What Are Ghosts?

What are ghosts, baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more...

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I fell victim to the catchy tune the moment I typed the words with my fingertips. Anyways, today I want to talk about a subject that I find rather interesting, ghosts. What are they? Why do some people see them? Are they even real in the first place? Depending how far you've dabbled into the world of the paranormal and different theories to support these happenings; you may not be aware that there are a plethora of hypotheses as to why things go bump in the night. With that let's get started shall we?

http://weknowyourdreams.com/ghost.html

Theory #1- Ghosts=dead people.

I think it's safe to say that this is the most commonly held belief on ghosts by those who accept their existence. Many people claim to have encounters with friends or relatives who have passed on to life's... or rather, death's next great adventure. Maybe this is one way we cope after loosing a loved one. However, many people have run-ins with apparitions of people they've never known at all. Some people subscribe to the idea presented by the Law of Conservation of Energy. This law states that energy is neither created or destroyed but rather, changing in form throughout time. Perhaps this theory helps explain that shadow figure you saw lurking around your home the other night.

Theory #2- The stone tape theory.

I find the stone tape theory to be absolutely fascinating. The theory was introduced in the 1970s, stating that inanimate materials can absorb energy form the living. The stone tape theory was presented as a possible explanation for paranormal events and it sure seems plausible. Following this line of thought, the energy that is stored is then later released resulting in something you might see in an episode of the X-Files. The energy that is released can be anything from laughter, footsteps, or even a full body manifestation. Even more interesting is the thought that the energy might be composed by natural electric and magnetic fields. I really like this theory and I think it definitely makes sense in some instances. Maybe this explains why certain locations are haunted,  but I'm not too sure it can explain more severe encounters with a spirit.

http://yadbw.com/funny-ghost-pictures-images.html

Theory #3- Ghosts come from another dimension.

This is the part where I ask you to open your mind to the realm of possibility. Many modern scientists and physicists acknowledge the idea of a multiverse. There are even projects such as CERN that are working to prove it's existence. The thought is this, we aren't the only universe out there, in fact there are many universes aside from the one we know and love. Each universe exists side-by-side, parallel to our own. Imagine a universe where Kylo Ren never killed Han Solo. Or perhaps a universe where Oprah is your neighbor and you're filthy rich. The dimensions have different realities and different timelines from our own. So, what does this have to do with ghosts? Well, I'm happy you asked. Could it be that what we believe to be ghosts are actually inter-dimensional beings crossing over from their home to ours? Many who believe in the paranormal speak of a veil between our world and the spirit world, maybe these beings know how to cross it and we haven't quite figured things out yet.


Theory #4- Good "ghosts" and bad "ghosts".

Some people think that ghosts are not spirits of the dead at all but rather, malevolent spirits or demons trying to trick you. After doing some further research it appears that some religions have almost a good ghost, bad ghost kind of mentality. For example, those of the Jewish faith believe in dybbuks and ibburs. A dybbuk is the ghost of a dead person who will possess someone with a malevolent purpose. Whereas an ibbur is the ghost of a deceased person who will act as a living person's spiritual guide. The ibbur will then leave the person when they are no longer needed.

I think they might be on to something... While it seems that some entities most certainly have nothing but malicious intent there also appear to be entities that bring comfort and hope to those who encounter them.

Theory #5- There's no such thing as ghosts. 

Not my personal favorite, but it would be rude to exclude it from this list. There is always the possibility that ghosts don't exist. Maybe they're creations from our own subconscious, perhaps they are illusions after a night of lack-luster sleep or maybe they are part of a collective consciousness shared across humanity.

What's my take on all of this? 

Honestly, I'm kind of leaning towards a little bit of everything (minus theory #5). From my own personal experiences and what I've learned from others it seems that no encounter is the same. So why should we put them all into a box saying there's an explanation for them all? I think each paranormal event is extremely situational. There are so many different variables that can go into one experience.

All that I know is, I want to believe! 

