The story of Bella begins back in April 1943 during early evening time at Hagley Woods in Stourbridge. Four boys in search of bird nests found a striking elm tree that caught their eye. One of the four climbed up to take a closer look only to peer into the hollow and discover a human skull.
As the boys were not supposed to be in Hagley Woods, they decided to head home and keep this to themselves through fear of getting themselves in trouble. However one of them decided to tell his father, who in turn rang the police and the story of Bella in the Wych-Elm was born.
Okay granted, that is likely to be a very short version of the tale, but you get the idea. Jayne Harris covers it much better in her documentary, which is what this post is about of course. I recently watched Jayne’s film and to be honest I was pleasantly surprised. So, I thought I would post a little review of it for you all.
Looking At A Few Theories Surrounding Bella!
Jayne isn’t shy about looking at several of the prominent theories regarding Bella, which is one of the reasons I really enjoyed the film.
One of the most spoken about theories is that the events that lead to Bella’s demise were related to Witchcraft in some way and thats why she was placed in the elm tree. Jayne tackles this theory head on, gathering the related information attributed to this line of enquiry and then follows it up with a smart approach. After all when the stories of Bella seem to be related to Witchcraft, who better to talk to about this possibility than a Witch of course. In this case Jayne speaks to Ashley Mortimer, a friend of mine and someone whom I consider very knowledgeable in all things to do with Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism and the very interesting Doreen Valiente. This all presents very well in the film and gives us an interesting perspective on this theory.
Next up was the espionage theory which I found equally interesting as the witchcraft theory. Jayne done a fantastic job at looking into this theory in detail, chasing up quite a few leads to ensure that the evidence supported what was believed. Not to mention dismissing a few parts of this theory that were more fiction than fact. However the trail for this theory was well followed and documented in film.
The final theory that was looked at in the film was that of either unfortunate events or good old fashion murder. Jayne looked at the possibility that Bella had either walked through Hagley Woods and someone had either robbed and murdered her or her body had been hidden there following her unfortunate demise.
Who Was Bella?
However Jayne didn’t just leave the case here looking at those three probable theories, she continued to look at some aspects of the case that may have been overlooked in the past. This was something that really made the film for me, as Jayne took a look at who Bella might have been, which may also help to explain why she ended up in the Wych-Elm.
Drawing from the facts in the police reports Jayne makes comparisons in order to discuss some of the possible candidates for Bella. I like the way that the candidates are logically assessed by Jayne and found myself nodding in agreement with her conclusions of this.
Although I am not familiar with the case of Bella it certainly seemed as if ‘no stone was left unturned’ by Jayne and this approach shone through in her film. I could see that the evidence and details of the case had been followed. This was made evident in how the film presented Jayne’s findings, remaining true to the case and its facts. Rather than seeking a supernatural answer.
Not Entirely Without Supernatural Links!
However at a couple of points during the film Jayne interviewed and utilised what could be said to be more psychical resources, with the interview of a Psychic Medium and also a Remote Viewer. Given the rest of the films approach, this should have been the bit where I felt a little disappointed and possibly rolled my eyes a little. Not because I dismiss these approaches, but because the film may not have seemed like these approaches would fit the format. This I am happy to say was not the case though. Both individuals were interviewed well and utilised in conjunction with matters relating to the case, presenting them as valid rather than a supernatural inclusion.
Personally I especially liked the use of a Remote Viewer, as this particular approach is something that has been heavily documented over the years, but often dismissed. However many law enforcement departments (certainly in the States) have utilised them on active cases productively. The use of a Remote Viewer also resulted in some fascinating responses, no spoilers, but keep an eye out for them.
Recommendations
If you’re like me and find yourself looking into the facts behind cases that often have supernatural links, then ‘Who Put Bella in the Wych-Elm – The Untold Secrets‘ is a must for you without a doubt!
Jayne Harris has produced an excellent film covering the case excellently and in a way that captivated me throughout. The documentary was at a good pace too and didn’t just deliver the facts or analyse the possibilities, it told the story!
I have to be honest I went into this with an open mind, but was prepared for a film that wasn’t going to be let’s say of TV professional standards. Perhaps because I didn’t want to set my expectations too high and then be disappointed. However I have to admit, I was wrong to do so. Jayne Harris has delivered a fantastic film, which in my opinion is every bit professional as many of the paranormal shows I have seen on TV, if not better. It’s certainly up there as a good documentary, which would not be out of place on TV.
