Category: Paranormal Q&A

Who are you?

My name’s Mindy, I’m a co-founder of PA Paranormal Association, based in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Do you believe in Reincarnation? Who do you think you were in your past life (or lives)?

Yes, I believe in reincarnation. I have never had a past life regression but it’s definitely something I’d like to try sometime. For some reason, in my gut, I feel like I served in the Vietnam War with my uncle.

What are your thoughts on Para Unity?

I think it’s great. We all don’t have to agree, but we can all learn from each other as long as there’s respect. Aren’t there enough ghosts to go around?

Have you ever investigated a Church? What are your thoughts on this?

Actually, we haven’t. I think that would be an interesting experience. There are usually high emotions in a church, I can imagine that energy would possibly feed into anything paranormal going on there.

When having a joint investigation with another team(s), how do you select the team(s) or members of other teams that you invite?

We haven’t had a joint investigation with another team. We would be open to the idea of it, however, as long as we trusted and had similar work ethics. We would probably decide on the team and members based on our needs for that particular investigation and their strengths and skills.

What do you tell someone looking to join a team, what should they look for or ask?

First, we explain that this is time consuming. More than the hour or two they might see on tv. They have to be willing and able to meet the time commitment. They also want to find a team who has the same beliefs they do about how the business and investigations are run. If someone is more focused on the intuition side of things, they probably want to avoid a team that is more focused on scientific, unless both sides want to expand and they feel they can compliment each other.

Any advice to a group just starting out?

Start simply, make sure what you are doing you are doing well and correctly before expanding with new equipment, new investigations, new members. You need a solid foundation to build on.

Do you think it’s important to share findings with others in the paranormal community?

Of course! The more information that’s out there, the more we can all learn.

You run across a team that you feel gives a bad name to the field. How do you handle the situation? Do you confront them about it?

I would only confront them if I feel that it would help. Most of the time, those kinds of people/groups will 1. not listen to constructive criticism anyway, so why waste my breath and cause drama and 2. will end up burning bridges for themselves and will soon have a reputation they don’t want.

Do you feel it is important to do a background investigation on the location (land/building) that you’re going to investigate?

We do investigate anything we can about the history of the location or residents as needed for investigating purposes. When we investigate, usually some of us will go in “blind”, that is not knowing any background information about the location, the owners, the experiences or anything at all and then others will go in with that information. If an investigator has no knowledge of experiences but has the same experience, it add more credibility to the story and any evidence we have, however an investigator going in with the knowledge can use it for social relevance to hopefully get responses as well.

Who Are You?

My name’s Mindy, I’m a co-founder of PA Paranormal Association, based in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Explain your Methodology?

Our team members have a wide range of beliefs and skepticism, but we always focus on being respectful of clients and whatever spirits are there while we try to investigate any experiences and history of the locations. We go in with a primarily scientific approach with some psychic awareness when available, while being open to the idea of paranormal occurrences.

 

Favorite Haunts?

My two favorite locations so far have been Albright college and The Indian Fort Inn, both of which we’ve been to several times and had very interesting experiences and results.

Personal Experiences?

I’ve heard a voice that we later caught on audio and had what felt like a solid hand touch my shoulder when I was alone in a room. Those are my best unexplained personal experiences, though I’ve seen many things out of the corner of my eyes, felt unexplained drafts, and heard noises and other voices as well.

Why did you get into the Paranormal?

Quite honestly, because my husband wanted to start a team, so I came along for the ride! I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I do.

What’s next?

Whatever comes up. We’ll probably plan some sort of community event this year as we have the past few years and, of course, we’ll be here for anyone who needs some help.

Do you think that paranormal shows (radio/TV/Internet) give groups a bad reputation?

I think viewers of these shows on tv need to realize that what they see is mainly for entertainment purposes, as is most of “reality tv.” We are crystal clear to clients what we do and how we handle investigations so they don’t expect what is seen on tv. We will always be honest about what we find or don’t find and won’t tell someone just want they want to hear so they “like” us. If you show us a photograph of a piece of dust, we’re going to tell you it’s a piece of dust.

Who is the person in the paranormal field you look up to the most or want to be like?

I look up to my husband the most because he has a great span of knowledge in the technical side of this field and me and electronic equipment don’t always get along.

Have you made a page on www.paranormaldictionary.com?

Not at this point.

Name some Random Facts about you?

I fully believe in Santa Claus.

Are you a skeptic or a believer?

