The Mystery and the Power of the Crystal Skulls

By Pearl Blackthorn (reprinted from Darkside Magazine) 

Crystal skulls have been arousing fascination for more than a century. They are reproductions of human bone skulls fashioned from crystal or other gems, though usually made from clear or milky quartz. Some claim that some of the skulls originate from the pre-Columbian Mesoamerican era, while others believe that all the skulls have more modern origins.

The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls

The skulls are considered to be one of the great world mysteries for a number of reasons;

• No one knows for sure who made the famous crystal skulls.
• It has not been possible to tell exactly how they were made.
• There is a number of phenomena associate with the skulls including healing, emanating energy, channeling of psychic impressions and formation of images inside the skulls. 

Famous Crystal Skulls

The Mitchell-Hedges Skull

Perhaps the most mysterious and well-known of the crystal skulls is the Mitchell-Hedges skull. It is very similar in size and form to a real human skull and even has a removable jawbone. Both parts of the skull are made form the same block of clear quartz crystal. It weighs 11.7 pounds and is about five inches high, five inches wide, and seven inches long.

The skull was brought to pubic attention by British explorer F. A. Mitchell-Hedges, who claimed that his daughter Anna unearthed it in 1924 in an ancient Mayan temple. However, documentation has since shown that Mitchell-Hedges purchased the skull at an auction at Sothebys in London, in 1943. The skull remains in Canada, in the possession of octogenarian Anna Mitchell-Hedges, who maintains that she discovered it during a Lubaatun expedition.

The Mitchell-Hedges family loaned the skull to Hewlett-Packard Laboratories for study in 1970.  Researchers made a surprising discovery when they found that the skull had been carved against the natural axis of the crystal. This is unusual because doing so usually ensures that the crystal will shatter. To add to the mystery, close examination could not reveal any markings on the skull to suggest it had been made with modern metal instruments or diamond-tipped tools. Art restorer Frank Dorland, who oversaw the testing, concluded that the skull was produced by means of a solution o f water and silicon sand; a procedure that would have taken up to 300 years to complete!

The Paris Crystal Skull and the British Crystal Skull

This pair of similar skulls is said to have both been bought by Mexican mercenaries around 1890. They are not as finely cut as the Mitchell-Hedges skull and are made from a cloudier crystal. Some of the details appear not to have been completed. The British Crystal Skull is on display at London's Museum of Mankind, and the Trocadero Museum of Paris houses the Paris Crystal Skull.

The Amethyst Skull and the Mayan Skull

These skulls are also carved with less specific detail than the Mitchell-Hedges skull. They are said to have been discovered in the early 20^th century in Mexico and Guatemala and were brought to the US by a Mayan priest. The Amethyst skull is made from purple quartz and the Mayan skull is made from clear crystal. They are very similar in size and form and like the Mitchell-Hedges skull, both were cut 'against the grain'.

The Texas Crystal Skull

This skull is also known as "Max" and is made from a single piece of clear crystal and weighs 18 pounds. It is believed to have originated in Guatemala then passed from a Tibetan spiritualist to JoAnn Parks of Houston, Texas.

The Rose Quartz Crystal Skull

Of all the famous crystal skulls, this is the one that most closely resembles the Mitchell-Hedges skull. It was reportedly found near the border of Honduras and Guatemala. It is made of a cloudy crystal and a little larger then the Mitchell-Hedges but it also is cut with fine detail and has a removable jawbone.

The ET Skull

This skull came to light in the early 20^th century in Central America. It is made from smoky quartz and was given its name due to its strangely elongated cranium and exaggerated overbite which gives it the eerie look of an extraterrestrial. ET belongs in the private collection of Joke Van Dietan.

The Crystal Skull Explorer

Joshua Shapiro has spent more than twenty years researching the crystal skulls, but his research has gone beyond a search for their origins into the deeper mystery of the power locked within them and their effects and uses. 

An Aquarian Age Networker, Joshua was first drawn to the crystal skulls in 1983 when he was traveling through California. While he was visiting a friend who owned a metaphysical  bookstore, Joshua saw a picture of  an amethyst crystal skull, which is now known as Ami.

"When I was looking at the picture I felt an inner earthquake inside of me, like a strong vibration, and I heard – it wasn't actually my thought but it was my thought – 'what is this doing out there?'  Now, when I think about that question that came to me, it implies that on some unconscious level I knew about this crystal skull though I'd never seen it before in this lifetime. So I assume it means I knew about it from another time, another lifetime. So then, as we were looking at the picture of it on the table, there was a real earthquake in California about twenty minutes later. I always believe that every human being, in a certain time, in a certain place, makes a decision, whether they realize it's an important decision or not, that for ever changes their life and between those two experiences, as I was looking at this, just the picture, not the real skull itself, I knew inside of me that they are vital and important for the future of humanity to help us create world peace."

A few weeks later the same crystal skull was being shown to a prospective buyer and Joshua was invited to go and see it.

"I was allowed to touch the skull and I put my hand on the very top part of the skull and I felt an energy that went all the way up my arm to my shoulder and stopped there and after that I would see the skull floating over my right shoulder in my mind's eye."

His experiences were so profound that Joshua began sharing information about crystal skulls in his own talks and lectures. He began attending lectures by F.R. Nick Nocerino, who although he passed away several years ago he's still considered to be an expert on the skulls. Eventually Joshua was able to meet other crystal skulls such as Max and the famous Mitchell-Hedges skull.

"…what I found when I was around them, particularly the Mitchell-Hedges skull, and people were asking the care-taker questions, I knew the answers. So I'd start sharing. Then she asked me to watch the skull for her for a little while and I felt like this skull was saying 'you have work to do with us.'"

After that Joshua started to lecture with Sandra Bowen and the two of them, along with Nocerino wrote and published Mystery of the Crystal Skulls Revealed, in 1989. Now, Joshua also has his own skulls each of which has is own name and unique traits.

Joshua has traveled all over the world doing presentations or meeting people who have crystal skulls and also conducting scientific research to see how their energy affects people. From his own experience with both ancient and modern skulls, Joshua has come to understand their meaning and their purpose.

"For me the skulls are living beings. Through our travels and all the people we’ve met and all the places we've gone and all their older brothers and sisters we've seen, they are alive. I call them my kids, and I call them my kids because they're evolving and the way I know they're evolving is because they don’t look like they did when I first received them. They have changed. Now according to scientists these are solid objects, they shouldn’t be changing. But we can conclusively say there are various people who have felt the skulls become lighter or heavier, or in a few instances with our big skull, which you see he looks like a gray color, kind of dark, he has become totally clear and everybody can see that. So, for me, my personal way of knowing if a skull is ancient, is not to figure out how it was made but to experience its resonance, its energy, because I've had a chance to experience some of the skulls that are quite old and they have some other level of energy that I feel; that's my gift I'm sensitive to energy. When I'm doing the crystal skull sessions and I'm going into the reading part, I use myself as a human barometer, let’s say, in order to feel the essence of the energy that I'm experiencing with the skull."

