Shadow People

A Familial Haunting

March 5, 2017 — Leave a comment

 

Article by Brent L. George
Sacramento, CA – Arden Neighborhood
February 20, 2016

The S.P.I.R.I.T. team was called to an apartment home to assist an older couple who claimed they feel watched in the apartment, have heard disembodied voices, seen shadow movement, and had items fall suddenly out of their cupboards and linen closet.

An initial interview with the couple revealed that both occupants have lost loved ones unexpectedly. In particular, the woman had lost her brother in a foreign country in a violent incident when they were young. In the front office of the home were several pictures of her brother, arranged together on the wall.

The Investigation:

Flash photography captured several small, ambient-light only, and ambiguous orbs on the patio and throughout the apartment. However, the orbs are still interesting as circumstantial paranormal evidence, because the home was immaculately clean and free of dust.

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No EVPs were captured in the home; however, the teams E.D. I. Meter’s (measures electromagnetic energy, temperature, and vibrations) blue EMF indicator lights lit up to full brightness (6 milligaus) during the EVP session, indicating the presence of a strong magnetic field.

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Note that the E.D.I. Meter was on top of a computer printer that could cause a false EMF reading if switched on – however, the printer was switched off and the EMF hit on the E.D.I. meter could not be debunked by K2 meters.

Next, the team conducted a spirit box session in the front office using the SB 11 Spirit Box. Again, there was no response, but sporadic K2 hits. When the female occupant of the home spoke in Spanish during the spirit box session, she received a clear SB11 response in her brother’s voice, in Spanish, saying that he was all right. It was the first time she had heard her brother’s voice in 47 years.

At this point, the occupant understandably experienced a very emotional response, and the decision was made to shut off all recording equipment immediately and terminate the investigation, out of respect for the occupants and the family.

As there was no evidence of any negative energy, and the group members all felt strongly that the apartment contained only familial spirits who were watching over the occupants, no cleansing was requested or performed.

Of all of the cases the S.P.I.R.I.T. team encounters, familial hauntings that are beneficial and in no way negative make up the bulk of them. Most paranormal cases fall into this category, often termed “Casper” hauntings. Heavily negative and / or demonic cases do happen, and the S.P.I.R.I.T. team is equipped to deal with such cases, but one should keep in mind that those types of cases are the exception rather than the rule.

Conclusion: The SB11 hit in the brother’s voice in particular suggests that he is watching over his sister in her twilight years.

Case Closed.

Classification: Probable benign familial haunting.

  

Opening Pandora’s Mine

March 3, 2017 — Leave a comment
colomahouseview

Coloma property

Article by Brent L. George
Coloma, CA
February 6, 2016

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The S.P.I.R.I.T. team was contacted by the paranormal group NCI (Non Corporeal Investigations) in Sacramento for a joint investigation in Placerville, California. The occupants of the country home in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains had contacted NCI with an emergency request for immediate help. The occupants claim was that the home had suddenly “exploded” in paranormal activity for no discernible reason. There had reportedly been no previous paranormal activity in the home.

Four members of the S.P.I.R.I.T. team and two members of NCI met at the driveway to the home in Coloma. This presented the first challenge – a  S.P.I.R.I.T. member does in fact own a 4×4 vehicle, but sadly, we didn’t bring it on this occasion.

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The road leading to the house

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Our destination

Well, live and learn. We parked the cars on the grass and walked up the hill, though for subsequent trips up and down the hill the homeowners graciously shuttled us in their 4×4 SUV.

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Marshall Monument

The home in Coloma (just outside of Placerville) is located six miles from Sutter’s Mill, where gold was first discovered in California.

Upon making friends with two of the largest German Shepherds any of the team members had ever seen, the team interviewed the homeowners about the recent paranormal activity they had experienced. It turned out that the activity had begun shortly after the homeowners made a discovery on their land while clearing a portion of their property for an orchard they planned to start: the vertical opening to a long forgotten mine shaft / claim that had been filled in, sealed off, and grown over with dense vegetation for decades. The homeowner then decided to excavate the opening, breaking the seal of time and opening the mine. The same evening they did this, their home reportedly exploded in paranormal activity, including flickering lights, the dogs tracking unseen objects and never letting their guard down, unexplained knocks on the walls and footsteps on the wooden floors, and unexplained shadows in doorways. Because of the geographical location, and the vertical dig style to access what once was undoubtedly a vein of gold on the hilltop, matching the “claim style” of dig that was common at the time, it is extremely likely that the homeowners had uncovered a forgotten and more than likely mined out small claim shaft dating back to the beginning of California’s Gold Rush, which began with the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill on January 24th, 1848.

