Antietam Paranormal Society

When I started investigating the paranormal in 2008, I would have to say that for me it was just for fun. Three of us just wanted to go out to really cool haunted locations and experience the paranormal for ourselves. I am sure that is how a lot of people start out, but over time does it become something different for a few people? Almost like a calling? A hobby is usually defined as any enjoyable leisure activity that we engage in voluntarily and consistently when we are free from the demands of work or other responsibilities. Hobbyists that collect items, form fantasy sports teams, gamble, dance, craft, or write; are serious about their chosen hobby. Is paranormal investigation an enjoyable leisure activity? Personally, I don't think so. (It's time consuming and frustrating in most cases. Leisure, hah.) I have seen a lot of individuals and teams pop up over the years and to be honest the people that just want to experience something don't last as paranormal investigators....

I am going to start this particular blog with a bit of a warning, because this may not be your cup of tea. The opinions, thoughts, theories, and views in this blog have been developed by years of observation, experimentation, first hand accounts, and case studies. While you may not agree or even subscribe to the information within this blog, there are many that do agree and fully accept these philosophical theories. This blog is informational, however it should never replace the educated opinion of a medical professional. Please contact a medical professional if you are experiencing any mental or physical illness. SPIRIT ATTACHMENT If you have been interested in the paranormal for any length of time or you have watched paranormal television you are aware of the potential of spirit attachment. If you have seen one of the most popular and probably controversial paranormal television shows, you'd know that lead investigator is always getting possessed. But what if I told you that thro...

One of the first unspoken rules with ghost hunting or paranormal investigation is to always obtain permission to access a property. This statement and ethical line brings up a host of other concerns about exploiting locations with purported paranormal activity. When it comes down to it, there are too many people who lack the moral obligation to obtain permission to access or explore these properties. If we look at the situation from a broader view to include others who have no interest in the paranormal, this isn't just an ethical line for a questionable field of study, trespassing on property is a criminal act. They don't see it as a passion for the study of paranormal phenomena, they see it as a nuisance and potentially harmful. The epidemic of accessing locations without gaining permission doesn't just involve the physical presence for paranormal investigation or ghost hunting, it also includes urban exploration and sharing these locations publicly for self-interest. Let...

Anyone who has done their research knows the premise of the Stone Tape Theory is that certain rock or stone has retained or captured an energy or memory of some event from the past that will replay like a tape recording. These experiences have also been labeled as residual hauntings as if the energy of the event has been left or absorbed into certain objects or places. These spirits or ghosts have been seen or experienced by multiple witnesses to be doing the same actions completely unaware of people or objects in their vicinity. They have also noted some of these spirits or ghosts do not follow the layout of the current structure but follow a different route that some speculate could have been a former layout or structure in the past. Recently I came across a note from a Facebook follower asking how my team or myself viewed the Stone Tape Theory and whether we had any experiences or data that demonstrated the validity of the theory. While I cannot refute those who have hypothesized th...

You're going to find that I will post blogs on things I have shared on other social media sites or blogs I have done previously. I do this because it used to be where I put all my interests, and I am transitioning over to this blog. I currently write a lot of these blogs and posts specifically for my team Antietam Paranormal Society, but if you met with our team you'd know we all feel this way. Through the years I found that instead of getting angry on social media, it was better to educate and share constructive ways to move forward as a paranormal investigator or researcher. Every once in a while you just have to let it out. I will call this series (because I am sure I will have a few on this blog over time) I personally have investigated the paranormal for over 14 years; I have been a lead investigator and a Case Manager in that time. I have done many different types of investigations from homes, to businesses, to historical locations, to outdoor locations. In the past we we...

