EPIC PARA-BLOG

In East Bethany NY, sits the sprawling 200 acres of the Rolling Hills Asylum, to be featured on tonight’s Ghost Adventures episode.
For many, this place is a lesser known diamond in the rough, that is, until tonight.

The Rolling Hills team with the Ghost Adventures Crew.

The land goes back to the mid-late 1700′s, it used to be a tavern and a stagecoach. What stands today was formerly known as the Genesse County Poorhouse, the facility began housing what they referred to as inmates in January 1827.

Folks living in the poorhouse ran the gamut from orphans, to the mentally and physically challenged, alcoholics, destitute families, war veterans, the elderly, and the criminally insane.  Created as a self sustaining community for the unwanted, residents were forced to perform physical labor and earn their keep, those who could not perform their various duties from farming, to wood working and anything in between were kept in confinement.

With no choice but to live out their days here, one can only imagine what life must have been like for these people. At the end of their time, their bodies were buried without regard in the surrounding field, they were treated in death as in life, as just another number.

Even so, it seems a great many have chosen to stick around long afterward.  Though we may never know why, one can speculate that like a child of an abusive parent, people often hold dear what is familiar to them.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with the current owner of RHA, Sharon Coyle who was incredibly giving of her time.
I approached our interview with a very business like attitude, and though I kept it to myself, a skeptic eye.  My skepticism was primarily due to the abundance of claims of phenomena, and of course, the fact that the asylum is open to the public.
Basically, I wanted to make sure that I was presenting the facts, rather than selling the establishment.   Within 5 minutes of chatting with Sharon, it became clear that she was utterly genuine in speaking both of her personal life and the asylum.

How did you get involved with the paranormal?

She has always been fascinated with the paranormal, having grown up in active homes in New Hampshire as a child.
Supernatural experiences were far from taboo and very familiar given her family history.  In fact, her Grandmother recounts her own chilling encounters in the family Bible.  While she was very well read in various paranormal aspects, growing up lead her into other areas.

Upon the passing of her Mom, the last member of her family in 2001, Sharon decided she wanted to get back into the field in a professional manner.  After watching a live episode of Ghost Hunters, she was inspired to seek out and join several groups in her area to get back into it.  Over time she started her own group of researchers along with a meetup group of over 250 members, the largest in California.  While that might seem to be excessive to some, Sharon explains her reason for doing so quite simply.  There are so many of us out there who are interested, several groups have amazing evidence and yet, what are we doing with it? Her goal was to bring it all together in the hopes of sharing findings and trying to establish patterns etc, to further the efforts of this elusive field.

How did you hear about Rolling Hills?

After hearing about a sold-out Darkness Radio event in 2008, Sharon contacted Dave Schrader to see if there were any tickets still available.  As it turns out, there was a silent auction for the few remaining  spots.  Remarkably, she and a friend were chosen for what she states was an amazing 3 day investigation.  ” I got so much evidence, it was unbelievable, I mean unbelievable, full body apparitions, heads popping out of walls, a huge hand manifested…it was just an amazing (experience) I captured full  conversations. “
With her wealth of remarkable evidence, she showed some to Grant Wilson, Co-Founder of TAPS, during one of their events, who confirmed her photographic findings as paranormal in nature.

This, combined with the overall experience really stuck with her. Though she kept busy with her own team back in California, she could not get RHA out of her mind.  Even having investigated renowned locations such as  Wolfe Manor, The Queen Mary, and many other local places, the asylum was the one place she could not wait to return to.  She says this happens to a great deal of people, “It grabs a hold of them, I can’t tell you how many people tell me this, I can’t get it out of my mind, I can’t wait to come back and that is what was happening with me.”

What led you to purchase RHA?

After receiving a call from her friend Stacy, whom had accompanied her on the Darkness Radio event, the wheels of fate were set in motion.  Her friend informed her that the Rolling Hills Asylum would be “closing down forever July 17th.” Saying she did not know if they would sell the place because of what was being asked for it.  This sparked a profound reaction from Sharon.  ” I had a meltdown, literally I was crying, thinking Oh my God, what’s going to happen?…what will happen to the property? There are not many places like that still around.  I called my husband crying so hard, he thought somebody had died…at that point I realized my reaction was not normal.”

After discussing it with her husband, he suggested she go back and take a look at it to see if it would be something she would want to purchase, as she has always wanted to get out of California.  She made the trip out to see RHA in May and again in June.  After deciding to attempt to purchase it, Sharon was concerned about her odds of obtaining this beautiful historic place with so much activity, it seemed she would be up against a great deal of people waiting to get their hands on such a prime piece of real estate.  She hoped that she would stand a chance and that if someone else should acquire it, that they would preserve it.

Possible Intervention, Evidence and Other Odd Experiences

Upon speaking with the foreclosure representative, she was told that she would be the only one bidding on it! Even stranger, no one else showed up at auction that day, not even spectators.  That in and of itself is mind blowing to me.  It seems to validate what Sharon mentioned about the place bringing people together.  She has a plethora of stories regarding individuals rekindling relationships with others by 1-2 degrees of separation surrounding Rolling Hills. Sharon believes this building chose her, and while I know many homes choose people, any skepticism I had about that statement initially, could no longer be argued after hearing about the auction, at least for me.

The decision to purchase and restore the location would not be an easy undertaking given its age and associated disrepair, but Sharon’s love of this abandoned asylum left  her fully committed. “It was not an easy move by any means, but it was something that I had to do, I was supposed to be here.”

Purchased on June 23rd, with her Birthday two days away, she decided that this would be the ultimate gift.  On the 24th, “I came in the building with 2 others, not paranormal investigators and a recorder…and in the first 20 minutes I got 17 EVP’s, several saying Hi Sharon or Hello Sharon, come over here Sharon…there was a conversation and you hear someone ask something to the effect of, who the Hell is she? And a female (responds whispering) she’s the owner.” She also captured intelligent responses to her conversation with the people she was with,  including laughter, “who cares?” and a child saying, “I’m  over here, I’m going over here.”  Along with a mechanical sounding voice saying, “this is for you, I saw your Mom.”

Were you prepared to take this on?

“My background professionally is very eclectic…I have over 20 years experience back to back, 12-15 years in the film business…conferences, special events, fund-raising with the March of Dimes,…marketing, medical, travel…all of those things…are all applicable at this place.” Sharon also has experience with Green businesses and hopes to apply that along with the use of solar energy as part of her future plans with the asylum.  It seems everything leading up to her purchase was to prepare her for this new venture.

How did the asylum gain its reputation as a haunted location?

While the land and its buildings have been many things over the years, it has, in recent years, become a notorious paranormal hot spot.   A haven for various para-research groups from all over the country have come to its doors in the hopes of obtaining evidence and experiencing some of what they have seen on TV or read about, first hand.

