The statement at the TAPS site explains it pretty well.

Frankly, I’ve been [...]]]> Several people have asked me about Grant Wilson leaving the Ghost Hunters TV show.  They wonder if I knew about it ahead of time, whether there was some rift in the team, did Grant have some kind of meltdown, and so on.

The statement at the TAPS site explains it pretty well.

Frankly, I’ve been expecting this for the past couple of years.

Like me, Grant is first and foremost an artist, and always has been.  If you’ve heard his music or seen his illustrations, they are absolutely amazing.  In fact, his music is so beautiful, I’ve wondered why he ever committed to the TV show, in the first place.

He’s a skilled, professional ghost hunter, but that’s not where he shines.

In addition, the headaches that came with being on the TV show… they were ridiculous.  The loss of privacy would drive me up the wall.  The mean-spirited (no pun intended) comments and criticism… I’ve always deleted the worst of them from this website, but I can assure you, the snarky comments that appear here are the “nicer” ones.

I have no idea how Jason or anyone else continues to work in front of the camera.   It’s why I’ve routinely turned down opportunities for my own show, and I don’t even appear on shows as a guest.  Seriously.  The money (which isn’t as much as people seem to think) isn’t worth it.

And, like Grant, I’m first & foremost an artist.  It’s one reason why I’ve been quiet since the end of 2011: I’m finishing up the books I want to write — about paranormal patterns and paragenealogy — and, after that… I’m not sure what I’ll do.  I’ve answered the initial questions I had when I began studying ghostly phenomena… to my own satisfaction, anyway.  And, I have a pretty good legacy with this website and my books.  For me, that’s enough.

I think the TV show fad has come and gone.  I respect those who are still committed to sharing paranormal research via reality shows and unscripted TV programming, but — at this point — I think that has to be a labor of love.

So, it was no surprise when Grant made his decision to leave Ghost Hunters.  In fact, I think it was overdue.

I respect both Grant and Jason as paranormal investigators.  However, I’m far more impressed with Jason’s wit and Grant’s music and artwork.

This wasn’t a sudden decision on Grant’s part.  There’s no feud or meltdown or anything like that.

Grant is an artist.  It’s what he does best, and I’m sure it’s far more satisfying for him than anything ghost-related.

For many of us, the late 1990′s surge of interest in ghosts was good because we could help people find answers in their own research, or through our stories and explanations.  Because we were among the innovators and early adopters in the field, being active in ghost hunting made sense.  We could help people.  That’s been a strong motivation.

However, for those who aren’t fully committed to a lifetime career in paranormal research — and who’ve been involved in this field for 15+ years — it’s probably time to get back to what we enjoy far more.

I applaud Grant’s decision, and — as a friend of his — it’s a relief to see him steer his path toward art.  It’s what he does best.

If you do enjoy Jane Austen’s books, and you have a rather dark sense of humor, this book might delight you, [...]]]> This isn’t about ghosts.  It’s a book I’ve enjoyed and friends might, too.  However, unless you’re familiar with Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice — and liked it — this review probably won’t interest you.

If you do enjoy Jane Austen’s books, and you have a rather dark sense of humor, this book might delight you, too.

The book is Dawn of the Dreadfuls, a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It is about zombies… animated bodies of people, who are rising from their coffins.

First, let me explain the context of my review.  If you know me in real life, you know two things:

1. I have a very odd sense of humor, and
2. Despite my interest in ghosts and related subjects, I don’t like anything creepy, gory, gruesome, violent or ghoulish.

Point #2 generally trumps any interest I’d have in most horror-related novels.  (However, I don’t think ghosts are “creepy.”)

Dawn of the Dreadfuls is an exception.  It’s the humor that won me over when I started reading this book.  The puns, the wit… they’re laugh-out-loud funny.

Make no mistake, this is a gruesome book in many ways.  That’s part of what makes it hilarious.  The contrasts with upper middle class propriety and manner… it’s absurdity at its best.

