The Paranormal Investigator

Photographer: Priscilla Du Preez | Source: Unsplash

The years I spent as a criminal investigator have taught me one vital lesson. That is, to search for the truth, and go to where the evidence takes me to either build a case or find the case unfounded. To do this, the investigator must collect and preserve evidence and information.

Research Information

It must be available for all parties involved in the inquiry to examine and compare. After all, the evidence has been collected and carefully examined, the case is brought to another party, in this case - a prosecutor. The prosecutor then decides whether or not there is sufficient evidence to file the case and send it to court. It is in court that the case is decided by a jury selected from society. So goes our legal system in theory.

The Paranormal Investigator

When building a case for the existence of the paranormal, shouldn’t we use the same standards? If we ever hope to prove the existence to the scientific world, and society, should we have a system in place that allows for common standards and protocols? This would allow all evidence of the paranormal gathered to be considered on common ground. For example, a homicide investigation in Tacoma, Washington will be conducted in a similar fashion in Vero Beach, Florida. Yes, there are differences in some laws state to state. Each investigator will have a different style of interviews and investigation, but evidence will be uncovered, collected and preserved in a similar fashion. Done this way, there could be under certain circumstances, evidence used in Tacoma that could be used to help the case in Vero Beach. This is because basic standards in evidence collection and investigation had been adhered.

I believe this is an important concept. That would allow paranormal investigations that are conducted for the purpose of proving the case of life after death, to be accepted by a jury in society. Now many paranormal investigators will immediately take offense to this saying; “Everybody investigates differently” or “Nobody can tell you how to investigate”. Both are actually true statements. This concept is not meant to tell anybody how to investigate necessarily. What this concept does state, is that regardless of how you ask questions, or in which order you proceed with your work, there must be some protocols that are adhered to if you want your investigation to be considered valid to prove your case.

Some examples of this would be that all EVP sessions should be recorded. That should be prior to any questions being asked, there must be a preamble of: Time, Date, Location and the names of persons present during the session, etc. Now this is already the procedure for many groups, but do we consider it standard amongst all legitimate paranormal investigators? Some groups listen and gain possible EVP evidence but, they are using a voice recorder that cannot be transferred to a computer or other storage device.

If the EVP evidence cannot be preserved, then what use is it in an investigation? If these standards are not followed in criminal court. The evidence revealed during that part of the investigation is in danger of being thrown out. Why is that any different in the case of a paranormal investigation. There are plenty of people waiting in line to refute any evidence saying it is contrived in some way or misinterpreted by the investigator. Standards that are universally adhered to - show that the field of paranormal research, and investigation, is moving towards procedures that will validate their investigations and the evidence collected.

Now there will be those that say, that they don’t care if others believe their evidence. They do things their way and who cares what others think. “I know what I heard” or “I know what I saw” and that is all that is important. First let me say that there is nothing wrong with this line of thought! Everyone has the right to feel that way and conduct themselves in a manner, which is helpful, and productive to their goals and needs. This leads to the motives of those conducting these inquiries.

Many of the paranormal teams that exist today - conduct investigations with little or no thought as to what they are going to do with the evidence they get. I have spoken to a number of teams that keep their evidence in some type of computer storage. I have spoken to many others that share their evidence on their websites and very little other than that. Once again, there is nothing wrong with that way of thinking BUT…

Paranormal Investigator vs. Paranormal Thrill Seeker vs. Spiritual Searcher

What is your motive to investigate or research? There is no wrong answer to this, just the inner search to determine your motives for investigating.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary an investigator is someone: “whose job it is to examine a crime, problem, statement, etc., in order to discover the truth.”

Taking this into consideration, it should be the nature of any investigator to search for the truth through evidence. A paranormal investigator and researcher must use standards that are accepted in the field to put their case together. This includes a systematic way of locating, collecting and preserving evidence.

This evidence then can be examined and compared with other evidence collected by the investigator, (or by other investigators conducting other investigations) in order to find commonalities (I will be discussing this concept in a future article).

The goal in this case is to find evidence, share with other investigators, and find the answer to question of is there life after death. Solving one of mankind’s greatest mysteries should the goal of the Paranormal Investigator.