Paranormal investigation and research for me straddles a line of logic and intuition. I firmly believe that my call to investigate the paranormal was in preparation for the spiritual journey that I was destined to face. My spiritual journey has enlightened me on the more metaphysical part of the paranormal and in turn has opened a doorway of understanding that I would have never had before. While I would love to share all of it, I am only addressing the spiritual protection that you may need to do paranormal investigation or if you are dealing with the paranormal. GET RIGHT WITH YOUR BODY AND MIND I cannot express enough that if your physical, emotional, and mental energy are not up to snuff; you need to stay ho me. The a ura is an energy field that radiates out from our bodies and each layer of the aura represents different parts of us. If our energy is out there and can be read by other energetic beings; they may be attracted to us or they may be repelled by us. Think of the things y...

Photography in paranormal investigation and ghost hunting can be a tricky endeavor. It may seem like it's a cut and dry piece of evidence of the paranormal when you get an anomaly, especially if you didn't note it when you took the picture, but many of these photographs have explanations that are not readily available to the layman.  I plan to give a more detailed blog for learning more about how cameras work but this blog is fashioned after the meme that has gone viral several times (see left). When you learn photography or you learn how to use a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) in manual mode, there are many different settings that can alter the quality or even alter the frame for more creative images. The main component to these settings is the Exposure Triangle. Each of these three controls on the triangle work together to make sure the photograph has enough light for proper exposure. When one is changed for a specific reason, another must be adjusted. The Shutter Speed is...

The paranormal field is a broad spectrum of categories of supernatural phenomena. While our particular team focuses on hauntings, ghosts, and other entities; there are also cryptids, aliens, and UFOs. This blog is specifically geared toward things that may be present in a haunting or are manifestations of spirits. I would be remiss if I didn't state up front that many things on this list can be debunked and should always be investigated to determine if the percipient misinterpreted those natural events. TEMPERATURE CHANGES Some paranormal investigators and percipients (people who experience the phenomena) describe the presence of a spirit as a rapid decrease in temperature, where a warm room suddenly becomes ice cold. These cold spots, drafts, breezes, or temperature changes should be documented with a good ambient thermometer that measures the air, not surfaces. Drafts or breezes can be checked with a draft detector or a thermometer before and during the investigation to determine...

The main concept of unity in the paranormal field is to work together for the common goal of paranormal research or to come together to further the body of knowledge of the paranormal. Some things you may expect to see when individuals are practicing paranormal unity are collaborating on investigations, discussing paranormal theories, sharing evidence, discussing current or created paranormal equipment, sharing resources, mentorship, and more. I have often thought that there really didn't need to be a term to do these things when we have common goals, but that's where I feel the term can cross a line.  Paranormal Unity or Paranormal Just-Get-Along? That is the question. Years ago, I think it was 2011, two individuals that by definition I practiced paranormal unity with; got angry with me. We had a discussion about this up and coming term "paranormal unity", because it gave me the warm fuzzy feeling of being part of a community of dedicated researchers. What I didn...

To be objective is to not be influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. Cognitive bias is a systematic thought process caused by the tendency of the human brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal experience and preferences. So what does that mean? Here are a few pieces of advice and information of real situations where objectivity may be compromised and cognitive bias enters the chat.... One of the first things that occurs with any paranormal case is that the paranormal investigator or team communicates with the client. During this period of time the client is interviewed, questions are asked and answered, and a lot of information is shared. In your first line of communication, you may have already had compromising information shared with you that can influence your investigation. I have always documented these interviews well and created a plan to validate the information. A client's personal experiences are impo...

Collaboration. The idea of working together for a specific goal. It seems like it would be a no brainer and would probably push the field further than by just doing it alone doesn't it? Well the main component of collaboration is bringing people together and in today's world that is a mean feat. There are a lot of components to consider when you collaborate with a free lance investigator or another paranormal team, you can't just jump into it with no forethought. First, not everyone has similar goals. While this is probably the excuse or example given by many either side of the debate, it is an important subject to ponder. If you are in the field of paranormal investigation simply to experience paranormal phenomena and you have no interest in documenting any variables, working with a team that does document everything may not be in your wheelhouse or in your best interest. Does the free lance investigator or team create documentaries or do lives? Not everyone is interested...