Although Joshua admits that there are no scientific tests to prove or disprove his own personal experiences or understanding of the crystal skulls, he has devised and conducted a number of tests to assess how crystal skulls can affect a person individually. During these tests meridian devices and corillian devices that show the aura were attached to the subject's hands and feet. The subject was then blindfolded and placed in front of a crystal skull. The tests revealed that in the presence of a crystal skull, the subject's energy was perfectly balanced, sometimes for a while after the skull had been removed. Detailed results of these experiments can be found in Joshua's forthcoming book Journeys of the Crystal Skull Explorers.

So what could be the origins of the crystal skulls? Joshua believes that they may have come from either an ancient civilization or from an extra-terrestrial race.

"There are many, many people that I've talked to and myself included, that have memories of Atlantis where we see crystal skulls there. They would have had a very advanced technology to be able to have created them. Some of the theories related to Atlantis include the use of precise lasers in order to cut and shape the skulls also, the possibility of using the mind to convert a bone skull into a crystal skull."

Crystal Resonance

The late Marcel Vogel was a former research scientist for IBM. During the 1970s he conducted extensive studies on quartz crystals which led him to create a faceted crystal now known as the Vogel-cut® crystal, which he used as an instrument to store, amplify and convert subtle energies. He also maintained that crystals are a repository for energy and information and that they resonate with the bones in our bodies. This means that anyone coming into physical contact with a crystal will feel some level of that energy resonating through every part of their body.  But is the shape of the crystal important and if so, why specifically the shape of a human skull? Joshua believes that the form of a crystal skull is very significant for a number of reasons.

 "…crystals have an affect on the people that they're working with and especially in the form of a crystal skull… What we're finding with the new crystal skulls is that we relate to them as persons whereas another form of crystal may have intelligence but we don’t relate to it as a person because its not in our form. Why take a crystal and put it into the shape of a human bone skull? Why is that important? Well first of all I believe that spirit created our physical form, or an advanced race created our physical form and the bone skull was created because its shape is conducive to receiving cosmic knowledge and information that moves and filters down through different levels of consciousness. It's a connection to the Godhead according to some of the primitive cultures of the Mesoamerican eras in Mexico and Central America. Quartz crystal, for me is a transmitter and a receiver of various frequencies of energy. It’s a door which spirit can use to communicate with us. So having such a material, putting it in the shape of a skull, it then becomes not only a door but a receptacle to store amazing information."

The Purpose of the Crystal Skulls

Many people are familiar with the date December 21^st 2012 date of the Mayan calendar. Some believe that this date signifies an apocalyptic end to the world while others believe that that after this date, humanity will pass through a transformative state to a higher consciousness. Joshua Shapiro is firmly convinced of the latter, and he also believes that the crystal skulls will have a significant role to play in this transformation.

"I have felt an affinity with my intuition about this 2012. …the Mayans work with cycles; the numbers 52 and 13 are quite sacred. I look at it as a symbolic meaning, that the world as we know it is going to go through a transformation. The reason why I know it will happen is because I have a spirit guide name Argis and Argis says "Joshua I am you in your future, in this lifetime after 2012. I believe that time doesn't exist. That if you’re actually sensitive enough you can actually be aware of who you are in the past present and future, not only in your current life but with other lifetimes. Argis tells me that this transformation has already happened in his time. This is why I don't consider any other possibility. I see through  his eyes what its going to look like and I see flying cities, I see crystal cities. I know that we're living in communities where all the adults are parents to all the children and people have total freedom to live their life however they want. Everything I do is based upon the fact that we're moving in that direction. As far as what role will the crystal skulls play in this, the Mayans talk about 52 crystal skulls, that there may be multiple sets of 13. Maybe they have one set, maybe there are some other indigenous people that have another. But they say there will come a time and a place where these skulls need to come together, and perhaps when they come together in the right place at the right time, that's the catalyst that shifts tings into a higher frequency, going from the third, I think we're already into  part of the fourth dimensional consciousness and then settling into the fifth. So I know the crystal skulls have a role to play in this. Right now, as people are having contact with them, they’re helping people to open up to their inner self and to their spiritual gifts."

An exclusive interview with nationally renowned psychic medium John Holland, by guest author Corinna Underwood

A Bridge Between Two Worlds; Psychic Medium John Holland

John Holland is one of the most sought after psychic mediums and spiritual guides in the United States. For more than a decade he has been dedicated to providing a psychic bridge between the living and those souls who have passed beyond. His teachings have also inspired many to tap into their own psyche to develop their natural abilities and enhance their spiritual leanings.

In the Beginning

John has been aware for most of his life that psychic abilities do not arrive out of the blue but we are born with them. In his book Born Knowing, he explains how he was aware, even at an early age, that he was different from other kids. His search for an understanding of what was happening to him led John to read voraciously within and around the field of metaphysics while other boys were fascinated by sports and cars. Although listening to his spirit voices often made John an outcast amongst his peers, they also heightened his awareness, on one occasion, even leading him to an injured young man, whose life he saved. Of course, seeing spirits and knowing what’s about to happen isn’t something a seven year-old boy can easily discuss with his buddies and sometimes, John just wanted to be just like the other kids.

 “I noticed I was different, yes. I tried to push it away. I tried to hide it. But like many times when people are different in society, society likes to make you know you’re different… But even though I pushed it away it would always there, but I never really developed it.”

It wasn’t until much later, when he was 30 years old, that John was involved in a near-fatal automobile accident, an accident which set him on the path he now follows. During his recovery, he began to notice that his psychic abilities were no longer willing to be ignored. His heightened perceptions gave him the confirmation he needed and inspired him to seek an ever deeper understanding of his potential. His quest for knowledge eventually led him to England; the origin of many of his books on spiritualism, Reike and the chakra systems. There he spent two years studying, including a spell at the Arthur Findlay College for psychic studies. Under the guidance of several mentors, John was able to fine-tune his abilities and to begin using them with more far-reaching effects.

Bridging Two Worlds

Nowadays John is dedicated to helping people connect with their loved ones on the other side and in his years of experience as a bridge between our world and the spirit plane, he has learned a lot about both sides.

“That’s the real place. This is temporary. We assume that the spirit world is part of our world but we are part of their world. This is just a school and school can be tough here.”

