111209 Paranexus Newsletter

12 November 2009

The ParaNexus Newsletter

T h i s

© 2009 by ParaNexus.org. Editor: David Desjardins CD This Newsletter is distributed free of charge to anyone interested. Please visit ParaNexus.org to subscribe. Serious article submissions welcome. Please send subm i s s i o n s t o [email protected]

W e e k

i n

P a r a N e x u s

Not a ParaNexus Member Yet? Join the Vision

Recent Blogs

Tonight on ParaNexus Universe Radio

- Let No One Come This Way - Responsible Research: “Experts”…

I N S I D E TH I S I S S U E :

Letters From the Editor

- A Celebration of Fear 2

EMF’s and the Paranormal Indicator, Cause or Gateway

2

The Rise and Fall of a Paranormal Group

5

Thursday, 11-12-09 • 9pm - 10pm Eastern

Psychic Perspective With Psychic Lawyer Mark Anthony We welcome back Mark Anthony to discuss psychic matters.

N e w

Gizmos and Gadgets Olympus DS40

7

Members Research assistant, Online with many great features and tools located all in one place on the web.

Join or Renew your membership now to take advantage of many new membership benefits. www.paranexus.org /join

- Buzzards Might Roost in My Hair - Tiny Packages ,Cigarettes All in Row These Blogs and others can be found at:http:// www.paranexus.org/forum/ index.php?zc

A n n o u n c e m e n t s What’s tall, hairy and smell’s like rotten eggs? Find out in the latest entry of the ParaNexus Parapedia.

Membership dues are increasing on 12/1/09. Join/Renew now at the lower rates!

P a g e

2

1 2

L e t t e r s B y Although a day late, depending on when you receive your copy of this news letter, I would still like the opportunity to take pause. Many countries throughout the world recognize 11 Nov, as Remembrance Day, Veteran‟s Day, Armistice Day or National Day of Commemoration. No matter what the name, it re-

F r o m

D a v i d

need

not

2 0 0 9

E d i t o r

D e s j a r d i n s

mains a day of great importance to some. Originally, to denote the end of WW 1 and to pay tribute to those who had served and fallen, it now represents a time to think on those who served throughout history and those who serve today. Without them the world would be a much different place. You

t h e

N o v em b e r

C D

what they fight for, but that they are willing to fight for us should always be worth remembering. Suggestions, questions, comments or concerns pertaining to this article or anything contained herein may be sent to: [email protected] or [email protected]

agree

Certified Paranormal Investigators Course Available at ParaNexus Academy

EMF’s and the Paranormal Indicator, Cause or Gateway

By Bill Cogswell, CPI Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF‟s) have been a hot topic in the field of the paranormal for many years. “Ghost Hunters” and “Paranormal Investigators” have been using EMF detection devices for quite some time in order to help corroborate or rule out supposed, alleged, or real paranormal experiences. There are several different views in regards to EMF‟s and their relation to the paranormal and this article will briefly outline those different theories. Before I begin, for those of you who may not understand what an electromagnetic field is, here is a brief tutorial on the subject.

When you open your mind to possibilities, there is no closing it again. — Tracy Kelley

An electromagnetic field is an invisible, physical field created by electrically charged objects. All electrical devices such as appliances, power lines, or even batteries, etc.,

will have an EMF. The higher the voltage of the appliance or electrically driven device, the higher the EMF will be. Also, the EMF of any electrical device is often present, even when the device is shut off. EMF‟s also occur naturally and are one of the four fundamental forces of nature. As well, the sun constantly bombards us with electromagnetic fields. EMF‟s often occur in the atmosphere when electrically charged particles are built up resulting in thunder storms. Human beings have an electromagnetic field and there is even a theory called “The electromagnetic theory of consciousness” which states that the electromagnetic field generated by the brain is the actual carrier of conscious experience. However, that is a much deeper discussion for another day. So, as you can see electromagnetic fields are constantly surrounding us; they are part of life and something that we cannot ignore. Ok, now that we have a basic understanding of what an electromagnetic field is, let‟s move on to the various theories in relation to the paranormal.

