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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jul 26, 2007 11:00:47 GMT -5
All the details have been ironed out, so please come join us for our second Shreveport Municipal Auditorium Seminar & Investigation.
When: Friday, September 28th 8pm-midnight Where: Shreveport Municipal Auditorium Ticket Cost: $25 Contact Information: Teresa Micheels email: tmicheels@caddocoa.org Phone: 318-518-5027
Security will be on hand at all times and we ask that you be at least 18yrs or older to attend. As to avoid frustrations from the last event, please do not attend if you have been drinking!! Seating is limited to only 65 so get your tickets NOW!!
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jul 24, 2007 10:08:49 GMT -5
For those of you in the Alexandria, please tune in to 93.1 KQID on Thursday morning at 8am, as Brandon and I will be on the morning show.
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jul 17, 2007 22:43:54 GMT -5
Lets see what else you can leave with for free Bess
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jul 16, 2007 14:15:41 GMT -5
As successful as the first one was, we have decided to have another Shreveport Municipal Auditorium Seminar & Public Investigation. The date has been tentatively set for Friday September 28th. Please check back often as more information will be posted as it arises.
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jul 7, 2007 23:12:45 GMT -5
Just did a little updating on the website and added a page with all the popular live ghost cams across the world! You can view the new page at: www.laspirits.com/ghostcams.html
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Aug 19, 2007 21:26:21 GMT -5
Yes, they are very interesting. Ive heard some say they were swamp gas, but Im not so sure. Folktale said that seeing one meant something negative would be happening in the near future.
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Aug 19, 2007 18:45:58 GMT -5
Would you be referring to they call the "fee fo lais"? A couple years back I took another pic that was similar to that in a graveyard. The pic can be found at www.laspirits.com/files/P1020004.JPG
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Aug 19, 2007 16:57:09 GMT -5
Please be advised that the full investigation report along with all of the evidence collected from our trip to Waverly Hills is now available!! Please visit it at www.laspirits.com/waverlyhills.html and check out the awesome EVPs we got!
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on May 22, 2007 22:33:22 GMT -5
Thanks for stopping by Ms Donna. Glad you are finding some informative stuff. Hope the family is going good. Tell Judy hi and that her home made an issue of TAPS ParaMagazine. I will try scanning her a copy of the article. Take care
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on May 13, 2007 2:12:34 GMT -5
On behalf of everyone from LaSpirits, I would like to welcome everyone to our new message board. Due to excessive spamming with our old PHP boards, I decided to try our luck with a Pro Boards message board. I have added tons of new categories that should accomodate to just about every type of individual so please feel free to put these boards to use.
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Dowsing
Feb 29, 2008 22:35:36 GMT -5
Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Feb 29, 2008 22:35:36 GMT -5
What Is Dowsing? Dowsing, in general terms, is the art of finding hidden things. Usually, this is accomplished with the aid of a dowsing stick, rods or a pendulum. Also known as divining, water witching, doodlebugging and other names, dowsing is an ancient practice whose origins are lost in long-forgotten history. However, it is thought to date back at least 8,000 years. Wall murals, estimated to be about 8,000 years old, discovered in the Tassili Caves of North Africa depict tribesmen surrounding a man with a forked stick, possibly dowsing for water. Artwork from ancient China and Egypt seem to show people using forked tools in what might have been dowsing activities. Dowsing may have been mentioned in the Bible, although not by name, when Moses and Aaron used a "rod" to locate water. The first unambiguous written accounts of dowsing come from the Middle Ages when dowsers in Europe used it to help find coal deposits. During the 15th and 16th centuries, dowsers were often denounced as practitioners of evil. Martin Luther said dowsing was "the work of devil" (and hence the term "water witching").
In more modern times, dowsing has been used to find water for wells, mineral deposits, oil, buried treasure, archaeological artifacts - even missing people. How the dowsing technique was first discovered is unknown, yet those who practice it are unwavering in their affirmations that it does work. (For more information on the history of dowsing, see "Dowsing: Ancient History.")
How Does Dowsing Work? The quick answer is that no one really knows - not even experienced dowsers. Some theorize there is a psychic connection established between the dowser and the sought object. All things, living and inanimate, the theory suggests, possess an energy force. The dowser, by concentrating on the hidden object, is somehow able to tune in to the energy force or "vibration" of the object which, in turn, forces the dowsing rod or stick to move. The dowsing tool may act as a kind of amplifier or antenna for tuning into the energy.