I remember, probably like many watching Ghost Hunters years back and following TAPS as they investigated all over the US and the world. To be fair back then there wasn’t many paranormal TV shows out there that could touch Ghost Hunters as its approach and style appealed greatly to the Ghost Hunters of the time or even just those with an interest in the paranormal. I would even go so far as to say they kind of encouraged the whole debunking approach on a whole new level.
Ghost Hunters InternationalIt may have been as far back as 2004 (don’t quote me on that one though) when I believe I may have first encountered Barry Fitzgerald in Ghost Hunters. My earliest memories of his appearance seem related to the use of full spectrum photography too, which at the time was something I found quite interesting as it fitted my own understanding that perhaps we are unable to see spirits as we are just not looking in the right way. A little like Black Holes.
So, when I bumped into Barry at the recent Paraforce UK 2016, we chatted briefly and I knew right away that at some point I would need to interview him for my website. Suffice to say, mission complete and here is that interview. I hope you all like it.
Barry Fitzgerald’s Early Interest in the Paranormal
Barry Fitzgerald – Ghost Hunters International
Looking at Barry’s website Charmstealer it was obvious to me that there was much more to his interest in the paranormal than ghosts and spirits, so I asked where his interest may originated from.
“I think growing up in a haunted house as a child lent itself to my developed interest within the field which in itself contains my sub categories. The ghost phenomenon was just one category or many I have a huge interest in.”
It’s often the case that a few strange goings on where we live can be the early catalyst for our interest and passion in a subject that is wide open and full of possibilities.
The Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International Connection
Something that always fascinates me is how many investigators and researchers stumble into shows such as Ghost Hunters. Obviously its not entirely by accident, but still interesting I think. I asked Barry about he’s starting point with the Ghost Hunters TV show.
“It really was a case of being in the right place at the right time. After filming the Ghost Hunters show in Ireland and England I was given a call by folks based in LA and asked if I would consider being part of the cast for a spin off show that would travel the world looking for ghosts. It took all of about 3 seconds to make up my mind.”
In all fairness although I have a few personal commitments, if someone asked me if I wanted to travel the world searching for ghosts, I’d probably be at their door with my bag packed before they had a chance to give me the details.
Its All About the Full Spectrum Camera
If memory serves me well, in those early days of Ghost Hunters Barry Fitzgerald was conducting some photography of some kind and I think that’s the first time I saw full spectrum used on a TV show. With that in mind I thought I was ask Barry about that very subject.
“The Full Spectrum Camera was a camera devised to enhance our spectral acceptance. We consider our eyes a great asset and in the great scheme of things they are, but in the wider appreciation they are very limiting. As adults we can for most no longer see what we saw as children. Our spectral appreciation narrows between the ages of 7-13 and the Full Spectrum Camera was devised to tap into that short fall and lend a hand to our adult vision.”
In The Mist of Gods
Although Barry had written a few books prior to it, ‘In The Mist of Gods’ begins to look at more legend or folklore enigmas such as fairies. As my original knowledge of him was mainly related to ghosts and spirits, I decided to ask what made him look into this particular subject area.
“Being form Ireland this subject matter is never too far away from my cultural heritage. But this of course also falls into the wider spectrum of my interest. Much of the UFO phenomenon I believe had been misconstrued as extra-terrestrial, but these entities have been here long before us and this manipulation has continued through out of development. Understanding our ancestors helps us understand our present. They have left vital records in our past to signal the great deceit and we can continue to make the same mistakes over and over or we can wake up and step outside the manipulating circle and look at the bigger picture. “
Barry Fitzgerald has researched and searched the world over for the fact behind the legends, but has some of what Barry found changed his perception of the natural world around us? Perhaps given him an insight into elements of the universe that many of us are currently unaware of?
“Absolutely to be honest when dealing with the ancient manuscripts of our past my perception of things has been changed completely. I would speculate that in the last three years of touching our past I’ve had more experiences in the field than 25 years of ghost hunting. Many times it has been exceptionally frightening other times it’s been so bizarre I just don’t even know where to start writing about it. Take for instance a weekend I run back in September, folks attended form England, Wales and Ireland and we stayed at a location known for this ancient activity. The events and phenomena experienced that weekend has left me flummoxed and have been having issues about where to start to write about the accounts experienced. A wonderful reporter from Wales Claire Barrand attended that weekend and wrote about it in her work which was published in a Welsh newspaper in which she tried to explain the events she and her sister had over the course of the weekend. I’m continually amazed by it.”
Think I might have to take a look into some of this ancient activity as it sounds really interesting and ties into some of my own research too. Perhaps Barry will ask me to join him on one of he’s adventures, hint hint!
