ParaQuest! Paranormal Conference
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Visit www.vaparaquest.com to pre-register!
About ParaQuest:
First held April 1-2, 2011 in Lynchburg, VA, ParaQuest was a first of its kind conference, a collaborative effort of Seven Hills and Bedford Paranormal Societies and intended as co-op of paranormal interest and talent in VA.
Speakers included authors L.B. Taylor Jr., Beth Brown, Alpheus Chewning and Pat Bussard. Other presenters included Debbie Carvelli on out-of-body experience, Benton Bogle of the Rhine Research Center on Remote Viewing, Carol De La Herran of the Monroe Institute on Healing with Frequency, Billy Willard of the VA Sasquatch Watch, Trevor Carter on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, Dr. Shari Stacy and Clayton Trout of Dark Objects Radio on the UFO/Paranormal connection, Pat & Stephanie Bussard on burial customs of the Victorian Age, Sue Swiatek, the VA state director of MUFON, Mike St. Clair of VIPER paranormal on hoaxes and fakes, Rick Youells and David Parrish on a tech-talk panel, Tara Bryant on Cellular Memory in the Transplant Scenario and Alan May on A History of Spirit Communication.
ParaQuest hosted a Friday night reception with musician Jason Ring and magician David Condoures of Smith Mountain Light and Magic. There was a variety of vendors, a blood drive and after-hours Ghost Tours hosted by Seven Hills Paranormal Society.
Check out some of the ParaQuest reviews from speakers and attendees:
“Virginia ParaQuest – Voted ‘Best Drama-Free Paranormal Conference’ by Attendees”
by Beth Brown; The Paranormal Paradigm
True Tales of Ghostly Encounters
by Pat Bussard; The Loafer Magazine; April 5th Edition, page 9
ParaQuest 2011 Review
by Elena; MsElenaeous Rants and Raves blog
Visit Central Virginia ParaQuest’s wesbite for more details!!
Tags: amherst, apparition, Battle of Lynchburg, battlefield, bedford, Bedford County, bedford paranormal, campbell county, cellular memory, civil war, civil war ghost, confederate hospital, conference, danville, EVP, fraud, ghost, ghost hunter, ghost story, ghost tour, ghost walk, ghosthunter, ghosts, halloween, haunted, hoax, investigation, lynchburg, lynchburg ghosts, lynchburg paranormal, MUFON, natural bridge, near death experience, Nelson County, paranormal, remote viewing, roanoke, seven hills paranormal, St. Albans, UFO, Virginia, Virginia Beach, virginia ghosts, virginia haunting
SHPS on WSLS TV 10 Halloween Special
Posted by admin | Filed under SHPS News!
Check out SHPS segment on WSLS Our Blue Ridge segment- Halloween special!!
CLICK HERE
Tags: apparition, Battle of Lynchburg, bedford, civil war, civil war ghost, confederate hospital, EVP, ghost, ghost hunter, ghost tour, ghost walk, ghosthunter, ghosts, halloween, haunted, investigation, lynchburg, lynchburg ghosts, lynchburg paranormal, paranormal, roanoke, seven hills paranormal, Virginia, virginia haunting, WSLS
Avenel’s Uneasy Spirits
Posted by admin | Filed under SHPS News!
Uneasy spirits
By Casey Gillis on Oct. 13, 2010
BEDFORD — Peggy Graybill’s first ghostly encounter at the Avenel was more than 30 years ago.
She’d always been fascinated with ghosts. After hearing that the historic Bedford home was haunted, she started staking it out on weekends with a friend.
They’d sit in her car, watching the house, which was abandoned at the time but has since been restored by the nonprofit Avenel Foundation.
After four or five weekends in a row with absolutely no sightings, they were antsy. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: apparition, Avenel, bedford, civil war, civil war ghost, confederate hospital, EVP, ghost hunter, ghost story, ghost tour, ghost walk, ghosthunter, ghosts, halloween, haunted, investigation, lynchburg, lynchburg ghosts, lynchburg paranormal, paranormal, roanoke, seven hills paranormal, Virginia, virginia ghosts, virginia haunting
Types of Hauntings
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What is a haunting?
A haunting is a physical or psychically perceived manifestation of unexplained phenomenon attributed to an apparition or multi-dimensional entity. Hauntings may present as visual, auditory, olfactory, or tactile phenomena.
Hauntings may be attributed to a collection of psychic energy created by traumatic events including battles, murder, and extreme emotional distress. Events may occur and recur on specific and consistent occasions, or in conjunction with events possibly connected to environmental or biological factors.
It is theorized that the human brain’s conscious thought process creates its own electro-magnetic field which can influence and be influenced by external electro-magnetic fields, thereby either CREATING an induced hallucination, or ALLOWING our brains to experience fully an event which we may otherwise not consciously be aware of due to filtering.