In the 1930′s it became an infirmary for men and later became co-ed, opening as the Old County Home.  They closed the doors in the 70′s and the land was purchased in the 80′s by Mr. Cecil Speakman,  whom resided there until passing of a heart attack in his nineties.  The property was then purchased by the Bodeckers who had turned it into a carriage museum and shopping center, selling it in the 90′s to the previous owner who opened the Rolling Hills gift shop/Carriage House Gifts.  “Many of the retailers started having weird experiences, so much so that some would freak out and not come back and pay their rent, never to return.  At that point, the owner contacted a paranormal team who found the location to be haunted, she then ran tours for six or seven years.”

Sharon recalls meeting an older woman who was a nurse when the asylum was in operation.  The woman stated that in her first week there, she carted 22 bodies down to the morgue.  The nurse plans to return to give her a guided tour of the exact locations which are unclear in the layout, including the true location of the morgue.  There were tunnels connecting all of the buildings, (including those no longer standing) due to the severe Winter weather experienced here.   The former nurse will also be able to tell Sharon where the tunnels are.  While the Cemetery is documented, its exact whereabouts are still unknown.

I read the new Booth Brother’s Film “The Haunted Boy: Secret Diary of the Exorcist” was filmed partly on location at Rolling Hills, how did that come to pass?

“I had wanted to meet the Booth Brothers forever, when I first saw “Children of the Grave,”…I thought these people are brilliant, I really want to work with them.  They do possibly the best paranormal documentaries I’ve ever seen, with what they’re doing, I think they’re amazing.  I came to find out I had friends that were good friends with them, but could never get to an event where they were at.  I met them at the Queen Mary and we just clicked, after seeing my resume the rest is history.”
Sharon mentions that the film makers always conduct extensive research, interviewing eyewitnesses on location whenever possible.  “They talked to the Priest that was involved, they did all the real life interviews where they occurred.  The asylum was used to film flashbacks and reenactments.”
Ladies and gentleman, this film looks entirely too wild to miss!
It will be airing on SYFY, the exact date is to be announced.

If you can’t wait, join me in pre-ordering your copy today at thehauntedboy.com but hurry, they are selling out quickly.

Do you credit the asylum’s past as the cause of the activity there?
Or is that merely a piece of a larger puzzle?

“Oh I think its a piece of a larger puzzle,  there is a lot going on here.  There are a lot of salt mines in the area,  we are on the outskirts of those areas…salt is a big conductor of energy.  We are also very close to many ley lines so that’s another factor.  Indian burial grounds and reservations are very close by…I think there’s a lot of stuff going on, even more than what we know…directly across from the building is a huge power grid.  And of course, I think that’s an awful lot of energy there.  However, when you’re in the building, you’re EMF and K2 meters are flatlined– flatlined.  The only way you’re going to get any K2 action in there is if someone has there cell phone on, that’s the only way, it’s extremely rare to get K2 readings and EMF is pretty rare, the only spikes you get are if it is paranormal.”

What is some of the most common activity you find with equipment?

“They (Spirits) like to play with the flashlights with Yes/No answers (to questions) You can have 4 flashlights and some K2 meters and what they will do is use one or two of the flashlights.  If you have mel meters, you will notice the fluctuations going up and down.”

From what I have come across, it seems like so many people have experienced their fair share here, both individuals and groups.  Is there any one experience that you find especially noteworthy?

“This is going to sound really terrible, but honestly, every night is active, every day is active, I have never been to a place that is so active.  I mean, even during the day I will go in there with (co-workers or people working on the building) and I go in and say hi, I’m always talking to them and we will hear disembodied voices come back saying HELLO! (these voices are not EVP as they can be heard by the naked ears of the individuals present.) At night it’s always active, from door slamming, to furniture moving, to knocks responding to questions, flashlights, light anomalies, it’s just honestly active.

There are a couple things that have been noteworthy for me, Roy is one of the prominent Spirits here.  He was brought here when he was 8 years old, he had gigantism, his Father was a banker from Rochester who was kind of embarrassed.  At 8 years old, Roy was over 6 feet tall and his Father did not understand why his son was abnormally large.  He had a reputation to uphold as a pillar of the community…, so he dropped him off here, saying he would come back for him and never did.  He was very smart, a very intelligent man who loved to read and enjoyed classical music, he spent his time mostly in the library with books and music.
He lived out his life here and when he died was over 7 feet tall, he was a gentle giant, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the man.  He’s a prominent Spirit here and you’ll see him, he’ll come out, in fact, he was one of the ones I saw during those first 3 days…He will answer both audibly and on EVP.  We play a lot of classical music for him and one of my team members said to him, “Roy, I’m going to bring you some more classical music, would you like that?” And he replied, “that would be fine.”

“I was speaking to a group one night and I said, I am going to play some of Roy’s favorite classical music and he corrected me saying, “no, classical composers.” “

“It’s pretty phenomenal, he touches my heart.”

While with a film crew, “Stacy was walking up and down saying Roy where are you, we want to talk to you (trying to document) and we heard him clear as day, yell, “WHAT?!”
Clear as a bell, as if it was down the hall.  Later on we were using the shack hack and she asks, who is out there that would like to speak with us and you hear, “It’s Roy”, very clearly…She says, Sharon’s here and he says, “Hi Sharon, Hi sweetie.”  I almost peed my pants and cried at the same time! I have never met this man and I love him like a family member, it’s a very strange relationship.”

“There are so many of them, they are so interactive and so personable.” Sharon says there are plenty of residual hauntings but, “there are so many intelligent hauntings  here, that we have relationships with them, it’s amazing.”

She says that over 2 dozen guests come back, just to talk with particular Spirits each time.  Some have even made 80-90 trips since the place originally held investigations.  Numerous guest have told her they had to come back, that they felt the place calling them, “it truly brings people together, in a weird way, but in a good way, it’s bizarre.”

Is there anything that stands out as perhaps the most compelling evidence or personal experience to date?

(Laughs) Well, you know that’s always open for debate…
It took me a long time to say it, but I’m a psychic photographer, I thought everyone got pictures like that, but apparently not, so I get incredible pictures everywhere (here being no exception).  I get full conversations during EVP’s. The amount of evidence she has personally gotten at RHA is enormous.  During one investigation, she speaks of buying the asylum and captures the response, “grateful.”

Though she is inclined to receive proof of phenomena in various places, she makes clear that everyone seems to experience things here, from psychics to skeptics and everyone in between, you’re sure to have a memorable time.

It seems many of the former residents of Rolling Hills Asylum are still very much here and many are grateful for the company and the interaction.  I feel it’s important to mention that while all of us would do well to form our own opinions based upon our experiences and verifiable data, the research I have done on other teams investigations leads me to one very obvious conclusion, no one has ever left disappointed and all look forward to returning.

For more information on public and private tours, please visit the official website at
www.rollinghillsasylum.com
Want more RHA? Fan them on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/East-Bethany-NY/The-Official-Rolling-Hills-Asylum/375899413920?ref=ts

Ghost Adventures Rolling Hills Asylum

My heartfelt thanks to Sharon Coyle for her time and down to earth nature, it was a pleasure to speak with her.  I plan on investigating the asylum soon, so stay tuned as I will be sure to share my experience.  Goodnight all, I’m off to watch Ghost Adventures!

