How your emotions affect your paranormal investigations

This article was found on http://www.helium.com

It was written by Jennifer Shipp

Created on: July 21, 2009 Last Updated: July 27, 2009

Paranormal activity has not been officially indoctrinated into science yet. Because studies into the paranormal have not yielded consistent, replicable results (paranormal events are, by nature, unpredictable, after all), paranormal investigation has not been given the same scientific status as physics or geology in the world of science. But, if there is ever to be any hope for paranormal investigations to gain credibility among the general public and among scientists , it is imperative that investigators put the scientific method into practice to the greatest extent possible in their investigations. As such, emotion must be quelled during paranormal investigations.

On television, paranormal investigators are primarily entertainers. Producers choose people for television shows based much on their personality and their ability to produce drama within the show's format. And ghost hunters or paranormal investigators on TV work in groups to produce interesting social dynamics that are worth tuning in to watch each week. Often, these shows can and do arguably record paranormal activities within the context of a real-life social drama. But the fact is, these television shows include an emotional element in their paranormal investigations that lead the study of the paranormal further and further away from science. The emotions that come out during paranormal investigations on TV often obscure the events themselves. And some would argue that emotional outbursts may even fuel so-called paranormal events.

Paranormal researchers are typically not willing to accept occult theories about the paranormal. Typically they are also unwilling to be constrained by the scientific method. Which, again, leaves them to work only in the realm of entertainment. A paranormal investigator who dabbles even superficially in occult lore knows that emotions can affect all sorts of unexplainable phenomena. People in primitive societies ritualistically will work themselves into different emotional states in order to achieve certain spiritual and material goals and effects. In psychology, we know that transference or the feelings that are transmitted from client to therapist can have important effects on the progress of treatment. Emotions drive social relationships of all kinds that take place right under our noses, every day, at work, at school, at home . To the extent that paranormal investigators are seeking to study paranormal events that often appear to involve a human or human-esque consciousness, it is rather daft to assume that our emotions, as investigators will not cause an important, if not dramatic, shift of events during an investigation.

As one who primarily studies folklore as it concerns the paranormal and new trends in paranormal phenomena in various communities throughout the United States , I find that the way people describe what they've heard or what they've seen or experienced or heard about other people experiencing is often strongly affected by the overall tenor of the community's acceptance of the paranormal. The way a person describes their personal opinions or experiences of the paranormal is even more strongly affected by the social dynamic that surrounds their storytelling in real time. If they are surrounded by people who are mostly against the idea of the paranormal, the storyteller will usually be very quiet and succinct as they tell their tale. In contrast, if the storyteller happens to be surrounded by one or more supporters or people who have heard similar stories or had similar experiences, the tales told will become more wild, harder to believe, and seemingly more subject to the imagination of the storyteller.

On location, investigators are subject to the same phenomenon described above. By going into a supposedly haunted location with a group of believers or people who will automatically believe the investigator if they have a personal or recordable experience, investigators are skewing their own results. Indeed, the fact of having someone support a personal experience can seriously affect the investigators own memory of the personal experience, making it difficult for the investigator to think about the event objectively at all.

And yet, there are stories, that I've found that have features that suggest that they are true stories of actual paranormal events. For example, experiencing a paranormal event that took place while a person was on location for some reason other than to investigate paranormal events, lends credibility to a tale. The mere desire for a paranormal event to occur can activate selective perception such that every sound or shadow moving seems to be a paranormal event to the one who is seeking to experience a paranormal event.

Scientists are required to create null hypotheses in their scientific experiments and seek to disprove their hypotheses. By creating a null hypothesis, the scientist is theoretically inclined to be more objective in their experimental endeavors. But paranormal investigators are not required to set out to not find paranormal activity, per se at haunted locations. Some paranormal investigators do try to debunk paranormal activities, using the null hypothesis as their starting block during investigations, but often, the null hypothesis and debunking enthusiasm will wax and wane for television ghost hunters and for ghost hunters who are unskilled in the use of scientific methods. This waxing and waning of debunking activities and enthusiasm has to do with an ebb and flow of emotion on the part of the paranormal investigator. Unfortunately, this ebb and flow and wax and wane destroys in many ways the credibility, reliability, and validity of the scientific endeavor to collect information about that which is paranormal. When emotion becomes involved in an investigation, we are no longer studying the paranormal, we are studying psychology.