1 2

N o v em b e r

P a g e

2 0 0 9

3

INDICATOR

CAUSE

The first theory behind EMF‟s and paranormal activity is that a high and unexplained EMF reading could be an indicator that something is going on that cannot be explained, such as paranormal activity. It is believed that when a spirit is manifesting it draws energy from the available electrical fields around it. By drawing on external electrical fields, that spirit would then register its own detectable EMF. These fields would of course be measured using an EMF detector.

Another theory on EMF‟s is that perhaps the high EMF‟s are the cause of the paranormal activity. In other words, there is nothing paranormal going on; it is the actual EMF that is causing the witness to experience what is perceived as paranormal.

For an EMF reading to be considered a potential indicator of paranormal activity it needs to be unexplained -meaning it didn‟t come from wiring, nearby appliances, people (yes people have EMF‟s as well), or another explainable reason. The investigator must also be very thorough in ruling out all other potential natural causes before considering labelling the EMF as paranormal. Along this line of thinking, EMF readings are useful in verifying potential paranormal activity. For example, if a witness sees an apparition and a high unexplained EMF reading is taken at the same time in the same location, then that could be seen as possible verification that what the witness saw was potentially authentic. If someone is hearing unexplainable sounds and a high EMF reading is taken at the same time, then that could be an indicator of paranormal activity. Most people do not believe that a high EMF reading alone is verification of paranormal activity of course, but in conjunction with other indicators such as noises, smells, apparitions, objects moving, unexplained cold spots, etc., it can be verification of potential paranormal activity. When it comes to verification, ideally, the more indicators of a single incident, the more believable that the activity is of a paranormal nature. EMF‟s. Many different paranormal investigation groups utilize the high EMF readings theory in conjunction with paranormal activity, which does give some credence to this line of thinking. Some of these more respected, well known individuals and groups include Loyd Auerbach, TAPS, Joshua Warren, and a host of others that are regarded by most in the field to be reputable.

This theory is also backed up by scientific studies involving the number of reports of paranormal activity in conjunction with EMF‟s. One such study was done by Dr. Michael Persinger, Professor of Psychology at Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Persinger was inspired to conduct his study based on a previous study he was involved with. In this previous study, Dr. Persinger compared thirty seven years of haunting incidents reported in Fate magazine to geometric activity occurring on the same dates as the reported incidents. He found enough correlation between the two that he began his own study in order to further develop this theory. In his own study he was able to duplicate similar incidents of paranormal activity by bombarding the subject‟s temporal lobes with elevated electromagnetic energy. Through his experiments he was able to prove that increased EMF exposure—even short term—can cause frontal-lobe hallucinations. Some of the reported effects of being exposed to higher-thannormal electro-magnetic energy were very similar to those of paranormal activity. The study participants reported feelings of a presence in the room, being watched, fear and general paranoia, seeing blurry dark figures out of the corners of their eyes, and hearing unexplained noises. This of course does not prove that all paranormal phenomena are caused by EMF‟s, but it does prove that higher-than-normal EMF‟s can produce similar effects on subjects in a laboratory, which is a big deal when it comes to science. Dr. Persinger‟s findings have also been backed up by another study called “Project Hessdalen,” which was done by a more „pro-paranormal‟ group. This project came to similar results in regards to seeing a correlation between electromagnetic energy on the brain's temporal lobe and hallucinations of a paranormal nature. The fact that paranormal phenomena can be reproduced in a laboratory gives a lot of weight to the theory that high EMF exposure can cause seeming paranormal activity. (further research into Project Hessdalen can be found on www.hessdalen.org.)