Skeptics, of course, say that dowsing doesn't work at all. Dowsers who seem to have a track record for success, they contend, are either lucky or they have good instincts or trained knowledge for where water, minerals and the like can be found. For believer or skeptic, there's no definitive proof either way.
Albert Einstein, however, was convinced of the authenticity of dowsing. He said, "I know very well that many scientists consider dowsing as they do astrology, as a type of ancient superstition. According to my conviction this is, however, unjustified. The dowsing rod is a simple instrument which shows the reaction of the human nervous system to certain factors which are unknown to us at this time."
Who Can Dowse? Dowers say that anyone can do it. Like most psychic abilities, it may be a latent power that all humans possess. And, like any other ability, the average person might become better at it with practice. However, there are some people whose dowsing powers are extraordinary:
Emmy Kittemann, daughter of a dowser, was one of the most acclaimed dowsers in Germany. In her most famous case, she correctly dowsed the location of a mineralized spring for the village of Tegernsee. All previous drillings found only water with heavy sulfur content. Yet Kitteman accurately predicted the depth at which the water would be found as well as its iodine-rich content. In 17th century France, Jacques Aymar Vernay, a stonemason by trade, used his dowsing talents to successfully track criminals. His dowsing rod, on more than one occasion, led authorities to the whereabouts of murderers. In December, 1992, a Mr. and Mrs. Anders and Berith Lindgren were hunting with their friends when their dog ran off and disappeared. An extensive search proved fruitless. A few days later they sought the help of dowser Leif Andersson. His dowsing techniques led the hunters to a small lake where they indeed found the body of the dog, where it had apparently fallen through the thin ice and died.
Dowsing is one of the few psychic talents that can be applied directly for profitable result or as a business. Some well-known names from history practiced dowsing, including Leonardo De Vinci, Robert Boyle (considered the father of modern chemistry), Charles Richet (a Nobel Prize winner), General Rommel of the German Army, and General George S. Patton. "General Patton," writes Don Nolan in his article A Brief History of Dowsing, "had a complete willow tree flown to Morocco so that a dowser could use branches from it to find water to replace the wells the German Army had blown up. The British army used dowsers on the Falkland Islands to remove mines."
Dowsing, the Ancient Art relates this remarkable information:
Professor Hans Dieter Betz (professor of physics, Munich university) headed a team of scientists that investigated the ability of dowsers to find underground drinkable supplies, taking them to 10 different countries and, on the advice of dowers, sank some 2,000 wells with a very high success rate. In Sri Lanka, where the geological conditions are said to be difficult, some 691 wells were drilled for, based on the advice of dowsers, with a 96% success rate. Geohydrologists given the same task took two months to evaluate a site where a dowser would compete his survey in minutes. The geohydrologists had a 21% success rate, as a result of which the German government has sponsored 100 dowers to work in the arid zones of Southern India to find drinkable water. Types of Dowsing There are several types or methods of dowsing:
Forked stick. The most traditional method uses a small Y-shaped tree branch (most often from a willow). The dowser holds the branch parallel to the ground by the top of the Y shape, then walks over the area to be probed. When the dowser passes over the sought object, the end of the branch is drawn down, pointing to the spot at which the object can be found. Rods. An alternate method uses two L-shaped metal rods, one held in each hand parallel to the ground and parallel to each other. In this case, when the dowser passes over the sought object, the rods either swing apart or cross each other. You can easily make dowsing rods from wire coat hangers. Map Dowsing. Some dowsers don't even have to visit the location to be dowsed. For them, a map of the area is sufficient over which they hold pendulum. They know they have located the target area when the pendulum begins to move in a circle or back and forth. Y-rods, L-rods, pendulums and other dowsing equipment can be purchased from the American Society of Dowsers.
How You Can Dowse It's easy to try dowsing yourself. Here are some steps for a dowsing test:
Make or purchase the dowsing tool with which you will be most comfortable. Ask a friend to bury an object (try a metal object or small bottle of water) somewhere in your yard, just a few inches below the surface. Be sure your friend is careful to conceal the burial spot so that it is not at all obvious where they have dug. Before starting, mentally ask your dowsing tool to indicate to you when you are passing over the hidden object. (Be sure to consult some of the sources listed in this article for the proper way to hold the dowsing tool.) Start walking. You can either take a methodical approach, walking in a defined pattern up and down the yard, or you can walk randomly, following your instincts. Walk slowly, concentrating on the object and trying to remain open and sensitive to the movements of the dowsing tool. When your dowsing tool reacts and indicates a specific spot, stop and see if you have succeeded. If not, try again.
