practice seems to be a slight trade mark for Frank, so its not surprising that he is also known for combining the paranormal and health in a way. So, I asked Frank to tell us a little about his work on the affects of the paranormal on the body?

“The Body is a Bio Chemical Electrical factory. Standard Medicine focuses on the Bio Chemical aspect for the most part. I focus more on the bodies electric functions. Here is where spirit can create problems for the body. Spirit is energy and energy can affect the body in a negative way. Simple things like causing an adrenal surge and collapse after an investigation. For example, how many times after investigation do you crave food or drink, or gravitate towards sweeter snacks. That is your bodies response to an adrenal collapse. In other words your body wants some quick energy.”

I can certainly understand this as there have a few investigations I have attended where there has been definitive energy reduction. I will have to speak more to the Doctor about this at Sage Paracon UK this weekend for sure.

Cinelli Conspiracy Theories

Frank has also popped up online in relation to government conspiracies. I wondered if this was another area Frank found interesting and if he might have a favourite conspiracy theory?

“Oh boy! Do I love a good conspiracy !! One of my favorites on the serious side is the Lyme Disease conspiracy. Way to many details to get into, bottom line is that the Government was working on a biological weapon mutating the Lyme bacteria to be more resilient and fast acting, and some time in the mid 70’s it escaped Plum Island and made its way into the general population. Another one that deals with the weakening of the population are Chemtrails. I know this is becomeing more prevalent in your country. Finally one of my favs from the Sillier side is FEMA is the New Men in Black.”

Have to admit, like a cuppa and a little gossiping, a good conspiracy theory can be quite interesting. Might have to read up on a few.

Dr Spectre and TAPS Paramagazine

Frank Cinelli has written for Taps Paramagazine, so I asked him to tell me a little more about it and if he got to work with the Ghost Hunters team?

“They have been wonderful. I started out writing ” Healthy Hunts” how to stay healthy wile exploring the paranormal, for the last several years my spot has been called ” According to Dr Spectre”. I write about conspiracies, and strange but true places like Coral Castle in Florida or the Devils Stomping Ground in North Carolina or the Mysterions Mel’s Hole in Washington State. I have not worked with the team. However I’ve done Beyond Reality Radio with Jason Hawes and JV Johnson they have me on every now and then to talk conspiracies.”

Dr Spectre in Other Places

Interested in what else Frank might have worked on I wondered where else he may have appeared.

“I also write for Paranormalpopculture.com although its been a while since I’ve done anything with them. With that being said I am working on new short monthly piece for them ” haunted bars and drink specials “. I will also be appearing on season 7 of Ghost Detectives a limited market TV show, but it will be available on You Tube.”

So, keep your eyes peeled and read online or tune in to Dr Spectre to hear more about conspiracy theories, haunted bars, alternative medicine and more.

A Few Classic Paranormal Interview Questions

As usual I like to throw in some classic paranormal questions, simply because they are always asked and thought I could jump on the band wagon. That and they help me and others create a list of places they may wish to visit in the future too.

What are Frank Cinelli’s top five places to investigate ?

Eastern State Penitentiary (philladelphia pa)
Fort Mifflin (philladelphia pa)
Iron Island (buffalo ny)
Octagon Hall (franklin ky)
Pennhurst State School (spring city pa)

Great places, I seriously need to organise a trip to the US and investigate some of these amazing locations.

What would be Frank Cinelli’s top five places in the world that he would like to investigate ?

Iwo Jima
The Catacombs in Rome
Alcatraz
The White House
Oak Island

This could actually be my list to be fair. All these locations have fantastic history and a couple of them like Oak Island has been a location that has fascinated me for over a decade now.

What has been Frank Cinelli’s most frightening encounter?

“The first time I was part of a deliverance, I was just asked to come in and provide prayer cover. When the lead got sick I had to take over, I was no way ready for that. I had so much fear about everything involved I still look back and wonder how we got it done.”

Okay hands up, these kinds of activity and similarly Exorcisms are things I most definitely need to research more and grow my understanding around. They’ve come up a few times recently and perhaps its time to delve into this area a little more.

I would like to say a thank you to Frank for taking the time to answer my questions and I look forward to meeting Dr Spectre at Sage Paracon UK this weekend.

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event, follow the link below to the Sage Paranormal’s Paracon website to purchase your tickets now.

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Ghost Advnetures Guest & Paranormal Tech Guy Carl Hutchinson

Sage Paracon UK 2016

On the 8th & 9th October 2016 Sage Paranormal will be hosting their very own Paranormal Convention at Wroxall Abbey Estate in Warwickshire. I know this because it’s well advertised, if you’ve missed it you’re social media blind and because I have the pleasure of being one of the guest speakers. Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a great weekend and pop over to their website later and purchase your tickets. There are some great deals available.

So, as we begin to run up to the event I thought I would make a few of my posts all about some of the things going on over the weekend at Sage Paracon UK 2016. Hopefully as you follow the posts, which I will try to make as frequent as possible, you can join me on a virtual journey into the paranormal world. Our final destination will be the Wroxall Abbey Estate on the 8th October and Sage Paracon UK 2016.

If you missed last weeks post on history being ghost stories and Jeff Belanger from Ghost Adventures, who will be speaking at Sage Paracon UK 2016, then check it out at Sage Paracon UK 2016 – ‘History is a Ghost Story’ – Jeff Belanger.