Doomsday prophecies come and go; they are a dime a dozen. They are staples of the world religions and are probably inherent in the minds of men. But for reasons cited earlier, such as the acceptance of paranormal phenomena by mainstream society, 2012 has the potential to be something different. I’m not arguing that the 2012 date is concrete; I am arguing that, in accordance with our theory, the general populace could manifest it just by the force of expectation on a massive scale. Coupled with the increasing interest by society in 2012, we see an array of prophecies regarding this date. This facilitates the belief’s being acknowledged in many different circles.

Since so many cultures have prophecies that can easily be seen as parallels to the 2012 date, there is a much wider audience than in past instances. As far as the prophetic element is concerned, it does seem that many different seers, by many different means of divination have gleaned a common event. This event was so significant that it could not be missed by those who had the ability to see past the present and into the future. However the Shamans of antiquity, the systems of hidden knowledge and the prophets of religions are NOT the only ones to recognize this event. Modern technology has arrived at a similar conclusion concerning 2012.

The Web-Bot Project

This program was originally designed by businessman George Ure to predict stock futures and trends. It didn’t take long before he found an alternative use for this technology. The extended program serves as an “electronic prophet.” The program is very similar to the idea of tapping into the masses’ underlying subconscious. It works by sending mini programs (called spiders) to scan millions of Internet pages (the Web) in search of recurring themes and patterns. It tracks the public consciousness through verbiage. In June 2001, an employee monitoring the results predicted that within 60 to 90 days there would be an international incident that would “forever change the way Americans live.” This is in the timeline of the 9-11 attack, and it was an event that literally reshaped our perception of the world, our country and ourselves forever. The web-bot also predicted an earthquake that created the Asian tsunami of 2006. Another hit was the prediction of hurricane Katrina and the subsequent ruin of New Orleans. George Ure issued a statement concerning the probability of “an extraordinary solar event” and a nuclear attack somewhere in the world.

According to his data, Ure predicts the solar events will accelerate in frequency and escalate in terms of severity. This begins now, in 2009 until their catastrophic culmination in 2012. Recent releases say our last cycle “Solar Cycle 23″ produced the largest solar flare in 11,000 years (and is now a suspect to the problems with the 2009-10 Toyota recall concerning the “magnetic malfunctions” in the vehicle) and the upcoming cycle 24 is supposed to be 50% greater. It is cause enough for concern that mainstream news (Fox&CNN) have both had scientists warning about the possibility of the bombardment of Earth that could knock out the electric grid rendering us back, at LEAST temporarily, to a society w/o electrical capabilities.

Current events of note concerning the specific nuclear prophecy would be the escalating Iranian/Israeli conflict over the valley of “Har-meg-ido” or Armageddon as most know it and the North/South Korean conflict which is heating up as well. The sinking of an S. Korean Submarine was first recent overt act, then a report of radiation detected in the DMZ (demilitarized section separating the countries) and Kim Jung Ill’s threat of a “nuclear response” to the recent joint S. Korean/US war games.

Starry-Eyed Physicists

The description of this “solar event” seems to be confirmed by the findings of Sami Solanki of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany. He believes the behavior displayed by the sun is giving us a clue. In 2005 at a conference for solar physicists he announced that “except probably for a few brief peaks, the sun is more active than at any time in the past 11,000 years.” Opponents of this belief point out the recent drop in solar flares, but we should remember the “calm before the storm” dynamic, as well as the peaking temperatures before an ice-age. Solanki went on to explain that the prolific output of solar flares and ejection started in the 1940s, which dovetails nicely with our first aboriginal prophecy.

The Hopi and the Great Purification

In the 1940s the Hopi tribe announced that we had entered the fourth world and that our present age would end soon. This is the same period when solar activity started to spike; of course the Hopi could not have known this by scientific means. Their prophecy also uses language that fits in snugly with the web-bot predictions. According to Frank Walters and his “Book of Hopi;” the sign that the end is near is when “great spider-webs criss-cross the Earth.” The symbolic representation of the grid-like network of the Internet should be obvious, but the language used is even more astounding. Spider-webs “criss-crossing” is an excellent description of the web-bot project. It also uses terminology that is specific to this program. The spiders (mini-programs) criss-crossing (the cross-referencing of the web-bot) the (worldwide) spider web (Internet). The Navajo have a very similar prophecy about “Grandmother Spider’s web.”

Further Hopi Prophecy

In the late 1940s or early 1950s (there is some argument as to the exact date) the Hopi people decided to allow an English translation of some of their sacred stone tablets. A Thomas Banyacya was authorized by the tribe to speak in English about the prophecies. He stated “You’re going to see a time in your lifetime when the human beings are going to find the blueprint that makes us,” these decades prior to the discovery of DNA. Also the elders told us “You will see new animals, and even the old animals will come back, animals that people thought had disappeared.” This could be a reference to the discovery of animals thought to be extinct until modern discoveries. The coelacanth would be an example of this, thought to be extinct for millions of years only to be caught off the coast of Madagascar earlier this century, as would the discovery of the giant squid, thought to be a fairy tale of the sea until very recently. The new animals could be newly discovered cryptozoological creatures. The old animals come back could also be a reference to our current efforts to reconstitute extinct creatures such as the Wooly Mammoth by using DNA and cloning technology.

The elders offered this bit as well: “You’re going to see a time when the eagle will fly its highest at night and it will land upon the moon. And at that time many of the Native People will be sleeping, which symbolically means that they have lost their teachings.” This prediction probably sounded outlandish when it was given but now we know it is an obvious reference to the first moon landing by the Americans. In space it always seems to be night, and once again the main character of this prophecy represents a double meaning. The eagle is the animal most often associated with the United States and there is a literal counterpart in the verbiage when the Apollo mission landed on the moon the first message sent back was “The eagle has landed.”

Recent event: The possible fulfillment of the 7th Prophecy “There will be a time when the Ocean turns black and much life will die because of it” this would be a reference to the Gulf oil spill disaster and the animal life fall-out that followed.

ENVIROMENTAL UPDATES

Beyond this we see changes in the environment such as this year’s heat wave (countries highest ever) that was so hot it got a strident critic of Global Warming to change his mind (props to anyone who will look at all evidence and admit mistake). The caldra at Yosemite is ramping up threatening a blanket that would block out the sun for the unforeseeable future. The major Earthquakes this season in Haiti, Sumatra, China, Turkey, Baja (Mexico/California), Wy/Ut, and our “favorite” the 8.8 in Chile, which was strong enough to shift the planet’s poles, much to the chagrin of mainstream science.

How about the Volcano in Iceland that erupted and interrupted travel across Europe for over a week? Or the most recent volcano that erupted for the first time in 400 years? Then the “sting ray” attack in Southern California where dozens of people were attacked in a single day and the recent flap of sink-holes appearing across the country.