Types of Hauntings
Residual
The most common type of haunting, residual hauntings are believed to be the playback of an event via discharges of psychically stored energy. It is presumed that these events may recur at specific times, dates, or under environmental conditions associated with the original event – which may have been a murder, torture, or other emotionally charged event (possibly not even related to an actual death). These haunting are characterized by random vocal communication which may not relate to questions asked, and by visual experiences in which the entity does not appear to be aware of our presence.
Intelligent (Interactive)
These hauntings are believed to be the work of what we normally consider “ghosts” or the spirits of deceased persons. Typically, these events are characterized by the appearance of apparitions, auditory experiences including EVP or disembodied vocal communication or any other physical interaction. In an intelligent haunt, the entity seems to be aware of our presence, and often seems to attempt communication. We cannot presume however, that these entities are in need of our “help” (unless they expressly ask for it), as we cannot wholly understand the circumstances by which they appear to be attached to a place, person, or object.
Self-Haunting
A fairly new theory generally associated with mental health issues, the self-haunting is attributed to either mental illness whereby the witness is experiencing biological or chemically induced hallucinations, or as a legitimate paranormal phenomenon possibly caused by unconscious psychic projection. These hauntings are characterized by paranormal experiences “following” an individual from place to place, in their car, to friends and relatives houses, etc. when entity site-attachment must be dismissed. Poltergeist activity may sometimes be associated with self-haunting.
Shadow People
Theorized as non-human, possibly multi-dimensional entities that are generally conceived as merely observers. They rarely are reported to interact with humans, though witnesses consistently report feelings of fear in their presence.
Poltergeist
German for “noisy spirit”. Poltergeist activity is often associated with chaotic psychic energy in pre-adolescent and adolescent girls – sometimes boys. It is theorized that either these children are unconsciously creating the phenomena or that entities characterized as “non-human” and “mischievous” are attracted to the intense emotional energy projected during these tumultuous years. Poltergeists are often the cause of the most distress among witnesses, as they tend to demand attention, throw temper tantrums and cause general havoc including breaking or hiding objects, rattling pans, turning on/off electrical appliances, etc.
Portal Hauntings
Sometimes associated with Shadow People, these hauntings are believed to be entry/exit points and activity of multi-dimensional entities.
Demonic
Physical haunting of a person by a malicious non-human entity. These hauntings are typically climactic in nature, beginning with subtle interaction and progressing into sometimes intensely violent episodes, including possession. The onset of demonic hauntings have been linked to cursed or possessed objects, working with Ouija boards, and unconsciously (or consciously) invited attachment by the victim.
Tags: apparition, civil war ghost, EVP, ghost, ghost hunter, ghost tour, ghosthunter, ghosts, haunted, investigation, lynchburg, lynchburg ghosts, lynchburg paranormal, paranormal
Types of Apparitions
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Types of Apparitions
Apparitions of the dead (Post-Mortem Apparition): These apparitions are the manifestations of the recently deceased. Usually, their purpose is to complete unfinished business, convey information, comfort loved ones or, in some cases, announce themselves as a spirit guide. They are generally the most reported type of ghost phenomenon and most popular classification in many ghost stories. They have been reported to be conscious of those present upon their manifestation and are, at times, able to communicate to the living as well as manipulate objects.
Collective Apparition: The same figure is seen simultaneously by two or more observers. It is hypothesized that if one person experiences an apparition, the chances are increased that a second individual in the same party will experience the apparition as well. This may be due in part to expectation or fore-knowledge of the alleged haunting.
Crisis Apparition: Vision of a person familiar to the viewer coincides with the death or endangerment of the person seen. Sometimes linked to spontaneous telepathy or psychic projection. Typically, the “living ghosts” appear only once to a special loved one who may be many miles away at the time of the incident. This phenomenon can also manifest in the person hearing a voice of a friend or loved one with some message or warning while the person is alive and well, totally unaware that this has occurred. Most of these crisis apparitions occur at a moment of great crisis or death when a person is in some form of danger or pain. The person in crisis may not be aware that they are doing this. It is explained and often agreed that these apparitions are the externalization of an unconsciously received telepathic impressions. Apparitions that are seen hours after death are put in to the category of “delayed” crisis apparitions.
Deathbed apparitions: These are apparitions that are seen by those who are about to die. Many have claimed to see religious figures, divine beings, visual images or dead loved ones coming to guide them to whatever existence awaits them. These apparitions have also been reported in near-death experiences as well.
Doppleganger: A doppelganger, also spelled doppelgaenger, may be the ghost or psychical projection of a living person. The word doppelganger comes from the German Doppelgaenger, literally meaning “double-goer. This type of apparition is usually associated as a portent of harm to come to the living twin. Scientists at the University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland discovered that electrical stimulation of the brain, used to treat epilepsy, can produce the sensation of a doppelganger’s presence in the patient.
Reciprocal apparitions: These apparitions are manifestations of both the agent and the witness appearing to the other simultaneously. These cases are rare but have similar aspects of crisis apparitions. One theory in regards to reciprocal apparitions is that there is a strong desire in the agent and percipient to see one another unconsciously causing an out-of-body experience.