P a g e

4

1 2

GATEWAY A third theory regarding EMF‟s and the paranormal is that strong EMF‟s actually act as a gateway, enabling the brain to tap into abilities that allow us to see into other dimensions. Supposedly, we only use a small percentage of our brain power and the theory is that perhaps higher EMF‟s can help us in accessing that brain power in order to view information or “things” that are always around us yet unperceivable in our normal state of being. Basically stated, the effect of the EMF on the brain in relation to other dimensions/worlds is similar to using a descrambler to pick up channels on a television set that you can‟t normally receive. When the brain is exposed to higher-than-normal EMF‟s, we are potentially able to view these other worldly “channels.” The backdrop to this theory is that we are possibly surrounded by other dimensions and other life forms at all times. For example, it is believed that when we pass on, our soul enters into one of these other dimensions (Heaven?). Hence, we may be able to see people or things from other dimensions which we then perceive as “ghosts.” If this is the case, then the things and people we see as “ghosts” may actually be real, just residing in another dimension or time. L i v e

U F O ,

N o v em b e r

In regards to seeing into other times, this could be why some people report witnessing an out of time apparition or vehicle (apparitions in period specific outfits, old cars, UFO‟s, etc.). Could we be receiving signals from the past or future? If this theory were to one day prove correct, it would sure make for an interesting existence. Imagine the possible breakthroughs in communication systems! Of course, this theory is difficult to prove either way and there is no scientific evidence to back it up at this time. Perhaps in the future, as science evolves, it will provide us the means with which to test this theory.

SO WHICH IS IT?

2 0 0 9

Leading Paranormal Investigator Certification Course (CLPI) Learn how to be an effective leader. This is a comprehensive leadership course that is useful for secular applications as well. You'll never find a comparable leadership course at this tuition!

So, here are three theories in relation to electromagnetic fields and the paranormal. The line of thinking to which you subscribe would correspond to your own belief system. Could one of these theories be correct? Could they all be correct? Perhaps we will never know, at least not in our lifetime. However, science is evolving at an incredible rate so no doubt in the future, answers will be more attainable on this subject.

H a u n t i n g , a E x p e d i t i o n B r o a d c a s t b e g i n s 1 1 p m E a 2 N i g h t s : M o n / T u e

n d C r y p t o z o o l o g i c a l B r o a d c a s t a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y s t e r n • N o v . 2 3 / 2 4 , 2 0 0 9

Watch the Live Event, Chat with Investigators! This live event is a UFO and haunting/parapsychological investigation combined with a cryptozoological expedition in Cedar Key, Florida. Reported UFO and haunting activity as well as Swamp Ape (Bigfoot) activity in the area will be investigated. A live table-tipping demonstration will also be conducted. The investigation will begin around 11pm each night and last several hours. Four ParaNexus Board Members as well as a CPFI member and CPI member will conduct the investigation along with the property owner. This is not a hotel investigation. More details will be provided on each night of the broadcast.

P a g e

5

T h e

1 2

R i s e B y

a n d

F a l l o f G r o u p

C h a r l e s

a

S a u n d e r s

What can happen to a paranormal group that is not created with a solid foundation? Part of a solid foundation includes good communication and members who are team players. And a founder who is willing to lead and not follow other team members. All of these things are needed to keep a group together and strong. And just as important are the values of the group such as truth, honesty, and integrity. These important points can be the rise or fall of a paranormal group. The founder and co-founder will need to decide on what the vision of their team will be. Write this down and it will become like a motto. Decide what type of investigations they want their group to do and how often do they want to do investigations. And decide how often they would like to have team meetings. With all of this known up front, potential members will know what direction the founder and cofounder want the group to go. All of this should be done with some form of communications either written or verbal. They are also your lead investigators. Create a name for the group and a logo. The role of founder does not stop there. When you start a new group or add a new member, your team is bound to be nervous. These people are strangers to each other and may be a little uncomfortable at first or shy. The founder and co-founder should do their best to help the team become as comfortable as possible with each other. This will definitely help the morale of the team. Everyone on the team relies on the founder and co-founder for many things. They mostly look for guidance before, during, and after the investigations. The founders help to solve problems that may arise in the group. Or situations beyond anyone‟s control that may happen during the investigation. In a paranormal group, each person is usually assigned a specific task. A founder starts the group. He or she may decide to have a co-founder to help with the coordination of the group. Interested members can also join the group. They can be found in various ways such as meet up groups, flyers, internet and more. Each person may already have a specific skill. If they do not and are interested in one area then they can be taught how to do that task.

