 It’s been three weeks since our return from Gettysburg and it seems we can talk of nothing else. If I had the time and money I would hop a plane and head back tonight. Gettysburg was an eye opener for me on so many levels. I grew up in a family that loved history. My grandmother was full of stories and you can blame her for my love of all things historical. So it was only natural that Gettysburg’s triple whammy of natural beauty, rich history, and paranormal activity, second to none, would have me reluctant to leave. I want to go back so bad I can hardly stand it.
So here I sit staring out into the dreary dust covered sage brush wondering why I had to come back at all. Oh yeah, real life. But they can’t take my dreams right? We started our little paranormal team almost two years ago and here in Central Oregon have struggled to find our place in the paranormal world. The spirits have forsaken the desert for greener haunts. Who can blame them? These days, it’s all I can think about! We have found a few lonely ghosts to talk to us now and again but by and large the high chaparral is a quiet place when it comes to the “other side.”
We left Gettysburg with enough evidence to convince an army of skeptics of at least the possibility that there is life beyond that which exists in the flesh as we know it. I was one of those skeptics. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t a non-believer, I just wasn’t sure what I believed. I had been told my whole life that any spirit I came into contact with was demonic and that humans didn’t have souls and when they died, they died, that was it. The concept that the world was filled with spirits of dead humans haunting houses and graveyards whether as intelligent entities or residual energies was something very foreign to me. Now it’s a concept I can understand, one I can embrace. And now strangely, death is something that is not to be feared as much as it used to be.
I look for answers, not in the traditional sense, but in the way one reaches over in the middle of the night to see if their significant other is still there. Just knowing something awaits us on the other side gives us enough strength to deal with the grief of losing loved ones and with our own mortality. In a world where nothing is guaranteed it’s good to know that this life is not all there is. That’s why I investigate the Paranormal.
I am still a skeptic. I don’t care much for orbs. I have a hard time with faces in windows if you can’t see them clearly, and for crying out loud, if you have to circle the apparition and draw an arrow pointing to the circle and it still can’t be made out it’s probably not there! Let it go. I like evidence that’s clear and undeniable. But then again, who doesn’t?
I love what I am doing now, the things I am learning, and the new journeys I am taking. I am looking forward to the next few years and where they will take me. I am glad I have my wife to take this journey with me as I can’t picture me on this road without her.
 As a paranormal investigator, I find I spend more time reading about the subject than actually investigating. My absolute favorite bookstore is on Burnside in Portland, Oregon. Powell’s City of Books covers an entire city block and is three stories high. One of my favorite smells in the world was discovered when I entered Powell’s for the first time and experienced the utopian combination of books and espresso. Ambrosia for an introvert!
Roy and I hit Powell’s when we got back from Gettysburg and spent over a hundred dollars in making sure we had plenty of reading material for the winter. One of the books I picked up was “Sex and the Paranormal” by Paul Deane. I just finished reading it and must say it was very different from what I had expected.
I felt so scandalous buying the book I actually watched the expression on the face of the cashier to see if she batted an eye over such an edgy book purchased by a middle age couple. I was disappointed when the woman with the plethora of tattoos and piercings didn’t seem to care. *sigh* That means I am still the hopelessly naïve ex-Christian who believes I am far more scandalous than anyone else. Oh well...onward and upward.
The book begins with a recounting of legends in every corner of the world involving ghost rape, demon lovers, and succubi/incubi. The author quickly disproves the majority of these claims by pointing out that when somebody feels like they are being held down and paralyzed by some sex-starved entity, it is actually the natural paralyzing hormone the body produces to prevent us from acting out our dreams. Sometimes the paralysis lasts longer than it should. What about those people who swear they see an entity in their room? Again, the dream state prolongs past wakefulness and hallucinations are the result. There has never been any physical evidence of an actual sexual attack found upon anyone who claims to be the victim of one.
The book then goes on to speak of some of the history of phallic worship, sex, witchcraft, and satanic ritual abuse. Anybody who grew up during the 80’s will remember horror stories of satanic ritual abuse. Around my hometown, every cave for a hundred miles had satanic rituals in it. It is interesting to note, however, that there is less evidence for actual satanic ritual abuse than for ghost rape. Many cases were brought to the limelight based upon false memories created during hypnosis sessions. People are extremely susceptible under hypnosis, and many of the therapists would ask leading questions thereby implanting memories of things that didn’t occur. Entire communities became convinced of Satanists operating in their midst thanks to a book published in 1980 called, “Michelle Remembers.” According to the author, many cases of multiple personality disorders are diagnosed in much the same way.