Paranormal Thrill Seeker

Photographer: NeONBRAND | Source: Unsplash

The term “Paranormal Thrill Seeker” might sound derogatory to some but it truly isn’t. Thrill seeking is a part of our societal make up. Why do people jump out of a perfectly good airplane? Because it is fun and exciting. Why do people swim in the open with sharks? Because it is fun and exciting. This is perfectly acceptable and understood in our world today. Why wouldn’t seeking evidence of the paranormal be the same? All of us in the field have experienced the heart pounding, adrenalin rush of hearing the disembodied voice call your name, a door un-expectantly slamming shut, or the holy grail of “ghost hunting”, the sight of a full body apparition.

Anyone who goes to a possibly haunted location that tells you this isn’t a thrill, I would dare say isn’t being honest with themselves. Many groups who seek paranormal activity simply enjoy the thrill of the event. These teams certainly talk about it regularly, enjoy the camaraderie of those who also enjoy ‘the hunt” and are a vital part of finding evidence. But do they truly use this evidence with the intent of solving the case? For example, how often do groups of this category go to the level of comparing things like atmospheric or solar conditions with other teams that have captured the same type of evidence to find if there is a common link? They know the paranormal world exists. They have theories as to why it exists. But if the issue was honestly addressed, how many actually investigate to “discover” the truth?

Many make it a habit to go to the numerous famous locations worldwide and investigate the already well-known claims but, rarely if ever consider saving their evidence for comparison and review with evidence taken from other investigations. The term “Paranormal Thrill Seeker” should be looked at the same way others who engage in other adrenalin filled activities. There is nothing wrong with being a “Paranormal Thrill Seeker”, we all enjoy the rush. BUT, if the “thrill” is your motive, your goal, are you truly an investigator? This is a question you can only ask yourself, and ask it honestly.

Remember, an investigator is in search of the truth. The final answer revealed in that search, whatever it is, should be the goal of the investigator.

Spiritual Seeker

The term Spiritual Searcher is meant to denote those that are trying to find a personal answer to the question of life after death. The Spiritual Searcher is often one who has experienced a personal tragedy or has had a personal paranormal experience and is simply looking for the answers they need to bring order or closure to themselves. This individual has no other investigative goal but to prove to themselves the existence of the afterlife and providing proof to others is of minimal importance.

Everyone in these three categories have a place at the table in the world of paranormal inquiry. Not one is less important than the other. But the motivations of their goals are important to the field. This entire concept I have provided is surely going to create controversy.

The idea of what a “Paranormal Investigator” is has been engrained into today’s society. Much of that credit has to be given to the many shows seen on television that provide an, at times, unrealistic view of what paranormal investigation entails. When discussing this thought, I like to compare a paranormal investigation to a law enforcement stakeout. On television or in the movies, a police stakeout is an exhilarating adventure fraught with excitement and danger. The truth is a stakeout is most often a long VERY boring affair that MIGHT bring about 30 seconds of excitement and danger. The paranormal investigation is no different at all but that’s not generally what television presents to its viewers.

Paranormal Investigator

When you peel the layers of this concept away, you will find that a paranormal investigator needs to be a serious student of the question of life after death, dedicated to finding the answer. That’s what an investigator does. Because of how society has painted the term “paranormal investigator”, it is becoming increasingly difficult to understand what this means exactly. Within my own group, we even struggle with the concept at times. Despite this, we are constantly striving to improve our methods and protocols for the good of the field. But it requires work and dedication. This is the message I want to send to those who are seeking the final answer.

Regardless of which category you see yourself as part of, please understand that all are an important part to the field of paranormal research an investigation is. I just ask that you look within yourself and honestly examine the reason you do this. Share what you have learned. Seek training so that you know what you are heading into (You would never sky dive without receiving training prior to jumping would you?). Have fun with it, learn from it, find yourself in it. More importantly, be part of it.

Who Haunts The Shambles York?

Shambles York

The Shambles in York attracts many visitors. Other cities claim streets with the same name (such as Manchester and Worcester), although I biasedly believe ours is the best! This ancient, cobbled lane is a museum, if you will, where tourists can step back in time. It’s easy to see why Anna and I want to film ‘Anna and Amy Investigate’ here

Shambles York Is Haunted

It’s not unreasonable to assume the Shambles York is haunted when considering it's long, unbroken history. Visitors may hope to see a spectral butcher or two still trying to sell their wares, or perhaps get an unexpected whiff of rotting meat as they dodge other tourists along the lane, but accounts of paranormal activity are surprisingly few. A well-dressed man wearing a bowler hat haunted the Shambles up until the 1940s when, for reasons unknown, he retired from such sport. More recently, an incident was caught on camera in the York Shambles Tavern when boxes and glasses fell off a shelf with some force. Anna and I would love to investigate there!