John also explains that when spirits pass over to the other side, they don’t always retain the same personality. A person who has lived selfish life and abused their family and friends, for example, may develop a deeper understanding of their past life and become more tolerant and caring. So do spirits continue to evolve when they enter the spirit world?

“Oh totally. Our personality is just a piece, a small piece of who we are while we’re here. I do believe that we evolve and that we do go on to higher place.”

Developing your Psychic Potential

John recommends several methods for increasing your psychic awareness.

He has also developed a number of tools that may be used specifically for this purpose, one is his book 101 Ways to Jumpstart Your Intuition, which provides simple, yet creative ways to increase your ESP potential and The Psychic Tarot Oracle Deck.

John first began working with the tarot several years ago as a tool to enhance his psychic readings. In fact, it was after working with the cards that John began to develop a connection with those on the other side.

“After two years of reading cards, people in the other side started showing up, so I must have reached another level. It seemed I raised my level and they lowered their level.”

This validation strengthened his resolve to continue to develop his psychic strengths and later would inspire him to create a deck of his own called the Psychic Tarot. The beautifully illustrated 65-card deck expresses John’s feelings that in order each of us can develop our own psychic potential that is already inherent within us.

“Some people’s ability may already be stronger than others. Sometimes people say to me, well John, why would I want to be psychic? And I tell people that we’re all spiritual beings as well as physical beings and we should honor both sides. If you don’t honor both sides, you’re living a life half spent.”

If you would like to learn more about John, his books, workshops and tarot visit http://www.johnholland.com/

Fairies, Goblins and Pookahs

By Pearl Blackthorn

(From Darkside Magazine August 2014)

There are legends from all over the world that tell of the magic folk or fairies. They can take many forms such as goblins, pookahs, banshees and elves, and they each have their individual powers. Not all of them are friendly towards humans, though there are exceptions. There are also many tales of humans who have tried to outwit them, only to pay a high price.

Fairies

Fairies go by a number of names such as faery, fay, fair folk, wee folk and people of peace. These legendary, ethereal creatures are usually described as having human-like features (though they are often much smaller than humans), and powerful magical abilities. Modern day depictions of fairies show winged, human-like beings with the perpetual sheen of youth on their fair skin, but in earlier times they were portrayed differently as either statuesque, angelic beings radiating light or diminutive, wizened characters.

The Origin of the Fairy Folk

The origin of the fairy folk is somewhat hazy. In the past some have said that fairies are dead souls, the remainders of ancient races who wander between realms. One example of this kind is the Irish banshee, who is often described as the lonely wailing soul of a woman. Others believe that rather than being dead themselves, fairies are the angelic protectors of those who have passed from the earthly plane.

Another theory of fairy origin describes them as living race with ancient lineage. In this version the fairies were conquered in days gone by and now live in hiding from the human race. Others have suggested that the fair folk are a completely different species from humans, demons and angels; a form known as elementals. These creatures are depicted as an intelligent and complex race that prefers to avoid human interaction altogether.

These different explanations may not necessarily be incompatible but nevertheless, much of the folklore connected to fairies describes reliable methods for humans to hold them at bay. The commonly held belief is that a fairy’s intentions are at best mischievous and at worst downright malicious. A number of tricks have been attributed to them including tangling the hair of sleepers, leading travelers from the safe path and curdling freshly churned milk. Though these pranks seem harmless enough there they have also been blamed for much more dangerous trickery. Sudden death during the dark of night would often be explained as a fairy kidnapping, the corpse itself being only a lifeless form or changeling left to replace the living. It was also said that fairies enjoyed riding around on domestic animals such as pigs and fowl and this would cause the animals to become paralyzed and eventually die.

For those wanting to protect themselves against the fair folk, objects made of iron are a steadfast deterrent. Fairies will not go near the metal for fear that it will burn or poison them. Protective charms made from rowan, elder, St. John’s Wort or four-leaf clovers are also believed to be effective. 

One of the most popular legends about the fair folk is how they love to mislead travelers, often leading them way off the path and then leaving them to struggle to find their way home. The will o’ the wisp has a particular reputation for such pranks. Some travelers go missing for days, others are never seen again. Certain locations which are known to be regular fairy haunts should be avoided at all costs. These include fairy hills or mounds, forts and fairy rings. There are a number of stories that warn how digging in or around fairy hills has led to negative results. Home owners who have built their abode on fairy ground have found corners knocked from their houses. Although people who see fairies were advised not to look to closely for fear of invading their privacy, it is said that those who found out the name of a particular fairy could then summon it to do their bidding and force it to grant their wishes and even bestow special powers upon them.

Changelings

There is a significant amount of folklore surrounding changelings; fairy substitutes left behind in the place of stolen human children, particularly babies. Children who had not yet been baptized were considered to be at particular risk of abduction by the fair folk. It is said that many fairy children are often stunted or deformed at birth and that fairies, with their delicate sensibilities do not want to keep these children and will readily swap them for a healthy human child. Changelings are described as ugly, demanding children who cry continually and have a voracious appetite that can never be satisfied. Changelings are also said to have the ability to wreak havoc in their foster home and drain away the household’s good fortune.

Goblins

The goblin is a legendary creature that is a grotesquely ugly and malicious. In English and Welsh folklore they are attributed with a number of characteristics such as bad tempers, dishonesty and shortsightedness. Though goblins are said to be wiser than humans, most stories tell of them mimicking human actions in distorted and sardonic ways. They are also blamed for stealing human women and children and hiding them in underground lairs where they are kept as slaves. Despite the popular belief that goblins remain invisible to the human eye, they are also described as appearing as wizened old men with green skin and a deformed appearance. They are also known for mischievously hiding household objects, tipping over milk pails and scaring animals and children.

Pixies

Pixies, also known as pixi, piskies and pigsies are considered to make their home in southern England. In areas in and around Devon and Cornwall there are a number of locales named for the pixies that were once associated with them. They are usually described as small folk with beautiful features and pointed ears, dressed in green garb and a pointed hat.

Many legends describe how pixies would disguise themselves as a bundle of old rags and lure children to play with them. Pixies are fold of music and dancing and there are a number of stories telling how they have been helpful to humans, bringing good luck and helping with housework.

Pookas

Also known as puca, pwca and phouka, this creature is renowned for its deft shape shifting abilities which enable it to take on both pleasing and horrific forms and may appear as a gat, rabbit, dog, horse or goblin. Like many of the fair folk the pooka is both respected and feared by humans. Pookas appearing in the form of a horse have been known to entice humans onto their back and take them for a wild ride through the countryside, often leaving the unsuspecting rider far away from home. The pooka is said to have the ability of human speech and at times has been known to give humans advice that has helped them avoid danger.