Carl Hutchinson’s Search for Ghosts

This weeks post is all about my mate Carl. Okay so we’re not like best mates or anything, but I do consider Carl a good friend and someone I trust in the paranormal field. My family would probably refer to him as ‘one of your ghost pals’, which is term I always find a little humorous considering they are often referring to people that are very much alive, as well ghosts! Carl isn’t a ghost, well at I’m pretty sure he’s not. I mean what is a ghost? Think that’s a question for a different post!

Carl Hutchinson – Sage Paranormal Tech Guy & Investigator

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and speak with Carl at a few Paranormal events, such as Paracon UK 2014, Sage Mini-Con earlier this year. He is a top bloke and I’m sure many in the field would back me up on that.

As Carl (like me) will be speaking at the upcoming Sage Paracon later this year I thought I would catch up with him and have brief chat (informal interview) about his paranormal story. All made possible through Social Media, the world truly is getting smaller right?

As for many of us, Carl’s initial understanding was from the art of classic ghost story telling amongst friends, which has become a little more updated these days and delivered through the media of movies. For Carl this was something he really enjoyed, but the stories soon became a reality when he was six years old. It was around this time that he first moved down from Sheffield to Kent and he stayed in a country hotel. As Carl and his brother watched TV in their room they noticed the door handle go up and down a few times. Of course even then Carl had to investigate, but all he found was a funny looking character disappear around the corner of the corridor. It wasn’t until the next day that Carl’s dad enquired with the hotel and they explained that a British Civil War Soldier walked the Hotels corridors playing with door handles. Carl told me how this was possibly his first main experience and the one which has stuck with him and kept his interest in the paranormal all these years.

Tech Guy Carl

I’ve always known Carl for his great knowledge of the varied tech out there that’s available for investigators to use during an investigation. With this in mind I wondered how Carl ended up in this Tech role, was it something he took on or simply ended up with?

“I have always had a logical mind” Carl told me. However when Carl experienced something strange that he couldn’t explain logically, he found himself walking away with more questions than answers. As he learnt and discovered more about the paranormal field he soon realised that there were many pieces of equipment out there that could help him find his answers. However Carl wanted to know all about the equipment before he simply used it, an approach which he still uses today.

These days Carl looks at a location and his brain goes into overdrive planning out the best pieces of equipment to use and where for the best results. Especially when they can be used to collaborate each other.

“I have a house full of equipment and I live and breath equipment” Carl explained. He certainly knows he’s stuff.

Special Guest on Ghost Adventures

Back in March 2012 Carl was asked to join the Ghost Adventures team at Fort Horsted for a special investigation, one Carl wouldn’t forget in a hurry. The Ghost Adventures team asked Carl all about he’s experiences at the Fort which were extensive as he had been investigating the location for many years and had some quite dramatic experiences there. On one occasion he even felt what seemed to be two fists hitting him in the stomach knocking him against the wall. An experiece that meant he didn’t return to the room in question for about two years.

During filming of the Ghost Adventures show, Zak asked Carl to return to that very same room with Aaron. During which they encountered some interesting responses on the SB7, heard footsteps and even a whistle. An thoroughly interesting session with the guys from Ghost Adventures.

Carl’s Paranormal Understanding

As someone that has gone from being a non-believer to an investigator who believes there is something there, but something that requires proper investigation and understanding, Carl takes on a rather Sherlock approach in my book. One that I also share though to be fair. Firstly, he looks to debunk everything he can with logic and understanding. Then whatever is left absent of explanation must be something unknown! Something that we should be seeking explanation for.

“I think I am more of a believer than a non-believer” He tells me.

Carl has a great understanding of the field and that in our world that has explanation, but believes some of which remains unknown may fit into the Stone Tape Theory. A theory that explains how things that occur are simply a replay of an event that was somehow recorded, perhaps store in the locality of where it’s encountered. Carl thinks that high emotions or sudden death are good examples of how these events are imbedded into say a building or object. However Carl doesn’t rule out intelligent Hauntings either, which can respond to the living and often can create the possibility of communication.

During he’s investigations Carl has witnessed, experienced and captured some very strange things; a possible spirit doing impressions of the Sage Paranormal team, a photo of what appears to be a pregnant woman in the Screaming Woods, a full body apparition at Rye Castle, oddities on the thermal camera at the Skirrid Inn.

It was following some stints as a Guest Investigator with Sage Paranormal that he later decided to join the team as permanent member and hasn’t looked back since.

Carl’s Top Five Lists

I couldn’t really leave this with Carl without gathering some of his Top Fives could, so here we go!

Top Five Locations That Carl Has Investigated

Fort Horsted
The Explosions Museum
Rye Castle
Drakelow Tunnels
Delapry Abbey

Top Five Locations That Carl Would Like To Investigate

Tower of London – UK
Hell Fire Caves – UK
Eastern State Penitentiary – USA
Castle of Good Hope – South Africa
Banff Springs Hotel – Canada

Top Five Pieces of Tech

Digital Recorder
Parabolic Microphone
SB7 Spirit Box
Full Spectrum Still & Video Camera
Vibe Pod or REM Pod

And of course he’s own body, as that’s an investigators primary piece of kit.

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event, follow the link below to the Sage Paranormal website to purchase your tickets now.

