Client Disclaimer

By: LIPRI

Disclaimer for Potential Clients

We here at LIPRI take great pride with our client interaction as well as educating our clients to our full capability. Unfortunately we have received countless e-mails from clients from other teams who were unsatisfied with the service provided or the lack of help they are not receiving. We are in no way saying choose us over them, but this disclaimer will hopefully help you in your quest of obtaining the help you both need and deserve. Read more

So You Want To Be A Paranormal Investigator? (Disclaimer)

By: LIPRI

Since the explosion of paranormal television shows, the interest in “ghost hunting” has increased tremendously. New paranormal teams are springing up every day all over the world wanting to be part of this growing phenomenon. Unfortunately due to this current fad, most teams that pop up are uneducated & unaware of what it takes to be part of the paranormal field. They’re just looking for a thrill ride and to be famous. Read more

Public Announcement

Courtesy of Topher Young (PSIRO)

Original post found at Worst Paranormal

A Public Service Announcement to the General Public:

The paranormal research field is still in its infancy. There are no real definitive facts when it comes to the paranormal. Most of the claims made within this field are solely based on assumption or belief. There is no proof that ghosts, spirits, demons, etc exist. Before you choose a team to come to your home if you suspect you have paranormal type activity, please be aware of the following; Read more

The dangers of the paranormal

By: Thelma Ankney

In the last few years countless number of new paranormal teams have been popping up all over the country.  No thanks to the popular para-shows on television there’s a whole new bunch of uneducated clones running around causing chaos.  A lot of these new groups seem to just be jumping on what’s trending now because they’re doing something they think is “cool”. Unfortunately we have no control over what these people are doing but we all hope that they’re at least being safe. Read more

Paranormal Myths

Contributed By: Lisa Schreiner

Working in the paranormal field can prove to be quite challenging, as far as research is concerned. With so much broadcasted on the internet, it’s hard to tell what’s legit and what’s myth. Although mostly everything is considered “theory” with the paranormal, there are just plain untrue myths in this field. Here are the most popular and most questioned “theories” we’ve come across. Read more

Animal Sensitivity Theory

Contributed by: Lisa Schreiner

People have longed believed that animals have a “sixth sense.” That they are able to see and hear things that humans cannot. Although it could be nearly impossible to actually prove this theory, it is the intention of LIPRI to extensively research and investigate if there is an underlying phenomena between animals and the paranormal field. Read more

Ball Lightning

Original Article By Lin Edwards

Electric field transcranially induced at various observation points (from bottom to top: 20 – 100m distance from strike point) by the time derivative of the lightning magnetic field during the decline phase of an average negative cloud-to-ground subsequent return stroke. Phosphene perception can be expected for induced fields above 20 V/m. Long duration repetitive stimulation of phosphenes up to seconds can be caused by higher multiplicity strokes. See arXiv:1005.1153v1 paper for details.

Read more

The Science of Orbs

By: Dr. Mark Kimura

Paranormal Research Investigations (PRI) had an experimental session to photograph “orbs”. Members of the group suspected that the paranormal anomalies often called orbs, which many people see in photographs, are, in fact, optical phenomena; that is, reflections from airborne particles. Group members attempted to validate this assumption by replicating orbs in photographs using materials prepared by the group. Read more

Reevaluating Orbs

Courtesy of Rosemary Ellen Guilley

Mention orbs and most paranormal investigators shudder. Some even consider orbs the bane of ghost hunting, a natural photographic effect mistaken by the over-eager as evidence of a spirit presence. Most orbs – those fuzzy, round, luminous dots floating in digital photographs – are judged to be not spirits. Or are they? Maybe our cameras are capturing some unknown life force after all. Perhaps it is time to reevaluate the orb. Read more

Poltergeists

By: Noah Ankney

Pol-ter-geist, translated from German, means noisy ghost. Poltergeists are usually mischievous and malevolent manifestations making its presence known by making loud noises, moving objects, and assaulting both people and animals. A poltergeist, which has been around since ancient times, has long been associated with the devil, demons, witches, and everything evil. Read more