Legend Seekers and Max
Legend Seekers
Anyone that knows me, knows i’m a slight Indiana Jones fan. Not so much the films themselves, but the concept of going in search of those more ‘occult’ based items. I saw a few bits and pieces on ‘Legend Seekers‘ and thought, blimey Barry is making a bid to be the next Indiana Jones for sure. On a more serious note though, I asked Barry to tell me a little about ‘Legend Seekers’ as it is a bit like a modern day Indiana Jones quest! If so, i’m in for sure!
“Legend Seekers was designed to inspire our youth from behind their play stations and Xbox’s and back into the country side. We hoped to explore the legend and myths that we were told by our grandparents and those written in ancient papers but nothing prepared us for what we were about to do. There were no warning, no hints even as to the dangers of what we were about to do. Some of the experiences we faced and wrote about in Legend Seekers ranged from ancient gods, papal cover ups, deadly water spirits and life threatening land spirits of the modern man that destroyed property and killed animals. This is to name a few.”
Legend Seekers and other videos can be found on Barry Fitzgerald’s You Tube Channel, check it out as its worth a watch. Plus I like the idea of inspiring the kids to leave the techy gadgets and head into the great outdoors to experience the world around us. Something I was lucky enough to do as a child and something which I think has helped me to look at the world in a different way. Another thing to thank my parents for.
Also, I can’t mention ‘Legend Seekers’ without mentioning the star of the quests – Max! He is a beautiful dog, that is by Barry’s side on the video’s. So, I wondered how involved he got in the quests and if he enjoyed them! Also, as dogs are quite sensitive to things we can’t sense, I wondered if he picked up on things that Barry didn’t?
“Animals are a key factor in our quests and the signals they give must be read properly. They are a BIO warning, many things we cannot pick up but the animals do and react accordingly. He is a loyal friend and dear companion on my journeys in remote lands and deep cave systems. His attention to the environment is a key factor and I thank him continually for all the things he does.”
Alchemy and Symbology
When I met Barry at Paraforce I asked briefly about Alchemy and if he had encountered any similarities to aspects of it in his quests. I was of course talking of the more in depth understanding of Alchemy, not how to turn lead into gold. I asked Barry if he had encountered for example any symbols that may tie things together? Also, if symbology came into tracking these legends down ?
“There are important symbols out there for sure, many of the new age symbols are nothing more than hoky attempts that can cause more harm than good. There are many things out there which started off as one thing but through manipulation have ended up on the other end of the scale. Understanding the origins of the source will help greatly, etymology is something which should be studied more in our schools but is unlikely. I think it’s preferred we learn what we are told and don’t question anything.”
It’s Classic Interview Question Time Now!
What has been your top five most favourite locations to investigate?
“Kesh caves in Sligo Ireland, to this day I can’t explain how I lost two people in a stretch of cave system of 30 feet and we could not see, hear or contact each other for 45 minutes.
Shanes Castle in Coo Antrim Ireland, a place known for the filming of Game of Thrones has also left me with intriguing questions. Investigating teams left with missing time within a series of tunnels which warrants more investigation.
Port Author, Tasmina where I captured a spirit leaving the church on my FSC mid stride in a 30 sec exposure. Speechless.
Wolf’s lair in Poland. This was Hilter’s eastern forward command base, it’s full of massive concrete bunkers and was one place we actually came to finally tracking him down, but it’s a place I wouldn’t walk around at night on my own. Creepy as.”
What are the top five places in the world that you would like to investigate ? That you haven’t yet!
Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic.
Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple at Tiruvananthapur am in South Indian state of Keral in India.
The village of Oradour-sur-Glane in Haute-Vienne, France.
Hessdalen Valley in Norway
Skin Walker ranch in Utah.
Round Up and Thanks To Barry Fitzgerald
I would just like to say a massive thanks to Barry for taking the time to help with this little interview, I really appreciate it and look forward to discussing legends and folklore at our next meeting.
If you want to know more about Barry Fitzgerald, please check out his website Charmstealer or look up his You Tube channel for the Legend Seekers videos and much more. Also, on Barry’s Charmstealer website you can find the links to his books, which are worth a read too.
Again thanks to Barry and I hope you liked this post, if you did, then you know what to do hit the like or throw me a comment.
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:-
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
Ashley Mortimer
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 Valiente
“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.”
The Doreen Valiente Foundation
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.
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.
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 my previous posts on Sage Paracon UK, here’s a few for you to catch up on:-
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.
Frank Cinelli aka Dr Spectre – Sage Paracon UK 2016
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.
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.