Alien abduction has a similar history. Some people who awake with sleep paralysis, rather that believing they are being raped by a demon, choose to believe it is aliens (especially since the 1950’s). The few who have vivid memories of alien abduction and anal probes on board intricate space ships have been programmed by hypnotherapists that plant those ideas upon impressionable minds. There has never been any evidence of actual alien abduction, nor any witnesses. One statistic said more than a million Americans are abducted by aliens every year. If that is so, why has no one ever seen anyone getting beamed up?
As to phallic worship, I grew up in a religion that mocked other religions for their phallic worship. I learned the steeples on churches are in fact huge, pointy penises. The Old Testament is rife with references to sacred poles and pillars which were supposed to represent the male and female reproductive organs. Such worship was detestable to Jehovah’s true worshippers.
Therefore, the following paragraph brought me immense joy:
"Yahweh, the god of the Hebrews, was himself a phallic deity, the rite of circumcision in itself indicating his real nature. In Exodus we read how Zipporah cast at the feet of the angry Yahweh the bloody foreskin of her son as a form of appeasement. Like Baal-Peor, Yahweh was referred to as 'the opener', thus: "And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb." The frequency with which Yahweh was represented in the form of a bull, and commonly referred to as the 'Bull of Israel' is another indication of his phallic origin. Phallic symbolism is rife in the first books of the Old Testament; barely a chapter passes without coded references to people worshiping pillars or columns which, in the context of the descriptions given, clearly represent phallic objects....There are even signs of what is known as the 'phallic oath' whereby anybody making a promise or oath would place their hand upon their own penis or even that of a second party. This was a common practice that is still reflected in some superstitions and customs today, and in its time was the equivalent of raising your right hand or swearing on the Bible...the word thigh has been substituted for the word penis in some translations." (59)
I have always wondered about the whole circumcision thing, especially that situation with Zipporah and her son. Now it all makes perfect sense. No wonder the religion of my youth was so patriarchal. It’s all about the Master member!
I strongly recommend “Sex and the Paranormal” by Paul Deane as a nice dose of objectivity in a world more obsessed with legend and sensationalism than evidence and clear thinking. And for you penis lovers out there--the section on penis snatching should have you crossing your legs like a debutante at a dive bar.
Thank you for visiting our website and blog! We are new to the paranormal world, but have become avid enthusiasts! It has only been two years since we started watching paranormal shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters. We were still, officially, members of a very conservative, authoritarian religion that would have found such an interest abominable. Our religion did not believe in an immortal soul, so any spirit activity was considered demonic and therefore harmful. Psychics, ouija boards, tarot, astrology, seances, etc. were all taboo to the members of this church under threat of expulsion if dabbled in.
Our faith had been waning for a few years and the pull of the paranormal was so intense we couldn't resist. We spent a year, after leaving our faith, just watching paranormal shows and taking in the evidence and techniques. Part way into this first year, I began studying witchcraft after feeling a lifelong pull to the occult.
Our first investigation was at an old, forgotten, pioneer cemetery nearby (see Gray Butte Cemetery on Investigation page). I had learned in my studies of the Craft, that the veil between the spirit world and ours is thinnest during Samhain (Halloween), considered New Years Eve to the Witch. So we decided to do our first investigation on the full moon preceding Halloween. Nothing interesting seemed to happen. In fact, the graveyard seemed positively peaceful! We did collect some lone orbs, but weren't too impressed by them.
On Halloween night, we went back out there. This time, I donned my ceremonial robe and did a summoning ritual in the graveyard. Again, we didn't notice anything at the time, but I brought something home with me.
The next day, I awoke in a dark mood. As the day progressed, my mood continued to darken. I even called and bowed out of a tarot class I had been taking for some weeks. I was miserable, unhappy, and life felt hopeless. In talking with some more experienced witches on Facebook, I realized I had made one fatal mistake--I had opened a door with my ritual and neglected to close it. Something had attached to me and followed me home!
I immediately set about burning sage and cleansing my home, then I went outside and thanked whatever spirit had followed me home, acknowledging that I had initiated contact. Then I firmly informed the spirit he (it just felt like a he) needed to return to his place as his presence was not wanted around me or my home.
I felt an immediate lightening of mood. I took a hot bath and meditated--there was no darkness left.
Since that time, I make it a practice to cleanse before I leave a location. I thank the spirits for allowing me to visit them, but I command them to stay in their place as they are not welcome in mine. I find firmness is really the best policy as I have come to believe they can detect weakness or fear in the same way as most animals can.
So, that is how it all began almost a year ago. We were bit by the bug of investigation that night and are in love with the challenge of the hunt! The great thing about paranormal investigation is that the hunt doesn't end when we leave the site. It continues as we review the evidence for possible EVP's or moving orbs.
Thanks again for following us on our journey! Please feel free to comment on our observations and evidence.
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