And so, in summary, although it is difficult to pin down precisely the way that emotion effect paranormal investigations, it is fairly easy to say generally that is does have an impact on the results of an investigation. It would be nearly impossible to remove all emotion, as an investigator, from a paranormal investigation. Indeed, removing emotion from a paranormal investigation would require us to remove humans from paranormal investigations altogether. Rather, paranormal investigators must learn how to control emotion as a variable in paranormal investigations. They must acknowledge that emotion is a variable and seek to control it or control for it or both in order to produce the most rock solid evidence possible for scientists and for the general public to observe.

The qualities of an electromagnetic field

This article was found on http://www.helium.com

It was written by Ian Loft

Created on: September 07, 2008

In the early 1990's I worked in a power station where my job required frequent excursions into the generator room, inside control booths, behind the alternators and around the huge power bus bars carrying many hundreds of amps of electric current. I soon learned to leave my wallet in which credit cards and electronic identification cards on which magnetic strips activated various readers locked in my desk draw because proximity to power generating equipment and high currents exposed them to electromagnetic fields and they became very quickly corrupted.

Few people today realize the importance of magnetic fields and their underpinning of almost all electronic applications in today's world of gadgets, automatic functions, motors, generators, transformers, decoders, electronic filters and speakers just to name a few. Each of these devices or appliances incorporate magnetic fields in various ways and at different frequencies, for example speakers are designed to operate across a limited range of audio signals while a transformer employs the fundamental principle of mutual induction that enables us the ability to boost or reduce power and current.

So what is a magnetic (electromagnetic) field? In simple terms it is possible to visualize a magnetic field by comparing it to a stream of water. The current flows in one direction and vary in strength much as a magnetic field can vary in strength, and where the direction of flow is from north and south poles. This can be demonstrated using a bar magnet and fine iron filings scattered on a piece of paper. Place the magnet under your paper and scatter filings across the top. As you rotate the magnet underneath you will see the field shape and orientation by the way filings line up and form around the magnet shape.

An electromagnetic field is simply a field induced by way of applying electrical current. In the wire itself an electromagnetic field surrounds the core and this field can be increased to incredible strengths by winding the conductor around an iron core. Ever dropped a small screw down an inaccessible place and wondered how to retrieve it? Try this: find a length of find insulated wire say about four or five feet in length. Wrap it tightly around a long screwdriver and use a little sticky tape to hold it in position. Ensure both ends come out close to the handle; you can wind the wire up and down in several layers to increase the power. Bare ends and clamp, screw or solder them to a battery holder (AA size is sufficient), and include a single throw switch. When you insert a battery and close the switch you will have a very effective electromagnet careful the wire does not heat up too much. A brief flick of the switch is usually enough to magnetize your screwdriver but if this is not enough then insert your screwdriver down where you dropped what you are trying to retrieve then close the switch.

Electromagnetic fields are used in alternative current (AC ) applications where induction enables proportional increase and decrease in voltage and current. This enables power boosted to many thousands of volts at a small current to be transmitted hundreds of miles then reduced in voltage (with a proportional increase in current) for domestic and industrial use. This becomes possible because the reversing of field direction (north and south orientation) many times a second is picked up by wires coiled tightly around the magnet (usually an iron core). This process is called induction and is one of the most fundamental principles of electromagnetic field applications universally employed across power and electronic industries.

Audio applications employ two fundamental qualities of electromagnetic fields: frequency combined with the properties of the magnetic core used. The electromagnetic field dynamics of audio engineering are truly a feat of scientific magic enabling hi-fidelity replication of sound improving as new core materials offer improved frequency control.

Electromagnetic fields pass through almost all solid matter which means it is possible to conceal the source for purposes such as security alarms where a balanced electromagnetic field will activate an alarm when the field is broken (door opened) or the field is disrupted by someone attempting to disable it using a metallic object. The density of the solid will vary the distance an electromagnetic field is projected moreover it takes a significant amount of energy to project a magnetic field over a relatively short distance however modern technology is gradually improving field projection with less power.