Religious Apparition (also Marian Apparition): Images of religious figures such as the Virgin Mary or Christ in any number of mediums- as a ghost-like figure, solid figure, and also in physical objects including clouds, stones, water, and even toast. Many of these apparitions are collective apparitions seen by many witnesses at once.
Veridical apparitions: These are apparitions that can be corroborated by historical facts. In many cases these apparitions are unaware or are oblivious to any witnesses and appear to be replaying a specific moment in time as if it were a video recording of the event or incident. Typical of a Residual type of haunting.
Tags: apparition, civil war ghost, EVP, ghost, ghost hunter, ghost tour, ghosthunter, ghosts, haunted, investigation, lynchburg, lynchburg ghosts, lynchburg paranormal, paranormal
Glossary of Parapsychology Terms
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Glossary of Parapsychology Terms
Automatic Writing – This method of obtaining information from disembodied spirits is used by mediums in which the spirit takes control over the medium causing them to translate unconscious information on paper without being aware of the contents.
Call – A call is the response that is made by a subject during a card-guessing test or during any other type of ESP test.
Card Guessing – Card guessing is used as an experimental test for ESP in which a subject tries to guess the identity of a set of cards.
Channeling – In this modern day method of spirit communication, a spirit will pass information directly to a medium or channeler who will then relay the information on to the listener(s).
Clairaudience – An auditory form of ESP paranormal information is received outside the range of normal perception through voices, whispers and auditory impressions.
Clairsentience – A general term for clairvoyance and clairaudience. Clairsentience typically occurs in the form of ESP through physical sensations or smells.
Clairvoyance – An acute insight or perceptiveness that enables you to see objects or events that cannot be perceived by the senses in the form of mental imagery and intuition. (See ESP)
Closed Deck – A set of cards used in a card guessing deck in which each card will appear a fixed number of times. The statistical analysis obtained from a closed card deck differs from that of an open card deck. (See Card Guessing).
Cold Reading – This is a technique commonly used by fake mind readers, mediums and magicians which allows them to obtain previously unknown information about a person by asking a general series of statements, questions and answers.
Control – This is a procedure in paranormal psychology that ensures that the experiment is conducted in a standard fashion so that the results will no be influenced by any extraneous factors.
Control Group – A group of outside subjects whose performance or abilities are compared with the experimental subjects.
Dice Test – An experimental test in which a subject attempts to influence the fall of dice. This study is used for the investigation of psychokinesis.
Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) – Communication or perception by means other than the physical senses.
Goat – An experiment in which the subject does not believe in the ability for which they are being tested.
Hot Reading – A devious or fraudulent reading in which the reader has been given prior knowledge of the sitter.
Hypnopompic State- the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep (i.e. coming out of sleep)
Hypnogogic State- the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep (i.e. the onset of sleep)
Hypnosis – A technique that induces a sleep like state in which the subject acts only on external suggestion.
Mesmerism – A hypnotic induction of a sleep or trance State (See Hypnotism).
Precognition – The ability to predict or have knowledge of something in advance of its occurrence, especially by extrasensory perception (See Clairvoyance).
Psi – A letter in the Greek alphabet that denotes psychic phenomena.
Psychic – A person who is responsive to psychic forces with above average ESP abilities.
Psychokinesis (PK) – The power of the mind to affect matter without physical contact, especially in inanimate and remote objects by the exercise of psychic powers.
Psychometry – The ability or art of divining information about people or events associated with an object solely by touching or being near to it.
Pyrokinesis – The ability to unconsciously control and sometimes in rare cases produce fire with their mind only.
Remote Viewing – Used by some psychics, this is a procedure in which the percipient or psychic attempts to become physically aware of the experience of an agent who is at a distant, unknown location through ESP.
Retrocognition – An experience in which a person finds themselves in the past and is able to see and experience events in which they had no prior knowledge.
Séance - A meeting or gathering of people, usually lead by a medium to receive spiritualistic messages, manifestations or communication with the dead.
Sheep – An experiment in which the subject believes in the ability in which they are being tested.
Simulcra – This is a word used to describe the seeing of faces, figures and images in ordinary, everyday object such as rocks, foliage, etc.
Tarot Cards – A set of (usually 72) cards that include 22 cards representing virtues and vices, death and fortune etc. used by fortunetellers to help predict future events.
Telekinesis – The paranormal movement of objects by scientifically inexplicable means.
Telepathy – Communication from one mind to another through means other than the senses.
Teleportation – A method of transportation in which matter or information is dematerialized, usually instantaneously, at one point and recreated at another.
Thought Form – An apparition produced solely by the power of the human mind.
Trance – A hypnotic, cataleptic, or ecstatic state in which one becomes detached from their physical surroundings.
Zener Cards – A set of 25 cards for use in card-guessing tests of ESP. Each set contains 5 of each of the following cards: Circle, Square, Greek Cross, Three Wavy Lines, Five-pointed Star
Tags: apparition, EVP, ghost, ghost hunter, ghost tour, ghosthunter, ghosts, haunted, investigation, lynchburg ghosts, lynchburg paranormal, paranormal, parapsychology