I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, yet.  I am part of the way through Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (by the same author) and it’s amusing.  The latter is the kind of book I’d read at the beach or by the swimming pool, but it’s not exactly a page-turner.  It’s simply ridiculous fun.

Dawn of the Dreadfuls is ridiculous. There’s no other word for it.  If you’re a fan of Jane Austen and/or have a background in Regency England’s manners and morals, you’ll either be outraged by this book or you’ll laugh out loud every two or three pages.  I don’t think there’s any middle-of-the-road with this.

The plot is fairly simple to start: Attending a funeral, the Bennet family witnesses a corpse rising from his coffin.  Mr. Bennet realizes that the zombies — or “dreadfuls” — are back.  He promptly converts Mrs. Bennet’s greenhouse to a dojo, and starts training his five daughters to fight zombies.

Meanwhile, there is the matter of romance, or at least marriage.  Jane, the oldest daughter, is being pursued by Lord Lumpley.  He’s interested because she looks like a good, docile young woman who’d stay out of his way once they’re married.

As you’d expect, this is not a courtship that will go well.

With that foundation, the story leaps from one preposterous scene to the next, and each successive problem (or the solution these people choose)  is more absurdly funny.

If your humor is like mine, and you’re a fan of Jane Austen and Regency England, I think you’ll love this book.

• Official website: Quirk Classic – Dawn of the Dreadfuls
• Dawn of the Dreadfuls at Amazon.com
• Quirk book contest/forum: Quirk Classics Contest

It was filmed during one of the Rev. Mr. Emery’s workshops, [...]]]> Ghosts by Kevin Ross Emery is a somewhat quirky, New Age video.  At first, the amateurish quality may disappoint you.  (It doesn’t live up to the great cover image.)  However, this video may be worthwhile for some paranormal enthusiasts.

It was filmed during one of the Rev. Mr. Emery’s workshops, and it’s a full-length class.

As a professional ghost hunter, I’m always interested in others’ research in this baffling, spiritual field. We’re looking for new leads and fresh answers.

Seeing ghost phenomena through Kevin’s eyes as a spiritual catalyst, healer and medical intuitive, I gained helpful new insights.

In this video, “Dr. Kevin” shares a variety of stories from his own paranormal encounters. His views are often refreshing.

Mr. Emery and I disagree heartily on a several points.  A few are significant and his assertions could annoy experienced paranormal researchers.  That said, I think this video is worth seeing.  In general,  information is very useful for beginners and he suggested some research angles that hadn’t occurred to me before.

For example, he talks about why some spirits don’t realize that people on the other side can help them cross over.  In situations where we’re trying to help spirits move on, this is useful to consider.

I recommend this video for any ghost researcher with an open mind, who is looking for different answers to lingering questions.

This could also be useful viewing for fiction writers who want a wider range of material to draw upon, when adding ghostly elements to a story.

Or, if you simply love hearing good, real ghost stories, you’ll enjoy this video and share it with friends around Halloween, or on winter nights when the wind howls and the house creaks.

I always consider it a little chilling when someone talks about ghosts in a very matter-of-fact, almost flippant manner.  While Mr. Emery remains respectful, he doesn’t take himself too seriously.  I like that.

Click here to view more details about this video

The emails have been pouring in, asking questions like these.  I was going to ignore them, but the emails continue to flood my in-box.

I’ve looked at the Ghost Hunters TV show footage on “Is Ghost Hunters TV show a fake?” “Are the Ghost Hunters fake?” “Did TAPS fake their Halloween 2008 show?”

I’ve looked at the Ghost Hunters TV show footage on YouTube and studied it frame-by-frame.  I also listened closely to the audio, where a voice clearly says, “You’re not supposed to be here.”

Here’s my analysis.

“YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE”

That voice is alarmingly clear.  During my own ghost hunts, I’ve never heard anything that audibly crisp or like someone was right there, saying it.