Mines on the property

The Investigation:

Team members set about documenting an abnormal number of bright orbs in the home (the home was not at all dusty). Of particular note, notice how the dogs appear to be looking at the orbs and even guarding against them as the orbs attempt to and do enter the home from outside. This makes a strong case that these orbs, captured in flash photography, are not mere dust: the dogs are seeing and reacting to them.

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More indoor orbs captured in the home that don’t seem to be explainable at this level of occurrence:coloma6_fotor

The team was also able to verify the phenomenon of shadows crossing doorways with two pictures taken within seconds of each other, both taken with a flash:coloma7_fotor

coloma5_fotorNext, the team conducted a Spirit Box session with the SB 11 Spirit Box.

When asked who they were and why they were in the home, we got the clear reply, “Miners.”

When asked if they knew what year it was the SB11 said “2005.” (There was an old calendar from 2005 hanging on the wall in the room where the session took place.)

When asked if they knew what all of the devices we were using were (K2 meters, digital recorders, MEL Meter) we got the clear reply “Science.”

These SB11 Spirit Box hits do, in the opinion of the S.P.I.R.I.T. team, go well beyond coincidence and make a reasonable case for intelligent spirit communication.

The team then conducted an EVP session. We ask how many spirits were there with us and we receive a Class A EVP “2-4.” This is significant for two reasons: First, it substantiates the level of paranormal activity that was seen elsewhere in the investigation, as well as the level of activity claimed by the homeowners, validating their experiences. Second, in the 1800s, it was a common practice for mine workers and other blue collar workers to say each digit separately and clearly for numbers with more than two digits – this was often to be heard over the noise of machinery. This practice is still common in some vocations even today.

The Cleansing:

The team saged the house and advised the spirits in the home that they could move on. The occupants were instructed on re-saging the house, and encouraging the spirits to move on. The homeowners were also advised to plant a fruit tree at the mine entrance (they resealed the mine for safety purposes) in memoriam of the miners who apparently lost their lives in the mine over 150 years ago.

Conclusion:

Given the fact that the homeowners had never experienced any paranormal activity before, and were suddenly inundated with paranormal activity inside and outside of their home upon opening the mine, and given the fact that NCI and S.P.I.R.I.T. were able to verify much of the activity being claimed, we feel that there is a strong case to be made here that sometime shortly after the beginning of the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s, a group of 24 miners lost their lives in a small claim and were never heard from again. Given that many gold diggers in the Gold Rush were from other parts of the country, and the site is only 6 miles from Sutter’s Mill, this is a completely plausible scenario, given the evidence. Indeed, small mining teams routinely consisted of between 22 to 33 miners, depending on the size of the strike, during the California Gold Rush, according to Wikipedia.com.

The homeowners followed the team’s advice, saging the home regularly and planting a fruit tree at the mine site, remembering the miners at long last.

No further paranormal activity has been reported in the home.

Case Closed

Classification: Active Haunting Caused by Accidental Disturbance of an Unmarked Grave

WHO HAUNTS MY HOUSE?

February 2, 2015 — Leave a comment
Article by Brent L. George
Investigation on January 10th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Davis, CA

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The team is called to a home in Davis, CA, near the UC Davis Campus. Five people live in this 3 bedroom home. Two of the occupants have felt watched and constantly followed and harassed by what they describe as a strong voyeuristic male entity in the home. Their experiences have consistently matched when they compared notes.

Of particular note was the paranormal activity and / or presence they felt in the attached garage, which they partially used as a home office and design studio. A frosted opaque bathroom window is directly accessible from the garage. Directly below this window hung an antique mirror, which has since been taken down. Mirrors are thought by many to amplify and / or enable spirit activity in certain circumstances.

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The Investigation

Two one hour sessions were conducted. Through Melissa’s use of the P-SB11 Spirit Box, contact was made in the master bedroom with the male voyeuristic entity. The entity spoke through the device, confirming that there were three people in the room, and that one of them was “a Dodgers fan.”  During the investigative round in the master bedroom, the K2 meter and the Mel Meter both recorded sporadic “floating” unexplained spikes in electromagnetic energy in the middle of the room, which occurred in different places around the room at different times. These EMF spikes coincided with sudden cold spots around the room that set off the K2 meter’s temperature change alarm. The entity was asked how it died, and it replied (through the P-SB11) only that “I did.”  As the investigators continued to try to locate any possible source for the floating EMF spikes, the P-SB11 Spirit Box said clearly, “What are they doing?”