Dwarfs

Dwarfs originate in Germanic folklore and are famed for their magical metalworking skills. These humanoid creatures are said to be diminutive in stature with strong muscular bodies, pale skin and dark hair. Dwarfs make their homes in underground caves from which can sometimes be heard the sound of hammers striking anvils. Dwarfs seem to mistrust other races yet are described as talented traders who often acquire great wealth.

For the Child in Us All

The fair folk, whether good or bad, mischievous or outright horrific, are a fascination to the young and old. A sure sign of this is their continued presence in stories dating from ancient times right up to the present day. So why do fairy stories still hold us uner their spell today? According to Danielle Ackley-McPhail, author of The Halfling's Court and editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries Anthology Series, it’s because fairies embody the attributes and wield the powers that humans can only aspire to.

“Think of fairies as human to the next power. Everything we wish we were: eternal, beautiful, powerful, (mostly) in an anthropomorphic form. They can do things we only wished we could, and when all is not goodness and light, they hold that element of danger and excitement many of us crave. At some point in our lives, all of us want to be touched by magic, to believe anything is possible, but more importantly that we could have the power to change things.”

Fairies in modern day literature and film have moved away from the gentle folk that most of us grew up with and have returned to the darker creatures that were represented in much older myths and legends, but even today, the fair folk are not confined to the realms of fiction.

Dr. Christian von Lähr and Christopher Valentine are professionally trained psychic mediums who both claim to have been able to establish direct communication with the fair folk or nature people. Dr. von Lähr describes how he had the natural ability to see these creatures from an early age.

“Like an astoundingly great number of people, I was seeing Nature People ─ those “individualized” nature spirits commonly known of as Gnomes ─ when I was the smallest child.  Also, elves and leprechauns were part of my earliest experiences.  Most of us have forgotten our experiences, and this memory lapse was not of our choosing.”

Valentine believes that as children we all have the natural ability to perceive the fair folk because at such an early age we are unencumbered by the perceptual conditioning we receive on the way to adulthood. As we get older we lose the ability to perceive these “higher levels of existence,” and they become invisible to us. Valentine and von Lähr agree that Nature People communicate with humans by means of a simple telepathic process.

“However, as we grow up under the heavy burden of our imposed “programming,” our thoughts become complicated.  Those excessive limits of mental thought now become counterproductive to the process of telepathic communication.  It becomes much like hearing a private conversation from across the room at a wild party as it nears the midnight hour.  Thus, we tend to lose our natural communicative ability.”

But all is not lost; it is possible for us to re-learn this natural process in order to perceive the Natural People. In his first book If You Could Only See…A Gnome’s Story, von Lähr describes how the Nature People shared a variety of techniques to help us combat our habit of over-focusing and widen our perceptual view.

“An interesting characteristic of their technique is to use “colors,” which are frequencies of energy to see specific classes of Nature People.  Humans relate to colors, specifically, just as do Nature People but we are immersed in our realm, and so don’t realize the fact.  Gnomes, for example when observed by our senses, have a resonance with the frequencies of the colors Red and Green ─ together.  So, using modern Christmas lights of those two colors creates a natural environment that attracts Gnomes.”

Valentine and von Lähr explain that aside from the sheer joy of being able to perceive Nature People there is also another major benefit; that we can learn from them.

“What we “experience” from the Nature People might be a better intent from perceiving and communicating, than what we actually learn.  They have a genuine intrinsic purpose in the Divine Plan, and that purpose can have a very specific focus on us, as individuals.  All consciousness is essential, as we are but a single gear in the immense clockwork of the Universe.  Every part of that cosmic-spiritual mechanism must work perfectly, and each is interdependent on the others.”  

Because we all have a number of Nature People around us all the time, the authors claim that they are able to understand us in ways that we can no longer remember. In this sense they are aware of and can communicate with our higher nature, innermost desires and deepest motivations. This gives them the potential to help us overcome the obstacles in our lives and empower us to live our lives to the fullest capacity through our relations with them. Communicating with Nature People may well be our key to unlocking the “inner child” within us all and finding a sense of belonging that we often lack in today’s hectic world.

How to Conduct a Paranormal Investigation

By Pearl Blackthorn
From Darkside Magazine July 2014

Perhaps you know of a building near you that is reputedly haunted, or a local cemetery where strange sightings have occurred. If you have a fascination for the paranormal and are intrigued by legends of hauntings you may want to check out the location for yourself and conduct a paranormal investigation. Before you do, there are a few things you need to consider, such as what equipment you may need, who to take along with you and how to research the location.

Paranormal investigations are becoming increasingly popular these days particularly in the light of televisions shows such as “Most Haunted,” and “Ghost Hunters.” Whether you are considering taking it up as a hobby or getting more seriously involved paranormal investigation can be a fascinating endeavor as well as a lot of fun. There are certain things you need to know before you embark and the first rule of thumb is always get permission before you start to explore any haunted site. Even if the building has been abandoned for quite some time, you need to find out who owns it and tell them what you have in mind; otherwise you can and will be arrested for trespassing on private property. The best place to find out information about the location you wish to investigate is your local courthouse.

Secondly, it is wise to take some one else along with you so that you have a witness of any paranormal activity, as well as some company in case you get the jitters. Always be respectful of other people’s property and their points of view. Although you don’t have to believe in ghosts to conduct an investigation, and there’s nothing wrong with a healthy skepticism, keep an open mind. The next thing you need to take into account is your ghost hunting equipment.

Equipment

Most paranormal researchers have a standard set of equipment to help them detect any unusual presence at their investigation site. Not only do these items help them to detect any paranormal activity, they also help them to record data and take it away from the site for analysis later. If you’re just starting out you may not have or need all this equipment, but bear in mind, the more you have, the more evidence of paranormal activity you will be able to collect.

Electro-magnetic Field Detector

This is currently one of the most popular pieces of equipment in the paranormal investigator’s kit. An EMF detector can pick up variations in electric and magnetic fields over quite a wide range of frequencies. Most are set to be highly sensitive to fields varying at 60 Hz. Tri-axial models are much better than single axis models. If you have a Single axis model and you rotate it from its axis even slightly during an investigation, your readings will change because of the different angles to the fields. To combat this you will have to fix it in place otherwise you will be unable to compare earlier readings with subsequent ones. It is believed that paranormal activity usually causes disruptions in the electromagnetic fields, causing sudden surges which can be measured on the EMF detector. Some investigators use the EMF detector as a means to communicate with the presence, by asking simple questions and allowing the manifestation to utilize the energy to respond  ‘yes or no’ by flashing the lights on the detector.

Infrared Thermometer

This type of thermometer is used to accurately pinpoint cold spots. It is believed that these are created when a ghost is present because it draws the heat from the surrounding area to create enough energy for it to manifest. Infrared probe thermometers are good for use indoors and outside. They are also very accurate at picking up very sudden temperature changes or very extreme temperature anomalies.