Then again, I rarely hear things audibly when I’m conducting research.  I rarely capture any EVP, either.  Audio is not one of my stronger areas.

However, Jason and Grant have documented increasingly clear EVPs during their research.

In my experience, this seems to be a skill — perhaps related to rapport with the spirits — and most ghost researchers improve as they investigate a variety of sites.

So, while this was a very unusual and audible voice, I think it’s possible in a profoundly haunted setting… and that’s what they chose for their Halloween 2008 show.

Also, at Jason’s MySpace blog, he points out that the voice was so clear, he asked if someone had said anything.  (If anything irks me about Jason, it’s that he tends to be aggressively skeptical.  This show was no exception.)

Likewise, it looked to me as if Grant was asking the producers if they were in the wrong location… if they weren’t actually supposed to be where they were at that moment.

So, I don’t think that Jason, Grant or the TAPS team faked the voice.  I also trust the integrity of the SciFi channel.

There are other, natural explanations, but I don’t think that Jason, Grant or the SciFi channel set this up.

GRANT’S JACKET PULLED

The second controversial moment was the tug on Grant’s jacket… if it was that.

If you watch the video, frame by frame, you’ll see that the collar moves oddly just before Grant stumbles backwards.

However, the fishing line explanation doesn’t work.  We might see the line highlighted by the cameras, or a shadow on the wall when the cameras moved in.  It’s possible to do that on a recorded show.

However, on a live show, the production company couldn’t take that chance.

Here’s a bigger problem with the fishing line explanation: Grant’s jacket was open at the neck.  If line had pulled on his jacket enough to throw him off balance, it would have jerked the neck opening of the jacket as it pulled him backwards, slightly choking him.

In my opinion, Grant perceived it as just his jacket, but he was actually forced backwards by something else.  The only visual manifestation — besides Grant stumbling — was the movement at the collar a split second before he stepped backwards.

I can’t explain what happened.  I have no idea, and can’t even guess.

Strange things occur in haunted places.  That’s one reason we keep investigating them: We’re looking for explanations, but we often leave with more (and new) questions than answers.

The jacket tug baffles me.

NOT ENOUGH REACTION?

Several people have claimed that Grant’s body language, tone of voice, or other cues “give away” that he was faking the whole thing.

That’s not very good evidence of a hoax.

Anyone who has been on real ghost hunts knows that we get used to odd things happening. The “usual” anomalies stop surprising us after awhile. (This may be another reason why the manifestations become increasingly dramatic around experienced ghost hunters.)

But, if you’ve been with me on ghost hunts that turn dramatic — for example, with doors slamming repeatedly, or windows opening and closing on their own — you’ve seen me sigh and mutter, “I wish they wouldn’t do that.  It’s really annoying.”

Things that scare other people don’t even surprise experienced ghost hunters, after we’ve encountered the phenomena enough times.

So, it’s a mistake to judge the authenticity of phenomena because an experienced ghost hunter doesn’t seem startled enough.

We just don’t startle as easily as someone with less ghost hunting experience.

Grant’s reaction (or lack of it) doesn’t prove anything.

A MATTER OF INTEGRITY

Jason and Grant are good friends.  I see them at least once a year and we’ve chatted over breakfasts, lunches, dinners and at parties.  We exchange emails when something is of mutual concern.

Grant is one of the most honest people I’ve ever met.  He’s a really clean-living guy.  Grant looks you straight in the eye when he talks with you.   He seems to leave parties even earlier in the evening than I do… and that’s saying a lot.  (I leave before things get even mildly wild.  Unlike many ghost hunters, I’m a morning person… but I also live a fairly tame lifestyle and never drink liquor.)

I know both Grant and his wife, and neither of them would make make things up.  They’re squeaky-clean, and I’d trust Grant (or his wife) completely in any context.