Confucius Say

The I’Ching has been a tool of divination in Asian culture for centuries. It works by using 64 images parallel to the circumstances of mankind’s existence. When the system is understood and properly used, it provides shockingly accurate and specific answers to the questions posed. Confucius once quipped that he wished he had another 50 years to devote to the study of the I’Ching, A lofty endorsement, considering his deservedly elevated status in Asian culture. Now enter researcher Terrance McKenna, who discovered a very interesting parallel to the prophecies of the ancients. In the year 2012 the I’Ching expresses “year zero.” McKenna was astounded to learn of the Mayan prophecy. He had no idea of the 2012 predictions until after he made his observation.

Crossroads of the Universe

On Dec. 21, 2012 (12-21-2012) the universe will be in a rare position, one that occurs only every 26,000 years. We will be aligned with the galactic equator. We will also be enjoying the winter solstice on this day. In “Mayan Cosmo Genesis 2012″ John Major Jenkins explains, “The December solstice shifts along the constellations very slowly, and for thousands of years, it had been proceeding backward through the sidereal constellations of Aquarius, Capricorn and Sagittarius. The Milky-way crosses through the zodiac … forming the Mayan sacred tree or crossroads in the sky.”

Year of the Dragon

There is another, less discussed, recurring theme we will explore briefly, that is the role of the serpent in 2012, which is the Chinese year of the dragon. We will be in the hidden/secret 13th constellation of Orpheus; this constellation is known as Serpent Arius or the “serpent holder.” Sagittarius’ arrow points directly at this constellation. Another tradition that is independent of Orpheus’ is known to the Cherokee. Their 13th constellation is represented by the double-headed serpent, which also occurs in 2012 and is also representative of the feathered rattlesnake or the feathered serpent. The Maya also believe that the 2012 event will be when Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god, returns, and this is explored further in the next segment. But the cyclical timeline, as opposed to our linear construct, means a return to our beginnings; the last shall be first, so it would be wise for us to remember that the fundamental level of our brain is reptilian. Our most basic consciousness is that of a reptile.

12-21-2012

Finally we will address the granddaddy of all 2012 prophecies, the only one that gives an exact date instead of a list of social conditions left up to our interpretation. The Maya were enigmatic people who disappeared but left us detailed accounts of many celestial events. In fact, the Maya predicted eclipses thousands of years in advance. These have been verified after the fact. They also foresaw the “white God who came from across the sea.” This was Cortez, who would annihilate much of the Central American culture. They predicted the EXACT date of his arrival. The b’ak’tun, or “long count,” tells us that 2012 will be a rebirth – whether positive or negative depends on the individual interpretation. They attached the importance of the 2012 alignment to the Black Rift or Black Road. This is thought to be a Black Hole in the middle of the Milky Way; to lend credibility to this claim, a Black Hole was confirmed in this position by astronomers in 2002. One of the criticisms attached to this date is that if it is a truly profound event, why aren’t the Maya’s descendants concerned? This is a misrepresentation whether by accident or by design is up for debate. Many of the Quiche Indians (thought to be descendents of the Maya) do believe in the epic 2012 date. Their spiritual leaders and men of knowledge have little desire to communicate with the Western establishment, status quo types. For years “Science” has been condescending towards the belief system of these and other native people. They have no desire to subject themselves to further ridicule, at the lost of mankind. One last point is that the Mayan calendar is cyclical and many phrases throughout the Bible, Koran and Torah hint at this dynamic. “The last shall be first and “the future will be as the past” are two examples that come to mind.

2012 and the Christian Rapture

The Christian Rapture is tied to many elements surrounding the 2012 date as well. Other than the cyclical time-line, we have the sounding of the last trumpet. This is likened to a vibration shift alluded to by other cultures, a harmonic resonance, mankind tuning into a higher, less dense level of existence. All things are made up of vibrations; the “solidity” of a given composition is relative to the speed and spacing of these vibrations.

Various cultures already acknowledge this and integrate it into their beliefs, for example in the use of pitch and tone to achieve altered, presumably higher; states of consciousness. Also we should remember that it was common in the Middle Ages to ring Church bells to chase demons out of the town. The Christians may or may not have understood the reason for this but they acknowledged its results. The “scientific” explanation could be that these tones disturb matter considered “etheric” by religion. Today we use resonance technology to destroy matter. If you know the resonant frequency of a kidney stone, you can destroy it without harming any of the rest of the body.

If harmonic resonance comes into play, the Rapture’s predicted disappearance en masse could be literal. If and when we shift our consciousness and tune in to the next level of reality, the “Left Behind” crowd would not be able to see us. We would, upon shifting, literally disappear from this plane of existence.

The overall consistencies of these predictions and the converging points of prophecy imply a common source. The consensus reality effect of 2012 could serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy. When expectations and the majority belief in an event by the population converge, the event is much more likely to occur.

Photo as seen on the official website.

While driving around one evening years ago, I stumbled upon a community I never knew existed.   I can only describe it as alluring, haunting and magical.  From very high, dangerously curving roads, to sprawling stone homes that look ancient and yet are in incredible repair-to charming cottages from an old time postcard, it is truly a place that time forgot.  Gaping at the beauty and somewhat other worldly preservation, I half expected to see a Laura Ingalls look a like and a hobbit or two. Though it seemed the stuff of an acid trip filled movie, soberly enchanted, I continued on.

About two hours from Manhattan and Philly, comprised of a staggering 4,500 acres of land, is the private resort community of Buck Hill Falls.

Drenched in breathtaking architecture and sadly the ruins of time, a majestic Inn sits amongst sprawling hills and rich foliage in the heart of the Pocono Mountains.  This is her story.

Designed to be a Haven for the elite, The Inn at Buck Hill Falls was the vacation destination of choice for many a wealthy family and, in it’s day, was nothing short of magnificent.  The community has a 27 hole Donald Ross golf course, its own post office and several other luxurious amenities.

Starting out as a quaint Quaker retreat in 1901, she made her debut as a grandiose stone Inn for the affluent in 1926.   Upon closing the doors in 1991, the Inn at Buck Hill encompassed an impressive 400+ rooms over an expanse of 134  breathtaking acres.

Reading that this place was haunted did not surprise me in the least, you can feel the energy is off by merely looking at it.  The fact that something is amiss radiates in the air around Buck Hill Falls.

What I was not prepared for was the tragic history.

According to “Pennsylvania Haunts & History”

“…It was supposed to be a place that the Mob liked to frequent, and the owners were more than willing to bend a rule or three themselves. It’s said that in 66 years of operation, 73 people died at the hotel. Five, in fact, died in one room, #354.

A bride named Lorna Kilpatrick was murdered there by the very priest that married her the day before at the resort. He committed suicide, and Lorna’s ghost has haunted the room ever since. A maid slit her wrists in there while clutching a rosary. People refused to stay in the room because of the constant freezing cold, doors that wouldn’t stay shut – and the ghosts. The hotel had to shut the room permanently.

There’s a small room in the basement that’s spooked by the spirit of an accountant who was supposedly murdered there. He was cooking the books and the owner found out. One bathroom saw three murders committed in it, and was haunted by a ghost evoked in a seance gone haywire. It had to be exorcised, and poltergeist activity still took place in the restroom.