York Shambles and Apparitions

I heard an account of another apparition while indulging in a glass of vino at the Golden Fleece one day. This pub is across the road from the Shambles. An elderly chap struck up conversation and asked what I did for a living. I was awarded a wry smile when I told him I write about ghosts.

‘Appen you’ll know about our Margaret then,’ he said.

‘Our Margaret’ turned out to be Margaret Clitherow. This former Shambles resident married a wealthy butcher in 1571 before converting to Roman Catholicism three years later. The authorities little cared who she married, but they did take issue with her newfound faith. Margaret’s refusal to attend Protestant services saw her imprisoned for periods of time. She was arrested for the last time when they heard she was hosting Mass above the shop on the Shambles. Margaret refused to plead for fear of implicating friends and family in a trial and was executed in 1586. She was beatified in 1929 and canonized in 1970.

Bar Convent in York claims to have Margaret’s hand, but her body has never been found. The man told me she haunts the Shambles, searching for her earthly remains for he had encountered the spectre one morning while out buying a paper.

His determination to believe it was Margaret Clitherow inspired me to include her in my Porter Biggleswade series. Porter Biggleswade is a paranormal investigator who lives on the Shambles. She often sees Margaret’s ghostly form sidling up to unsuspecting visitors, wanting to know if they’ve seen her body. Well, there’s nothing wrong with a little artistic license. Perhaps Anna will be able to verify the man’s account when we film there.

Shambles York Ghosts are not well documented

I find it interesting so few ghosts are documented from the Shambles, yet the Golden Fleece is apparently brimming with them. With over five hundred years in the bag, this former coaching inn has had plenty of time to acquire spectres. Talk of figures disappearing through walls, rattling keys, disembodied footsteps, and people being touched are but a few of the things said to plague this ancient hostelry.

Haunted Shambles York

Specifics include a ghostly figure alleged to be that of Lady Alice Peckett (wife of a former Lord Mayor of York,) who roams the corridors in the early hours. A Canadian Airman who fell from an upper window also makes his presence felt along with ‘One Eyed Jack’, bearing his 16th century red coat and pistol. Roman soldiers aren’t exclusive to the Treasurer’s House cellar it turns out, for their ghostly forms prowl the pub’s basement. They are presumably walking the original ground level of Romano-British York, rather than showing a preference to haunt dark, dank places.

So, while some of the shops on the Shambles maybe haunted, accounts are sadly lacking. Perhaps proprietors feel uncomfortable advertising the fact for fear of scaring people away, or they’re so used to the antics of their ghostly squatters they simply accept it as part of Shambles living. Whatever the reason I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has experienced paranormal activity along the cobbles. And, you never know, ‘Anna and Amy Investigate’ may expose a few secrets too!

The Paranormal And Me

Photographer: Steinar Engeland | Source: Unsplash

It all started when I was about six years old.

I certainly don't remember thinking about death and what happens next in life, but my earliest memory of being a little strange came when I was sat on the stairs at our house in Southbourne, Bournemouth.

I asked my mother who was pottering around in the kitchen

''Can't you even pick up a biscuit when you die?''

This made me realize, much later in life, that I questioned the afterlife and wanted answers to all these strange thoughts; mum and dad never really willing to discuss such subjects.

There was some some respite of these thoughts until the family, large and growing bigger moved to Spain as my dad had gone into a joint business there. Whilst we were there my sister and I found our way to a small park that was simply blank, we thought it was like a ghost town. I was eight at this point, my sister a year younger. My sister saw a man lying flat on a bench with his entire body covered in moisture; we think it was probably sweat as it was just another day of intense heat.I didn't feel comfortable so after a couple of rides on the swing we carried on walking into further adventures. After wondering around further we decided to return to our local park that played the chart music daily, yet on the way there a feeling of dread sped through my entire being causing me to almost lose my balance. I can't remember much else of the physical sensations but I just didn't feel the way I normally do.