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Alternatively if you already have tickets to Sage Paracon UK, then please comment below to let us all know and make those not going a little jealous ha ha!

I look forward to seeing you all there and possibly talking paranormal at some point over the weekend. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for my future posts related to Sage Paracon UK 2016.

Sage Paracon UK – Liz Cormell on Mediumship

Sage Paracon UK 2016

On the 8th & 9th October 2016 Sage Paranormal will be hosting their very own Paranormal Convention at Wroxall Abbey Estate in Warwickshire. Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a great weekend and pop over to their website later and purchase your tickets. There are some great deals available.

If you missed my previous posts on Sage Paracon UK, here’s a few for you to catch up on:-

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – History is a Ghost Story – Jeff Belanger

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Ghost Adventures Guest & Paranormal Tech Guy Carl Hutchinson

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Demonologist & Violent Hauntings Expert Jason Love

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – What to expect

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – A Sneak Peak at Wroxall Abbey

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Talking with Elizabeth Saint from Ghosts of Shepherdstown

Sage Paranormal’s Medium Liz Cormell

As we are now less than two weeks from Sage Paracon UK 2016 I thought it would be a great time to talk with Sage Paranormal’s own Medium LIz Cormell. Liz will certainly be very busy over the Sage Paracon weekend as she will be heading up a Psychic Development Workshop on both Saturday and Sunday, with lecture too at some point.

I’ve met Liz myself on several occasions and on each encounter she has been lovely, but I have to admit as soon as I engage in conversation with her regarding various strands of the paranormal I often feel I could spend literally hours talking about them. Unfortunately this has never been the case as time has been against us. Oddly I think our last conversation was about fairies! Yes actual fairies!

Liz’s Mediumship Beginnings

As I wanted to know more about how Liz got into the paranormal and realised her clairvoyant abilities I decided to ask her. Now I would usually break long responses down and add in bits here and there, but personally I think its better directly from Liz;

“I always knew that I could sense things that not everyone else could. Growing up my parents used to take my sister and myself to historic buildings and castles and there were rooms that I didn’t want to go into because they “felt wrong”. I knew my mom felt it too but my dad and sister were oblivious. I always remember going to a castle somewhere in Wales and refusing to go down into the cellars. There was a wave of emotion coming up the steps and it really scared me.

When I was 17 I dated a guy who’s mom was a Romany gypsy. She taught me how to do readings using normal playing cards. Using tarot cards is easier than using standard playing cards so it was an easy step to make. Other than that development I tried to ignore being able to “feel” something else, which is what I know my mom does. Then, about 13 or 14 years ago I went on a commercial ghost hunt, with a friend, “for a laugh”. Little did I know what path it would set me on.

Standing on a floor in one of the turrets of this castle I could see soldiers. From their dress I knew they were from the 13th or 14th century. Then one recoiled from a window opening and I could see half his face was missing and my ears were ringing to such an extent that it hurt. I took the group medium to one side and explained what I had just witnessed. He told me that he was also experiencing the same and that my ears ringing was a sign that spirit was trying to communicate with me. I explained that I didn’t know how to speak to spirit and he suggested that I developed my gift further. Well I did. I went on a development weekend, where I had my first experience as a trance medium. I channeller the spirit of an RAF officer; my face and stature changed significantly while I was in trance. I gave details of the officer and the location that the historian said I could not have known. I found out that I am predominantly a claircognizant medium.

This weekend spurred me on to find out more and I’ve been developing ever since. I have recently discovered that I am becoming more and more clairvoyant which is a bit unnerving.”

Our very experiences truly define us and help us to grow as individuals. Liz has clearly defined here a few of the milestones along her own path which outlined not only her own psychical abilities, but the journey that they would take her on.

A Little on Liz

Understanding how people get into paranormal investigating is always interesting, especially if they apply a little of their every day life experiences into the mix at the same time too. I asked Liz about this to try and understand a little about where her investigation skills derive from. Her response is a lovely balance of science, history and perhaps a connection to the natural world too.

“Up until a couple of years ago I was a CSI and trainer for the police. The scientific and logical side of my character suited this work, and I believe, has made me a more objective paranormal investigator. I am now a self-employed crafter and artist. I love nature and I foster cats for the RSPCA. I don’t get a lot of down time but when I do I love to read historical fiction, especially anything by Bernard Cornwall, and watch movies.”

Liz’s Understanding of Psychical Ability

Something I always ask Mediums when working with them is what their understanding of psychical ability may be. I find it relatively fascinating to hear from those with an ability to sense and possibly communicate with the unknown what their own belief on this may be. Interestingly enough when I asked Liz about this, she presented me with an answer which isn’t a million miles away from my on understanding and belief on this subject.

“I believe that everyone has a psychic skill and it mostly takes the form of instinct in most people. It’s a muscle that needs working and the more you work it the easier it becomes. I believe that spirit uses the energy that is all around us to communicate and this energy can be used between living people too, for passing messages or ESP. I don’t really understand how this energy is translated into messages and/or pictures but I find it increasingly easy to “tune in” using photographs and remote viewing. This says to me that a person doesn’t actually have to be in the immediate vicinity to “pick up” these messages. You just need to open your mind to the surrounding energy.”

Liz’s Favourite Location

Right, time for a little standard questioning when it comes to the paranormal and it wouldn’t be an interview without her favourite location would it.