In all and without launching into esoteric mathematical explanations describing properties of an electromagnetic field it is clear that most of the technology we take for granted today would not be possible without the exploitation of basics such as mutual induction, permeability (ability to pass through solid matter) and frequency response where effects of frequency induce vibrations (sound). As you read this be aware that within your computer there are billions of tiny cells in which individual electromagnetic fields oriented in combinations of north and south orientation make it all possible but that is another story!

How to recognize the symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity

This article was found on http://www.helium.com

It was written by Angela Shiflett

Created on: July 13, 2009

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity is becoming a popular topic in the medical community; as a result, it is important to recognize the symptoms of this particular condition. This condition is also known by various other names. These names include that of "electrical sensitivity", and in some cases, you may see it referred to as "electrosensitivity". This is a disorder that is actually physiologically based. When an individual is exposed to fields that are electromagnetic in nature, they typically experience a wide assortment of symptoms. Based on recent research on electromagnetic hypersensitivity, it has been found that the cases are growing as far as sufferers are concerned. Here, you will learn how to recognize the symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

Step One:

In order to grasp an effective understanding of electromagnetic hypersensitivity, you must first understand the basic elements of the electromagnetic spectrum. This spectrum is a concept that was developed by professionals in the area of science. It basically defines the radiation types that individuals on earth are exposed to on a regular basis. These scientific analysts basically state that this form of radiation is a form of energy. When it comes to the electromagnetic spectrum, the energy that defines radiation not only travels , but it seems to extend outward and spread.

There are many different forms of radiation that we are exposed to on a consistent basis. These include:

1. Microwaves
2. Standard Lighting
3. Radio Waves
4. Gamma-Rays
5. Electrical Wiring

It has been found that objects that exert a large amount of energy, and are "hot" emit a high level of radiation. Cooler, slower objects do not create as much radiation. Basically, something like an X-Ray can emit a large amount of radiation, while something like a simple radio will emit only a small amount.

Step Two:

Now that you have a basic understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum, it is time to learn a little bit about electromagnetic fields. These "fields" are areas that are actually invisible to the eye, yet they emit energy due to the fact that there is a current of electricity occurring somewhere in close proximity. Based on studies that have been conducted with animals, as well as various people from around the world, it has been determined that these "fields" produce a physiological response that is not exactly "positive". Many side effects, symptoms , and conditions occurred with the animals and humans that were tested.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity was among one of the conditions that occurred immediately following exposure.

Step Three:

Now, it is essential to understand that there is still testing and basic research being conducting on this particular issue, but to date, many interesting findings and/or conclusions have been brought to light. The test subjects that have been subjected to research and analytical studies based on electromagnetic fields and the onset of electromagnetic hypersensitivity have been found to suffer neurologically. Individuals and animals subjected to electromagnetic fields were found to react in numerous ways, and each seems to have a particular threshold when it came to the frequencies in which symptoms began to occur.

Some scientists conclude that the reaction to the fields of electromagnetic energy seem to be much like when a person suffers from an allergy. For example, there could be two people with an allergy to laundry soap. However, one person may prove to be more sensitive and they may suffer from much more severe symptoms than the other individual. The same seems to hold true for individuals exposed to these fields. One person, may example, may prove to be highly sensitive, while the next person may not show any symptoms until they are exposed to higher frequencies. Therefore, this concludes, that the immune system may suffer in one way or another when exposed to electromagnetic fields.

Step Four:

Many different types of people were studied, and they were exposed to many different types of products emitting radiation to determine if they would experience symptoms. In some tests, many people reacted immediately, while others had symptoms that were more delayed. For example, two people were provided with a new computer . One person immediately began to experience symptoms that are common to electromagnetic sensitivity. The other individual, however, never exhibited symptoms during the study. Products such as lighting, cell phones, televisions, and more were also tested and for nearly every product, someone experienced symptoms.