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Feb 29, 2008 22:24:05 GMT -5
Level 1. Senses Attack
Cold spots, hearing voices, not able to understand what they are saying, strange, odd odors and smells, hearing foot steps, unusual animal activity, and feelings of being watched.
Level 2. Communication
Whispers, laughs/giggles, moans/shrieking, moving shadows, breeze in closed areas, visible clouds (base apparitions), strong static, electricity, marks on the floors or walls (not writing).
Level 3. Electrical Control
Lights and other electrical appliances turning off and on, unseen hands grabbing or touching people, writings on the wall or pattern markings, doors open and close or lock and unlock, hearing voices or words clearly, full apparitions or dark figures, showing levels of communications with living people, and strange telephone calls.
Level 4. The Trickery Stage
Flying objects, moving objects, objects disappearing and reappearing elsewhere, shaking furniture or beds, fire starting, appearing as frightening entities, pushing or shoving people, creating visions or illusions, speaking in ordering tones, people feel dizzy, nausea or sick to their stomach, windows, mirrors, or other household objects breaking for no reason.
Level 5. The Danger Level
Dangerous activity, biting, slapping, or punching, rape, animated objects-possessions, use of household electrical systems to cause harm, fires and burning, blood on the walls/floor/ceilings, attacked by unseen forces, held down, hair pulled.
Poltergeist last for an unknown period of time, but after level 5 it will lay dormant and then back to level 1, building up again.
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Feb 29, 2008 22:22:29 GMT -5
CLASS I: This type of spectre is defined as an undeveloped form, insubstantial and difficult to see. The Class I's interaction with the physical environment is limited and enigmatic (i.e. lights, sounds, voices)
CLASS II: A ghost that begins to have actual visible characteristics and can physically manipulate things (i.e. poltergeist). Class II forms tend to be vague and inconsistent, like hands or a face just floating there.
CLASS III: When a ghost begins to take an actual distinct human form, its classified as a Class III. Class III's can often change their forms as well.
CLASS IV: When investigation reveals the former identity of a Class III, it is reclassified as a Class IV. Usually distinct from the chest down.
CLASS V: An ectoplasmic manifestation of definite but non-human form. Theory supposes that Class V's are formed from emotionally-charged events or locations.
CLASS VI: A non-human "animal" ghost.
CLASS VII: A Metaspectre with extra-dimensional powers far beyond human ken. Powers often include the ability to change form at will, dematerialize objects, summon pests, or possess people and animals just to name a few.
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jan 5, 2008 11:12:02 GMT -5
Very true! Thanks!
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Oct 28, 2007 21:23:47 GMT -5
Very good advice Andreanna!
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Mar 26, 2008 20:45:23 GMT -5
Thanks a bunch man!
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jul 17, 2007 22:44:53 GMT -5
No we havent tried it but what better time that at Waverly this weekend!
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jul 14, 2007 12:53:44 GMT -5
In a nut shell, the article is all about setting "control objects". One of the most universal forms of this is to take a sheet of paper and place a glass on top of it, upside down. Then, you trace around the glass with a pen, so you can tell if the glass has been moved. For Waverly, I am curious of bringing one or two children's toys, placing them in specific places. If Im not mistaken, there is always a ball that is left in one of the hallways of Waverly. Guess we will find out next week!