Photographer: Mehdi-Thomas BOUTDARINE | Source: Unsplash

While we were enjoying ourselves in the park singing to the music we noticed two black men just staring at us. There were no other children there but many adults and families were on the outside of the park drinking and eating, having a joyous time. When an English lady in her fifties came up to us and told us that the men were dangerous and we shouldn't approach them.

When we returned home to our flat our older brother who had been out walking came back in a distressed state. He had become withdrawn after an hour or two.

My day out was becoming strange to me, my thoughts and feelings were twisted, changed, and I was feeling sad but with no real logic attached to these emotions. It was years later when my brother told my mother that he had been assaulted, an event that changed his life and mine.

Paranormal and The Watchers

We stayed in Spain for a year but we came back to England as the business fell through. We had no choice but to move to an area just outside Bournemouth. Further events surfaced in our new house, a mixture of the paranormal and ill health afflicting not just my brother but myself also.

The unknown had visited me again when I was about thirteen. I was asleep at some point but vividly recall the feel of violent hands tightening across my throat, and I can go back to the point of remembering myself coughing and waking trying to reach my neck with my own hands.

Nightmares

Was I having a nightmare? I don't know, even now, but when I think back to further paranormal occurrences in the house it's possible to believe it to be an evil spirit. My very sensible sister who would of been ten at the time told me a man in a hood, not fully visible was wavering at the end of her bed making her wake suddenly in the night. Another brother of mine mentioned the same figure some years later. I had not seen this figure as we all got older and moved out nothing more was said.

evil figures

I moved here in Wimborne, Dorset, England in 1997 with my twin daughters. I picked out many books in our local library about the history of Dorset, and books about the supernatural. I came across a book about haunted Dorset. To my surprise there was a paragraph featuring an article on a care home which was a ''stone throw'' away from my bedroom window, our back garden led to this home. I found out that the grounds to which the care home was built was once a monastery; we had attended a fete there a few years after the events in our home. You can see the uneven ground as you enter the garden even now. The name of the care home has changed now, yet at the time none of us realized there was a monastery right behind our garden fence.

It just could be possible that the monks seen by my siblings were actually really there, and the evil that approached me that night may of also come from the remaining energies that may still reside there.

This story is a genuine account of just a handful of some of the paranormal incidents that I have encountered throughout my life, with more to share. I have decided that the paranormal follows me, and I am drawn to its energy.

Exhibit Forced To Close Due To Paranormal Activity, Would You Sit In The Chair?

Devil’s Rocking Chair

There are many paranormal exhibits around the world, but none has felt as real as "The Devil's Rocking Chair". The exhibit had to close down, unfortunately; this only a month after purchasing the creepy rocking chair. There is no word if the exhibit will ever open again, due to the intense paranormal activity that occurred after buying it.

What Paranormal Activity Happened During The Exhibit?

Plenty of paranormal activity went on during the exhibit. A power cord pulling itself out of the wall, a light focussing on the rocking chair, five tour guides crying uncontrollably, a woman in the first group fainting. The chair is also believed to be the focus point of "The Conjuring 3". Needless to say, this is a chair with tons of history and ties to none other than Lorraine Warren, the famous paranormal investigator.

What Is The History Of The Chair?

The Devil's Rocking Chair was recently purchased by Zak Bagans, the man from the paranormal series "Ghost Adventures". The chair was supposed to be the main attraction at his Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, but the paranormal activity surrounding the chair threw a spanner in the works.

There is a lot of history surrounding this chair, dating back to the 1980s. The case was referred to as "The Devil Made Me Do It", and was investigated by none other than Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose cases have been featured in movies such as "The Conjuring" and "Annabelle". The case involved an 11-year-old boy who was allegedly possessed. Catholic priests attempted to rid the boy from the possession, but during the exorcism, the chair would levitate and start to rock by itself. Ed and Lorraine Warren claimed to have seen the devil sitting inside the chair.

After several days of exorcism, the demon was expelled from the boy. However, it is believed the demon jumped into Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the little boy's sister. Some months later, Arne would kill her landlord during an argument, stating that a demon made her do it. Even though both Ed and Lorraine Warren testified at her trail, the judge convicted her for first degree murder.

A book was also written about the case in 1983, called "The Devil In Connecticut". There is also a movie in the making that will be released in 2020, "The Conjuring 3". It is believed the Devil's Rocking Chair and its history will be the focus of that movie.