“I don’t really have a favourite investigation. Each time I do an investigation, and the location is active, that becomes my favourite. I do have a couple of favourite locations though where I’d almost guarantee something happening. The first is The Skirrid Inn, just over the border into Wales, and the second is The Explosion Museum, Portsmouth. Both places I’ve seen unexplainable apparitions, heard audible voices and other unexplainable noises. I’m sure this list grows every time I talk about what I’ve experienced over the years of investigating.”

I’ve still not managed to investigate the Skirrid Inn, the place constantly manages to elude me due to personal commitments. I’ll get there one day soon. However, I can vouch for the Explosions Museum as I have personally come away from there with some very interesting experiences and even a little evidence of my own.

Liz’s Scariest Experience

Fear is often encountered during an investigation, after all we all head off to relatively old buildings in the dead of night seeking the mysteries of life after death. What are our scariest experiences and where can they be found? I put this very question to Liz.

“My scariest experience was actually while leaving an investigation location. We, Sage Paranormal and a guest, had been at Drakelow Tunnels for a couple of hours and had been under threat from something within the tunnels all the time we were there. Someone, or something, was trying to split us up and get us alone. MJ was taken over and badly affected; Carl had been scratched. We had returned to base to regroup when there was an almighty bang, like something large being thrown across the tunnels. At this point we decided that we should leave. We packed up all the equipment and started making our way out of the tunnels. I stayed at the back so I could protect everyone else and keep whatever it was behind us. I don’t know exactly how long it took to walk out but it felt like about half an hour. All the while I could feel something, that kept changing its appearance, throwing itself against the wall of protection I was putting up behind me. I can’t describe the relief of getting out but we still had an ordeal to get off the land.

Liam had put down one of his cases, just inside the bunker blast door, so he had a free hand to open the door. We all piled outside and I could still feel this “thing” coming towards the door. I urged Liam to pick up his case three times, each more urgent than the last. He grabbed his case and we slammed the door shut. Something hit the inside of that door hard! We then had trouble unlocking the outer gate to get on to the road and Carl’s car died as he tried to pull away. Not somewhere I’m eager to go back to.”

Oddly enough after Liz’s account and from hearing accounts from MJ and Carl too, this is very much somewhere I would like to visit. If there is a conscious energy there capable of generating physical contact and loud audible phenomena then I want to know why. Sign me up, I’ll throw together a team and head in! Perhaps I can persuade Liz, MJ, Carl and Liam to join me?

Where Will You Investigate Next?

We couldn’t round things up with Liz without understanding about the places she still wants to visit or what she already has planned. So, where does Liz wish to investigate next?

“There are 2 places I’ve not yet had the chance to investigate. The first is Warwick Castle which we’re investigating in a couple of weeks, as part of the Sage Paracon. I can’t wait! Growing up in the midlands means I’ve visited this place so many times, and every time felt the energy within it. I’ve also seen an apparition in one of the state rooms in broad daylight. The second is Hampton Court; Another location with many years and layers of history and stories of apparitions. Fingers crossed I get my chance.”

Without a doubt both Warwick Castle and Hampton Court are on my list also, both fabulous locations. I also have to admit I am more than a little excited about the Warwick Castle investigatio. It’s a massive location with an abundance of history and its a castle, a proper castle! Apologies I got caught in my excitement there. The Sage Paracon investigation in October is also going to be completely unique due to the team that will be taking part too. It’s one that certainly should not be missed, that’s for sure.

And you don’t have to miss it…

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event, follow the link below to the Sage Paranormal’s Paracon website to purchase your tickets now.

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Alternatively if you already have tickets to Sage Paracon UK, then please comment below to let us all know and make those not going a little jealous ha ha!

I look forward to seeing you all there and possibly talking paranormal at some point over the weekend. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for my future posts related to Sage Paracon UK 2016.

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Talking with Elizabeth Saint from Ghosts of Shepherdstown

Sage Paracon UK 2016

If you missed my previous posts on Sage Paracon UK, here’s a few for you to catch up on:-

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – History is a Ghost Story – Jeff Belanger

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Ghost Adventures Guest & Paranormal Tech Guy Carl Hutchinson

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – What to expect

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – A Sneak Peak at Wroxall Abbey

Introducing Elizabeth Saint

As a part of these little posts on the guests, the location and general aspects of the almost imminent Sage Paracon UK I didn’t just want to pass on or elaborate on information that’s already out there. I wanted to give you all a little extra before the actual event. So, for those of you that have your tickets and are gearing up for October, here is a little introduction to an amazing investigator and a clever woman that knows her way around a circuit board.

Elizabeth Saint is an invaluable member of the trio investigating the recent spike in paranormal activity in one of Americas oldest towns. Destination America’s Ghosts of Shepherdstown details the teams invesitations.

However although forever busy Elizabeth still made time to answer my few questions to allow us to have a small insight ahead of her appearance at Sage Paracon on the 8th and 9th of October this year. I’m certainly looking forward to chatting gadgets and mediumship, given she appears to have experience in both.