With the National Ghost Hunting Day in the US now only hours away, I managed to get hold of a very busy man indeed. Haunted Collector’s Brian J Cano. He agreed to have a brief chat with me, granted it was by email, but hey the guy is very busy.
Haunted Collector’s Brian J Cano
As I am joining Sage Paranormal and friends to investigate a location in the UK and link up with the US National Ghost Hunting Day Teams to do our part from this side of the pond, I wanted to ask Brian a little more about it. That and from what I’ve read the experiments have some interesting approaches and seem to touch on a little of the research I have done in the past. Utilising a few methodologies which have proved interestingly successful in the past. I wonder could this collective approach raise the energy enough to truly bridge the gap between this world and the possible spirit world?
Let’s see what Brian has to say?
Brian J Cano’s Paranormal Start
Known in the U.K. for appearing on the TV show The Haunted Collector, Brian’s investigative work alongside Johnny Zaffis has brought him into all our livingrooms on regular basis. However I was interested in how Brian first got into the paranormal initially and how did that lead to Haunted Collector, so I asked.
“Even at a young age I was enthralled by the mysteries of our world: Stonehenge, the Loch Ness Monster, alien abductions, etc. But my public facing interest began with a cable-access show in 2002 called, “Scared on Staten Island”. It was a show I produced with my friends and we explored abandoned, supposedly haunted buildings. That got me into reading more about ghosts and researching the paranormal. To do anything in the paranormal seriously for a prolonged amount of time will eventually lead to the Godfather of the Paranormal, John Zaffis.”
Perhaps my own meeting with the Godfather is just around the corner then! John Zaffis, I am ready, drop me a line anytime, haha!
Haunted Collector’s Brian J Cano
To be fair Haunted Collector was one of the first shows I saw that linked up parts of my own research and left me asking a lot more questions. The concept of a location being haunted was widely accepted for example, but I found many that struggled to accept a simple object as the source. Especially when that object was something as simple as a basic tool or similar. Although effectively a building and an object are one of the same. I asked Brian if working on the show helped develop his own understanding of this?
“Being that I’d worked with John before, the concept was already familiar to me. It was funny how long it took people to accept the concept though. But there are no hard and fast rules in the paranormal yet, since so much of it is ruled by perspective. The public just had to widen that perspective to allow for the new information.”
That was exactly what happened too, once the concept became more understood and that there could equally be a solution through the removal of said object then haunted objects became more understood. I have to admit I still have numerous questions myself on this area, but you all know me – if its paranormal then I am bound to be questioning it somehow somewhere! In all fairness I often find myself questioning that what we call reality too, a post for another time though!
US National Ghost Hunting Day Has Gone Global!
The 1st of October 2016 is literally here and with it possibly the largest ghost hunt ever! What began as a National Ghost Hunting Day in the US has already gone global. My friends at Sage Paranormal told me about it and got me involved. In fact I am really looking forward to the investigation for numerous reasons. As I am involved I wanted to know a little more about this huge ghost hunt, the concept behind it and how far it now reached. I put this question to Brian.
“I wanted it to reach across the globe to have the maximum impact. The concept is to build a web of consciousness that will allow for a bridge to open into the spirit world by having investigators run simultaneous investigations, united in purpose and lead from a central location; in this instance, from Scarefest in Lexington, KY.”
So, my understanding is that by having many Ghost Hunting teams linked in together there becomes this collective consciousness across the teams, across the globe attempting to obtain the same result. As my own research deals with telepathic interaction both locally and at a distance I am quite excited to see the results of this experiment. I wonder what data will come back from the many investigations, so I asked Brian if he has any personal aspirations for the experiment.
“I go into it hopeful, but with no expectations. Despite all the seeming New Age terms I’ve been using, this is still very much a scientific experiment and my job is to record the data, without overlaying my hopes or assumptions. But, my hypothesis is that by all of us aligning our intents at the very same time, we can “supercharge” the attempt, perhaps raising our vibration enough to get clearer, more reliable communication during the time of the experiment.”
It really is a fantastic idea and hopefully Brian’s hypothesis will be recognised. I have read quite a few pieces of research on collective consciousness and also where individual teams have been so focussed together that their communication has been amazing. The Scole Experiment, The Philip Experiment and possibly even the Cross Correspondences could be examples of this by their results. If this experiment manages to bring together many teams across the world for a common goal then that alone is an acheivement, but if it equally manages good communication then that could be very interesting.
Given the vast number of teams involved I wondered if anyone had contacted the Guinness Book of Records regarding this experiment as it could equally be a world record. Brian advised me of the following regarding this.