I like Jason, but sometimes he seems like an almost incorrigible skeptic.  If anything, he’s likely to trivialize evidence that the rest of us point to as proof of a haunting.  So, it seems absurd to think that he’d be part of a hoax. That’d be completely out of character.

Sure, Jason has a very dry wit, but he would never compromise his own integrity as a ghost hunter, the integrity of the TAPS team, or the Ghost Hunters TV show.  That’s not his style.  If you’ve met him in real life or listened to him talk at any conference, you know that he’s rock-solid honest.

At this point, I would hope that Jason and Grant have earned enough money that they could retire tomorrow, if they wanted to.

If the show’s production company said, “We want you to fake this,” Jay and Grant would reply, “We’d quit rather than do that.”

And, they would.

They have no reason to compromise their integrity.  None whatsoever.

DID IT HAPPEN?

It’s true.  Some very odd things seemed to happen during the Ghost Hunters TV show on Halloween 2008.

Could they have been faked?

Yes, the voice might have come from a very well hidden microphone.  But — if that voice was part of a hoax — I’m confident that Jason, Grant and the SciFi channel weren’t aware of it.

I wasn’t there to know what direction the voice came from, and what it was like, except for what we saw on the Ghost Hunters TV show… and frankly, that’s not enough information for me to judge.

I’ve said it often: It’s a mistake to judge what is (and isn’t) a real haunting, a real ghost photo or real EVP  unless you were there.

The incident with Grant’s jacket is another issue altogether.  It couldn’t have been faked without Grant’s knowledge, and there’s zero chance he’d be part of a hoax.

All in all, I trust Jason and Grant.  They say that they didn’t fake anything on the show, and I believe them.

But, I’m also aware that many people like a “good scare” on Halloween, and — starting the very next morning — they want to assure themselves that the whole thing wasn’t real, and scary things don’t wait for them in the darkness.

I think they’re the loudest detractors of the Halloween 2008 Ghost Hunters TV show.

Personally, I’ll keep watching the show and enjoy it tremendously.

===================================
July 2009 update:

This article may soon close for comments. Much of the rhetoric has degenerated to name-calling, petty accusations, and a few statements that could not be approved because they border on libel and defamation of character.

I try to keep this as an open forum, whether or not I agree with you. Well-considered arguments can help us find a common ground, and a direction to move towards as intelligent and enquiring members of the ghost hunting community .

If you have something constructive and helpful to contribute to the conversation, I’ll happily approve your comment so that it appears here. If you have documented accusations that would meet legal standards, I can approve those, as well.

However, I will not approve future comments that suggest stupidity or duplicity among my readers… on either side of the argument.

We may have to agree to disagree on the subject of the “Ghost Hunters” TV series.

=================================

August 2009 update

Thanks for the many comments, both positive and negative.  As I announced in July, I’ve closed this thread to additional comments.

I’ve set the software accordingly, and apologize if any comments were deleted in this process.  (I see that at least one of mine vanished, so be assured that it’s nothing personal.)

Short of putting everyone involved on a lie detector with witnesses with unquestionable integrity  (if there is such a thing), I’m not sure that this question will ever be answered.  While I respect the opinions of those who’ve disagreed, I still maintain my faith in the personal integrity of Jason and Grant.

In the original 1843 edition, Dickens’ preface said:

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not [...]]]> Dickens’ book, A Christmas Carol, was based on Dickens’ own life. What’s not clear is how autobiographical the tale is. Here are some clues.

Scrooge’s experiences… fact or fiction?

In the original 1843 edition, Dickens’ preface said:

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

Their faithful Friend and Servant,
C. D.
December, 1843.

Some of Dickens’ story was based in fact. Bob Crachit’s sickly child was originally named Fred, after Dickens’ younger brother. That character became the beloved Tiny Tim. The name, Fred, was still used in A Christmas Carol, but for Scrooge’s nephew instead.Scrooge’s scorn of Fred’s lifestyle may have echoed Dickens’ views of his real-life brother. The real Fred borrowed on his brother’s famous name, landed in debtors’ prison, and died an alcoholic.