Step Five:

There are many symptoms that may be an indication that an individual is suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity, and these include:

1. Mild to severe headaches
2. Varying degrees of fatigue
3. Irritation in one or both of the eyes
4. Rashes that develop on the skin
5. Ringing in the ears
6. Mild to severe dizziness
7. Nausea with and without vomiting
8. Swelling and itching in the facial area
9. General weakness
10. Pain that is typically in the muscles or even the joints
11. Complications in breathing
12. Balance issues
13. Emotional difficulties such as depression
14. Concentration issues
15. Problems with memory
16. Problems in sleep

In severe cases of electromagnetic hypersensitivity, many individuals have suffered from severe spasms in the muscles, seizures, and even severe convulsions. If you find that you suffer from any of these symptoms, it is important to consult with a professional in electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

Understanding Electromagnetic Field (EMF) exposure Part 2

This article was found on http://www.helium.com

It was written by Omar Salvador

Created on: February 24, 2011

The Buzz About Electromagnetic Fields Continues

None of us has ever seen, heard, or, at the very least, felt electromagnetic fields. But wherever electric current runs, we can be sure electromagnetic fields are present. Not a few people have expressed concern about the possible dangers these fields pose to human health. Researchers, in turn, continue to study on whether or not there are sufficient grounds to link electromagnetic fields with certain diseases.

Once an electric piece of equipment is turned on, the current running through it generates a magnetic field that envelops the device. Since it isn't possible to block the field, it can penetrate the body , especially when one is standing close to a switched-on or running device.

Substations and power lines generate exactly the same type of electromagnetic fields. This is why many people fear that no one is safe from the ever-present, and possibly health-endangering, electromagnetic fields - they are almost everywhere.

Much of the research efforts have been concentrated on electromagnetic fields that are generated by alternating current. These include those that come from home appliances, office equipment, and power lines. Near the source, some electromagnetic fields present in homes and workplaces may be unusually strong. But as one moves away from the source, the fields' power quickly decreases. Weak electric currents are produced in the body once it is exposed to electromagnetic fields.

All the talks surrounding electromagnetic fields seem to center on the possible link between exposure to these fields and certain diseases. To this day, however, science still has to sufficiently and satisfactorily explain how these fields might cause such diseases. Besides this, many of the studies conducted on electromagnetic fields turned out negative for links to any illness or health disorder. In one particular study, in fact, it was found that living near power lines did not increase the risk of cancer as some people suspect.

Still, experts are divided; there are those who insist there's a definite connection between exposure to electromagnetic fields and certain diseases or disorders, including leukemia, adult cancer, birth and developmental defects, behavioral disorders, and even Alzheimer's disease. Some even look down on electromagnetic fields as a possible human carcinogen. The low-level energy emitted from functioning cellular phones is also a form of electromagnetic field. This, too, is suspected of being a possible cause of brain cancer.

With such a disparity on views and opinions, there is an obvious need to do more research and come up with more solid evidence to put a closure to the long-raging debate. In the meantime, people can try to lessen their exposure to electromagnetic fields by taking some steps, beginning with their minimizing the use of electrical devices that are known to emit high levels of electromagnetic fields. These include photocopiers, vacuum cleaners, some power tools, microwave ovens, blenders, hair dryers , and shavers.

Keep a good distance between your electrical bedside devices and your head. Lastly, whenever possible, use a laptop computer rather than a desktop model that makes use of a monitor. And while using a monitor, make sure that you sit as far away from it as possible.

Understanding Electromagnetic Field (EMF) exposure

This article was found on http://www.helium.com

It was written by Alaina M. Coyle

Created on: January 20, 2011

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been linked to a variety of serious diseases and illnesses – from chronic fatigue to nausea; headaches to miscarriages; brain tumors to cancer. EMFs are radiated from anything that conducts electricity , so the threat is literally all around us. How serious is the risk? Are there ways to protect yourself?

By 1990, over 100 research studies regarding EMF had been conducted worldwide. Of these, at least two dozen epidemiological studies on humans indicated a link between EMFs and serious health problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated “There is reason for concern.” Yet because of political and economic pressure exerted by computer, military, and utility lobbyists, the public may not be getting sufficient warning regarding the risk of EMF exposure.