Why Your Thoughts Create Reality - Thought, Energy, and Matter

Original Article: What It Think About

One general theme emerges if you spend enough time looking for the meaning of life and looking through personal development literature – your thoughts create your reality. Before you click the back button on your browser and dismiss this as a bunch of mumbo jumbo, this actually can have a lot of scientific basis in reality! You’re probably skeptical, and I don’t blame you. After all, thinking about a thing doesn’t make it happen, right? Imagining a million dollars isn’t going to get you a million dollars, right? Thinking about getting your orange peeled certainly doesn’t seem to make it peel itself… It probably seems unrealistic to anyone with an ounce of common sense! Read more

Thoughtforms and the Paranormal

By: Thelma Ankney

Lately I’ve been really fascinated by the idea that our thoughts may affect our reality. Some could say there’s “proof” of that when a huge group of people focus on one cause & send out “healing waves” or “prayers” which end up turning around the situation for the better. Is that the work of a powerful deity answering prayers or could all that focused, positive energy have changed the situation? Can our thoughts be powerful enough to manipulate our reality? If humans are made up of energy, can that energy affect other people or surroundings? Einstein said that “energy can never be destroyed”, if we’re said to be made up of energy, is that what stays behind when we die? Read more

Hypnogogic/Hypnopompic Hallucinations

By: Noah Ankney

Imagine lying there alone in your bed. Your mind is finally calming down after a hectic day at work and all you can think about is sleep. You start to drift off when all a sudden you hear a door slam. You pick your head up and look around. You see nothing. You grab whatever you can to protect yourself and venture to find whatever may be intruding. Read more

Infrasound and the Paranormal

Courtesy of PSIRO

Original Article: Para.Science

Infrasound Effects on the Body

Infrasound is sound that is lower in frequency than 20 Hz (Hertz) or cycles per second, the “normal” limit of human hearing (Leventhall, Pelmear & Benton, 2003 ). While human hearing may not necessarily pick up the sound through hearing, many times the body can detect and feel the effects of lower level sound, through vibrations, sensations of fear or other emotions, and even visual hallucinations which can be an explanation for paranormal type experiences. Read more

Photography and the Paranormal 101: The Basics

Courtesy of Topher Young (PSIRO)

When it comes to paranormal based evidence, it is far too common to see photographs depicting user error and settings that are the cause for what is believed to be unexplained phenomena. The fact of the matter is most of those photos are explainable and are caused by a lack of understanding and knowledge about the equipment that is being used. I am going to be offering a series of articles that will hopefully educate the paranormal community about their equipment, why they are getting the anomalies they are, and how to avoid those false positives in their photographs. First let’s start with the basics. Read more

Photography and the Paranormal 101: Identifying False Positives Part 1

Orbs

Courtesy of Topher Young (PSIRO)

In the last article, we touched briefly on some of the false positives that can come from misuse of the camera and its settings. This article we are going to focus more heavily on the false positives, explaining in fuller detail how they are caused, what to look for, and how to avoid them. By understanding the many causes of misinterpreted photographs, we can hopefully increase the level of research that is being conducted while simultaneously decreasing and hopefully eliminating the false information due to a variety of reasons. Read more

Photography and the Paranormal 101: Identifying False Positives Part 2

Light Trails & Rods

Courtesy of Topher Young (PSIRO)

This article is long overdue. I guess the saying “better late than never” really applies in this situation. In this article we are going to tackle a few different false positives that are captured during paranormal investigations. Some are common, others are not so common, but they are all explainable by rational and natural means. As we dig deeper into the false positives, we will dispel the notions that many of these anomalies are anything but paranormal in nature and help those of you in your field research to conduct your investigations with more control and to account for these variables as well. Read more

Photography and the Paranormal 101: Identifying False Positives Part 3

Vortexes

Courtesy of Topher Young (PSIRO)

After a long time away from writing these articles, I am back and will discuss common false positives mistaken for “vortexes”. So what is a vortex? In the lower levels of the paranormal research field, it is believed that is a portal to paranormal phenomena or a gate where paranormal activity flows in and out. Currently, there is no evidence that has suggested this to ever be true, unless of course you count the thousands of mistaken photos of common false positives. To help understand vortexes, here are a few common vortex photos that I will then explain as nothing more than a false positive. Read more

Shadow People: They May Not Be What You Think

Courtesy of Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Flitting dark forms in haunted locations.  Tall sinister figures that stand by the bed at night and watch us.  Black silhouettes that peek around doorways and wall corners.  They’re all called Shadow People.  Our usual gut reaction to them: Fear.  Panic.  Terror. Read more