Digital Voice Recorder

Digital voice recorders are now an essential part of any investigators equipment and are used in haunted locations to record background noise, sometimes while the investigator asks a series of questions. The recordings are analyzed later, off site, usually with specialized, sound sensitive software to check for electronic voice phenomena. It is believed that, although inaudible to the naked ear, the voices of those beyond the grave can be made audible by interacting with other devices that rely on electrical fields, such as televisions, tape recorders and radios. EVP messages are usually brief, most last no longer than two or three seconds and contain only three to five words, often spoken rapidly and sometimes repeated.

Motion Sensor

These devices are used to detect movement in large areas such as a hallway or room. These enable the investigator to know if something is moving around in one area while another area is being examined. There is some debate as to whether a ghost itself can set off a motion sensor, but a ghost can set objects moving about, some investigators do consider them to be a valuable piece of equipment. The best type for this sort of project is a small wireless detector that can be wall mounted

Camcorder

Camcorders are a valuable tool because they can either be carried around the location or set on a tripod to record a specific area over time. You will need a digital camcorder with a night shot feature which will allow recording in total darkness. Adding a light extended will increase the night shooting distance by up to ten times.

Night Vision Goggles

Night vision goggles and scopes are a relatively new technology to paranormal investigations.  They can be very useful if you are investigating an outdoor location, as long as you use goggles or a scope equipped with an infrared attachment. This will enable you to use the equipment to recognize certain types of manifestations such as spirit orbs. It is believed that this is possible due to the reflection of infrared light from the orbs.

Flashlights and Spare Batteries

Bright flashlights are essential because a lot f ghost hunting is done at night in and around dark places. Many investigators also like to use headlamps because they provide good hands-free light. Always carry spare batteries just in case.

Dowsing Rods

Dowsing rods are one of the oldest ghost detecting devices in existence and though low tech, some paranormal investigators still use them today. For this purpose, most dowsers recommend using two L-shaped rods, made from brass or some other light-weight metal. The rods are usually about two feet in length and bent at one third, with the shortest length the hands. They should be held loosely so that they are able to swing back and forth freely in the hands. Experienced dowsers say that when they begin walking through a location with their rods, as they encounter an anomaly, the rods will begin to vibrate and will slowly cross over each other. Some investigators use dowsing rods to communicate with ghosts.

A Note Pad and Pencil

These are essential items for noting down times and places that activity occur during the investigation. Other things that you may want to take not of during your adventure are specific feelings or sensations that you feel throughout the exploration such as emotions or physical sensations and also and mental images that occur to you or any names that may spontaneously arise in your mind that you may later find are significant.

Trigger Objects

Investigators may sometimes use trigger objects at the site of the haunting. These are usually objects from the site that have a history of being moved by the ghost. Trigger objects can range from pictures, to coins. The purpose of a trigger object is to create a focal point from which to measure events such as movement or temperature change.

Digital Camera

A digital camera is much more versatile than a standard camera; they are generally more infrared sensitive. They also enable faster results. Digital camera technology has advanced rapidly over the last few years and any digital camera with five mega pixels or more, particularly if it is capable of taking night vision shots, is now considered by experts to be as good as, if not superior to a traditional 35mm camera. Another advantage of newer digital cameras is that they also store raw data files which contain uncompressed and unprocessed images; such data including the time and date when the picture was taken, if a flash was used and the ISO settings is all embedded in the image. This means that if the image is manipulated this data is also stored so when the picture is analyzed it is easy to see if it is authentic; it almost like having a form of digital negative.

Capturing a ghostly image

Capturing visual evidence of a haunting can be time consuming. When an anomaly is detected, such as a temperature fluctuation or a movement, investigators will begin taking pictures of that specific location, in the hope that something will show up on the images that is not visible to the naked eye. There are three general categories of ghostly manifestations orbs, vortexes and complete manifestations.

Orbs

Orbs are balls of light, of varying size that appear unexpectedly in photographs. They have also been captured on video moving rapidly across a room. They are generally bluish white in color and opaque. Some paranormal investigators believe that orbs are manifestations of pure energy that signifies an early manifestation of a ghost.

Vortexes

Vortexes (or vortices) are slightly less common than orbs. They can appear in a picture as a swirling column of light, or more substantially as a wispy, cloud. A vortex is often believed to be a ghostly energy that is passing beyond the orb stage. Sometimes vortexes appear to be forming human features such as limbs or facial features.

Complete Manifestations

Complete or full body manifestations are extremely sought after but seldom achieved. In these images a complete human or animal is seen in the picture. The figure is often transparent. When complete manifestations do occur, they often show up in very unusual places within the picture such as the background of a painting or superimposed upon another object.

 How to Examine a Haunted Location

 Location Research

Once you have chosen your location one member of your team should conduct as much research into the site as possible. Don’t forget to look at any available plans of buildings and land plots, interview witnesses and Useful sources are local libraries and museums, tax and church records and genealogical databases. The researcher should keep this information from the rest of the team until after the investigation to avoid influencing the other members.

Investigation

The investigation should begin with a preliminary tour, during which a number of base-line readings will be taken to asses the average temperature and EMF at various points throughout the location. The preliminary tour also gives you an opportunity to sketch out a plan of the location. The investigation should proceed immediately after the tour, usually during the darkness because this makes it easier to detect light anomalies, and it is also usually quieter, making it easier to detect unusual noises. Both static and mobile vigils are usually conducted throughout an investigation at a series of chosen locations.

Filming and Photography

Numerous photographs should be taken throughout the location. If you are not using a digital camera you should make notes of the location and time of each picture. Video filming can be used to pick up on any missed photographic opportunities.

Noting Details

Notes should be taken throughout the investigation so that they can be cross-referenced later with any photographs, voice recordings, sightings, or thoughts, ideas or feelings picked up by the sensitives throughout the vigils.

Collecting Evidence

You should try to collect evidence to support any theories of paranormal activities. One way of doing this is to use trigger objects. Place a trigger object on a piece of paper and draw round the edges and leave it in a significant location. The point of this is to see if the trigger object is moved. It is a good idea to have the object covered by a motion sensor and a video camera.

 Debrief

Once the investigation has been completed the team should debrief as soon as possible. To avoid team members influencing each other you may want to each write your experiences down in private and put them into an envelope. All photographs, video footage, tape recordings and notes made during the investigation should be analyzed at during the debrief.

Evaluation and Conclusion

Once all the evidence has been gathered and analyzed the team should come together and evaluate the investigative material along with the researcher’s material and discuss their findings. A rational assessment should be made of the evidence and an attempt should be made to debunk any anomalies if possible. It may be deemed necessary to re-visit the site to gather more information or to re-evaluate the situation.

