Monthly Archives: April 2012
In honor of our open house today, where NO ONE showed up, even after making the house look museum quality, lighting all the candles, and the dog and I vacating for two hours to erase any hints of his existence (so sad), I got to thinking about haunted real estate as a blog topic today. My home is definitely not haunted, but would it draw more interest around here if it were? Or… would people avoid it like the plague?
[BREAKING NEWS: An hour and a half later, while writing this post, we had to halt life and completely vacate again… moving dog things (and myself) down to the basement because someone wanted to show it while we were here.]
As a seller, should you disclose the details of haunted or “stigmatized” real estate?
I found a really cool blog by a real estate agent from Silicon Valley… http://hauntedrealestateblog.com/. Mary Pope-Handy, the writer of the blog, says that “A stigma can be caused by a murder or other crime, usually violent – it does not have to result in death for a stigma to be attached to the property. The presence or suspected presence of a ghost would cause a stigma, but so would the a murder, rape, or other highly negative event.”
I’m not able to find a master list of states that require you to disclose the haunted history of a home, however, Mary Pope-Handy has compiled information about the laws and disclosure for Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusettes, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, It seems as though it is different for every state.
According to Susan Funaro in article from legalzoom.com, “Sellers should disclose grisly facts about the house, so they will not be “haunted” later. Even if not required by state law, in order to soothe prospective buyers and avoid lawsuits, sellers should be upfront about their home’s paranormal guests or ghoulish histories.”
Is there a market for haunted real estate?
And more importantly… would it add to home value? Apparently it depends on what you’ll use the property for. Bed & Breakfasts often attract guests because of their suspected ghosts. I’m willing to bet that there are quite a few B&Bs out there with manufactured ghosts for this reason. I’ve always wanted to have an old Victorian haunted home though, for a B&B or something similar… especially after reading House of Spirits and Whispers, by Annie Wilder.
There is definitely more information about NOT getting stuck with a haunted home… or even how to UNLOAD your haunted home.
Anyone have experience with buying or selling a haunted home? It’s an interesting new topic for me.
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2 Comments | tags: annie wilder, big seance, disclosing a haunted real estate, disclosing stigmatized real estate, ghost, ghosts, haunted B&B, haunted bed and breakfasts, haunted homes, haunted house, haunted real estate, house of spirits and whispers, missouri spirit seekers, mo spirit seekers, mospiritseekers, moss, paranormal, real-estate, seance, spirit, spirits, stigmatized property, stigmatized real estate, will ghosts add value to a home | posted in Ghosts in General, Haunted Spots, Other Paranormal Topics
First of all, I’ve gained quite a few readers and a few new followers this week. Thank you for checking out my blog and joining in The Big Séance!
The Next Journey
I’ve really enjoyed all of my EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) research and chronicling it through the blog. I hope you don’t get the impression that I’m closing up shop on EVP. My journey of reaching out and listening for spirit voices will definitely continue. I mean come on, I’ve got hours and hours of investigation audio from last weekend to go through still. I’ve also got ONE sleep recording that I’ve gradually been listening to for several weeks now and who knows how long it’ll take to finish that one. And, lately I’ve continued to conduct a general EVP session here at home every couple of days. It is one of these sessions where I captured my latest EVP that I shared with you a few days ago. Once you capture spirit voices communicating, you’re hooked for good. Plus, with all of the knocking during recordings lately, I’m still trying to figure out if I’m supposed to be a knock whisperer or something.
But… I’ve always been very interested in a form of spirit communication known as the “séance”, which means “to sit” in French (I happen to be a fan of sitting). And since it is in the name of this blog I guess it shouldn’t be a big surprise to you. But aside from other forms of spirit communication which are actually very similar, such as EVP research and paranormal investigation, I’ve actually never participated in one. I’ve brought it up a few times recently, and a few readers have expressed interest in starting a regular séance or “spirit circle” group also. I’m seriously considering getting something started soon and documenting the experience through the blog.
I’ve read a ton on the topic of spirit communication, séance, channeling, etc., and recently I described to you the atmosphere of a séance and how I see it in my brain. I think I would get more out of it if my séance looked and felt like it would have in the early days of spiritualism. It just seems more fun to me. But really, I want this to be about learning and experiencing.
I know that I have readers from many backgrounds as well as some incredibly spiritual people with many talents checking out the blog, so here’s what I’d like to know from you…
- What does a séance look like to you?
- Tell me about the atmosphere…
- Is having a medium a requirement? (I love my medium friends)
- What should its purpose be?
- How often should a group meet?
- Where should it be held?
- Some traditional views of the séance involve only a particular kind of “sitter” being present. Who should the participants be?
- What should the rules and routines of our séance be?
- How should it be documented?
- Some other questions: Table or no table? Is holding hands or touching fingers necessary? Is it bad to light 50 candles (because you know I want to)?