A maid’s closet was the scene of a strangulation, and it was said you could hear the maid gasp and her labored breathing and death rattle afterwards. The spook of an elderly soldier in an old uniform was reported wandering in the servants quarter’s on the third floor. He has a gaping hole in his chest from a musket wound. He once strolled through a garden party and then vanished.

An Indian spirit has been seen roaming the area, too. In fact, the Native Americans believed the whole area was evil. Certain psychics agree, saying the East Room is the center of lay lines that mark evil. It may be. One owner’s wife used to sleep in a room where the lines converged. She ended up schizophrenic.

There are also lots of poltergeist activities. One guard said during his nightly rounds lights would go on and doors open in buildings that he had secured earlier. Some guests reported hearing voices, shaking beds, opening and shutting widows, electrical devices going off on their own, and ghost sightings – even of spooks hovering over their bed.

http://hauntsandhistory.blogspot.com/2008/02/buck-hill-inn.html

How’s that for a menacing past? My very first thought was that all of this sounded just as good,  if not better,  than Stephen King’s “The Shining.”

So what ever became of the Inn at Buck Hill Falls?

As if the past had come back to haunt it, the Inn experienced great financial hardship, leaving it abandoned.  While sitting dormant, it became the victim of arson.  A once exquisite site now hazardous and in disarray,  had become the stuff of  B Horror movies and sadder still, reality TV.

In 2001 the Inn at Buck Hill Falls made an appearance on MTV’s Fear and subsequently gained notoriety.  To this day, security is in place to keep trespassers from entering the ailing structure.  According to a 2006 article from the Pocono Record newspaper, Barrett township police and the company which owns the property are strictly enforcing 90 days in jail or a $300 fine to anyone caught.  Bollocks! My plans have been shattered.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061028/NEWS01/610280317/-1/NEWS

The video below offers clips of the Fear episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho5tZsl4GoI

Given the fact that so many people gathered here for so many years, I’d say it is fairly safe to assume that paranormal activity exists.  As I said before, the whole area, while beautiful,  has a Twilight Zone feel to it.  Living a few miles away, I could not wait to write about it, even if that had to be in lieu of an investigation.

So believe me when I say that I wanted this story to be true.  Ah, but wishing doesn’t make it so.  As is often the case, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.  While there may be spirits,  it seems producers ran a compelling story with very little basis in truth.  I was unable to find any evidence at all which supports the claims made in the article above.  Perhaps that due to the location’s connections and social status, such claims were not documented.  However, when it comes to murder and suicide, one would hope to find something to support an event of that magnitude.

If walls could talk…

One of the current owners of The Buck Hill Inn, which was featured on last week’s episode of Fear, says that the haunted history presented on the show was, at best, embellished. “I don’t think MTV’s intention was ever to accurately portray the building’s history,” William Kirkhuff told the Pocono Record. He says psychics found only “happy spirits,” and thus the “producers got a little frustrated when they were trying to tape a show called Fear and there wasn’t any to be had, according to the psychics.” The newspaper looks at some claims made on the show and refutes them.

http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/fear/2001_Mar_19_buck_hill_inn_owner

All of this could easily have been avoided if the kind folks at MTV would just go back to playing some damn music videos.

For those interested in more information on Buck Hill Falls, including the opportunity to purchase and restore the Inn:

http://www.buckhillinn.com/history.html

A very detailed account on haunting claims and history:

http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=groups.groupProfile&groupID=103923470&Mytoken=528AC1AF-CDFD-43A5-8AE797416B27EE1A51641540

Article explaining the actual investigation and the how it differs  from what was aired on the show:

http://www.paraseek.com/invest/weaver2.html

Thank you for reading.  If you have information to contribute to the content of this post, especially accounts of those who stayed there-or any verifiable data pertaining to said traumatic history, please email me at brianna@epicparanormal.com

You are sitting quietly watching TV or reading and suddenly you sense someone watching you. Out of the corner of your eyes you see something you can’t quite explain, but you turn around and there is nothing there. You feel like you are seeing things. Makes you feel scared.

Shadow people is a paranormal phenomenon that have been around for a long time. Some believe that the shadow people only come out at night, but they do make their presence known during the daytime also. Who are these beings? What is their purpose? Is it simply to instill fear in those that they appear too? Or is there something more sinister to them?

There are many beliefs as to what they really are. Some believe that these being are demons. Some think they are lost souls that have not found their way. There are those that will simply appear and disappear and you don’t see them again. What of the shadow that follows you around and doesn’t seem to leave you alone? They stay and haunt you. They will make your life a living hell if you let them.

In my opinion those are demons, demons invited into your home through some ritualistic object of some sort, or something that belonged to someone who dabbled in the dark arts. These are the scariest of them all, for you just can’t shake them, they are there watching your every move, following you around attaching themselves to you. Trying to possess you.

Finding yourself in the presence of one of these demons and not having the knowledge of how they came to be there or how to deal with them, could be one of the most scariest things. One wishes they would just leave, but they don’t just leave. You have to get rid of whatever it is you brought into your home and pray with faith. I am not saying that they won’t be angry, because they may get very angry. In my case it just rendered the back burner of the stove useless, but it left with the object it was brought in with. You need to always proceed with caution. Find someone who know what they are doing. Never try to do things yourself. I was fortunate it took its anger on my stove and not me. It could have been worst.

Shadow people! What are They????

Now that summer is winding down and fall will be upon us soon, I’m reminded of cooler weather, cozy evenings and the beautiful scenery the changing seasons bring. With a chill in the air we think of fall, and Halloween, of spirits, spooks, and creepy things….falling leaves and cemeteries, creepy old abandoned houses with wrought iron gates, black cats & witches, stories told by firelight of olden days of yore.  If you’ve go the itch this fall to do some ghost hunting of your own, there’s no better place than nearby New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Steeped in Colonial charm and tradition, New Hope rests in Bucks County along the Deleware River, halfway between New York and Philadelphia. Many years ago in 1722 a man named John Wells obtained a ferry license and settled the town, which served as an overnight stop to travelers between the two cities. A handful of Inns and taverns were established and many remain in operation today, never closing their doors to weary travelers and guests over the past 300 years.

The Logan Inn, originally established as the Ferry Inn by Mr. Wells in 1727, holds many tales of ghosts who have taken refuge in it’s 16 spacious rooms and tavern. Is is said that during the Revolutionary War dead soldiers’ bodies were stored and kept cool in the basement. Children are often heard playing and a mysterious man is often seen in the mirrors of room #6.  Glowing lights and orbs have also been reported here.  The sounds of heavy footsteps have been documented during the night, however, no one was ever found to be about.  Guests often feel cold spots and hear voices, doors open and shut themselves and some folks claim to have been touched or experienced strange, uneasy feelings.  A soldier in full dress often haunts the tavern, and the apparition of a young man in knee breeches hides down in the cellar.  The portrait of Emily, a former innkeeper’s mother, watches from the parlor and the scent of her lavender perfume still lingers in the air.  A young girl’s ghost who drowned in the river many years ago also awaits as guests enter the inn.