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jul 14, 2007 1:53:11 GMT -5
"Baiting" for better results/captures By: Matt Ferrell Your first objective as a paranormal investigator is to find any and all "logical" explanations for a 'haunting'. Once you've done this, and are still left with unexplained events, then you may have a real haunting taking place, in which case you can try "Baiting".Researchers and Investigators have two main jobs:? One is to either try and find logical explanations for a haunting, and if you can't, then you can try to capture paranormal data to help back up that something strange is going on there. ? The other job is to care for the owners of the location having the experiences/encounters. Whether it's paranormal or not, the people are still experiencing strange happenings, and they may be afraid, angry, sad, etc. In a way, we're kind of like counselors. Finding 'logical' explanations may help them cope with it better, but what if you find evidence that the place does have something odd going on? Will they be able to handle knowing that? We have to help them through it and to understand what may be going on.The "Baiting" technique deals with the capturing of evidence side of things. It also deals with intelligent or genuine hauntings, rather then residual hauntings."Baiting" is just what it sounds like. Putting things out into an area (objects, music, conversation, etc.) that may interest something/someone there, and hopefully provide better results for what you're trying to capture.I'll start from the beginning though. When you enter a location to investigate, I think it's nice to introduce yourself. Let 'whoever' may be there know who you are, and why you're there. You can either do this out loud, or in your head (since it seems from investigations that spirit reacts to what people sometimes think, showing in a way that they may be able to 'read minds'). Think about it. If someone just walked into your house and turned off all the lights, set up equipment and walked around with audio recorders asking questions, and snapping photos.. how weird would that be? You would probably either get really mad and get them out of there, or stay away from them altogether, not sure what to do. Neither of those are what we, as ghost researchers, want (we don't want to be chased out by an angry spirit, and we don't want to not capture any evidence at all). We want whatever's there, if there is an entity at the location, to be comfortable.. which in turn may provide some nice evidence.So go in. Make yourself known, let 'whoever' may be there know why you're there, and introduce yourself. IMPORTANT NOTE THOUGH:There's a strong difference between introducing yourself, and inviting 'whoever' may be there to introduce their self to you. One thing I've learned first hand from research and investigation is, bad things can tend to happen when: ? the person is either very open (by being tired, sick, drunk, on drugs, has low self esteem, etc.).. all those things can open a person up. It lowers their guard and their resistances. If something "not so nice" is in the area, it could take advantage of that. Never do investigations if you're not at your best. It could harm your focus on collecting and recording data, and most importantly could cause harm to yourself if something was to take advantage of that. ? if the person and the entity have some form of bond/connection, like an invitation. Something as simple as saying "Can you let me know you're here" or "Can you make yourself known" may be asking for more then you can handle. Ouija Boards are another form of invitation. It's just like leaving your front door wide open, you never know who may walk in. There's some people who are trained to deal with "contact" like that (usually from years and years of learning), but for the everyday researcher/investigator, it's best to just keep your guard/resistances up and keep that door closed. If you introduce yourself first, you may find you'll get better results then just walking in, setting up and seeing what you get.Now, back to "Baiting".Alot of researchers go to a location, set up their video camera's and audio recorders.. then just record, seeing what they may get. Which is fine, and it works. But I usually like to take it further then that. If you're going to have a video camera sitting there filming a wall for hours on end, at least put something out there that may interest the entity to come out.. which may provide better evidence.Do your research on the area. Find out who used to live there and/or who it's believed may haunt the place. From the info collected, you can decide what form of "baiting" you want to do. Just as a certain form of bait may bring better results for a certain fishing spot (like for freshwater fish compared to others), the same goes for 'ghost hunting'. Although we're not catching the spirit, we're just trying to collect evidence, but the same rules still apply for the most part.A few examples are:? If it's a child that's believed haunts the place, set out toys. Outline them with chalk (chalk is easy to clean up) so you can note any movement, and place a video camera on them as well. ? If the person who is said to haunt the location liked to play cards/poker (which was very popular years and years ago), then set out a deck of cards, and maybe even play some cards with another member of the team while videoing it and recording audio. Even try setting out some cards to an 'empty' chair. Like attracts like, so if the entity there sees people playing cards, they may join also (hopefully providing some good evidence to back it up). We've been doing this for years.. sometimes we get good results, and sometimes we don't.. but the point is to at least try it, and see what happens. There's many reports of "baiting" producing good results, so sometimes you just have to be at the right place at the right time.Myself and two other members, Rick and Glenn, just investigated an old theatre near Central Florida about a month ago. A little girl has been reported walking around, and other activity that a child might do has been reported. So in the dressing rooms backstage (which from reports, seemed to be an active area) I set up some toys on a table and outlined them so I could monitor