Tapping into the Earth Energies – the Art of Dowsing

By Pearl Blackthorn

From Darkside Magazine May 2014

Dowsing, also known as water witching, diving, or rhabdomancy is known to have been practiced for at least 7000 years. Images of dowsing forks are portrayed in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and it is believed that the Egyptians used the instruments to find water. Similarly, ancient Chinese cultures used dowsing techniques to locate underground water channels and also minerals. Later, the Celtic druids used the same methods to discover not only water, metals and minerals but also to find ley lines—electromagnetic lines believed to intersect many ancient archeological sites (such as henges and burial mounds).

During the Middle Ages, Europeans frequently used dowsing to search for water and metal. In the 15^th century it became a popular tool for German and English miners who were seeking coal, though Martin Luther, whose own father was a miner who employed dowsing, condemned the practice as “the work of the Devil”, and the subject gradually sank into obscurity. Interest in dowsing was revived during Victorian times, partly due to a relaxing of the church’s attitude and a growing scientific interest in the practice. During the following decades, a number of prominent people, including Albert Einstein had some positive results in experiments using dowsing.

How Dowsing Works

Each dowser has their own slight variation on how the process works, though most proponents believe that dowsing rods or a pendulum may act as antennas that are able to receive information in the form of energy waves from people, places, objects and sometimes even thoughts. Albert Einstein believed that dowsing was connected to electromagnetic waves and that dowsers use their tools to follow this energy in the same way that birds use electromagnetic waves to follow their migratory paths. Some dowsers refer to their art as ‘divining’ because they believe that they are channeling a divine force, or accessing divine knowledge through the pendulum or dowsing rods. Others believe that the dowsing tools are merely visual aids that show us what our body is already aware of.

To locate underground sources, dowsers hold the rods loosely in their fists with their arms stretched away from their body at 90 degree angles, elbows at their sides. They walk slowly around the area that they are examining, as they cross a boundary line the rods will slowly cross over each other. As they move away from the boundary line the rods will slowly move apart again. Dowsers often say they can feel a gentle vibrating movement in the rods as they move, as though a subtle energy is flowing through them. A wooden, forked dowsing stick is held gently with one end of the fork in each hand, pointing slightly upwards. It is said to vibrate slightly and to point downwards to signify a positive response.

When using a pendulum, dowsers hold the end of the string or chain gently in their fingers, so that their grip will not influence the direction of the swing. They will ask the pendulum to show how it will indicate a ‘yes’ response. If the pendulum rotates clockwise, then an anti-clockwise rotation will signify a negative response, and vice versa.

Sometimes the dowser does not travel physically to a specific location but may merely use a pendulum with a map. In this instance the dowser will hold the pendulum over the section of the map which they are investigating to obtain results.

Finding Water

Dowsing has been used throughout history for finding water. Many pioneers used the method to figure out where to dig their wells, and dowsing is still use throughout the world to find water sources today. The results of a German, government sponsored program to test and apply dowsing methods for locating water sources in arid regions were presented in the Journal of Scientific Exploration in 1995. This was the most ambitious dowsing experiment ever to be undertaken, and achieved a striking 96 percent success rate by dowsers in Sri Lanka. Based on previous geological experience in that area, a success rate of only 30-50 percent would have been expected from conventional methods. Even more remarkable, it was reported that the dowsers were also able to accurately predict the depth of the water source and the yield of the well to within 15-20 percent.

Once an underground water source is located, the depth is measured by first marking off the edge of the source above ground. At this starting point the dowser asks how deep below the surface the source is located. The point at which the rods cross again are then measured with a tape measure. The reading gives an estimate of how deep the source is. The results are said to vary depending on the experience and skill of the dowser.

Dowsing and the Military

During the Vietnam war, it is reported that U.S. marines were taught how to use a dowsing pendulum to locate the Viet Cong’s underground tunnels and mines. Apparently the men in the field came to rely on the dowsing marines because their methods were far more accurate even than the sophisticated apparatus that was already at their disposal.

During the Second World War, Colonel Kenneth Merrylees, a well known water diviner, worked successfully as a bomb-disposal expert, using his dowsing talents to find bombs with delayed action fuses which were buried deep underground.

The Chinese Army has been utilizing dowsing techniques for decades to train advance troops to scout the terrain and locate enemy targets and optimum sites for encampment. Both the Czechoslovakian Army and the Canadian Army Engineers also have permanent corps of dowsers.  On home ground, at USMC Camp Pendleton on Southern California, young enlistees have been screened for their dowsing ability. It is reported that one out of five is found to have a natural ability to dowse.


Dowsing in Archeology

Many archeologists believe that dowsing can be a valuable tool if it is used systematically and accurately. It is sometimes used when other instruments are impractical, for example, under churches or buildings that are still in use. In these cases, dowsing may be the only means of accessing below-ground information. Carl Etheridge, Historic Preservationist and Cemetery Preservation Consultant from Cartersville, Georgia, often finds uses for dowsing in his fieldwork. When surveying possible grave sites Carl will often use his personally made copper dowsing rods to locate unmarked graves that have been hidden by undergrowth and the ravages of time. He explains that sometimes a ground probe will not work because “over time graves subside as the coffin deteriorates and the ground sinks. As the family tends a grave they will often fill in the depression, bringing the grave back up to ground level. Once it’s packed in good and tight over the years a probe rod won’t penetrate it.” When Carl walks the site with his dowsing rods however, their gentle movements will show him where the exact boundaries of the grave sites are and often even whether the coffin is a rectangle shape or the old hexagonal shape. This enables him to record the locations of the burial sites and conduct research in the historical archives.

Accurate dowsing can enable the location of archeological features without running the risk of damaging any evidence even though excavation will be required later. Dowsing may also be used to suggest dates for artifacts and buildings that can be confirmed later with traditional methods. Though non-dowers often deny the validity of the method, some archeologists claim that dowsing can bring new understanding to the field’s relationship to the ancient energies of early buildings and megalithic features. The use of dowsing in archeology ins becoming more widespread in Britain, in countries such as Russia it has been widely accepted as a science for some years and is taught in colleges at graduate and post graduate levels.

Communicating with the Dead

Sarah Harrison of the Ashville Paranormal Society, North Carolina, is a sensitive to spirits of the deceased. She uses dowsing to communicate with spirits of the dead when she and her team travel round the U.S. investigating haunted sites. She recently investigated Noonday Baptist Church Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia. The site is also known as Devil’s Turnaround because of its reputation for paranormal activity. Although she did not experience any of the negative activity that is told of in local folklore, such as mysterious appearing scratches and bruises, howling sounds and a ghostly dog, she did take a number of photographs which revealed orbs and was able to contact an adult male and an eight year old boy, using dowsing rods.