At the Wedgewood Inn, the spirit of a 12 year old slave girl, Sarah, has appeared on at least 3 separate occasions to young girls her age, telling each one her story of slavery, hiding and escape.  When recalled, each girls story was remarkably identical to the others.  Guests here have also reported a scratching  sound coming from the kitchen, as if someone or something was behind the wall.  During recent renovations to the home, a small room was exposed behind the kitchen stairs and also a large 7 x 24 foot stone room was discovered underneath the porch.  These spaces were used to hide slaves traveling through New Hope along the Underground Railroad during the early 19th century.

Established in 1794, the River House (or more commonly Odette’s Restaurant) is know for the wandering spirit of a woman, who was murdered here over 200 years ago.  Guests and staff alike often hear chilling disembodied voices, feel cold spots in many places and often catch the scent of her sweet perfume.

The Inn at Phillips Mill is home to the spirit of a woman seen often in her high collared dress.  She has been witnessed several times in a rocking chair and also along the staircase.  A former caretaker of the Inn recalls a chilling encounter with a well dressed gentleman in coattails, who appeared late one evening and proceeded to bolt up the stairs. Receiving no response after calling out to him, the caretaker questioned his supervisor about their late arriving guest.  His face flushed as it he’d seen a ghost and asked him to please never mention it again.  Over the years he has spend there, this caretaker fell ill, often feeling uneasy or “watched” during the night, unable to sleep.  He often experienced loud ringing in his ears accompanied by what he described as a very powerful energy holding him down to where he could not move.  Never realizing it may have been paranormal, he honestly believed that he was going to die.

At Perry Mansion floating orbs are often caught on film.  Out on Main Street at night many tourists stop to pick up a hitch-hiking young man with a fringe jacket & knapsack…only to find he has disappeared.  He is the victim of a fatal hit and run almost 40 years ago.

Over on the covered Van Sant Bridge, the bodies of horse thieves, were hung an are often seen.  Also the cries o a young unwed mother who jumped from the bridge, drowning herself and her baby are often heard.

New Hope’s most popular ghost however are Vice President Aaron Burr and Joseph Pickett – an artist who frequently strolls along Main Street from his former Mechanic Street residence to his cousin’s home and back.  Aaron Burr is often remembered as the man who killed Alexander Hamilton in their infamous duel.  Wanted in New York and bordering New Jersey, Burr took haven at the time in New Hope.  His spirit is so popular here in fact one over-excited tour guide saw him and ran all the way back to her office to tell her co-workers, leaving her patrons behind.

Today this small town is filled to the gills with charming cafe’s, art galleries, record stores, new age shops, antiques, crafts and of course the inns and taverns.  So take a trip, if you dare, to historic New Hope and maybe you too will experience some hauntings of your own!

Almost as soon as it hit theaters Universal Picture’s “The Fourth Kind” met suspicious criticisms. Questions arose as to the legitimacy of the film’s “based on true events” claim. Since then new information seems to support the initial skepticism.

The movie revolves around “Dr. Emily Abagail Tyler” and her treatment of the people of Nome,Alaska. In studying the sleep disorders of her patients Dr.Tyler begins to identify recurring patterns (the night-time visits from an owl invoking the image of a gray alien in the minds eye) and comes to believe these encounters are actually screen memories of alien abductions. One interesting ”by-the-way” feature in the movie had the “abductors” as the Annunaki* who would naturally be interested in Nome because of it’s claim of having “the world’s biggest gold vein”.

Interest in the case prompted the search for the “real” Dr. Tyler which has so far yielded little results. Then in November 2009 Universal Pictures agreed to pay a 20,000 dollar settlement to the Alaska Press Club in regards to “complaints about fake news archives used to promote the movie”. Universal Pictures admitted to planting fake online news articles and obituaries to bolster it’s claim of “based on true events”.

Of course the media gleefully denounced the film as another “Blair Witch Project”. But in doing so they threw out the baby with the proverbial bath water, ignoring the history of the area. And that is a much more interesting story with several layers that we will now examine.

The FBI, Serial Killers and Little Green Men

Since 1960 at least 24 people (all natives) have disappeared in Nome, Alaska (pop. 3500) with 10 occurring since 1990. 17 men, 7 women with 9 bodies still unaccounted for. The remainder died under “suspicious circumstances”. This case has been ignored almost entirely by the media in the lower 48 until the release of “4K”.

Contrary to the “4K” claims the FBI have not visited Nome “over 2000″ times in fact the problem was the case was getting no attention. Their involvement was primarily in thanks to council member Delbert Pungowiyi of the Savoonga tribe (whose brother disappeared in Nome in 2004). Pungowiyi felt that “more than one person” was preying on the native folk in Nome. Pungowiyi stated “It should have been given attention years ago…The region is just overwhelmed with this. They’re tired of living with these big gaping holes and no closure.”

Local law enforcement is viewed with distrust to say the least. The Norton Sound Health Ward passed a resolution seeking a federal rights investigation due to “extraordinary high” numbers of missing and dead and “discriminatory harrasement and excessive force” by the Nome police. Trust was at an all time low after Nome Police Officer Matthew Owens was convicted of the murder of local resident Sonya Ivanof.  Finally the feds responded reviewing the 24 cases.

And while the feds did receive a little more cooperation from the understandably skeptical natives, they quickly ruled the disappearances to be related to “alcohol and exposure”. They concluded that a serial killer was not at work. The new Chief of Police in Nome, Craig Moates discounted the alien abduction scenario and in a telling statement declared “We’re trying to separate this urban legend from fact.” To me “urban legend” has the same connotations as “native superstitions” it’s just a little more PC sounding. This declaration ignores an interesting and possibly relevant history, but that too seems to be nothing new.

For 5 consecutive days in 1988 there were encounters with “little green men” witnessed by dozens of Nome residents. Researcher Mark Chovinsky related some of these encounters in a article for Fate magazine (January 1990).

Reporter Janet Ahmasuk of the “Nome Nugget” quipped “I have heard little green men stories as long as i have lived here. From reindeer herders, miners, highway camp workers, village folk, folks who just moved here”. In other words not only natives but people unaware of the native history which is replete with stories of the little green men.

Chorvinsky also cited a story told by Lois Foster whose family originates in the nearby village of Koyuk. For as long as she could remember Foster’s Great-Great- Grandmother told the family of the 3 little men who came to the village of Koyuk in a “silvery looking disc that sailed through the air”. Chorvinsky put this date between 1795 and 1805. Lois’s grandmother also talked about the 3 little men who she encountered when she was a little girl. They were old but still alive, this would have been around 1913.

According to the Great-Great-Grandmother the little men were extremely strong for their size able to carry large logs without assistance. They lived in the area and over the years learned the native tongue. They explained to the towns people that “some mechanism had broken down in their craft permanently disabling it.”

A Forgotten Link?