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21 Comments | tags: atmosphere of a seance, big seance, conducting a seance, electronic voice phenomena, electronic voice phenomenon, EVP, evp experiment, evp research, EVP session, ghost, ghosts, heaven, holding a seance, medium, missouri spirit seekers, mo spirit seekers, mospiritseekers, moss, my next journey, paranormal, paranormal evidence, paranormal research, purpose of a seance, rules of a seance, seance, seance experiment, spirit, spirit circle, spirit voices, spirit world, spirits, spiritual, spiritualism, the other side, what does a seance look like | posted in EVP Research, Mediums/Psychics/Sensitives/Intuition, Paranormal Evidence, Paranormal Investigation Topics, Spirit Communication, Spiritual, Spiritualism
The Liebster Blog Award!!!
I would like to sincerely thank Brandie at wheretheindigosare.wordperss.com for nominating me for this award! The blog world has been a new obsession for me this year and I’m honored to have anyone read and enjoy my random thoughts! I’ve learned some new things from Brandie that I didn’t know. Do you know what Indigo children are? Her page is so very inspiring. She also has another blog… http://brandiesellers.wordpress.com/
I also want to give a special shout out to the beautiful Yamyah and her very inspiring and spiritual blog at crystalmoons.wordpress.com. She nominated me for a few awards a while back, and since I was new to the blog world I didn’t really have 20 blogs to nominate in return. 🙂 By the way… she’s got the coolest hair I’ve ever seen. 🙂
The Liebster Blog Award Rules:
1.Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.
3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed.
5. Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.
My Nominations (in no particular order):
*Note: you’re supposed to choose people who have 200 followers or less. On these blogs I don’t see any indication of how many followers, so I may have just put a few people who I simply like (This note is from Brandie… and I concur 🙂 ).
http://paranormalogistically.wordpress.com/
http://deborahjhughes.com/
http://ahtahsanctuary.org/
http://buildingthebridge.wordpress.com/
http://newsfromthespiritworld.com/
CONGRATS to all of you!
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1 Comment | tags: ahtah sanctuary, awards, big seance, blog award, building the bridge, crystal moons, crystalmoons, deborah hughes, indigo children, inspirational, liebster, liebster blog award, missouri spirit seekers, mo spirit seekers, mospiritseekers, moss, new obsession, news from the spirit world, paranormal, paranormalogistically, random thoughts, seance, spiritual, where the indigos are, wheretheindigosare | posted in General
On April 19th I was conducting an EVP session at my desk. I had just gotten several knocking or tapping responses. I never plan on communication through rapping, but it has been happening a lot lately in my sessions. I just go with them, obviously.
Nine minutes into the session I decided I was going to play some pink noise in the background for a few minutes. In the recording below you can hear me say “Maybe that’ll help. Maybe not.” I was referring to the pink noise. Immediately you hear the voice in what seems like a whisper while I’m moving my mouse across the desk to find the file.
As usual, I was using two recorders for this session. The voice was only captured on my Sony PX-820. What do you hear? I can’t make anything out of it yet… but I hear 5 syllables.
Maybe it’ll help. Maybe not. 4/19/12
Unedited Original Audio
Audio with Noise Removal and Amplification
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8 Comments | tags: amplification, digital audio recorder, electronic voice phenomena, electronic voice phenomenon, EVP, evp recorded in a session last week, evp research, EVP session, ghost, ghost hunters, ghosts, heaven, missouri spirit seekers, mo spirit seekers, mospiritseekers, moss, noise removal, other side, paranormal, paranormal evidence, paranormal investigation, paranormal investigators, paranormal research, pink noise, rapping, sony px-820, spirit, spirit rapping, spirit voices, spirit world, spirits, spiritual, spiritualism, syllables, whisper | posted in EVP Research, Paranormal Evidence, Paranormal Investigation Topics, Spirit Communication
Last night…
…Missouri Spirit Seekers ended our abandoned farmhouse investigation abruptly when it began to rain pretty heavily. It was unexpected. Our command central and all running equipment was outside under a small canopy. It was several hours into the investigation, but unfortunately we were just beginning to experience some exciting activity. More on that to come, as it will take several weeks to analyze all evidence.
Even though we were rudely interrupted by the weather, we had a great time and gained lots of experience. The family who owns the property was very welcoming and even joined us for part of the investigation.