Elizabeth Saint’s Paranormal Beginnings

As ever I am always interested how anyone gets into the paranormal, sometimes that journey alone can be interesting on its own. So, of course it was one of the first things I asked Elizabeth and replied as follows;

“I’ve had paranormal experiences dating back as far as I can remember. Most of these occurrences were in my childhood home in South Jersey. However, it wasn’t until I moved down the the Washington DC area six years ago for a job with the DoD that I started investigating in the field. At the time, I moved into an apartment which had a lot of activity. Even though I had become almost used to dealing with my paranormal sensitivities up until that point, there was something telling me that I needed to find out why these things were happening to me. I decided to find a group in the area and started working with Maryland Paranormal Research.”

I then asked Elizabeth to expand a little on those experiences from her Washington DC apartment. As close proximity personal experiences are always excellent places to help us understand someone’s interest in the paranormal I think.

“There was one specific spirit who liked to haunt my apartment. I’d oftentimes be woken up in the middle of the night to him standing in my bedroom door frame. I’d dream about him often, and it seemed to me like whoever this spirit was he wasn’t quite stable. The most threatening experience happened when I was taking a shower. I heard heavy footsteps start to walk into the bathroom, and suddenly he started to whistle this tune. I felt his presence come up to the other side of the shower curtain. At the time, I really thought someone had broken into my house. Shortly after he stopped whistling I decided to pull back the shower curtain, prepared to fight for my life, only to find that no one was there. My dog, Riot, didn’t even notice this event and happily came to greet me. A dear friend of mine and fellow investigator actually lived out the rest of my lease. I didn’t tell him about the spirit I was dealing with. After his first night he gives me a call the next morning and says to me “When were you going to tell me about the man living in your closet?” The spirit actually got violent with him and he had to cleanse the apartment.”

Electrical Engineering, Ghostly Gadgets & Nikola Tesla

Although Elizabeth is often shown as sensitive on the Ghosts of Shepherdstown, I get the distinct feeling that she has an excellent grasp of tech! Yes that was a littl sarcasm!

When asked who she feels sticks out as one of the most amazing people in the history of the paranormal, she chose Nikola Tesla. For many this isn’t an obvious choice, its choice I totally understand and agree with though. Tesla was a great man and without a great mind, a man many years ahead of his time that’s for certain. He also had a few strange unexplainable experiences during his life too, perhaps some of those sparked some of Tesla’s inventions. Great choice Miss Saint.

Elizabeth Saint also has an interest in electrical engineering and I as I knew that she discovered this whilst working as a model and an actress, I wanted to know how this unusual choice was made.

“After high school I moved to NYC for a high fashion modeling contract. I wasn’t acting at that time in my life. I found the industry just wasn’t fulfilling enough for me. My favorite part of the job was working with photographers that had really elaborate creative visions, and those kind of gigs were few and far between. I always knew eventually I would go back to school, so when it was time I felt I would start out majoring in Computer Science since I was naturally good at programming growing up. In that curriculum it was actually required for me to take like a Circuits 101 course, and I just fell in love with it so I changed my major to Electrical Engineering.”

Of course this interest in electrical engineering must have lead Elizabeth to start tinkering with bits of tech to help with investigations, which was probably where ‘Ghostly Gadgets’ was conceived. Wishing to know more I asked Elizabeth to elaborate a little;

“Ghostly Gadgets came about while working with Nick on Ghosts of Shepherdstown. He asked if I could make something for his show Paranormal Lockdown. That’s how my first device, the E-Box, came about that was aired on the Franklin Castle episode in Season1. I feel that technology in the field needs to change. More experimentation needs to be done, and people need to have a better understanding of the equipment they use. The starting focus Ghostly Gadgets so far has been sensing the environment and working off of environmental triggers. However, the technology I am working not only expands on that, but is dappling in things we haven’t explored yet. I’m really excited to share with everyone what I’ve been working on this past year, and hoping to release a few products in 2017.”

I look forward to hearing about future ‘Ghostly Gadgets’ and how we may all use them.

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

Given that Elizabeth Saint has both actress and model on the list of jobs that she’s done, one of the obvious conclusions for many to jump to is that she may just be acting on Ghosts of Shepherdstown. I took the time to do a little more in depth research to understand her back story and I am happy that the interest in the paranormal was there prior to acting. Concerned that many may not be as thorough as me, I wanted to ask if Elizabeth felt that her work as an actress detracted from work in the paranormal field.

“Before working in Shepherdstown, that was definitely one of the reasons I was so hesitant to accept being a part of the show. I’ve been a paranormal investigator long before I started any acting. Anyone that knows me can tell you I’m a person that is in constant need of a creative outlet. Acting was always that for me. It’s unfortunate that when the show came out people saw my IMDb and immediately felt well she is an actress so she really isn’t a paranormal investigator. She is just acting. The paranormal has always been a part of my life, and it’s been a long uphill battle trying to get my story out there. I saw an amazing opportunity to do something extraordinary in a field I am so very passionate about. So I took the chance that eventually people would see that… that eventually people would see me. “

Beautifully put wouldn’t you say? I can also totally relate to Elizabeth as I have too always looked for a create outlet alongside my work in the paranormal field, which at times has meant I have questioned myself. This has become my outlet, writing about the paranormal, my journal of the paranormal.

Simply put, really dont judge a book by its cover and take the time to see the true person.

Working on Ghost of Shepherdstown

My first encounter of Elizabeth was in the very first episode of Ghosts of Shepherdstown where she was identified as a ‘Sensitive’, as I often work with sensitives and mediums in my own research I was eager to understand more about this. I also wanted to know if she classed herself a medium or sensitive.