As mentioned earlier, the Devil's Rocking Chair was eventually sold for 67,000 dollars. The chair was sold by David's brother Carl Glazel. While the chair remained in their family after the weird events, Carl was set to move and did not want to take the creepy chair with him.

According to Carl, nobody should ever sit in the chair. It is said that people who dare sit in it face some medical problems shortly afterwards. Some who did even required surgery. Interestingly, the chair was only sold a couple of hours before the death of Lorraine Warren, another creepy coincidence that surrounds this chair.

Visit At Your Own Peril

While I certainly understand people's fascination with the paranormal, I would not be visiting the chair myself. If such items are not protected properly, it could certainly lead to problems. Lorraine Warren is no longer here, so one does have to ask why Zac thought it would be a good idea to display this creepy chair without any help from someone who has a bit more experience with this kind of thing. He may be a paranormal investigator, but I doubt he foresaw the trouble this rocking chair would bring to his exhibit.

Ref:

https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/293421/zak-bagans-buys-infamous-devils-rocking-chair-from-the-conjuring-3/

The Ghostly Children of Bedern, York

Anna and I recently went to film an episode of Anna and Amy Investigate around Bedern, York. The lanes are now framed by modern housing, but it wasn’t always so salubrious. Bedern is Anglo Saxon for ‘house of prayer’ and was home from the 13th century to the medieval Vicars Choral of York Minster. The hall, chapel and gatehouse are all that survive of the college.

Dare to venture from Goodramgate, and you’ll find the gateway to the formerly enclosed religious precinct, with its chapel bowing gently onto the cobbled lane. Proceed a little further and Bedern Hall is quietly waiting for you in all its restored glory.

The hall was once used as the Vicar’s Choral refectory before being converted into housing in the 17th century. With the religious community now gone, Bedern slipped seamlessly from sacred to slum. Crime and prostitution became synonymous with the area, and those with a delicate disposition or sense of self-preservation, thought it best to avoid. This sorry reputation persisted until it was finally regenerated in the late 20th century.

You may assume ghostly vicars drew Anna and I to this once colorful area. The Vicars Choral busied the lanes for centuries - it’s not unreasonable to expect the odd spectre in robes unsettling the good folk of York. Disembodied chanting, or religious forms hurrying towards the minster wouldn’t be out of place at Bedern and yet they are oddly absent.

Ghostly Children

In fact, it was a tale of ghostly children rumored to haunt the ancient cobbles that prompted our visit. We cut through Andrews gate to reach Bedern Hall, which was saved from ruination some thirty years ago. Tucked away in a sea of red brick, the hall is a striking symbol of York’s medieval past, and the place of the alleged atrocity.

The Ghastly George Pimm - Fact or Fallacy?

George Pimm is the villain of the tale - a parish beadle who ran York Industrial Ragged School in the mid-19th century. He is said to have ill-treated the children in this orphanage workhouse, and many died of starvation or disease as a result. Pimm received an allowance from the church for each child he took in, so any deaths resulted in loss of income. Now, a villain wouldn’t stand for that! Pimm hid the dead in and around the school, apparently concealing up to 13 children in the eight years that the school was open.

Pimm started to complain of being plagued by ghostly wailing – I doubt the stench of death helped. Drink failed to drown out the screams and Pimm’s paranoia worsened. The church was finally alerted; of course, it didn’t take them long to make their grim discovery. A grislier version has Pimm losing control and murdering the remaining children in his ‘care’. The school was closed and Pimm admitted to York Lunatic Asylum. Tortured by the screams of desperate children, he hung himself four months later.

The souls of those desperate ghostly children are said to linger in Bedern, tugging on clothing as people wander the lanes. Some have even heard youngsters playing when no children are to be seen. It certainly perturbs those using the lanes at night. Paranormal activity was thought to have faded over time but it made a resurgence when the area was regenerated. Did the building work awaken the children?

Anna and I filmed close to Bedern Hall, yet Anna felt nothing. No little hand strayed her way in need of affection. I asked her to ‘touch’ the building in the hope she may pick up on any residual energy - she didn’t feel any negativity connected with the place.