The biggest mystery of the North is probably the case of the “Disappearing Village at Lake Anjkuni”. It is either a hoax that has been reported as fact over the years or a genuinely fascinating case. Some of the criticisms seem valid and it has been “debunked” a couple of times over the years. The world famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Mounties) have labeled the case as, again an “Urban Legend”.  However given the treatment of the Native folk, from the forced relocation’s and discriminatory policies of the past to present day native disappearances and allegations of “police brutality” in Nome, and the systematic ignoring of “little green men” tales for over 200 years we should proceed with an open mind.

The story was originally reported by Emmett E. Keller whom the RCMP label, with some justice, as a “journalist of some repute”. The picture that was run with the story was a photo taken in 1905 not at the date of the story (however this is a fairly common news practice). It ran in the Toronto Daily Star on November 23, 1930 but was largely forgotten until it was included in “occult investigator” Frank Edward’s book “Stranger than Science” in 1959. And supporting the “UL” status the mounties claim, the tale has grown. The missing went from 30 to 1200 to 2000, how’s that for a bump. So we will use what we found in the older sources, tell the tale and try to keep the personal commentary to as minimum.

On a cold November night in 1930 a fur trapper named Armad Laurent was traveling with his two teenage sons. The trio witnessed a “huge light, for it seemed to be as big as a steamship, changed shape from moment to moment…..it was as round as a ball, now like an enormous bullet, now shaped like a star. The light changed course in the sky many times before streaking at a great speed, straight as an arrow, towards the north and out of our sight.”

A couple of days later a pair of mounties were said to stop at Laurent’s isolated home. As they partook of a generous standing offer of hot coffee, biscuits and homemade honey Laurent inquired what brought them out his way. They are rumored to have replied “Eskimos disappearing, stuff like that. Nothing important.” Now we include this hearsay  to show the PERCEPTION (if not the reality) of the the disregard towards Natives. Nothing important.

Laurent is said to have related his tale and inform the mounties that the “light seemed to be heading in the direction of the lake.” Laurent was never questioned further, a disappointing but understandable oversight.

Labelle found “pots of stewed caribou with a thick layer of ice…..children’s toys were scattered on the floor.” He found a seal-skin parka with two bone needles still in it. Labelle continued “The boats and the kayaks were tied at the shore. Even the harpoons were still on board, and the half stripped carcass of a walrus was just as the men left it.” Even the rifles were left behind. Some hanging over makeshift fireplaces others propped next to the caribou flap doors of empty homes.

Labelle informed the mounties (who acknowledge contact and claim they asked neighbors of Lake Village and decided it was false information) and as the “story” goes the mounties came out and investigated the village. They found the missing sled dogs tied to some trees under a snow drift (at this point the village men would be without their guns, sleds, kayaks and harpoons not one of these items would have been left behind in the village). The Native folk are nomadic but according to the tale the place seemed abandoned in the middle of a normal day. There were no signs of a struggle and no footprints that lead way from the scene. Supposedly the RCMP employed some of the best trackers in a “search” that spanned all of Canada and even ventured into the northwest United States to no avail. We have been contacted by an individual who claims to have a request from the Canadians in regards to this story but we have not received follow up information in 6 months, so if he reads this “holla” as the kids say.

The most disturbing claim in this case is the apparent exhumation of an Eskimo grave(s).  The rocks marking the grave were undisturbed but the grave had been dug up. If this is true it would be quite the feat. The land was in a state of permafrost, one account tells of an unnamed Mountie who said it would have required a jack-hammer and weeks of back breaking work to empty the grave. A FOIA request regarding this case has been filed with no reply back yet.

So what do we make of all of this? Is it all sensationalized stories with no basis in reality, churned out solely to enthrall readers? Is there a grain of truth and history behind this so called “Urban Legend/Native Superstition”? Was there a cover up and disinformation campaign, or even more likely just a dereliction of duty in dealing with Native matters like we see today in Nome? Whatever conclusion you come to ultimately only raises more questions. So maybe the one thing we can take away from ”The Fourth Kind” is that in the end it is up to each us to decide for ourselves. Nanu,Nanu.

Located down an old dirt road 7 miles off of Highway 13 (creepy?) in Hurricane Mills Tennessee; rests Country Music legend Loretta Lynn’s Plantation Estate. Some of its former residents however, do not. Founded in 1810 as an iron furnace, this tiny town still stands today as it has for hundreds of years. Just follow the old trail road out into a beautiful sprawling pasture and 3,500 acre estate, you’ll find the old mansion high on a hill overlooking the General Store & Post Office. The oldest known structure on the property is the little white church & Masonic Temple. Erected in the early 1800′s, it often served as a hospital. During a bloody Civil War battle on July 22 1863, at least 19 soldiers were brutally murdered and buried on the grounds. 13 years later in 1876 a prominent businessman named James Anderson built the Mansion and new Mill. (The original Mill was built in 1850 after the fall of the iron furnace) The Iron Truss Bridge over the Duck River was originally part of the old state highway and was added in 1910, as well as the General Store. The Post Office opened later in 1920, they are all still in operation today.  Loretta is no stranger to the paranormal. She considers herself to be a “bonafied psychic” a gift she claims to have inherited from her mother. Loretta says old James Anderson is still at home, watching over his estate. She’s promised to keep it ‘nice for him’ as he watches over her in return. She believes he is a restless spirit, and often frightens people in the home.

Loretta and her husband Doolitte Mooney Lynn (Doo) bought the Hurricane Mills Plantation- and town- in 1966. While Loretta spent most of her time on the road, Doo raised their 6 young children at home. Their two twin girls, Peggy and Patsy, often recall seeing the mysterious ‘Woman In White.’ She appeared to them many times, silently standing in their doorway during the night. Being so young, they simply mistook her for a guest. Upon returning home from tour, Loretta noticed her on the balcony of the second floor, wringing her hands and sobbing. When she went to console her however, she had disappeared. Loretta then wandered out into the old cemetery and found her at a grave marked Beaulah Anderson. Beaulah died just 12 days after giving birth to a stillborn infant. They are buried beside each other in the graveyard. Loretta believes she is still mourning the loss of her child.

Under the porch, beneath a large iron slab, is a small, dark dank pit. It is filled with hanging hooks and chains. Loretta believes many slaves were tortured here over the years. On several occasions she and her guests have been disturbed by the sounds of chains…dragging across the porch, also footsteps & shadows abound. Many fisherman and other visitors have frequently reported the ghostly apparition of Confederate soldiers on the old iron bridge and wandering the estate. The Lynn family, guests, employees and caretakers claim doors are constantly just opening and shutting themselves.  Upstairs among the bedrooms in the mansion is the Brown Room. Most people feel uneasy in this room, and it is always much cooler than in any other part of the mansion. Once belonging to Jack Benny, their eldest child, he often felt afraid in the Brown Room. One evening in 1968 he awoke to a Confederate soldier pulling his boots off, which he had fallen asleep in. Another child, Ernest, once awoke to 2 soldiers standing at the foot of the bed. He jumped right up and out of the room and no one has slept in the Brown Room ever since. Visitors to the mansion agree it has a terrible energy and most won’t venture in. Employees say something awful must have happened there many years ago.