Sarah explains that using dowsing rods to communicate with spirits is a fairly simple process. She asks the spirit a simple question and then asks it to cross the rods if the answer is yes, and to open them if the answer is no. Names are received by going through each letter of the alphabet. During her visit to Noonday Cemetery, Sarah communicated with the spirit of a young boy who told her his name was Sam. Interestingly, Sarah later found a grave at the site, marked with the name Samuel Barnes, though it was only inscribed with the date of his death so she does not yet know how old he was when he died. She is currently making further investigations.

Dowsing and Medicine

In France, doctors have actually been using dowsing pendulums since the 1930s to diagnose illness. This practice is known throughout Europe as Radiesthesia. The pendulum has been used to detect a range of ailments including allergies, to locate areas of and causes of disease and to determine the sex, and even the due date of unborn babies. Some chiropractors prefer to use dowsing methods on their patients rather than x-rays. Dentists have even been reported to use dowsing to find cavities in their patient’s teeth.

In the U.S. many holistic healers believe that dowsing can be a very versatile tool because it can be used for a wide range of purposes beginning with highlighting imbalances within a patient’s body, from there, it may be used to indicate how the patient may make adjustments in her diet or lifestyle, with the aim of regulating the flow of energy, chi or prana throughout the body.

Dowsing Controversy

The history of dowsing is not without its share of controversy however. One of its most notorious characters was Verne Cameron. Cameron became noted for his dowsing talents in the late 1920s, by which time he had discovered numerous water well sites and springs for his neighbors. He achieved international fame in the 1950s for developing the Cameron Aurameter, also known as a “water compass” which incorporated five different devices able to detect water. Tens of thousands of these devices were used throughout the world by professional dowsers. During the Cold War, in the 1960s he was invited by the South African government to use his pendulum to help them locate their precious natural resources. The U.S. government denied him a passport due to the fact that some years earlier, he had demonstrated his dowsing prowess to the U.S. Navy, by map dowsing and successfully locating every submarine in the Navy's fleet. He also successfully located every Russian submarine throughout the in the world’s oceans. The CIA subsequently determined that Cameron was a risk to national security, and he was forbidden to leave the country.

What the Skeptics Say

Though the argument for dowsing may be compelling, skeptics claim that all dowsers will ultimately fail when properly tested. If you ask them why dowsing works at all they will probably explain that it is due to the “ideomotor effect.” The ideomotor effect is a sudden and involuntary body movement which is stimulated by a conscious or subconscious thought, rather than any external stimuli. In other words, according to the skeptic, the dowser is unknowingly moving the rods or pendulum herself. While this does seem to explain the failures, it does not seem to satisfactorily account for the extraordinary number of successes. Other skeptics explain dowsing successes as the result of visual cues, visually imperceptible shifts in the levels of the ground that move the rods and prior knowledge of the area

How to make your own dowsing tools

If you want to put it to the test yourself you can quite easily equip yourself with the essential tools. A dowsing pendulum is simple to make as you merely need a weighted object on the end of a string or chain. Favored objects include rings and crystals.

Dowsing rods may be made of several different materials. Metal ones are commonly made of copper, though some of them are also made from brass. Many people have also made simple dowsing rods from metal coat hangers. The rods are bent into an L-shape, with the smallest part of the angle being the part you hold in your hand and the dowsing end itself usually being about three times the length of the handle. You can make variations on these dimensions based on what works for you and what you feel comfortable with. You can also use a single L-shaped rod or a single U-shaped rod which functions on the same principle. Some people use an L-shape rod with a fine wire loop in the middle of the bar, which bobs up and down when it detects a source. Early divining rods were made from forked wooden branches. Many dowsers are still in favor of these types today. A forked piece of rowan, hazel or willow wood are the most traditional dowsing instruments. With a little practice you may even be able to design your own style rod that is even more sensitive than the ones described above.

   

Ten Things you Didn't Know About Harry Barker Raymond

When and where were you born?

I was born on January 9, 1979. Like a typical Sagittarian, I have a strong sense of adventure and I don’t mind taking the occasional risk to keep life exciting. Pearl would probably say I take too many. (laughing) I was born in Forres, Scotland. My family—my mother, father and older brother Chris—moved to Manchester when I was nine years old and I have lived in the city ever since.

When did you develop a passion for the paranormal?

When I was a young lad, my uncle Fred used to visit us every weekend and he would tell stories of the ghosts he'd seen. He used to see them all over the place, down the coal mine where he worked, in the local pubs, even in the post office on the corner. He saw them so often I thought there was something wrong with me because I couldn't (laughing).As I grew older I started reading other people's accounts of otherworldly experiences and decided to do some amateur investigations. This tied in nicely with my hobby as a photographer at the time and it was fun.

Have you ever captured a ghost on film?

Pearl and I were in Wales a couple about a year ago investigating a reported haunting in a building that had once been a monastery and then a boy's home. I did get some very unusual photographs in one of the rooms, but the images were not at all what I thought they might be.

When did you decide to become a professional photographer?

At the age of 14 during a business trip to China with my parents.

How did you meet J.J. Benson?

I met Benny in a pub in Salford. I had missed my train and he was just about to take a tour of Ordsall Hall which is rumored to be very haunted. He asked me to go with him to shoot pictures and I did. I didn’t know at the time that he was a good friend of Pearl's.

What's it like Working with Pearl?

I love it. Pearl and I have been friends for years; we were at university together. She's much more skeptical than I am when it comes down to the paranormal stuff, but I think in her heart she really would like to experience something that would convince her that there's something going on that she can't totally rationalize.

What's your worst bad habit?

I don’t wash my dishes until I run out of clean ones (laughing).

What's the worst thing that could ever happen to you?

It already has. I lost my wife in a fire four years ago.

What's your most prized possession?

My Morris Minor Woody.

What is your biggest accomplishment to date?

I won the Golden Shutter photography award in 2012 for a series of photographs called Loving Life that I exhibited that year. The twelve photos were all of my wife Marie doing things that made her most happy.

                                A Trick Box or A Box of Tricks?

What could two college students, a priest and his twin brother, and a young mother all have in common? A perplexing mystery has been unraveling throughout the city of Manchester over the past few weeks, one that despite its intriguing elements and several witness statement, is no closer to being solved.