I was surprised by Anna’s reaction, or lack of, to Bedern, considering the intensity of the rumor. It prompted me to trawl the internet in the hope of learning more. My search did turn up evidence of a York Industrial Ragged school, which opened in 1848, but this was on College Street by York Minster, not Bedern. Apparently, it was the successor of a Sunday school, which opened in Bedern the year before.

This Ragged school was governed by a Board of Trustees and Acting Committee and managed by a Master and Matron rather than a one-man band like the rumor suggests. The school was relocated to the old workhouse on Marygate in 1850, after outgrowing the property on College Street. Marygate is nowhere near Bedern but is interestingly the site of Anna’s ‘Woman in White’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ANvg--kfY). If George Pimm had an eight-year involvement with the Ragged school, childish ghosts would surely be haunting Marygate not Bedern.

The Bedern National School was built in 1872, and could accommodate up to 570 pupils, so this doesn’t fit with the rumor either. George Pimm is said to have committed suicide four months after his admission to York Lunatic Asylum, but I couldn’t find his name on York’s Death Register.

So, is there really any truth to the story, or is it simply the product of a vivid imagination that has grown in the telling? An Angels of Mons moment, if you will. Anna’s failure to connect with the alleged activity suggests it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny reinforced by my challenging of the facts!

A Brief History of Witchcraft

Photographer: Halanna Halila | Source: Unsplash

It is not known exactly when witchcraft first made an appearance.  Witches were mentioned in the Bible - yet it is unlikely the Bible was referring to Witchcraft as we know it today.  The following reference found in Exodus 22.18, “Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live”, may have been mistranslated.  In the King James version of the Bible, this quote was thought to be largely responsible for the persecution of those accused of being Witches in Europe and America. So, it would seem, the history of witchcraft is rather askew.

A Brief History Of Witch Craft

The mythology and folklore of ancient people, particularly Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans has led to many of the beliefs held in Western Witchcraft.  It seems that Witchcraft as we know it, stems largely from the Celts.  These were a group of tribes from the Iron Age, believed to have originated from around 700 BC in Europe.

The Celts were spiritual people.  Celtic Polytheism or Paganism meant that they worshipped many Deities, both Gods and Goddesses.  Celtic Priests, known as Druids, were believed to be Sorcerers and Prophets.  

The Druids also took on roles as teachers, philosophers, astrologers, healers, midwives, bards and judges.  The number three was very significant to the Druids and many aspects of the old religion can be found in threes – the Triple Goddess (Mother, Maiden, Crone), the three phases of the Moon, the Earth, Sky and Sea, and the three stages of Life. 

Witches believe in the ‘Law of Three’ meaning that what is sent out will return threefold.  An ancient symbol known as the Triskelion was used by the Celts.   This symbol depicts three interconnected spirals.

The Druids and The History Of Witchcraft   

The Druids observed eight Holy Days based on lunar, solar and seasonal cycles, Samhain (Halloween) on October 31st, Yule - Winter Soltice on December 21st, Imbolc on February 2nd, Ostara (Easter) – Spring Equinox, Beltane, April 30th, Litha – Summer Soltice on June 21st, Lughnasa – First Harvest on August 2nd and Mabon – Autumn Equinox.  Druidry has influenced some of today’s religions, such as Christianity and Wiccan.  Witches celebrate the eight Holy Days or Sabbats every year.

Wicca

The word ‘Wicca’ means ‘The Wise Ones’.  Anglo-Saxon kings in England used to consult the Witan (meaning moot or meeting), a council of wise ones, before making important decisions.  Wicca had knowledge of herbal lore, magick and divination.  They were often doctors, lawyers, magicians and priests.  Today Wicca is recognized as a religion, whereas Witchcraft is not.  It is a nature-based religion in which there is a belief that the spirit of the Divine, God and Goddess, exists in all things. Wiccans live by two codes: The Wiccan Rede which states ‘An Ye Harm None, Do what Ye Will’ and means they are free to use magic but must not harm anyone; and The Threefold Law, meaning that whatever good or harm they do will return threefold.

Christianity

As Christianity increased in popularity, Church leaders promoted the persecution of Witches and the belief that they were evil and participated in devil worshipping and acts of human sacrifice.  During Medieval times, particularly the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, tens of thousands of people were executed after being accused of witchcraft. They were burned, drowned, hung and tortured to death.  Many of these had nothing to do with witchcraft and were victims of mass hysteria and even grudges.  There are many publicized Witch trials which took place in Europe and America, one of the most well known being The Salem Witch Trials, which took place in Massachusetts, United States, between 1692 and 1693.

