It’s still a puzzle, as yet unanswered.

Recently, while reading an article about haunting's in peoples homes, I was reminded of a case I investigated over a two years period. In a mid terrace house in the town of Kettering, Northamptonshire, I came across what I can only describe as the most baffling array of paranormal activity I have ever witnessed. The owners of the house were middle aged, hard working, and as honest as they come. When I first met them it was clear they were suffering horrendous problems. They had been sleeping downstairs in the living room for over eighteen months for fear of nightly attacks in their bedroom from an unseen assailant. No, this is not a nightmare on Elm Street, this is real. The attacks were mainly aimed at the male and extremely violent. His legs were covered in bruises and scratches inflicted as soon as he fell asleep. Their bed would lift and be carried across the room, the female would be woken by having her hair pulled violently. Seeking the relative safety of the downstairs rooms the couple were just about holding on to their sanity. During my first interview with them footsteps were heard running about upstairs and bedroom doors could be heard slamming shut, but on investigation the upper rooms were found to be empty. Downstairs our hair was being pulled and odd sounds were coming from the kitchen, it was like being in a haunted theme park. Over the entire investigation we photographed, videoed, and made sound recordings that would leave even the most seasoned investigators stunned. I threw everything I could into the investigations, from spiritualists to psychologists, mediums to faith healers, nothing worked. Then we noticed a pattern emerging. The more people around the less activity there was, so we took just three people on an investigation and it worked, the activity grew stronger. This baffled me at first, I thought the opposite would be the case, the more energy in the house the more activity. It then became apparent that it was the specific people who made up the small group that caused the most activity. Then a theory came to mind, could the activity be telekinetic. This theory was strengthened when family history came to light concerning the couples childhood. Even though unrelated, as children they showed uncanny similarities. He played with toys that moved by themselves. She saw objects move in the house. Both were told by their parents these were ghosts that visited them. After marrying the couple lived in several houses over the years and each one became haunted The theory of Telekinesis seemed to fit but I was still uncomfortable with certain elements of the case. Photos of apparitions, full sentences recorded from unseen people joining in on our conversations, how could this be? Is it possible for someone to imprint thoughts onto a digital or tape recorder? Can you transfer images from the mind into a digital camera? We think we know so much, and yet we know so very little. Maybe you have your own theories on this case. Whatever the outcome I will still go over to see the couple who have now become good friends. Somehow the activity is less of a fear for them now. The violence has stopped and the activity that remains seems to spur the couple on to study the phenomena. It’s still a puzzle, as yet unanswered.  

　Adrian Perkins.

Just when you thought you knew people.

A fundamental part of investigating reports of paranormal activity is interviewing an eyewitness. I have interviewed hundreds of people over the years who have had paranormal tales to tell. Some would be outspoken with their own theories to what lay behind the story being told. Others would need gentle encouragement to give the complete story, shying away from detailed facts that would often include themselves. Those are the two main personality traits that you will come across, but are you being told the truth? Time has a knack of changing details in someone's memory. Elaboration sets in and we are told an imaginatively enhanced story's that, at their core hold some truth, but you need to clear away the frills to get to it. Try to get to the eye witness sooner rather than later. Even after a few months the memory fades and details are lost. They may even be put under pressure by friends and family not to speak about their experience. After interviewing for a few years you become skilled in reading people extremely quickly. Reading people, not judging them, there is a big difference in the two. I try really hard not to judge people but it can be hard not to. When reading people look at the person’s expression, their reaction, are they open to your questions or do they seem overly guarded in their responses. Do they seem uncomfortable, or too relaxed?  All these things point you in a certain direction and your questions can be tailored to suit the person sitting in front of you. Psychology plays a big part in investigating and evaluating the information presented to you. Take your time, even if this means two or three visits. Get to know a little about the person you are talking to. Even now I still get caught out. It usually happens when the person you are interviewing has a deep seated belief that you are unaware of at the time. You can ask some searching questions to try to ascertain their beliefs, but there are some things people will not reveal. Deep rooted racism, religious extremism, mental illness kept in check by powerful drugs. I once interviewed a dear sweet little old lady who offered me buttered scones and hot sweet tea. I saw this lady turn into a seething explosion of hatred vented against a minority group in this country, then just as quickly she changed back and offered me another scone. Just when you thought you knew people! Here are some tips that may help you when interviewing people. Never take anything at face value so record every interview and play it back several times, as you analyse it you will be surprised at what you can learn. Sometimes it is the most mundane story that turns out to be the most interesting. Last but not least, be prepared for the unexpected. I still get a buzz when interviewing people. I hope I always will.

Adrian Perkins.   

Timeless belief

For many people the word paranormal means just one thing, ghosts. The word “paranormal” covers a multitude of subjects, many of which have been used to explain ghostly phenomena. Telekinesis, the power of mind over matter. Psychometry the ability of a person to sense or "read" the history of an object by touching it. E.S.P. The list goes on and on. But where do these paranormal beliefs come from. For the answer to this we need to step back in time and look at the beliefs of our ancestors. The Druids held belief in the power of the natural earth and used peoples superstition to assert their power. When the Roman invaders came they did their best to do away with the Celtic culture and replaced it with their own form of rule by suppression. But not all the Celtic rituals died out, some, like Halloween, has origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. The ancient Celts believed that on October 31st, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the living and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires and the ritual burning of livestock. Now mix that with Roman festivals and Samhain was assimilated to the day of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and gardens who was celebrated around 1st of November, the time of the apple harvest. Bobbing for apples ring a bell? Then Christianity overcame the “Dark Ages”, and Samhain-Pomona Day survived this second “invasion”, again by being assimilated. Christian churches used to solemnize or assign special days for the formal commemoration of their chosen martyrs and saints. November 1st officially became All Hallows’ (literally,“all the holy ones”) or All Saints’ in 835. We don’t get rid of old beliefs, we simply use and mix them together to suit what the modern society feels is right at the time It is from these ancient beliefs, rituals and superstitions that we get our fear of the unknown. If you think we are far to modern these days to believe in such things just ask someone to break a mirror, walk under a ladder or walk through a forest at night. We are not so far removed from our ancestors as we would like to believe. When trying to explore the world of paranormal phenomena it is imperative to remember that people are afraid and suspicious of things they do not understand. I have no religious or mystic belief and feel it would hinder me in trying to reach an unbiased opinion about cases I investigate. Just focus on the job at hand. It also helps to work with people who specialise within a given field. Psychologist, parapsychologists, historians and archaeologists all bring knowledge to a case without having their thoughts clouded. Such investigations are thorough and accurate, but very rarely believed by paranormal enthusiasts. It seems they want every case to be genuine and they enjoy the exhilaration that comes from being afraid. The fact is very few cases are what I would call genuine. Many are people fearing something that they have no understanding of, or they have been put into a situation that triggers their imagination. Don’t misunderstand me. I have seen and experienced things that have shocked me and caused me to question my own senses. I do believe there is a power within all of us that we do not understand or know how to use, yet. If you have an interest in the paranormal, study intensely, explore inquisitively, but above all, have total honesty .

Adrian