From a young age Loretta has received many ominous premonitions. One day while overlooking the Duck River with her 2 oldest daughters, she predicted a great family tragedy would take place there. Many years later Jack Benny would tragically drown in that very spot. Loretta, on tour, suffered an awful seizure at the time, not being able to speak. She finally came out of it days later when her son’s body had been recovered. Upon returning home, Doo approached her with the news-but she cut him short. She told him, ‘It’s Jack Benny, isn’t it? Just two weeks prior, Jack had told of a preacher that came to him on the river bank, lost and looking for directions. The preacher sat and prayed with Jack-something Jack claimed he was ‘no good at.’ The mysterious man appeared at his funeral but was never seen or heard from again. Was this an angel sent to save him?

After Jack’s death in 1984, the Lynn family moved from their haunted mansion. The estate and home are still open for tours, boasting a dude ranch, campgrounds and cabins. Also, the estate includes a motocross track that is home to many events including the AMA Nationals each year. Feel free to visit anytime, tours are given daily from 9 AM to 5 PM spring through fall. Loretta has asked only one favor of her guests, to not disturb any of the items in the home, ESPECIALLY her album collection which is neatly framed and displayed along the staircase. She is adamant about this, and Mr. Anderson’s spirit is too. Recently during a tour, a young guide touched an album asking the guests to please not disturb them. She was subsequently shoved down to the foot of the stairs & one gentleman even inquiring, “Who was that man over your shoulder?” The next morning she found that every single album had been turned sideways on the wall. Just yesterday I contacted the ranch to chat and verify some of the claims. They were flattered with my interest and I was happily assured the spirits still, well, weren’t so alive, but kickin’

Many of us have heard stories of exorcism & possession, either through our religious beliefs, media outlets, or Hollywood blockbuster films. When we think about demonic possession and exorcism, films such as the 1973 box office hit, The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose hit film of 2005 automatically come to mind. What most people fail to realize is that these films are based on actual accounts, most of which have been sensationalized beyond the truth. Luckily the names, locations, and specific facts are filtered, as to protect the individual and families anonymity.  Nevertheless, these films are based on actual accounts, perhaps not as visually frightening as depicted on the silver screen; the actual events themselves can be and many times are just as disturbing.

One such account, which has been an intriguing topic of research for me, was the actual exorcism of Anneliese Michel; a young college student from Klinenberg, Bavaria Germany, whose family and friends as well as her Minister claimed that she had been possessed by a legion of demonic entities. Although this case had gone to trial due to her death on July 1^st 1976, which the jury found to be due to dehydration and malnutrition, there still remained many strange and so called supernatural events which had occurred during the time of her claims of possession. Many films hold some basic truth to them, but none more so than actual story of Anneliese Michel, which was depicted in The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Many of us have an inherent fear of demonic possession, whether it is through what we know of the religious implications or just Hollywood giving us a head spinning tale of terror, no pun intended. Nevertheless, again we come across the old age question, is it fact or fiction? Was the exorcism of Anneliese Michel a fabrication of wanting to provoke and rebel, while taking pointers from an old classic like The Exorcist? Or perhaps this case was merely based on schizophrenia which went a bit beyond our basic understanding of the mental affliction. Then again maybe it’s just a case of plain `ol demonic possession! Whatever the claims may have been, and whether one believes in the exorcisms of demonic entities, the facts still remain. Those being that, Anneliese Michel’s minister was involved in a ritualistic style exorcism, the body of Anneliese Michel, although deemed dehydrated and malnourished prior to the time of her death, still had the strength to speak, growl and scream in such a way that it sounded inhuman.

The link below contains a video which contains disturbing photos and the original audio footage from the exorcism of Anneliese Michel. Although the audio is in German, the footage you will hear is also extremely disturbing. Please be advised to preview and listen at your own discretion.

Anneliese Michel Exorcism audio tapes (Long Version)

Through the ages there have been reports of paranormal activities in one place or another. Those that make it to the news become famous. Then there are those that remain with a person. Some are afraid of what other will think if they speak of seeing a ghost or a spirit. For fear of ridicule they remain silent and tormented by the haunting.

In my personal experience religion tried to tell me that spirits or ghosts where demons. But I needed to learn this for myself, demons or not. I was left with questions such as; What are really those beings that so many encounter? Where do they come from? How could we prove they really do exist? This is what has brought me here to EPIC.

In my search for answers I have come to learn that a lot of hauntings happen because of different reasons. Some spirits may be attached to an object or a place. Some form of spiritualistic rituals might have been practiced in the home, this will sometimes cause a haunting to happen.

For the most part a haunting will happen for lots of reasons. What ever the reason, it is always a good idea to research the property for any history that might indicate why the haunting is occurring. Be careful what you buy at yard sales or antique shops, you may getting more than what you bargain for.

Another collection  of pictures which appear to be featuring apparitions.

Faked or not, I hope you have fun with them.

Crumlin Road Prison in Belfast, Northern Ireland was built in the 1800's. A man posed in a coffin in execution cell 13 and may not have been the only one there.

Taken by Andy and Debi Chesney just south of San Antonio, TX.

On the day of Freddy Jackson's funeral, this image was captured on film. His peers confirmed the face to be Freddy's.

Under a bridge following a bus accident in Malaysia.

Believed to be the image of tormented slave Chloe at the famed Myrtles Plantation.

While visitng her teenage daughter's grave, Mrs. Andrews took this shot. Queensland Australia, late 1940's'

November 16, 1968 author Robert Ferguson was giving a speech in LA. It is worth noting that the photo was taken with a Polaroid camera, which are said to be the hardest to fake. He believed the figure beside him to be that of his deceased brother.

Sefton Church in Merseyside, England, September 1999. At the time, it is said that only two photographers were in the Church, neither of whom ever saw this shadow figure.

I chose to include this one known as Hull House ghosts, taken at Hull House in Chicago because it is one of my favorites. The images that stand out at first glance are said to be monks, but this gets even more interesting. As I have seen many times in photos which seem to contain faces, the more you look, the more you see. To get you started, look again, right by the second step where the image is bright, appears to be the head of a young man. The rest of the body spans the picture, it looks to me like an open collared button up shirt with another underneath. From this angle there appears to be several other faces and someone sitting on the steps. What do YOU see?

Party Crasher

Excerpt from About.com:

…the first (non-flash) photo showed a somewhat blurry extra head! (In the sequence above, the second (flash) photo is actually shown first for the sake of comparison.) No one recognized the ghostly woman, and they could not imagine how her image appeared in the picture. Besides being a bit out of focus, the woman’s head is also too large compared to the other vacationers, unless she is sitting closer to the camera, which would put her in the middle of the table.

The photo was examined by the Royal Photographic Society, the photographic department of Leicester University, and the Society for Psychical Research, all of which ruled out a double exposure as the cause.