The tale begins a little over a month ago when three students at Manchester University had a small package delivered to their dorm room. Inside was a five inch by five inch wooden cube. With it was a hastily scrawled note which read, “ open the box before midnight or suffer the consequences.” Though the three friends did not take the threat too seriously, they did attempt to open the cube by several means, all of which were unsuccessful. Thirty minutes before midnight a strange man arrived at their room demanding to see the box open. The incorrigible man refused to leave even when they tried to give the box back, but insisted he must stay until the stroke of midnight. As the clock struck the witching hour, the three boys claim that the stranger began to transform from a human being into a giant snake and threatened to eat them all if they did not hand over the box.

“It’s like he was a man one minute and a giant slimy snake the next,” Martin Clooney, one of the students said.

 “I know it sounds crazy, but we all saw it happen,” said his friend Colin Frome “and we hadn’t even had a single beer that night.”

  Soon after the man’s transformation, the boys managed to escape the dorm room and hid in the gym until the next morning. When they returned to their room, they could find no trace of the man-snake or the box. Upon hearing their story, their fellow students laughed it off as a hoax, until another strange story was posted on Facebook less than a week later.

The story tells of, Diane Gurney, a young, single mother from, Salford who reported to the police that a “strange troll-like man” had entered her home on the morning of October 22nd around 8am. Gurney says she has no idea how the man got into the house but when she threatened to call the police he began to laugh at her, then demanded that  she open an unusual box. Afraid for her life, she attempted to placate the man, and tried to open the box, which she recognized as a puzzle box. Just as she felt she was getting close, the bacon began to burn and set off the smoke alarm. The small man immediately became very agitated. The last thing Ms. Gurney remembers before she fainted was that the man turned into a large pig and began “to run around the kitchen squeaking and squealing.” The young woman was found several hours later by a concerned neighbor.

More recently but no less incredibly, last Friday, Reverend C.V. Wellington of Plant Lane Methodist Church was making some repairs to vandalized pews with the help of his twin brother Henry. Before they were done a small, disabled man entered the church and placed a strange box on the altar. When questioned, the man did not respond. After some time they approached the stranger. He promptly took on the form of their deceased mother and told them that if they did not quickly open the odd bx, they would have to spend the night locked in a cupboard. Try as they might, under the watchful eye of their browbeating mother, neither man could solve the puzzle of the box. They were found by the cleaning lady the next morning, locked in the vestry.

The identity and whereabouts of the mysterious transforming man remains unknown, as does the location and contents of the mysterious box. Will he strike again until someone solves the puzzle? And if he does what secrets will the mysterious box reveal?

Puzzle boxes, also known as trick or secret boxes, have been popular for more than a hundred years. Some are basic and require only the slightest pressure on the correct spot, while more complex boxes require a combination of moves to release several different parts of a mechanism before opening.

If you have a story connected to this mysterious puzzle box or the incredible shape-shifting man, please contact Pearl Blackthorn. You can find out the solution to the Puzzle Box mystery here.

Interview with Pearl Blackthorn

by Corinna Underwood

CU: Today I am joined by author Pearl Blackthorn. As well as her series of paranormal mystery novels, Grave Matters, Pearl is also renowned for her investigative research as part of the DarkSide project, a group of paranormal researchers based in Manchester UK. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today Pearl.

PB: You're most welcome.

CU: First of all I'd like to talk a little about your background with DarkSide, for our readers who are not quite so familiar with your work. When did you first become involved with the project?

PB: I first met the founder J.J. Benson when I was a teenager. He started Darkside magazine in 1999. When I first started writing for J.J. the magazine covered historical locations throughout the UK that are connected to paranormal legends. Over the years the project has expanded to a wider range of paranormal subjects and my colleague Harry Raymond and I frequently visit locations and investigate the claims ourselves.

CU: Your interest in the paranormal is a big part of your life, and this themes runs through your fiction and your non-fiction. Have you ever had paranormal experiences yourself?

PB: I did have an unusual experience when I was investigating a haunting at the site of an ancient monastery in Wales, but I think that was rather more of a product of my imagination. Although I do have a fascination for folklore and paranormal legends, I also have a healthy skepticism. Usually when we embark on an investigation there is a quite rational explanation for the phenomena, sometimes it just takes a while to figure it out. However, Harry keeps telling me that one day I'm going to have an experience that I can’t explain and then I'll have to totally re-think my skepticism. I'll keep you posted on that one.

CU: Yes, please do. Didn't you and Harry recently take a trip to New Orleans to investigate a voodoo curse?

PB: That's right. The curse was connected to a very dear friend of Harry, who had recently passed away. We got to visit The Blind Pig, one of the oldest standing speakeasies in Louisiana, and we met some met some very interesting characters along the way.

CU: And did you solve the mystery of the curse?

PB: We did, though it wasn't at all what we had expected. But if your readers want to find out about the whole investigation they can read about it at DarkSide.

CU: Do you have any investigations ongoing right now?

PB: Actually, Harry and I met with J.J. this morning. He has been communicating with the owner of the Rook Inn, which is located in Cheshire. Apparently the Inn was recently renovated and since the work has been completed the owners are being terrorized by strange wailing sounds throughout the night. We are planning to head down there for a few days next week and see what we find.

CU: Well we will look forward to hearing about that. Readers will be able to find a full report on the Blackthorn Blog?

PB: Absolutely.

CU: Pearl Blackthorn, thank you very much for joining me today. Good luck to you and the DarkSide team.

PB: It’s been a pleasure. Thank you. 

Ten Things you Didn't Know About Pearl Blackthorn

Why did you start writing?

I loved reading from a very early age, particularly fairy tales and folklore from all over the word. I used to enjoy losing myself in these stories so much that I began to create my own. I published the first book in my Grave Matters series when I was 20. Shortly after I began writing for J.J. Benson's paranormal magazine Darkside.

What is the besting about writing for you?
Unhindered freedom.

Name some of your favorite authors?

It’s a very long list but near the top are The Brothers Grimm, Angela Carter, Virginia Wolf, Italo Calvino, Jeanette Walls, and Michael David Lukas.

Do you listen to music while you write?

I often listen to Bach or Mozart while I write.

Where do you do most of your writing?

I like to be surrounded by books when I write. My writing room in my apartment has walls lined with books. I also enjoy writing in my friend's book shop. However, inspiration will often strike in the most unusual of places so I always carry a note book and pen wherever I go whether I'm hiking, visiting a historic site or just riding the bus.

What is the most inspiration place you have ever visited?

That would be the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. It is the only place I have ever visited that is completely silent. Its beauty, stillness and sense of peace are awe inspiring.

Where is the next place you want to visit?

I’m planning a trip to Japan's  Aogashima Island to see the ancient volcano.

What makes you laugh?

Great British comedy shows, the rain on my face and

What would you like to be if you were not a writer?

A bird. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to fly?

What do you enjoy when you’re not writing?

Reading, visiting historic sites and spending quality time with good friends.