Hollow Earth

Greetings Fellow Fortean Lovers

    I know I haven't written in quite some time and I apologize! Life has been a busy lately and I've been neglecting my blog. Alas, today I'm feeling inspired and decided to break this nasty absence streak.
    The other day I was listening to a podcast and they were discussing the Hollow Earth Theory. I had heard ideas similar to this in the past but never gave them much thought. I still wouldn't say that I subscribe to this idea nevertheless it's still intriguing to think about!

http://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/boe/boe33.htm

    The thought of life underneath the Earth's surface isn't necessarily a new idea. Many religions outline the idea of a lifetime of everlasting torment taking place beneath the planet's crust. What makes this theory unique is the astounding curiosity of it all. Our tale begins with a former member of the military who was absolutely certain that the Earth is hollow, in fact he knew it was hollow because he had seen it himself.
    One day in pursuit of his certainty the man flew a plane to the North pole. However,  what he discovered wasn't the North pole at all, or at least not as we understand it. He described the tippy-top of our planet to be nothing like what we are taught. The landscape had no ice, in fact it was quite the opposite, green and full of life. Then disaster struck, the man's plane became out of control and he was in for a crash landing.
    Upon awakening he was greeted by two tall, blonde-haired humanoid-creatures. The foreign individuals guided him through their home, Agharta within the center of the Earth. All of the day's events were part of a bigger plan, they explained. The beings had caused his plane to crash in order to relay an important message. When he returned to the surface he had obtained new knowledge. The beings cautioned him of the dangers of nuclear warfare, warning that it would be the end human-kind.
   

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10961412/Hollow-Earth-conspiracy-theories-the-hole-truth.html

    Some people claim to have come back from near death experiences with newfound knowledge thanks to a visit inside our 'hollow earth'. Take for instance  Dallas Thompson. Thompson survived a near fatal car crash back in 2002, what he experienced while unconscious is almost stranger than fiction. As described by an article on The Telegraph, Thomas said he saw a "light so bright that it burnt my eyes." It was this same light that made him legally blind. On top of his newfound ailment Thomas also felt he returned to life on Earth with an abundance of knowledge about the world suddenly poured into him. This was the beginning of Thompson's belief that our lovely blue planet is indeed hollow.
    Thompson was the subject of an interview on Coast to Coast AM with host Art Bell. During this interview Thompson suggested a quest to seek and research the Earth's hollow core. Believe it or not Thompson was able to acquire financing in support of his own unaccompanied journey back to inner layers of our Earth's core. This adventure is said to have taken place back in 2003 via helicopter.
    Word of mouth of Thompson's adventure began to spread and he gained supporters and nay-sayers alike. Thompson continued to make radio appearances and even released his own book. All seemed to be going well until one day he decided to pull his best selling book Cosmic Manuscript. According to The Telegraph  Thompson made the following statement, "I have requested the book be discontinued even though it's still at the top of the charts in Canada." Thompson was never heard from again, just like that he disappeared.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10961412/Hollow-Earth-conspiracy-theories-the-hole-truth.html

    This is only the tip of the iceburg. There are endless theories in support of the idea of a hollow Earth with different ideas of who inhibits the space and what it looks like. For example, some like to speculate the Nessie and other dino-like creatures are happily living out there days within the Earth's core. The possibilities are endless...

http://pilerats.com/shit-weve-done/love-a-good-conspiracy-theory-hollow-earth/

    If you want to do some more reading about Thompson here's the link to the article on The Telegraph:
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10961412/Hollow-Earth-conspiracy-theories-the-hole-truth.html

Stay Curious my Friends! 

Praise for Monsters Among Us

Everyone loves a good scary story, why stop at one?

Linda Godfrey's new book Monsters Among Us explores reports of strange creature sightings across the U.S. The cast of mysterious beasts includes bipedal wolf-men, bigfoots, UFO's and other unexplained beings that go bump in the night.... and in the day for that matter.