When the EPA recommended in a draft report that EMFs be classified as a Class B carcinogen, lobbyists opposed the draft and fought the classification. Consequently, the final draft did not list EMFs as a carcinogen. When the EPA was questioned regarding the change, the response was that it was “not appropriate” to use the carcinogen label until it could demonstrate how EMFs caused cancer and precisely how much EMF is harmful.

Electromagnetic fields are the areas of energy that surround electric devices, including cell phones, computers, vacuums, power lines, transformers, microwaves, televisions, refrigerators and hair dryers – just to name a few. Does this mean we are constantly at risk?

A constant debate rages about what EMF level is considered safe. Many government and utility documents report the usual ambient level of 60-Hz magnetic field to be 0.5 mG, so any reading higher than this is above “usual.” Although some experts and public officials maintain 3 mG as the cut-off point, the EPA proposes a safety standard of 1 mG.

Many household items have surprisingly high EMF levels. Electric clocks have a very high magnetic field – as much as 5 to 10 mG up to 3 feet away. This means if you have a clock on your nightstand, you may be sleeping in an EMF equivalent to that of a power line. Many experts agree that you should sleep at least six feet away from clocks and other electronic devices, since studies have shown a high rate of brain tumors with chronic exposure to magnetic fields.

Electric razors and hair dryers emit EMFs as high as 200 to 300 mG. As alarming as that number is, researchers don’t know if this is worse than chronic exposure to a 2 or 3 mG field. Some EMF consultants recommend not using hair dryers on children since the magnetic field is so close to their developing brain and nervous system.

The BioInitiative Working Group has reviewed more than 2,000 scientific papers regarding EMFs. Their reports document scientific evidence that links childhood leukemia to exposure to power lines, as well as brain tumors and Alzheimer’s disease associated with the prolonged use of cell and cordless phones. Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment in New York, estimates that EMFs are a contributing factor in 20 to 35 percent of child cancers. EMFs have also linked to a number of other ailments, ranging from depression to skin, eye, heart, reproductive, and neurological problems. Organizations like the BioInitiative are actively trying to educate as many as possible about the potential problems associated with EMF exposure.

Obviously it is impossible to avoid EMFs completely. We are surrounded with electronic devices on a daily basis, whether we want to be or not. Although the World Health Organization claims that non-chronic exposure to low EMF levels is not a threat, many are not willing to take that chance. So how do you avoid the risk? The answer is “prudent avoidance.” Take reasonable precautions to limit your exposure to EMFs in your home and office. Don’t sleep under an electric blanket or stand in front of your microwave. Distance yourself at least six feet from your television, and place all large appliances against outside walls to minimize EMF in adjoining rooms. It’s also important not to let your children play near transformers, radar domes, or power lines.

Individuals with EMF sensitivity may experience fatigue, insomnia, muscle pain, foggy thinking, and other symptoms. If you are concerned about EMF levels in your home, purchase a Gauss meter – an instrument which measures magnetic field strength. Although pricey, the Gauss meter may alert you to dangerous levels of EMF and help you keep your family safe. Hopefully the EPA and other health organizations will continue to perform research regarding the negative effects of exposure to EMFs and keep the public updated and sufficiently warned.

The effect of spirits on electromagnetic fields

This article was found on http://www.helium.com

It was written by M. L. Kiser

Created on: September 28, 2010

I’ve said a million times, if I’ve said it once that this would make a great study if scientists ever dared to stretch their probability-limited minds into the realm of real science, e.g., the study of, possibilities. What wonderful things might we discover just by eliminating the habit of negating things just because they weren’t “probable”. Hmmm, “the possibilities”, really could become, “endless”.

Electromagnetic fields, or EMF’s, are energy, radioactive energy and science has already proven that these fields have an effect on the behavior of biological cells. We have EMF energy around all of the time, cell phones, TV’s, computers, alarm clocks, radios, stoves, refrigerators, microwave ovens, tanning beds, cell towers, ratio towers, light bulbs and florescent lights. Even the Sun and Moon emit Electromagnetic energy fields that our bodies then absorb, as does the Earth, itself, the plants, stones, trees, even the ground and water. Everything around us that catches the Sun’s or Moon’s rays are affected by this energy.