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In the second one hour investigative round, several orbs were caught on camera by different team members. A large orb showed up in one picture in the bathroom window from the garage; the orb was not present in any other shots of the bathroom window from the garage.

The K2 meter and temperature alarm began spiking without reason in the garage area. One of the investigators asked the entity to make the temperature alarm go off to let us know the device was under spirit influence. This began a series of intelligent responses from the temperature alarm in response to yes and no questions from investigators. The alarm never went off in the garage after this point in the investigation, except in direct and immediate response to a yes or no question, and only when the answer to the question appeared to be a “yes.” This entire “conversation” using only a K2 temperature alarm was documented and caught on film. 

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At the conclusion of the investigation, the home was smudged and cleansed.  Since the investigation, the occupants have stated that the paranormal activity in the home has ceased, but that a “creepy feeling” does still sometimes linger in the house. The occupants were advised to re-smudge the home on a regular basis in the coming few weeks.

Conclusion:

Based upon the intelligent and accurate responses received via the P-SB11 Spirit Box, personal experiences by team members feeling the entity’s actual presence throughout the investigation, recorded EMF spikes and repeatable and measurable cold spots, along with intelligent communication using the temperature alarm, this haunting is being classified as a negative haunting by the spirit of a deceased man, possibly the home’s original owner.

Case closed. Classification: Negative human entity / haunting.

The Investigation Videos

What Are Shadow People And How to Get Rid Of Them

August 7, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Mysterious cases of shadow people are a common report that paranormal investigators investigate. During their investigations, they have seen and documented this phenomenon first-hand many times. These shadow people or shadow figures typically move very quickly and are not associated with anyone or anything visible.

Typical reports are that the shadow figure (also called a dark mass) is seen through the viewer’s peripheral vision and by the time the viewer has turned around to look at the shadow figure, it is gone. If you are lucky enough, you may be able to view one with your direct vision – and some simply lurk instead of moving very quickly.

Types of Shadow Figures

Creepers
From experience, these are the most unnerving shadow figure to behold. These shadow figures literally crawl along the floor, up the walls, or along the ceiling. As with any shadow figures they can move slowly or deliberately to extremely fast. Many assume these are evil creatures, but we cannot state this because we like to look at intent before one is classified as evil or harmless. 

Dark Mass
We term another group as a dark mass as it has no discernible form. They can vary in size and shape and often move slower than shadow figures or creepers.

Dark Mist
This is exactly as it sounds; a dark and smoky feature is present. Many are accustomed to the white or gray mists captured on photos; this is a cousin of those features. These mists allow some light to pass through and move as if it had a purpose.

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The stereotype is that shadow figures flee in the presence of humans – especially if they are seen. Investigators have encountered this, but have also encountered many shadow figures that do not flee, but come closer to check them out. They have experienced shadow figures who want to be seen. Shadow figures can move through walls or any other obstacles – they are not bound by physical limitations that we encounter. Often their movement is described as unnatural – they can be very fast and disjointed. They can move naturally then appear to quickly transport to another location within the environment.

As for the actual shadow figure, it seems to be made of a dense energy that is impenetrable to light. From our own experience light seems to be absorbed in the black mass and it will not shine through the figure. The light does not reflect either – the beam of light just stops on the figure. There is one common element to shadow figures; they have no discernible features (except for shape). One cannot recognize style of clothing and there is no discernible mouth, nose, facial expressions, or eyes (although a growing number of reports claim red eyes).

Many believe that shadow figures are demonic or evil. While some may have ill-intention, most of them, if not the majority are harmless. They just are a different representation of a spirit than most associate with the paranormal. Most people know apparitions, balls of light, vortices, and paranormal mists. These entities are able to project in a different “format”.  Since most people confuse the feeling of evil with their own fear of the unknown, most assume that these figures are evil.

No one really understands the science behind dark masses and shadow people. It is theorized that this phenomenon represents a body composed of a matter that is not visible to the human eye. Light will not pass through this figure because it is too dense and the result will create a shadow.

