Late one night, a student, engaged with AIM, is startled when a light on the other side of the room suddenly clicks on -- all by itself. A passerby hears mysterious sounds in an empty room and sees chairs clattering across a floor, unmoved by any human hand. With events like these, paranormal activity is often the only explanation.
Even cynics and skeptics who write off TV "psychics" and "mediums" as hacks are apparently eager to learn more about the paranormal. One only has to look at the popularity of documentaries, television programs, books and films that explore the world of ghosts to see a public devoted to the paranormal.
The most recent of these programs was the ABC Family series "The Scariest Places on Earth," which explored places supposedly inhabited by spirits. Viewership was strong enough for an eight-hour marathon of episodes that dealt with all types of paranormal activity for a fascinated audience.
It's a field that intrigues and mystifies us all, yet is equally surrounded by skepticism and misconceptions. Many assume that paranormal research involves out-there new-agers who think they can see and talk to ghosts. But the field of paranormal research is wider than that, involving all types of people.
Baltimore has its own team of paranormal investigators, called the BSPR (Baltimore Society for Paranormal Research). Headed by Vince Wilson and Renee Hamer-Colianni, the BSPR is a division of the Maryland Paranormal Investigators Coalition. According to Wilson, the goal of the BSPR "is to bring a level of professionalism and research standards in Maryland and its surrounding area." Wilson and his colleagues are aware of skepticism of their work, but they're confident in what they do and are able to ignore non-believers. "Many of the hardcore skeptics are extremely biased as they do not believe in anything, be it ghosts or God," Wilson says. "Find a man that's been blind since birth and prove to him that stars are real."
Contrary to what skeptics may think, the act of ghost hunting isn't just going into a haunted house and waiting for spirits to show themselves, f6 la "The Haunting." All paranormal researchers and scientists use tons of different equipment to collect data. However, Wilson is quick to point out that "nobody knows what a 'ghost' or 'spirit' is exactly, so there are no instruments that detect them directly."
The BSPR relies on a bevy of gear for their work, from the most traditional to the most advanced. Among the oldest are dowsing rods:These metal rods have been perhaps the tools most often used in ghost investigations across the years. The idea is to hold one rod loosely in each hand. If they cross, there's likely to be paranormal activity in the area. More advanced technology has added to the dowsing rod's effectiveness. The air ion counter does pretty much just what its name implies. Since spirits are thought to cause increases in electromagnetic activity, a surge in the number of positive ions is a possible ghost indicator.
In a similar vein, researchers also use electromagnetic field (EMF) detectors. EMF detectors measure changes in activity in an electrical field. Spirits can cause major disruptions in these fields. Some disruptions are so severe that flashlights, cameras and other battery-operated equipment can suddenly go dead in the presence of a strong spirit.
One of the main goals of ghost-hunting is to provide hard evidence of the existence of spirits. Enter the thermal scanner and thermal imaging scopes. Thermal scanners and cameras record changes in temperature in a room. With a thermal camera, you can actually see the "cold spots" that indicate the location of spirits.
More low-tech but equally important are microphones or tape recorders. Parapsychologists often make audio recordings during a ghost investigation so they can enhance and play back the tapes later. Some researchers have recorded Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP's), which they believe to be voices of ghosts.
The BSPR uses equipment such as this to search haunted locales all over the state, and if an average citizen has reason to believe they may have a ghost, the group will investigate private homes. Wilson said that there are certain hints that point toward a potential ghost. They include the feeling of being watched, hearing voices, a visible form and misplaced objects.
If you suspect you're sharing your space with an invisible friend, take Wilson's advice: "If you just want verification that you're not crazy, call us. If you want the ghost removed, we'll recommend some ideas." You can contact the BSPR through their Web site, http://www.bsprnet.com.
Baltimore is known as a hotspot for paranormal activity, much of which surrounds the legacy of Edgar Allen Poe, the preeminent horror writer, who spent his last days dying an agonizing death in Baltimore. The circumstances surrounding his death are unknown, with experts conjecturing anything from rabies to syphilis to alcohol poisoning. Whatever killed him, Poe's legacy is alive and well, with an annual Halloween vigil outside his West Baltimore grave in which a mysterious visitor lays roses and cognac on his plot. At his home nearby, visitors have reported seeing the spirit ofa heavyset woman in gray, ceaselessly walking the stairs.
Poe is one of many of the active spirit world that calls Baltimore home.