The Djinn

Courtesy of Rosemary Ellen Guiley

A Short Course on the Djinn

*Adapted from The Vengeful Djinn by Rosemary Ellen Guiley and Philip J. Imbrogno, Llewellyn, 2011, with additional material from The Encyclopedia of Demons & Demonology by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Facts On File, 2009

In Arabian lore, Djinn are a race of supernaturally empowered beings who have the ability to intervene in the affairs of people. Like the Greek daimones, Djinn are self-propagating and can be either good or evil. They can be conjured in magical rites to perform various tasks and services. A Djinni (singular) appears as a wish-granting “genie” in folk tales such as in the Book of 1001 Nights collection. Read more

The Many Faces Of Mary

Contributed By: Mariela D’Amico

It’s a hot summer night, the moon is shining brightly above the open field, as two young lovers meet. They make love by a large rock making promises to each other they would soon be together. Laying in each other’s arms staring up at the moon the lovers do not realize that there is someone watching them from the field. In the darkness he watches the couple, the rage of jealousy surging through his body as a plan forms in his mind. He wanted Mary for himself and he would have her, he watched her closely for a while always following her to the field and watching as she met up with her lover. Read more

The Mystery Of Esther Cox

Contributed By: Mariela D’Amico

Esther Cox grew up in Canada Nova Scotia, her mother died 3 weeks after she was born, her father married twice more and moved away with his third wife leaving Esther to be raised by her grandmother. Once her grandmother passed away she went to live in a small house with her eldest sister and husband, his brother, their children and two of her other siblings. Esther was always told she was an old soul; she would stay at home with her eldest sister, Olive and helped around the house. She would cook, clean and help take care of Olive’s 2 young sons. Read more

Popper The Poltergeist

Courtesy of Troy Taylor

Original article Prairie Ghost

In 1958, a series of ghostly events that were occurring on Long Island, New York transfixed television viewers and readers all over the country. A house belonging to a family named Herrmann was being beset by strange and inexplicable incidents that were attributed to a ghost who was dubbed “Popper” (for reasons that will soon become obvious). But what was really happening in the house? An unseen force from beyond, or something else? Read more

From Fraud; Spiritualism Is Born

Contributed By: Mariela D’Amico

In our lives we meet special people and form incredible friendships and bonds, but there is no greater bond then that of a sibling. Siblings share your memories, your sorrows, your laughter and any experiences. As the years go on your love for one another is greater than anything. So it is no surprise to hear about the incredible bond that brought the Fox sisters together. Born in Haydesville New York, Kate and Maggie were the youngest of seven children born to John and Margaret Fox. The girls loved to play together in their farmhouse and play jokes. Little did they know that their joke would be taken so seriously and bring them so far in the world of spiritualism let alone create it. Read more

Guideline to presenting evidence of the paranormal

Courtesy of Nick Ferra

Virginia Paranormal Society

This is an inside look at presenting your paranormal evidence to the public and your clients. As you read this you will find out why this was written and why it’s time investigators should really start documenting their investigations instead of just walking around blindly in the dark asking questions to the air. This could really help you, the investigator, debunk your own possible paranormal evidence before posting it to the public and could help bring credibility to yourself and your team. This may not be the final word on presenting what you believe to be paranormal evidence but I really believe that this is a start and a step in the right direction. Read more

Lights, Camera, Action! - Famous Hollywood Haunts

Courtesy of Mariela D’Amico

When we think of Urban legends we tend to think of scary stories told about our home towns, stories of events that happened years ago. You hear them  from your friends at school, maybe a sleepover, at camp and even from our parents to try to keep us away from scary places. Your friends even go as far as saying it really happened to a friend of a friends cousin and so on. There are urban legends in every town in every country all over the world. There are books written about them and even movies that bring these stories to life. Read more

Significance of Weather Patterns

By: LIPRI

Many paranormal researchers monitor the weather, moon phases, and the geomagnetic field as they theorize that certain weather patterns, moon phases, and solar activity increases paranormal activity.  As this is ongoing research, this theory definitely plays into the hands of the average researcher…but why? Read more

The Scientific Method

Original Article: Go Beyond Now

Part 1:  Science vs. Pseudoscience
Part 2 : The Scientific Method

Science vs. Pseudoscience:

This table of comparisons between Science and Pseudoscience was adapted from text by Kendrick Frazier in the Introduction to his book, Paranormal Borderlands of Science (Prometheus Books, 1981) Read more