any movement. Jewellery of the staff has also gone missing alot, only to be turned up later on in an area that was searched many times and is easy to see. No cause for it to have went missing and then reappeared later on. So I also set up some jewellery on the table and outlined it as well, and put a video camera on it that was recording.Since theatres are also known for the seats going up/down, I went around and put every seat in the theatre in the upright position, which I monitored throughout the night to see if 'anyone' would have a seat (some of the seats wouldn't stay up, so I marked them by taping a piece of white paper to them so I'd know they were already down). That isn't so much "Baiting" though, as it is just setting up a controlled setting and seeing if anything changes. Although none of these experiments turned up any activity, we at least tried.It doesn't always have to be setting objects out though. Do research on what kind of music was played in the time period that the person who is said to haunt the location lived in. Then bring along some of that music and play it. Many people are moved deeply by music. It's a very powerful thing.. so if someone is there who hears music from their time period, maybe it will interest them to come out, maybe dance in front of a video camera? Or maybe even sing/hum a tune on your audio recorders? Never know.Also, even conversation may spark an interest in the entity there. Again, do your research and find out what topics were popular in their time period. Who was president? Was there any wars going on? Any big stories taking place? Take any info collected, and while investigating, start talking to other investigators about the events collected. Just as with the music, if someone is there who hears the conversation and it sparks an interest for them, they may come out to join in.. maybe you'll get some interesting audio recording of more then just the investigators talking?Tonya of GHOULI brought up another interesting idea which I'll share also:This is an example of bringing psychology into the ghosts/hauntings realm. From research and investigation done into ghosts/hauntings, it seems that the entities encountered still retain their personality, intelligence and emotions.. So they're the same as a 'living' person, they just don't have their physical bodies any more. If this is true, then their thoughts, and urges that they had when they were 'alive' are probably still there.From research done of human behavior, there's some objects/sounds/etc. that draw humans to them. One example being balloons. If, in a mall, a balloon is set up at a location, a very high percentage of the people that walk past it WILL touch it. Some may poke it, some may slap it, some may grab it, etc. But for some reason there's a very strong urge for most people to touch the balloon (kids especially, but the urge seems to be there for almost any age group).What if we "baited" with a balloon in a haunted location? Would the spirits still have that urge to touch it? From research and investigation, we already know that spirit is very much physical. They can open/close doors, touch people, move things, etc.. so it seems that touching a balloon should be no problem for them.Try setting up a helium filled balloon on a string in a room. A red balloon may work nicely since it's a stand out color, may attract easier. Put something on the string to weigh the balloon down so it won't float off. Let the balloon hover about waist level, and set a video camera on it to monitor it. Of course, don't put the balloon in a room with open windows, a fan or an AC unit, etc. You want the air/balloon as calm as possible. It's also preferred that no one else be in the room to stir the air around (if you have a monitoring station, monitor the camera from another room). Trying this at a location where many spirits are thought to haunt the location (old hospitals, schoolhouses, the Queen Mary!, etc.) may of course work better then at a location where only one spirit is thought to haunt, since you'll have more 'people' there to possibly interact with the balloon. But you never know, try it out anywhere!This could provide a few results:? Just a slight swaying back and forth of the balloon would probably be inconclusive. If an orb or other anomaly is captured at the time of the swaying, that would be a bit more interesting. ? If the balloon darts to one side as if someone walked past it quickly, that would be an interesting capture if nothing was in the area to cause it. And if an orb or other anomaly is captured along with it, even better. ? And also, if the balloon darts downward (as is someone poked it from above) that would be a great capture! And of course, anomalies around the balloon at the time would be great also. ? And what if the balloon popped? And an anomaly was captured going by it at the time? All this would be interesting to capture. And if you were to capture EVP, EMF readings, Thermal readings, etc. to help back up the data, that would be a great!These are just a few examples of 'baiting'. Some are more pointed towards certain personalities (children, card players, etc.) and some are more general (like the balloon experiment). Just do your research and find out what may work best for the location you're at. What may interest the entity that may be there the most? There's no 'set in stone' laws about what works and what doesn't work. There's loads of things you can try.. and you never know what may work, so try anything!I think this method is alot better then just setting up equipment at an empty space and hoping to capture something, and it doesn't hurt to try it. At least with 'baiting', you're throwing something else into the mix, something that may interest the spirit, make them more comfortable, and that may help to obtain more or better results / captures / evidence. Give it a shot!
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Post by Brad-LaSpirits on May 16, 2007 23:17:54 GMT -5
Yes matrixing can be a very annoying thing. There is also what I like to call voice matrixing where you do the same thing with audio clips/EVPs. If someone tells you what the clips says, you will already have it set in your mind what you will hear.
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