Daemonologie

In 1597, King James VI of Scotland wrote a book called Daemonologie, after he became obsessed with the Dark Arts.  His book focused on Witches, magic and necromancy.  As this book was written by a Monarch, its influence led to a great rise in the number of Witchcraft trials in Scotland at this time.

King James VI also became King James I of England in 1603 when the two Crowns united and in 1604 he persuaded Parliament to pass the Witchcraft Act.  This was a much harsher statute than the previous one and meant that anyone accused of using any form of magic would be severely punished.  A first offense of Witchcraft became punishable by hanging.  

Witchcraft trials became widespread across England, one of the most famous being those of the Pendle Witches in 1612.  There were 12 suspects from Pendle Hill in Lancashire who were charged with the murders of ten people, using Witchcraft.  Ten were hanged after being found guilty, one died in prison and one was found not guilty.

Witchcraft History

One prominent figure in English Witchcraft history was Matthew Hopkins, Witch-finder General.  In March 1644, Hopkins overheard several women discussing communications with the Devil.  This was the start of his career as self-appointed Witchfinder General, which ended in 1647.  During his short career Hopkins was responsible for the execution of nearly three hundred women and was well paid for his work.  

One of the methods he used on the accused women included sleep deprivation which led to them being coerced into confessing.  He also used pins and needles to prick their arms and if they did not bleed they were accused of being Witches.  Another method used was tying the women to chairs and submerging them in water to see if they floated.  If they did, they were found guilty.

The Witchcraft Laws in England were repealed in 1951.  A writer, Gerald Gardner, began to hear from Witches across Europe after telling their story.  He was surprised to hear that there were so many Covens still practicing the Craft, yet they did not wish to come out in the open as they were concerned that persecution could re-emerge.  Gardner rewrote ‘The Book of Shadows’, a book containing spells and rituals, written by Witches who met in the shadows due to fear of persecution.  

Gardner’s Book of Shadows contained his own spells and rituals and led to a form of witchcraft known as Gardnerian Witchcraft.  There are many variations of witchcraft today, too many to mention.  Witches today have their own book of shadows, similar to a journal, where they record spells, recipes and rituals.  Traditionally, a Witch’s Book of Shadows would be destroyed upon death, so there was no evidence of them ever having been a Witch.  This is no longer the case today.

Witchcraft has become hugely popular and widespread.  For anyone interested in learning about Witchcraft or Wicca there are many books available on the subject and groups on social media where like-minded people can come together, share their experiences, learn from one another and celebrate old traditions.  Some Witches belong to a Coven, others are solitary Witches.  Unfortunately, prejudice still exists, with a minority still believing that Witches are Satanists and involved in evil practices.  The media has had both a negative and positive influence.

Modern television programs and films have come away from using the stereotype ‘evil Witches’ shown in Disney films and old women with warts and pointy chins flying around on broomsticks!! Newspapers and other sources of media occasionally produce scare stories and misinformation.  However, there are many positive and factual articles online and in magazines written by Witches that dispel the myths and misinformation being spread.

NAZIS and The Occult - Why The Nazi Regime Was Fascinated By The Paranormal

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The fact that the Nazi regime was fascinated by the paranormal is no secret. The relationship between nazis and the occult has been widely described in online journals, books, and even movies. But why was the regime so fascinated by the paranormal? In this article, we look for answers.

Where Did This Interest In The Paranormal Come From?

Paranormal Interest

The interest in the paranormal was rampant between the 1920's and the 1940's. However, it started much earlier than that. Monsters such as Hitler and Goebbels were said to have grown up during a time where Germany and Austria experienced a flourish in supernatural thinking. As such, this could have been an explanation for the interest of the Nazi and occult practices within the regime.

The Nazis and The Occult - Real Evidence

Various books and movies have been released on the subject, so it can be difficult to determine the exact origins. However, a book written by Eric Kurlander at Yale University put the ties between the paranormal and the Nazi regime once and for all.

According to Kurlander, the Nazi regime was obsessed with the paranormal, leading to research and money being attributed to mystical, occult and pseudo-scientific investigation. In his book, Kurlander states that "no political movement drew as consciously or consistently as the Nazis on what I call the 'supernatural imaginary' - occultism and 'border science', pagan, New Age and Eastern Religions, folklore, mythology and many other supernatural doctrines."