“I think this was a common misunderstanding when the show came out. I mean, what exactly does being a “sensitive” mean?! Honestly, I share your frustration. I’ve always been consistently an empath, however, it’s not uncommon for me to see or hear spirits. Even working in Shepherdstown brought that out of me a bit more, and I believe it was because we were so ingrained in the environment. I’m definitely not a medium, but being labeled as someone who is sensitive to the paranormal describes me quite well.”

It’s made immediately apparent in Ghost of Shepherdstown that there has been a recent spike in paranormal activity for some reason. I decided to ask Elizabeth about this and to see if she may have a theory on this;

“Shepherdstown definitely has a lot of history being the oldest town in West Virginia. Even our first case in town touched upon the effects of the Civil War, particularly the Battle of Antietam and Battle of Shepherdstown. However, that doesn’t really explain the sudden increase of activity. When we left Shepherdstown I honestly didn’t feel like it was over. I didn’t feel like we really got to the heart of it all. I can look at the theories that maybe it was the town run or the limestone. A lot of people think others were dabbling in occult activities. For me, it could very well be a combination of all the above. Bottom line, I don’t think we found all the answers. I think there is more out there.”

As I am a bit of a geek and love data and information related to the paranormal I had to ask about the Police case files which feature in the first episode as something that had increased. I wondered if Elizabeth had the chance to review actual Police case files related to the paranormal.

“In some of the cases, yes we were able to review them when it was linked to our investigation. I really like that aspect of being in Shepherdstown. Working with Chief King was a really fantastic experience. In a small town like that you just don’t realize that if people have a problem they are usually calling Chief King or the Mayor directly.”

This lead me to wonder how scary the cases had been in Shepherdstown and I decided to ask Elizabeth about her most scariest encounter. I have to admit that given Elizabeth’s response and my own research, it appears to be a probable case of what could be described as trance mediumship or at least channelling.

“Up until Shepherdstown I would have said it was a residential case in Vermont I was working on for the Paranormal Clergy. However, the last case we worked on for Ghosts of Shepherdstown I wouldn’t say necessary scared me, but did make me quite concerned about the level to which something else could control me. I was down in the basement and I remember getting flashes of imagery of this woman and her baby. I remember standing the the corner by the well when suddenly everything just kind of blacked out. Nick and Bill told me later that I was down there for about a half hour pacing back and forth… talking about how sorry I was, that I had done something wrong, and that I didn’t want to leave because my baby was still there. It wasn’t until Nick got me out of the house that I started to come to again and back to myself.”

This kind of spiritual communication can often be very intense and emotionally draining too.

The Usual Paranormal Questions

I obviously couldn’t leave the interview without some classic questions either. So, here they are..

Elizabeth Saint’s Favourite Location She’s Investigated?

“My favorite location has been my first residential case which was also my very first paranormal investigations. My best EVPs are still from that location.”

Elizabeth Saint’s Favourite Location To Inestigate?

“I would definitely pick my childhood home. There are just so many unanswered questions in regards to my experiences there growing up.”

What Questions Does Elizabeth Saint Seek Answers To?

“Where do we go from here? What is after this life here on Earth? It’s a question I know I will probably never get the answer to. Not because I think we don’t have the ability to advance either technology or our spiritual selves enough to get there. I think because there is a part of me that believes it is we aren’t meant to know. However, that same part of me is what drives me to want to find the answer.”

I would like to thank Elizabeth Saint for her time and for answering my questions so brilliantly. I appreciate your help with this Elizabeth. I look forward to meeting you face to face at Sage Paracon UK in October.

You can find out a little more about Ghosts of Shepherdstown here.

Also, you can check out Elizabeth Saint’s own website at www.elizabethsaint.com.

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event, follow the link below to the Sage Paranormal’s Paracon website to purchase your tickets now.

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Alternatively if you already have tickets to Sage Paracon UK, then please comment below to let us all know and make those not going a little jealous ha ha!

I look forward to seeing you all there and possibly talking paranormal at some point over the weekend. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for my future posts related to Sage Paracon UK 2016.

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – A Sneak Peak at Wroxall Abbey

Sage Paracon UK 2016

On the 8th & 9th October 2016 Sage Paranormal will be hosting their very own Paranormal Convention at Wroxall Abbey Estate in Warwickshire. I know this because it’s well advertised, if you’ve missed it you’re social media blind and because I have the pleasure of being one of the guest speakers. Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a great weekend and pop over to their website later and purchase your tickets. There are some great deals available.

If you missed my previous posts on Sage Paracon UK, here’s a few for you to catch up on:-

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – History is a Ghost Story – Jeff Belanger

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Ghost Adventures Guest & Paranormal Tech Guy Carl Hutchinson

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – What to expect?

Random Visit to Wroxall Abbey

So, this morning saw a slight change to my usual Tuesday morning, with annual leave from the day job I took the opportunity to head over to see MJ Dickson in Warwickshire. This was to achieve two things; a) deliver a few things to MJ for the VIP bags and, b) see Wroxall Abbey for myself.