Have you ever seen something you simply cannot explain? Perhaps an unwanted visitor in your bedroom at night? Or maybe it was an unidentifiable craft in the sky? How about a creature that didn't look quite right strolling through a cornfield? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you can take comfort in knowing that you are not alone! Godfrey has received enough reports of less-than normal phenomena such as this to fill 17 books! In Monsters Among Us Godfrey focuses on the correspondence of one strange event with another. For example, if a farmer's livestock become the victims of cattle mutilation what are the chances that the land is also a hot spot for other obscure activities?

I have been a fan of Godfrey's writing since I was a young girl. My copy of her book Weird Wisconsin has seen a lot of love in its days. Godfrey's work has inspired my fascination with everything bizarre and unknown, leading me on many exciting adventures throughout this great state of cheese! That being said, Monsters Among Us is a MUST READ for anyone with an interest in this field living in the Midwest. Godfrey does a great job including sightings from across the country however, there are loads of stories originating from the one and only Wisconsin. This is probably due to the fact that Godfrey is a Wisconsin local and after-all, Midwest is best!

A few memorable scenes from the book that I can't get out of my head are as follows... A Werewolf-type creature hiding out in a sewer, night time visitors from creatures baring similarities to ancient Egyptian god Anubis, the Lizard people of Los Angeles, a frightening Sasquatch encounter in Illinois, the infamous bi-pedal wolf-men of Wisconsin and trickster creatures who refuse to be caught on camera! This is only a tiny taste of the fascinating reports the book holds within! Remember although these tales may seem stranger than fiction they are provided by credible witnesses who often times are just as confused about what they've seen as you!

This world is still filled with mystery, the truth is out there! 

Allison Jornlin

UFO’s, cryptids and ghosts, oh my! Talking anything and everything strange with Milwaukee’s Allison Jornlin.

On a chilly December morning Jornlin chatted with aspiring journalist Jenna Buege to discuss her experience in the paranormal research field. Jornlin’s fascination with the unknown stems back to her grade school days. It was there that she recalled spending hours in the school library looking for answers. “I was always fascinated in ghosts,” said Jornlin, “I was always interested in the big questions.” Growing up Jornlin hoped to have spooky experiences of her own but nothing of note ever happened. Today, Jornlin still pursues this curiosity working as the founder of Milwaukee Ghost Tours and Investigations as well as co-hosting podcast “See you on the other side”. Her inquiries have earned her respect in the paranormal research field. Jornlin was named the 2016 Wisconsin researcher of the year at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference this past October.

Milwaukee Ghost Tours and Investigations was inspired by the odder historical happenings of brew city. “There are so many great Milwaukee stories that should be shouted from the rooftops” said Jornlin. One such story is that of John Lee from England who became known as the man who couldn’t hang. “Three times the trap door failed, after the third time they put him in prison,” said Jornlin, “50 years later he got out and guess where he moved, Milwaukee.” Jornlin told the story of Lee and many others during her panel titled Milwaukee Forteana at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference. Forteana is a term used to characterize various strange phenomena. The panel focused on all things strange such as UFO’s, cryptids, and ghosts. One man who acted as an inspiration for Jornlin’s research on Forteana was Richard Crow. Crow was the first person to bring ghost tours to the United States in 1973. Crow was also the host of a radio talk show featuring a Halloween special on haunted Chicagoland once a year. “I love the idea that history is this living thing,” said Jornlin, “it is important to remember those who have gone before you.”

For every believer in the paranormal there is also a skeptic. Individuals may prefer to stand on the side of science believing everything has an explanation. Surprisingly enough, despite her many years in the paranormal research field Jornlin still considers herself a skeptic. In a previous interview with Marc Nobleman she said the following. “I am skeptical in the truest sense of the word,” said Jornlin, “I don’t know what is out there. I just know there are anomalies that have yet to be explained and I seek answers regardless of what they may be.” Jornlin’s podcast “See you on the other side” provides her with the perfect opportunity to explore these unknowns. The podcast is a family affair, Jornlin works with her brother Mike Huberty and Wendy Lynn Staats. The podcast discusses everything from the recent phantom clown phenomena to strange road trip destinations. The “See you on the other side” crew was also in attendance at this year’s Milwaukee Paranormal conference. Milwaukee local Jake Buege attended the podcasters panel and had the following to say. “They brought a lot of enthusiasm to the Para-Con,” said Buege, “you could tell they were really passionate about the subjects that they talked about.”