“Fan,” or Fanny, was not only Scrooge’s sister in the book, but also the nickname of Dickens’ older sister, Frances. She died of consumption in 1848, at age 38.

Her son, Henry Burnett, was the most likely model for Tiny Tim. Henry was a sickly child who lived only ten years and died in 1849.

Likewise, many locations in A Christmas Carol were based on places in Dickens’ past.

The location of Ebenezer’s early childhood–and Dickens’–was Strood, close to Rochester in Kent.

Young Ebenezer’s school was based on London’s Wellington House Academy, which Dickens’ attended during his youth.

Most people believe that Dickens’ tale was never meant as a literal account of events. His story delivers a message about living our lives in a way that benefits others as well as ourselves, with spiritual wealth far greater than gold.

Nevertheless, it is interesting that the settings and characters in the novel are largely based on fact. And, the various ghosts and spirits of A Christmas Carol are not pure fantasy, but based on events that could really happen.

Other articles in this series:
Dickens’ Christmas Carol – real ghosts
Dickens’ Christmas Carol and astral travel

References and related reading:

• The Annotated Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.
• Ghost Sightings, by Colin Wilson. (c)1997, Robinson Publishing, Ltd., UK
• True New England Mysteries, Ghosts, Crimes, Oddities, by Charles Turek Robinson. (c)1997, Covered Bridge Press, N. Attleborough, MA.
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings, by Tom Ogden. (c)1999, Alpha Books, Indianapolis, IN.
• The Ghost Hunter’s Guidebook, by Troy Taylor. (c)1999, Whitechapel Productions Press, Alton, IL.
• Psychic Phenomenon Astral Projection Part 1, reprinted from The People’s Almanac series, © 1975 – 1981 by David Wallechinsky & Irving Wallace.
• David Purdue’s Charles Dickens Page – family and friends.

—————————————————————————————————————

Photo credits: Photo of old leatherbound book by Melodi T. Thames panorama photo by Janne1. Haworth Main Street photo by sootyangel.

How can we explain Scrooge’s visions of the ghost of Christmas Present?

It is important that Scrooge did not see himself in his visions of the present. His experiences could have been similar to astral travel, with minor time elements involved.

Marley’s ghost rattled his chains as he appeared to Scrooge.

Discussed in this podcast:

1. Gilson Road Cemetery
2. Houmas House Plantation (official website), Darrow, Louisiana
3. The Myrtles Plantation (official website), St. Francisville, Lousiana
4. The Myrtles Plantation: The True Story of America’s [...]]]> Continuing our experimental series of magazine-style, weekly podcasts, covering a variety of topics.

Discussed in this podcast:

1. Gilson Road Cemetery
2. Houmas House Plantation (official website), Darrow, Louisiana
3. The Myrtles Plantation (official website), St. Francisville, Lousiana
4. The Myrtles Plantation: The True Story of America’s Most Haunted House, by Frances Kermeen
5. Our article about using a hiking compass to detect EMF
6. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (book)
7. The Haunting (earlier movie)

Listen to the podcast now

On one hand, I try to be very respectful of researchers’ subjective and psychic experiences.

On the other… Well, several years ago, I explored another classic “ghost story,” the Ocean-Born Mary tale, supposedly haunted by Mary Wallace.

My extensive research [...]]]> This week, I watched a documentary questioning the hauntings at the ‘Amitville Horror’ house.

On one hand, I try to be very respectful of researchers’ subjective and psychic experiences.

On the other… Well, several years ago, I explored another classic “ghost story,” the Ocean-Born Mary tale, supposedly haunted by Mary Wallace.

My extensive research is described at The Truth about Ocean-Born Mary’s Ghost. Some of the historical information was true, but most of the hauntings cannot be attributed to Mary Wallace.