After bumping into MJ at Knowle with the slight assistance of clever technology, we jumped in my car and headed through the beautiful countryside towards Wroxall Abbey. Just for the record the winding country roads with overhanging large trees, rolling countrside and a couple of canal side pubs are just stunning. The area that Wroxall Abbey fits into is simply one of the most perfect examples of the British country. I’m telling you this in order to help set the scene before we move onto the Abbey itself. They say that often the right location can make the event and this location is a fantastic place locate conveniently too.

It’s actually pretty close to Warwick itself, which means it’s not far from Coventry and Solihull (South Birmingham) too. Now I know it’s in the middle of the country, but don’t let that deter you it’s actually closer than you might think. I live in Hertfordshire and still managed to get there in less than a couple of hours, pretty sure it wa like an hour and half in the car.

An Impressive Entrance

During my time investigating public locations one of the most amazing things was also the access to the historical buildings. Often for me as you drive up to the location, you can just tell how good a location is. Wroxall Abbey did not disappoint as I passed the Gate House and headed up the drive either.

As you can see it’s pretty impressive and really beautiful. Straight away I could tell that this location was impressive and was kept very well too. The picture above was certainly an excellent introduction to the site.

The Main Convention Area

After we parked the car we took a brief walk to the front of Main Convention Area and took a look at the space we would be using on the 8th and 9th October 2016. I have to admit I was a little taken back by it at first glance and equally impressed with MJ’s efforts. She immediately took to explaining the ‘zoned’ layout and I listened intensly as I began to visualise her plan.

As the picture suggests this is the area that will house the main stalls during Saturday and Sunday, with space at the back for the three mini museums too. The wooded floor will also be the dance floor for the Zombie Prom on Saturday night. It’s a large space, but to be fair one perfect for this convention. Also, from the picture above what you can’t see is the stage area behind the photographer or the bar to photographer’s left. All important, trust me.

Oxjam Live Music Festival Stage

Through most of Saturday and Sunday Sage Paranormal have organised for there to be live music within the main convention area from the stage below.

This is an excellent space to allow the bright new talent to showcase their music as a part of the Oxjam Live Music Festival. Please take the time to look at the Sage Paracon website in order to familiarise yourself with some of the talent coming to this very stage and help support Oxfam. A few are listed below too, I’m nice like that.

The Spooky Graveyard

Surely no paranormal convention would be truly complete without some kind of spooky haunted graveyard! Well Sage Paracon UK 2016 is no acception to this rule, the team plan to make the on site graveyard look appropriate for the event and especially for that all important Zombie Prom. Check it out in its normal state below:-

Lecture Room & Guest Speaker Rooms

Last and not least there is the building where the lectures will be held on Saturday and Sunday, which if memory serves me well can seat around one hundred people. Good to know and cheers MJ! Incidentally the lecture room is housed in the same building where the team, guest speakers and VIP’s will be staying. That’s right they’ve placed us all in our own building.

Well if all that doesn’t convince you that Sage Paracon UK 2016 has chosen a fantastic location for the convention, then I’m not sure what will really. When I visited the location today it literally had me in awe, it’s beautiful, peaceful and so very perfect for this convention that I have to take my hat off to MJ Dickson and the Sage Paranormal Team.

I simply can’t wait for the weekend in October now, it’s going to be epic!

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event, follow the link below to the Sage Paranormal’s Paracon website to purchase your tickets now.

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Alternatively if you already have tickets to Sage Paracon UK, then please comment below to let us all know and make those not going a little jealous ha ha!

I look forward to seeing you all there and possibly talking paranormal at some point over the weekend. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for my future posts related to Sage Paracon UK 2016.

Jul, 2016

Sage Paracon UK 2016 – “History is a Ghost Story” – Jeff Belanger

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Sage Paracon UK 2016 On the 8th & 9th October 2016 Sage Paranormal will be hosting their very own Paranormal Convention at Wroxall Abbey Estate in Warwickshire. I know this because it’s well advertised, if you’ve missed it you’re social media blind and because I have the pleasure of being one of the guest speakers. Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a great weekend and pop over to their website later and purchase your tickets. There are some great deals available.

If you missed last weeks post on Ouija Boards and Robert Murch, who will be speaking about the Boards at Sage Paracon UK 2016, then check it out at Sage Paracon UK 2016 – Ouija Boards.

A Ghost Story and a History Lesson

Back in the day when I was only about eleven years old I saw something which captured not only my imagination, but my passion to understand a mystery. You see I was always fortunate to be encouraged as child to understand things. However this was oddly developed into a slightly strange captivation for the paranormal, a need to understand the Unknown!

This began with me spotting a probable ghost in an old Manor House which was located across the park from my home. The building stood proud overlooking the green park in which I played football more times than I could ever count. On the odd occasion we would cut through grounds behind the Manor House and into the woods, no one minded or really cared as the place was empty. Well we thought it was empty! A few times as made our way across the open grass behind the Manor, I would become frozen to the spot and my gaze transfixed on the upper windows of the old building. This wasn’t fear though, it was perplexed interest. You see in those upper window’s I saw what looked like a woman stood looking out at us. Something told me although it was entirely possible that she was living and visiting the empty building, I knew this not to be the case. I was almost sure it was some kind of ghost!

It was the sighting of this particular ghost that led to me becoming more interested in History, a subject I would later take as a GCSE in result of this incident I suppose. You see although my parents had words of comfort for me in order to ensure that this experience didn’t lead to fear, they also offered logical explanation and encouragement to research the location in order to learn more about its history.