N o v em b e r

2 0 0 9

P a r a n o r m a l C L P I

A case manger is usually the first person who has contact with the client, contacting the client and doing an interview. Case mangers should obtain pertinent information about the case, have the client sign the necessary forms, and then bring the information to the team. The case manager is also responsible for finding new cases. One of the case manager roles could also include doing historical research such as gathering information from the county court house, the internet, libraries, and personal interviews with those familiar with the area you are investigating. Duties could also include team documentation. If you have a small group the case manager can wear many hats. Tech managers or equipment managers are responsible for the set up of equipment. Such as where to place cameras, a good base station location, and operating the necessary equipment. The founder and co-founder help make those decisions. The tech manager generally has good computer and technical skills a well as being well organized. The tech manager will be responsible for accounting of all equipment at the end of the investigation. The tech manager can also train others to help run the equipment and set up if necessary. This can initially be done at a team meeting to help other team members become familiar with the equipment and its purpose. Especially with a new group, if the tech manager does not show or help other members on the process of setting up the equipment, it can be a free-for-all at the investigation everyone wanting to help and no one knows

P a g e

6

what to do or how to do it, or everyone stands around feeling helpless. This can create unnecessary stress. Teaching others about the set up of equipment and having them do it will let you see how well everyone works together to get the job done. So the basic cores of your team consist of the founder and co-founder who have many responsibilities, the case manager initially has contact with the clients, and the tech manager is responsible for the setup of various types of equipment. Last but not least are the investigators who will gather evidence. This makes up the rest of your team.

1 2

N o v em b e r

2 0 0 9

wonder why did I even go? And over time they are not sure if this is the kind of group they wanted to join. If the founder and co-founder have not set up the guide lines like the team vision and rules, and/or have poor communication, then the team is headed for a big fall. The team members have become friends but are thinking about going in a different direction. The team starts to split up and members have to decide which friends they will go with or if they should find a new paranormal group or just get out all together. All of this could have been prevented with good communication. I know this because that is exactly what happened to the paranormal group that I had joined.

Every member of the team needs to feel wanted and needed in some kind of capacity. Team members often bring in a piece of equipment they are familiar with and teach other members how to operate it. This will help with the education process also. Sharing knowledge is a key factor of a group also. The more you know or are willing to learn, the better your team will be. This will greatly help with the reputation of the group. One other thing that needs to be considered is the investigations. Yes you may get clients in many ways such as flyers, newspapers, internet and other sources, but what about when things are slow and you have no investigations? The team has to decide if they want to pay for investigations of public places. Some can be well known places or out of the way places that a person believes might have paranormal activity. Many of these places charge for investigations. If your team decides to do these types of investigations, then a maximum price should be discussed. Or if an investigation is out of your price range, you may want to consider going in with another paranormal group to help offset the cost. Many things can be discussed during regular team meeting, but the founder and co-founder should have an agenda before the meeting begins. Email or call other members and ask if there is anything they would like to discuss during the meeting. Then distribute the agenda before the meeting. If there is no agenda then it just becomes chaos. Members don‟t have time to think about and respond to what is being said. Everyone starts to talk over each other and get their say in. It ends up with “think things over and we will decide it during our next meeting.” Nothing gets accomplished. Then members leave the meeting and



Do you have a topic that you are passionate about? Something that you feel should be said? A comment, criticism, or opinion on the field of paranormal research or its future? Make your voice heard in the ParaNexus Newsletter. All submissions may be sent to: [email protected]