For those looking to become active in the paranormal investigation scene in Milwaukee Jornlin recommends getting involved. “There are tons of groups and organizations for people to join” said Jornlin. For those who are interested in learning more but not looking to join an investigation group Jornlin runs a Facebook page called paranormalMKE. Here she shares posts about stories throughout the city. People with an interest in History might find they have a special knack for this field of research. “History is for everyone, it’s not all dry dates” said Jornlin. If one is interested in history there are many opportunities to investigate and discover what has happened in your city.

Jornlin is a fourth grade teacher by day and a paranormal investigator by night. A well-known fact by many of her students who often try to tag along on ghost hunts. However, one must maintain a balance between ghost hunting and teaching. When asked during a previous interview with Marc Nobleman if she ghost-hunts on school nights Jornlin valued sleep. “No, teachers need their sleep” said Jornlin, “Ghost hunting usually requires staying up very late, so during the school year I save it for Fridays and Saturdays.” 

The American Stonehenge

Hey Friends,

Today I want to talk about something seriously bizarre. Some things seem stranger than fiction and are cloaked in mystery. The Georgia Guidestones are certainly fall into this category. What makes the Georgia Guidestones so odd you might ask? To answer that question we need to take a look into the monument's history.

The story goes as follows. Back in the summer of 1979 a man visited the office of Elberton Granite Furnishing Company, It was here that the man requested to build a monument reflecting a message to mankind. The stranger used a fake name and informed workers that he was representing a group that wished to remain anonymous. The group had been designing plans for the monument for over 2 years. To this day no one is quite sure who this man was or with which group he was established. However, the messages on the stones are truly chilling.

thesechristiantimes.com

The Guidestones read the following:

1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
2. Guide reproduction wisely - improving fitness and diversity.
3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
4. Rule passion - faith - tradition - and all things with tempered reason.
5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
9. Prize truth - beauty - love - seeking harmony with the infinite.
10.Be not a cancer on the earth - Leave room for nature - Leave room for nature.

Now, any pure soul out there that hasn't dabbled in the world of conspiracy theories would probably read this and think "well, what the heck is that about"? Versus the rest of us who automatically have a red flag fly up as we scream "New World Order"! Whatever your thoughts might be it is undeniable that the messages on the stone are a bit unnerving. Sure, some of the ideas don't sound so bad, "leave room for nature, use tempered reason, improve fitness and diversity". Yeah, I could get used to this... but then there is rule numero uno... Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but we are far beyond this numeral topping off with a lovely population of 7,432,663,275 people to date.

rabbithole2.com

These strange messages aren't the only thing the stones have to offer. There is also a time capsule buried within the monument to be opened on an unknown date. When I discovered this I couldn't help but draw a connection to the Denver International Airport. As many know the Denver airport is shrouded in conspiracy itself.  Consisting of gruesome tales of foreshadowing in it's murals and a terrifying blue horse which residents have affectionately taken to calling "blue-cifer". Are the time capsules just a coincidence? Possibly. However, Something about this is just a little too eerie.

Another strange thing researchers will find about the Guidestones is they are in perfect planetary alignment. Say what you will about astrology but there is something mystical beyond the stars that people may never truly understand. There is a hole drilled into the center of one of the stones allowing the North Star to be visualized on any given night. 

thebibliotecapleyades.net

I am still learning about the stones myself and am unable to accurately decode all of the secret messages they portray. However, I believe the most important thing is awareness. How is it I have been a resident of the U.S. for 24 years and never even knew this structure existed until now. Why is such a morbid, fear-inspiring monument still standing while many Americans are clueless of it's presence. I encourage anyone who might be reading this to do some research of their own. You don't have to agree with everything you find out there but what you do discover might be eye-opening.