Open Portals To Hell - San Francisco’s Infamous Westerfeld House

The William Westerfeld House sits on the corner of Fulton and Scott Streets in San Francisco, CA. Anyone heading east up Fulton Street can tell you, as you come to the top of the hill at Alamo Square; this stunning, Gothic home is a sight to behold. It also happens to be one of the cities most haunted locations.

With its multiple metal finials surrounding the roof line, the tower at the top is one of the home’s most interesting features. At the same time, it makes you wonder why such a room was desired. Your interest is further piqued by the building's Gothic “Adams Family” look. The style is unique in its own right, and the building possesses a presence both foreboding and intriguing. It should be no surprise that the house has an interesting and dark past.

Passing The Infamous Westerfeld House

As a native San Franciscan, I grew up passing by the Westerfeld House often. I always wondered about the history of it. It wasn’t until years later that I learned of the haunting tales that took place and its strange connection to the occult.

Constructed in 1889, William Westerfeld, a German baker, commissioned Henry Geilfuss, a well-known German architect (who built many Victorian homes and refined the iconic San Francisco style Victorians in the late 1800s) to build the mansion. The multilevel home was to be Westerfeld’s family residence. Unfortunately, he died only six years after its construction, and this is where the strange history of the house begins.

After William’s death in 1895, the home was acquired by John Mahoney, another prominent San Francisco figure, famous for contracting the building of San Francisco’s St. Francis Hotel and the Palace Hotel. During Mahoney’s time of residence in the home, he entertained many famous guests, two of whom were Harry Houdini and radio inventor Guglielmo Marconi. It is said that the two spent time in the tower. It is there where Marconi transmitted the first radio signals on the west coast, and Houdini attempted to send telepathic messages to his wife across the Bay. One can only wonder if the energy from these activities paved the way for future events.

Night Club Shenanigans

In 1928, it was bought by Czarist Russians, where it became a community center. The basement was turned into the “Dark Eyes” nightclub, and the building as a whole became known as the “Russian Embassy.” It is documented that a Russian colonel was murdered inside the residence during a fight over a woman.

In 1948, the home was converted into multiple apartments and housed African-American musicians who played in local Jazz Clubs. Furthermore, In 1967, the occult filmmaker Kenneth Anger leased the property. In an interview in 2018, Anger stated that he bought the home because he felt it was “Already heavily charged with demonic energy”, and he confirmed that he did perform satanic rituals in the tower.

The Occult At Westerfeld House

While Anger lived in the home, he filmed several occult classics, including the notable “Invocation Of My Demon Brother” and “Lucifer Rising”. A frequent guest of Anger was Anton LaVey (who is said to have also lived inside the home at one point), founder of The Church Of Satan. It’s believed that LaVey used to hold Black Mass in the tower where he opened doors into the spiritual realm.

Adding to the list of residence who practiced the occult, a member of the Charles Manson family, Bobby Beausoleil (who was a follower of Anton LaVey), lived in the home for a time. It is thought that he brought Charles Manson to the house.

Ghost Adventures

In a 2018 interview with Ghost Adventures host Zak Bagans, Anger stated that it was not him nor LaVey who painted a pentagram on the floor in the tower. But that it had already been present when he moved in.

With the dark, heavily charged atmosphere swirling around the Westerfeld House, one can’t help but wonder if the rituals that Anger and LaVey performed indeed opened the doors to hell. Could Beausoleil, a notable musician at the time, have been influenced by demonic entities to carry out a gruesome murder for the Manson Family?

The ceiling in the tower had been removed by Anger and LaVey, exposing the rafters. In an attempt to magnify their forces, a parabolic microphone was hung from the rafters, pointed toward the sky, intensifying their ceremonies as they opened doors to hell and called upon and invited demons into the house.

To this day, residents of the home report that strange happenings do occur within the walls of the Westerfeld House. Unexplained noises are common. Seeing figures and disturbing nightmares are a regular occurrence also being reported. One resident stated in a Ghost Adventures interview that, “You’re never alone here.”