1 2

N o v em b e r

2 0 0 9

P a g e

G i z m o s a n d O l y m p u s B y

D r

G a d g e t s D S 4 0

I n g r i d

The quality of our recording devises is something to consider when recording EVP. In these articles I would like to share different IC (Integrated Circuit) recorders I have used, as well as share any advantages or disadvantages of them. There are many recorders out on the market and the joys of eBay & Amazon bring most good quality recorders into an affordable price range. The Olympus DS30/40 is a great quality recorder. The stereo recording of this model captures every word and sound—an important aspect as it will help eliminate false positives in the field. The super-high-quality sound is very easy to listen to on playback, and has exceptional clarity. Purchase one of these recorders and you will not need another for a long time to come. The clarity is excellent and in STXQ mode, this recorder has an overall frequency response between 5019,000Hz, which is an exceptional range, voice activation is available on this model, very user friendly and easy to use. It offers a wide range of recording options with quite unique built in and external stereo microphones. Plus, it has a timer, so you can set the Olympus to record at any specified time you like, handy for running various experiments like sleep trial, unattended recordings or if you just want the recorder to record at a specified time daily whether you are around or not. The DS30/40 is also excellent as a „control‟ or 2nd recorder. If you are using a lower grade recorder without the clarity of the DS30/40, then use one of these also. Many noises that record on an inferior recorder could be interpreted as a voice, but when played back on the DS 40 can be clearly distinguishable as an environmental noise. The construction of this recorder is very sturdy, I have dropped mine quite a few times by accident and it survived with no damage every time, though I don‟t recommend dropping it too many times.

7

I r w i n

Technical Specifications Microphone Type: Stereo (detachable), Mono (built-in) Storage Size: 512MB Speaker: Built-in 23mm round dynamic Recording Format: WMA Max Headphone Power: 250mW LCD: Backlit with Power saver Battery Life Approx. 31 hours (using AAA alkaline dry cell battery) Unit Size 4.37 x 1.48 x 0.63 (117 x 37.5 x 16 mm) Weight 2.80 oz. (80g), including battery Casing: Silver Reinforced Plastic/ Steel OS Supported Microsoft Windows XP / Windows Vista, Mac OSX Supports optional external remote control All in all, I have yet to say anything bad or find a con to this recorder. It is versatile, has many features, sturdy construction, amazing sound clarity, and would have to be one of the preferred recorders on the market. It really is an all-in-one audio devise that anyone interested in recording EVP can‟t go past.

JOIN US

As a ParaNexus Member, You Will Benefit From:         

A shared professional and serious research vision Certificate and ID Card (PDF) Research Assistant Page with one-stop atmospheric data and much more Member website directory so visitors in your area can find you (coming soon) Opportunity to qualify as a Certified ParaNexus Field Investigator Access to the entire forum including posting privileges Weekly newsletter Video Library in the Gallery with free training tutorials, conference videos, and more Discounts on items in the ParaNexus Store Discounts on ParaNexus events

       



Downloads section with software and customizable investigation forms that will save you time and trouble The opportunity to connect and network with other investigators and make new friends The opportunity to broaden your knowledge and contribute to the paranormal field The opportunity to serve a greater role within ParaNexus as a staff member or even a Board Member A means of publishing your articles or promoting your book Personal Blog A member banner for your website Customizable Profile Page (similar to MySpace) Web space for your anomalous research website

www.ParaNexusAcademy.org www.ParaNexus.org Join Today! ParaNexus is a global professional association of dedicated and progressive parapsychologists, ufologists, and enthusiasts focused on researching and understanding the human condition through the scientific study of anomalous and psychical phenomena, its reality, its reach, and its impact on humanity.

www.ParaNexus.org/store The ParaNexus Resource Shoppe provides aids to research and investigation including training courses, log books, ID Badges, and more.

The ParaNexus Academy offers a growing list of paranormal and personal growth courses that are affordable and comprehensive. Our instructors are skilled and knowledgeable in the topics they teach. All courses are conducted online and may feature live video sessions, online content, instructor articles and books, and additional activities and material.