As Jeff Belanger says “History is a ghost story” and often these accounts of strange happenings can lead to us looking to understand what has occurred. Something which often takes us in search of history and evidence to help us understand our own experience. Ghost stories are a fantastic way to help us learn and teach history, as they are excellent to help gain an understanding on different levels of what may have happened years ago.

Chasing Ghosts Through History

That early lesson for me in understanding a locations history has become a fundemental element of my own research and investigation tool kit. We often may hear accounts of paranormal activity at a location, but by researching these accounts and comparing them to other related historical accounts we can often draw comparisons and begin to understand the bigger picture of a location.

A great example of this is the ANZAC Soldier often reported at Peterborough Museum. Look into the buildings history and we discover that the building was once used as a First World War Hospital and at one point there was indeed an ANZAC Soldier that stayed there. The very same research often highlights a few accounts of the Soldier and where he was seen, which narrows the search down to the main staircase. It was research like this that had me focus on the main staircase during one visit and because of that two of us witnessed a light anomaly drift up the stairs similar to a candle light.

Researching a locations history and its activity reports is very much like chasing ghost back in time to their probable source. They often teach us a lot about a location and sometimes allow us to get to know it a little. Sometimes they often allow us to have a rare window into their lives too.

Jeff Belanger and the White House

The first time I stumbled on Jeff Belanger was whilst looking through some TEDx Talks on You Tube. I found Jeff’s talk on the haunted White House and how History is a Ghost Story. He’s explanation of how the White House, probably the most famous house in the US, had many accounts of ghosts over the years. Jeff even touched on the famous seances that had been conducted there too. However there was always a tie in to the places history, which was done seamlessly.

In my own experience from investigations and research over the years the ghost have managed to teach me a lot about many places I’ve visited. Okay granted not always direct from a spirit as such, but in looking for the ghosts I have found out a lot of history.

Jeff Belanger hasn’t just presented a few online talks or even given a few lectures, he’s written numerous books on the subject and has been involved with many TV shows too. One example being the very popular Ghost Adventures. This is just the tip of the iceberg too.

If you want to know a little more about Jeff Belanger, please check out his website at www.jeffbelanger.com.

However if you’re looking to ask the guy himself some questions and listen to one of his lectures first hand then Sage Paracon UK 2016 is the place you need to be this October. I know I am already gathering up some questions of my own.

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event, follow the link below to the Sage Paranormal website to purchase your tickets now.

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Alternatively if you already have tickets to Sage Paracon UK, then please comment below to let us all know and make those not going a little jealous ha ha!

I look forward to seeing you all there and possibly talking paranormal at some point over the weekend. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for my future posts related to Sage Paracon UK 2016.

Category Archives: Sage Paracon UK 2016

Warwick Castle, Amazing Location, Enough Said!!

Sage Paranormal’s Ghostly Visit Before Hand…

Our Ghostly Night at Warwick Castle

Vigils at Warwick Castle

Free Time Vigils

Warwick Castle Round Up

After Investigation Party

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Ashley Rebelled Against the Church Only To Find Something Divine In Nature

Ashley Mortimer on Witchcraft

The Doreen Valiente Foundation

A Little on A Few Famous Pagan or Witchcraft Sites

Ashley’s Top Five Places in the World Related to Witchcraft He Would Like to Visit

Ashley’s Encounter With a ‘Nasty’ Spirit

Thank You Ashley

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Sage Paracon UK 2016

As Big Brother Was Watching, Frank Cinelli Started Investigating!

Frank Cinelli’s TV Inspiration

Frank Talks About Alternative Medicine, Bioenergy & The Affects of Investigations on Us

Cinelli Conspiracy Theories

Dr Spectre and TAPS Paramagazine

Dr Spectre in Other Places

A Few Classic Paranormal Interview Questions

What are Frank Cinelli’s top five places to investigate ?

What would be Frank Cinelli’s top five places in the world that he would like to investigate ?

What has been Frank Cinelli’s most frightening encounter?

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Carl Hutchinson’s Search for Ghosts

Tech Guy Carl

Special Guest on Ghost Adventures

Carl’s Paranormal Understanding

Carl’s Top Five Lists

Top Five Locations That Carl Has Investigated

Top Five Locations That Carl Would Like To Investigate

Top Five Pieces of Tech

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Sage Paranormal’s Medium Liz Cormell

Liz’s Mediumship Beginnings

A Little on Liz

Liz’s Understanding of Psychical Ability

Liz’s Favourite Location

Liz’s Scariest Experience

Where Will You Investigate Next?

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Introducing Elizabeth Saint

Elizabeth Saint’s Paranormal Beginnings

Electrical Engineering, Ghostly Gadgets & Nikola Tesla

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

Working on Ghost of Shepherdstown

The Usual Paranormal Questions

Elizabeth Saint’s Favourite Location She’s Investigated?

Elizabeth Saint’s Favourite Location To Inestigate?

What Questions Does Elizabeth Saint Seek Answers To?

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Random Visit to Wroxall Abbey

An Impressive Entrance

The Main Convention Area

Oxjam Live Music Festival Stage

The Spooky Graveyard

Lecture Room & Guest Speaker Rooms

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Jul, 2016

Sage Paracon UK 2016

A Ghost Story and a History Lesson

Chasing Ghosts Through History

Jeff Belanger and the White House

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!