Human eyes cannot see x-rays and gamma rays, but yet they exist. We have been conditioned in life to think that we must see something in order for it to be true. Belief is that these entities are in a frequency that our human eyes are not capable of seeing – but they are there! In other words our eyes and brains cannot fathom the picture that is painted and the brain finishes the image for us showing us something is there.

While we are confident that most shadow figures are harmless, we also know that some can be a bit nasty. As in all paranormal entities, their personalities vary – just like living humans. Spirits keep the same personality they had while alive – so if someone was a mass-murdering creep, odds are they would be a nasty spirit. Until the spirit enters the light, they will retain any emotional and physical baggage with them.

Let’s say that they are real… What are they? Theories include: ghosts, inter-dimensional beings, time travellers and demons. And like the exterminator example, each would be dealt with in a different manner.

If they are interdimensional beings or time travellers, there may not be much we can do to get rid of them because they would presumably have their own agendas and reasons for showing up. Why would they leave just because we wanted them to? Who knows what they’re up to, if anything? I should add that these two possibilities are rather remote.

Possible Alternatives

As with all paranormal claims, one must be careful in not mistaking alternative explanations as a paranormal entity. If one thinks their home is haunted – every little thing becomes magnified and everything becomes paranormal in their mind.

If you think you saw a shadow figure with the corner of your eye, look to rule out other scenarios first. Could headlights from a passing car create a shadow from a piece of furniture? If you spotted something – concentrate on the area and see what happens if another car passes.

Some alternative explanations for shadow figures range from tricks of the eye with normal light play to optical illusions. If you ask a doctor or skeptic they may tell you that shadow figures can be caused by ocular distortions or floaters within the vitreous fluid of the eyes. Some alternative explanations include:

Pareidolia: Our peripheral vision is linked to an area of the brain that senses and recognizes patterns. It provides less detail than macular vision, which is within your direct line of sight. This can create a condition called pareidolia, which is when the brain incorrectly interprets natural patterns of light and shadow or texture as familiar patterns, such as faces and human figures. This is similar to a term we refer to as matrixing.

Hypnagogia: This is a medically-documented condition in which a person is between being conscious and asleep. During this condition, a person can be both aware of their surroundings and in a dream-like state where images from their subconscious are added.

Chemical-induced Hallucinations: The use of both prescribed medications and narcotics can produce hallucinations with shadow-people.

Abnormally High Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs): When people who are sensitive to EMF levels are subjected to high amounts, their brain can create auditory and visual hallucinations. We also believe however, that high EMF’s can provide an energy source for legitimate paranormal entities.

Neurological Conditions: Some people with diagnosed neurological conditions can have hallucinations of shadow figures.

If you determine that your shadow person really is just ordinary shadows… adjust your lighting.

If you just know that it is a real event not one induced by drugs or by being crazy, here are some steps to take to confront the unwanted entities.

Most researchers suspect that shadow people, if they are really there, are a manifestation of a ghost or haunting. If it’s a residual haunting — a non-intelligent “recording” on the environment — one way to possibly get rid of it is to alter the environment in some way.

If it’s an intelligent haunting — a true spirit that seems to behave and react in a way that indicates it has awareness — then there are some things you can try to make it go away.

  • Ignore the ghost. Like most people apparitions probably go away when ignored.  Sometimes, however, this backfires and the ghostly activity increases because the spirit wants more attention.
  • Use humour. Since fear is your biggest enemy in these cases, try injecting some light humour. Most people have a sense of humour including the dead ones.
  • Listen and learn. Perhaps the spirit is trying to tell you something or communicate. Try to find out what that might be and do your best to resolve it.
  • Tell the ghost to leave. This tactic very often works quite well, especially when the time is taken to explain how and why having her stick around bothers bothers everyone and increases their stress. Like most living people, most ghosts are reasonable. This might even work in the case that the entities are interdimensional beings or time travellers; if they’re aware of you, they might listen.

If you feel that you have a real genuine Shadow Person, one important factor to stress is that you do not try to do this alone. Get some help, preferably from someone who has some real experience in these matters. There is no way to prove or disprove any theories about a phenomenon that is so mysterious, that happens so quickly and without warning.  Science finds it virtually impossible to catalog or study such phenomena in any methodical way. All we can do, at present, is to document personal experiences and try to piece together what the shadow people phenomenon might be. Perhaps it’s an old mystery becoming more recognizable… perhaps it represents a doorway to and from different planes of existence… or perhaps it’s just shadows.

Share your experiences, we would love to hear your stories!