“The board of the National Ghost Hunting Day has. I’m unsure of the status at this moment.”
Let’s hope the Guinness Book of Records recognise this amazing event and then perhaps all of us involved will then be by the nature of association holders of a Guinness World Record.
Back to the experiment. I believe that Carl Jung’s Collective Unconscious in its simplest understanding suggested that, the fact that certain symbols appeared in similar formats the world over where physical contact wasn’t possible, meant there must be a collective link. I wondered if Brian had any experiments that may add weight to Jung’s idea.
“As a sideboard experiment, I plan to have a code word. I will think of a word, write it down and seal it in an envelope. I will tell no one what it is, but focus on it with the help of the psychics with me at Command Central. I’ve let everyone know I’ll be doing this, so report any random words or responses that come across. Even without an Other Side, I’ve experimented with this for years now, theorizing that many EVPs we get could very well be our own thoughts made to manifest. I call it the Psychic Projection Experiment. I’ve been doing it since 2009. It has worked five times in all those years and all within the last two years…”
This is a curious little addition and something that has popped up in my own research and something I’ve also tried before myself. However I don’t recall a scenario that I have seen that has so many people attempting to pick up the code word as this one. I would be very interested in the data around this experiment, its success and associated probabilities.
During a previous encounter at the first Paracon that I attended in the UK, Brian was also there and I caught his talk along with everyone else. During the talk he mentioned somehting that resonated with me, which was about the search for an equation to help explain elements of the paranormal. Something I am also seeking. I wondered if Brian had discovered it or had any theories that he believed might be heading in the right direction to achieve this.
“Quantum physics has some interesting theories that would overlap, however it all comes down to phase and dimensions. Since everything is vibrations and energy, we need to look there. We’re still in the infancy of that research as well.”
I have to agree 100% with Brian, I too have discovered many overlaps with Quantum Physics and its understanding of the universe. I look forward to hearing more about Brian’s theories the next time we meet.
Get Involved, Keep Up To Date, But Don’t Miss It!
If you want to know how and where you can keep up to date with this epic and far reaching Ghost Hunt then look up the following on your internet browser.
As usual it wouldn’t be an interview without a few classic paranormal interview questions.
What are Brian J Cano’s top five favourite locations?
“I’m bad with favorite questions. What would go into determining what they would be? Activity? Architecture? The people with me when I went? The pleasantness of the owners? The surrounding adventures? For a philosophically analytic person such as myself that question becomes impossible to answer.”
In all honesty I can totally understand Brian’s answer to this, I’ve been asked similar and there are a few places I would return to, but are they my favourite? Like Brian I don’t think I could categorically answer, giving one place above another. Plus I’ve not investigated every known haunted location on the planet, so it wouldn’t be fair.
What has been Brian’s scariest encounter?
Brian told me that his response to this question was far too long for this interview alone, so perhaps he would do me the absolute honour of discussing this for a future post? What do you say Brian, go on you know you want to?
Where in the world would Brian most like to investigate?
Quite simply Brian’s response to this question was “The White House” and what a great answer that is too. Given the understanding I now have of this amazing building and its detailed history, I can totally see where Brian is coming from.In fact I would like to investigate the White House myself, sorry Brian that’s on my wish list of locations too now lol.
Catch Brian J Cano In The UK
As I’m based in the U.K. and for all of us Brits, I wondered where and when we might next see Brian in our neck of the woods.. “This coming March, for my D Day Tour, in conjunction with Sage Paranormal.”
Sage Paranormal D-Day Tour 2017 with Brian J Cano
This is certainly not one to miss out on and with very few tickets remaining for the D-Day Tour you should contact Sage Paranormal to get yours NOW!
Thank You Brian
I would like to finish up by thanking Brian for his time in answering my questions so that I could add this post. As the Sun is now only hours away from rising on National Ghost Hunting Day in the US and the others taking part across the globe, I know Brian was extremely busy. So, taking time to complete this interview shows he’s dedication to the field. A dedication resonated amongst all those that are participating in this fantastic event. So, thank you to all you guys that helped organise the event and everyone that has signed up to be involved. Your dedication to the field and acceptance to work together on this will also help further field.
I look forward to an excellent investigation tonight and collaborative effort towards the experiments. Good luck everyone and have a great ghost hunt.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:-
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 Cormell – Sage Paranormal Medium
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.
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.
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 for what’s going to be a fantastically fun and informative weekend.
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:-
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.
Elizabeth Saint
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.
Ghosts of Shepherstown Team
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.
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.
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.