There is an interesting beauty to this house. It was a really cool experience to imagine what it once looked like, what went on in those rooms before birds and critters took over, what stories they could tell, and do it while listening to musical selections recorded in 1901 when the home was built. And in case you’re interested, that is when our exciting activity began. 🙂
Some photos both from a recent visit and our investigation last night…
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3 Comments | tags: 1901, abandoned farmhouse, abandoned farmhouse investigation, abandoned house, animals, electronic voice phenomena, electronic voice phenomenon, EVP, farmhouse, farmhouse investigation, ghost, ghost hunters, ghost hunting, ghosts, haunted farmhouse, missouri spirit seekers, mo spirit seekers, mospiritseekers, moss, old homes, paranormal, paranormal evidence, paranormal investigation, paranormal investigators, spirit, spirit seekers, spirit voices, spirits, spiritual | posted in Ghosts in General, Haunted Spots, Paranormal Evidence, Paranormal Investigation Topics
If I were a farmhouse built in 1901, owned by the same family, with a heyday that lasted until the early 1980s, what music would have been played inside my rooms? Can we assume it would be the genre of country? Maybe. Maybe not. What we know as country music didn’t exist yet in 1901. When would my occupants have first used a radio? Was there a record player? Did my occupants sing or play music themselves?
I’m doing some research for our upcoming investigation. I’m considering using some music as a trigger. If I were to play two or three recordings, what would they be? Will energies in the house want to hear Bessie Smith? Or… maybe I’m way off? Maybe it prefers to rock out to White Snake? 🙂
What would tug on the heart strings of anyone still occupying the home?
What about these? Take a listen.
Any Old Place I Hang My Hat is Home, Sweet Home To Me (1901 by Will Denny)
Good-bye Dolly Gray (1901 by Harry Macdonough)
When You Were Sweet Sixteen (1901 by Harry Macdonough)
Some of These Days (1911 by Sophie Tucker)
Swanee (1920 by Al Jolson)
When You’re Smiling (1929 by Louis Armstrong)
Back In the Saddle Again (1939 by Gene Autry)
Buttons and Bows (1949 by Dinah Shore)
Jailhouse Rock (1957 by Elvis Presley)
Help me out. What would you suggest?
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3 Comments | tags: abandoned farmhouse, al jolson, all jolson, any old place i hang my hat is home sweet home to me, back in the saddle again, big seance, buttons and bows, dinah shore, electronic voice phenomena, electronic voice phenomenon, elvis presley, energies in a home, EVP, farmhouse, gene autry, ghost, ghost hunters, ghosts, good-bye dolly gray, harry macdonough, haunted music, jailhouse rock, louis armstrong, missouri spirit seekers, mo spirit seekers, mospiritseekers, moss, music, music appreciation, music for ghosts, paranormal, paranormal investigation, paranormal investigators, paranormal music appreciation, seance, some of these days, sophie tucker, spirit, spirit voices, spirits, spirits in a home, swanee, trigger object, when you were sweet sixteen, when you're smiling | posted in General, Ghosts in General, Haunted Spots, Other Paranormal Topics, Paranormal Evidence, Paranormal Investigation Topics, Spirit Communication
A still from the new film Black Eyed Kids.
Who’s at the door?
So, the doorbell rings, interrupting Dancing With the Stars, and you rush to answer, hoping you can deal with whoever it is quickly. You find a child on your doorstep. Not just any child though, there is something about this child that just doesn’t seem right… and… he has pure black eyes. No, he wasn’t in a fight… his eyeballs are entirely black. This boy may be innocent looking, but maybe not. He speaks in monotone and asks to come inside your house. Maybe he needs help. You can feel the hair-raising on the back of your neck.
Maybe you’re not at home. Maybe you’re getting into your car to head home from work. In your rear view mirror you see two pairs of black eyes staring back at you. You scream, jump out of the car, and shut the door… only the mysterious children have disappeared into thin air. Do you get back in the car and drive home? And what happens if you take the kids home or let them in your house? What then? Will I turn into a fat black eyed man?
They’re called “black eyed kids” and the topic is popping up more and more frequently in paranormal circles. While researching this topic tonight I discovered there is even a film, Black Eyed Kids, being produced in Canada.
Urban Legend?
Is it an urban legend that began around the turn of the current century? Are they aliens? Really cool contacts from Claires? Is it all just a really large hoax? Many don’t think so. I have to say, even though I force myself to stay open to possibilities in the paranormal, this is one that I struggle to take seriously. I come across the stories and giggle, but I never spend too much of my energy thinking about the topic. I teach tons of children, some strange, some just as nerdy as me, and some even sing in monotone, but I’ve never run away from them screaming (I’ve come close though) and none of them have pure black eyes. Purple or green hair, maybe. But many people don’t believe in ghosts until they seem them, either.
There is a new book by David Weatherly, who is keeping up with this phenomenon.
You can also hear David’s recent interview with Jim Harold on The Paranormal Podcast.
So… Do you take this one seriously? Have you run into a black eyed kid?
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10 Comments | tags: aliens, big seance, black eyed children, black eyed kids, black eyed kids hoax, black eyed man, car and drive, david weatherly, doorbell rings, ghost, ghosts, hoaxes, missouri spirit seekers, mo spirit seekers, mospiritseekers, moss, mysterious children, paranormal, paranormal investigators, rear view mirror, seance, spirit, spirits, urban legends | posted in Book Discussions, Movie Discussions, Other Paranormal Topics