Human beings are sensitive to these EMF’s because our bodies also contain them. It’s easily verifiable with the use of an EMF meter, a device that was constructed for electricians to detect hidden wiring. These meters, especially the, “TriField Natural EMF Meters”, are used by ghost hunters, to detect changes in electromagnetic fields.

When held within range of these EMF’s, the readout on the meter will show the level of energy in or around a human being, body part, around technology and, yes, even with there’s seemingly, nothing there in front of you, your EMF meter may just pick up some energy because the energy of ghosts and spirits are easily detected with these meters.

There are numerous reports of meter readouts spiking when in the vicinity of ghost or spirit energy. You may not see anything, but it can be right there, in front of you, that ghost or spirit that is haunting your home or business.

Many an avid ghost hunter has seen his or her meter spike and many have asked that if a ghost or spirit is present, to make it spike again or even blink one, two or even three times to verify that they are indeed there. It occurs more often than scientists would have us to believe and many ghost hunters go further by carrying on whole conversations with the energy that is spiking their EMF meter.

Once detected by the EMF meters, ghosts and spirits can possibly be photographed, their voices and other sounds, recorded; even whole conversations can be carried out in front of a camera and recorder, with these entities. It’s easier to tell whether the entity moves to another room or closer to the holder of the meters because of the fluctuations in the energy levels.

Those who believe that human beings have something called a, “soul”, will probably understand that the “soul” is energy; electromagnetic energy and it’s that energy that we often pick up and call a ghost or spirit.

Every physical thing in this world contains something called an, “Aura”; an electromagnetic field around it. Many people and objects have had their auras photographed with, “Kirlian” photography. Even non-physical objects, such as ghosts or spirits have been photographed by simple cameras like the, Polaroid, Instamatics, SLR’s and even Digital cameras are picking up this energy in various places; often in graveyards or around individuals who claim that they have an entity around them.

We humans seem to think that because we can’t see, touch, taste, hear or smell an entity that it’s not really there. Surprise! There are many who have claimed to have seen ghosts, spirits or other entities in areas reported to be haunted. There are also people who can feel this energy, smell scents whenever a familiar spirit is around. There are even those who claim to have touched entities. They may not be physical, but those who experience them are often maligned by non-believers, scientists and skeptics; many of whom seem to want to demean and humiliate those who experience them if they possibly can.

The skeptic websites, shows, magazines and other publications are full of skeptic debunkers who spent their time trying to disprove anything that they can’t see, hear, feel, touch or taste, themselves. They’ll even poke fun at those scientists who actually open their minds to the possibility of spirits and ghosts and engage in research that explains their existence. These, “probability” hounds refuse to allow for the “possibility” or anything that their limited minds can’t prove. Even their explanations of why ghosts and spirits are not possible, often sound sillier than they claim the ghost hunters explanations sound.

While a little skepticism may be a good thing, even the experts can overdo and often do. Sometimes a meter may pick up the moon’s rays through a window or perhaps the energy of stones in jewelry or the phone in a corner of the room so it is very important to eliminate the “probabilities” in order to gain the substantiation of a ghostly or spirit presence. The fact of the matter is that, too much skepticism can and does eliminate some very wonderful, “possibilities”. Do we all really want to live in a limited world of limited minds or is there still room for hope and possibilities? I, for one, think that there is still room.

Ghost hunters and paranormal investigators must take care not to mis-interpret a cell tower signal from the outside of an alleged haunted house from an actual energy that is spiking their EMF meter. Likewise, scientists must learn to open their minds if they are ever going to make any progress with science.

Limited minds hinder progress and prevent hopes and dreams from physically manifesting and society needs progress in order to thrive. We should be careful not to “cut off our…” proverbial, “…nose to spite our face”

A good and thorough team of ghost hunters should have at least one scientist among them in order to validate what the meters are reading. Humans make mistakes and all-too-often an energy spike can be mis-interpreted. Cameras, recorders, and these meters are all great tools, by which to detect ghosts or spirits and ghost hunting is certainly a field that needs some scientists on-board in order to further research into the, “possibilities” that are everywhere, but few have joined the search. Kudos to those few and may they influence others to dare the, allegedly, impossible!

Further Reading:

Article 1, click HERE.

Article 2, click HERE.

Article 2, click HERE.

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