(That said, I’ve heard from the daughter of the psychic who went to Henniker, NH with Hans Holzer, and she is confident that something haunts the famous house. I haven’t done enough research to identify who that spirit might be… we only know that it’s probably not Mary Wallace.)

Since that Henniker, NH research, I tend to be extra skeptical about sensational hauntings.

The Amityville documentary was inconclusive. Each side — believers and skeptics — maintain the truth of their claims.

I’ve been skeptical ever since I read that the Lutz family let their children sleep in the same beds where the previous residents’ children were murdered.

Was that true?  I don’t know.

As a parent, I can’t even think about doing that… even under the most compelling financial circumstances. But, it certainly increases the horror level when the story is told.

That possibility (if it is true) makes me question whether the Amityville “horror” was planned as a hoax from the start.

Oh, the interviews with Mr. & Mrs. Lutz seemed sincere and compelling. They probably believed the story as they told it. And, it’s a very good story.

I also believe that they could have been working with false memories, which are a volatile area of psychological study; I’m reluctant to say that anyone is lying.

Also, during the show, Ed Warren commented that ghosts are seen telepathically, and I want to clarify what he was probably talking about.

In most cases, it’s rare to see a full figure, solid-looking ghost. Most of our perceptions aren’t visual… not in the way we usually see the world around us.

However, many of us have seen ghosts and briefly confused them with actual, living people. For example, I’ve seen two ghosts that looked like real people at Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua, NH.

One of our team researchers–with a third-degree Black Belt in Karate–was so convinced that one of the Gilson Road Cemetery figures was real, he tried to physically block the figure from attacking me.

So, that ghost was not seen telepathically, but in real life and by several of us at the same time.

The Amityville documentary emphasized the importance of physical evidence. While no proof will be enough to convince a determined skeptic, it can tilt the scales when someone isn’t sure about a haunted site.

I’m still not sure about the Amityville house.   Even the police reports raise questions. (For example, it appears that there was an unreported body among the victims. That’s a very good reason for a haunting.)

Ghost hunting remains a subjective study until we have more proof. When the Amityville house was a sensation, ghost investigations were handled very differently from today’s research.

Although paranormal studies can be fascinating and personally meaningful, researchers should continue to collect as much evidence as possible. From EMF to EVP to ‘ghost photos’, it’s key to document everything that provides proof of anomalies in haunted settings.

As the Amityville house reminds us, there may not be an opportunity to collect additional data, later.

Many people ask me if Mr. Acorah is genuine. I can only reply that, [...]]]> This weekend, I watched an episode of the new cable TV show, Derek Acorah’s ‘Ghost Towns’ and it took me by surprise. He’s taking the concept in some intriguing new directions, but some of these new investigations look quite startling.

Many people ask me if Mr. Acorah is genuine. I can only reply that, in ghost hunting, almost anything is possible.

When Mr. Acorah was on Most Haunted, he generally relied on a spirit guide called Sam. This intermediary provided some ‘insulation’ from direct possessions.

In this new show, Mr. Acorah is still working with Sam, but sometimes the psychic appears directly possessed by spirits. That’s a very different experience for him… and for the viewing audience.

This could be one reason why the Ghost Towns show looks extreme at times: Mr. Acorah is comfortable with ghosts, and can rely on Sam for help if it gets too dangerous. It’s also possible that Mr. Acorah has always been experiencing ‘possessions’ like this, but they were generally edited out of the Most Haunted episodes.

It’s always smart to remember that TV shows are primarily entertainment, unless one is presented as a factual documentary. (Important note: I did not say that anything is ‘fake’ or even unlikely. I watch and enjoy these kinds of shows, myself, and take many of them seriously.)

Few ghost hunts are as exciting as what you see on TV; those shows are generally edited to omit hours of waiting while nothing’s happening. But, even if the producers have used editing and re-enactments to ‘enhance’ the show, most ghost-related TV shows include things that can happen on any ghost hunt.