The Centre Of The Occult Obsession

Certain people in the Nazi regime were more obsessed by the occult than others. One in particular was Himmler and his SS, a fact that is widely known and has been reported upon in various documentaries. However, Hitler himself dabbled in the occult. Writing describe how Hitler read books on magic, with a clear obsession for the so-called deathray. These facts have also been described in Kurlander's book.

Other prominent people within the Nazi regime are said to be obsessed with occult and pseudo-science. Goebbels was fascinated by Nostradamus and would read his works regularly. Hess, on the other hand, had a fascination with herbalism and even had his own astrologer.

Looking For The Deathray

One could argue that the interest of the Nazi regime in the occult was very much about world domination. One of the facts that seems to support this theory is the Nazi's extensive search of the so-called deathray.

When Hitler was elected at the Chancellor of Germany, he hired someone to search for the so-called deathray. Hitler would also write about a book called "Magic: Theory, History, Practice". He would underline passages such as "He who does not carry demonic seeds within him will never give birth to a new world". This again supports the motive that the interest in the occult was in a bid to create a new world, no matter how hateful that world may have been if they had succeeded.

Biodynamic Agriculture

World domination was certainly a factor when it comes to the relationship between the occult and the Nazi regime, but I do not believe it was the only factor. One idea specifically points to the Nazi regime using occultism as a basis for their new world, which would indicate the period after they obtained world domination.

Proof of that theory can be found in biodynamic agriculture. Biodynamic agriculture was basically an occult farming idea, which would provide a "harmony between blood, soil and cosmos". While the details on that idea mostly got lost, it does seem to prove that the occult would have played a major role if the Nazi's succeeded in their bid for world domination.

The World Ice Theory ("Welteislehre")

When mentioning the Nazi regime and the paranormal, we cannot forget to mention the so-called World Ice Theory, a concept proposed by one Hanns Hörbiger, an Austrian inventor. According to his vision, ice played an important role in all the processes of the cosmos as well as the development of the universe. However, the theory has been widely discredited.

Despite the fact that the theory held no water, the Nazi regime was obsessed with the World Ice Theory. In fact, the theory was even used to promote the Nazi's obsession with Nordic blood and heritage. In the statement, the reference to Cosmic Ice all comes back to the World Ice Theory.

"Our Nordic ancestors grew strong in ice and snow; belief in the Cosmic Ice is consequently the natural heritage of Nordic Man."

The depraved obsession of the Nazi's to create the "perfect race" based on the World Ice Theory and Nordic forebears would later lead to human experiments and other depravities, which are undoubtedly the darkest moments of human history.

Human experiments were not limited to prisoners of war. There was also an experiment involving newborns, referred to as the Lebensborn program. The program consisted of unwed mothers who became pregnant after a visit from German soldiers. These soldiers were encouraged to father children on foreign soil. Once women became pregnant, they were transported to so-called safe houses.

Once the child was born, the child would be monitored to determine if it was "acceptable" according to Aryan standards. If the child did not meet the physical requirements, in other words did not appear to be an Aryan child, the child in question would be put in a concentration camp.

Super Soldier Program

You may think Captain America is pure fiction, but the Nazis actually attempted to create the super soldier; this after a long line of occult obsessions and research. Once again, the dark regime would attempt to create the super soldier through human experimentation, all based on a pseudo-science that had little bearing.

The goal of the Nazi regime was to create a soldier who would not require rest, but also soldiers who were aggressive and fearless. By using a drug called Pervitin, tested on university students, the Nazi regime created its version of the super soldier.

Pervitin was in fact a methamphetamine, which was allegedly distributed in the millions. There is some evidence that the pill was used in the Blitzkrieg and in many battles on French soil. However, the tablets were obviously addictive and eventually led to many German soldiers to drop dead on the battlefield. Even after the war had ended, many German soldiers still experienced the addiction coming from the "super soldier pill".

The Real Reason For The Obsession

World domination is the obvious choice when it comes to the reasons behind the obsession of the Nazi regime, but I believe the answer is much simpler than that. I believe that the occult simply gave the dark regime and excuse for the inhumane experiments, their warfare, and all other atrocities they were associated with.