I like to call myself “Optimistically Skeptical.” I believe in the possibility of the paranormal, but am skeptical about experiences until I’ve discounted any other possibility.

Who Are You?

S&D Paranormal Society, LLC: Sara Lowell (Co-Founder), Dawn Gibson (Co-Founder), Summer Best (Investigator), Joanna Burdine (Investigator)

What are your thoughts on networking with other teams or investigators?

Networking is a great way to combine forces and work together to find answers and grow together. The more people coming together to learn what is going on, the easier it will be.

Hunter, Investigator, Researcher – What do you want to be referred to and why?

Our team prefers Researchers and Investigators. “Hunter” gives us the impression that we are not investigating for advancements or to help people, but just for fun. Hunting for fun is perfectly fine, but our team is investigating for the “big picture” of the paranormal field.

What is your most memorable paranormal experience?

(Sara and Dawn): Our trip to The Salem Inn in Salem, MA was our most memorable. The feelings we had during our investigation were a first for us. The entire time we kept feeling like someone was in the room with us and our EVP session was very active with multiple answers.

(Summer): My most memorable experience is the man I see in my bedroom on multiple occasions. He is a dark shadow figure with a long trench coat on and a fedora hat. Every time I see him the feeling is very dark and it actually scares me when I am alone. There is definitely not something right about it and I’m not sure how he began appearing before me.

Have you ever had an experience where you’ve crossed a spirit over?

No.

Did you have experiences while growing up?

Sara and Summer have both had experiences with the paranormal growing up.

What is your favorite Paranormal Show (TV/Internet/Radio?)

The Haunted, A Haunting, Celebrity Ghost Stories, Paranormal State

What are your thoughts about Provoking?

We using provoking as needed. Sometimes it is necessary in order to recreate what a client may be experiencing or to recreate an event at a field location.

What are your thoughts about Orbs? Dust or spirit? How do you tell the difference?

Orbs are questionable. You really have to take a second and determine what the air quality is like if you are investigating outdoors or the age/upkeep of a location indoors.

Would you ever use a Medium or Psychic on your team?

We would love to have the opportunity to work with a Medium or Psychic!

Who are you?

S&D Paranormal Society, LLC: Sara Lowell (Co-Founder), Dawn Gibson (Co-Founder), Summer Best (Investigator), Joanna Burdine (Investigator)

Do you believe in Reincarnation? Who do you think you were in your past life (or lives)?

(Sara and Dawn): Yes.
(Dawn): After visiting a psychic, she informed me I have many past lives. I have been a warrior, I have walked and lived when Christ did, and I was a child in a gang who died at a very young age due to sickness.

(Summer and Joanna): No.

What are your thoughts on Para Unity?

We strongly believe in Para Unity as long as there is good communication.

Have you ever investigated a Church? What are your thoughts on this?

We have not investigated a church but we did investigate a cemetery located on the same grounds as a church.

When having a joint investigation with another team(s), how do you select the team(s) or members of other teams that you invite?

Who we choose depends on our needs for that particular investigation. Each group brings something different to the table as well as each individual. Everyone has a certain skill that they have mastered. If there is a missing link in our group or a skill we have not acquired, we reach out to those who are educated with that task.

What do you tell someone looking to join a team, what should they look for or ask?

Do your research!! There are teams out there unfortunately who are not doing this for the right reason. Be sure this is something you want to involve yourself in because it is very time consuming. Your dedication is necessary especially with evidence reviews and historical research.

Any advice to a group just starting out?

Get your team established. Figure out what kind of group you want to be; a group with a hobby in the paranormal or a business. Plan out your goals for the year and come up with a group structure to establish the communication between everyone.

Do you think it’s important to share findings with others in the paranormal community?

Yes. The evidence from one team’s investigation could possibly fill in the blanks for another team. We’re doing this to advance the paranormal field and communicating with everyone is going to make that stronger.

You run across a team that you feel gives a bad name to the field. How do you handle the situation? Do you confront them about it?

Everyone has a perception and teams need to be respectful of that. Although, if a team is giving the field a bad name, someone should communicate that to them. It could be they don’t realize its happening or maybe they have hit a rough time investigating. Be mature and speak up about it but don’t be relentless.

Do you feel it is important to do a background investigation on the location (land/building) that you’re going to investigate?

Definitely! Doing a background investigation is one of the most important parts. It can tell you a lot about a location that a client or yourself may not have known. It can also give you some possible leads to determine what the activity may be.