Behavior Patterns

One disturbing regular occurrence is the rapid change in people's behavior upon entering the home. It seems that people become influenced by an unseen force, some becoming violent. Others delving into addiction.

Other residents of the home have expressed that though they regularly feel a strange presence, hear unexplainable noises, and sometimes feel uneasy, they do not feel in danger and continue to live on the property.

Today, the home is owned by businessman Jim Siegel, who has poured love into the house, restoring it and preserving its character. The Westerfeld House is now on the National Register of Historic Places in San Francisco. Siegel has said that he always knew he would someday own the “Adams Family” looking house and had been fascinated with it since childhood. When he purchased the property in 1986, he immediately had Buddhist Priests bless every corner of the home. Although he claims that he’s never seen a ghostly apparition, he has stated that he's experienced one paranormal occurrence in which his bed shook violently while he lay watching TV one night. And it was not due to any earthquakes.

Ted Bundy - America’s Most Infamous Serial Killer

Furst, G. (2012, p. 175) describes Ted Bundy as one of the most prolific American serial killers of all time. That would be an apt statement. However, while Bundy did not necessarily kill the most people during his infamous spree; Bundy used psychology and perception to his advantage.

Childhood

Theodore Robert Cowell (Ted Bundy) was born in the city of Burlington, Vermont. As a young boy, Bundy was made to believe his maternal grandparents were his actual parents. The woman he believed to be his older sister was in fact his real mother (Furst, 2012, p. 175).

During his high-school days, Bundy spent most of his time reading library novels, magazines, and illustrations showing dead bodies and sexual violence. He also engaged in minor criminal behavior such as shoplifting.

Bundy eventually went to the University of Puget Sound and decided to study psychology. There is no doubt that his psychology studies helped him acquire victims with the greatest of ease. After transferring to the University of Washington, Bundy met a woman who he described as the love of his life. Shortly after she ended the relationship, he found out the truth about his real mother. It is implied by many theorists, that his mother was actually raped by her abusive father, his maternal grandfather. There is sufficient speculation that his childhood and experiences as a young adult shaped Ted Bundy into the serial killer he became. But what psychological evidence supports that theory?

Serial Sexual Homicide Investigated

The name Theodore Bundy has almost become synonymous with serial sexual homicide. Up until recent years, the motivation behind such a crime was believed to be driven by compulsion. Despite the seriousness of the crime in question, serial sexual killers are quite rare. Nevertheless, most are known to the public. Figures such as Gary Ridgway, Ted Bundy, Edmund Kemper, and Ed Gein are all examples of serial sexual killers (Williams, 2018).

Theodore Bundy certainly meets the characteristics associated with serial sexual homicide, as Bundy’s crimes were repeated and seemed to be sexually motivated. Researchers have been looking into this specific type of crime for many decades, and most found a substantial correlation between the samples taken from serial homicide killers (Meloy, 2000; Miller, 2014; Schlesinger, 1998, cited in Williams, 2018).

One of the more interesting correlations in various studies suggests that killers who had committed multiple homicides or even mass murders had 10% more cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder and head injuries compared to the control group (Allely, Minnis, Thompson, Wilson, & Gillberg, 2014, cited in Williams, 2018).The study also highlighted that a larger presence of childhood perceived or real psychological trauma or neglect was also reported.

The research executed by Allely et. al (2014, cited in Williams, 2018) is important for numerous reasons. In fact, it caused clinical and forensic psychologists to speculate that the killings could be motivated by a need to reclaim power and control, which was not present during early childhood.

Other research (Hickey, 2016; Myers, Husted, Safarik, & O’Toole, 2006, cited in Williams 2018) supports that claim. According to research done by Hickey and Myers et al., power and control over others was a common denominator in numerous case studies surrounding serial murder.

Bundy’s Characteristics And Potential Leisure Motivations

While the above mentioned research suggests that Bundy could have been motivated by power and control. Another potential variable should be considered according to the article by Williams (2018). In fact, Williams selected the Bundy Case specifically for analysis, attempting to find out if Bundy’s case could have a leisure motivation as well.

To find out if there was a leisure motivation in Bundy’s case, Williams (2018) used a qualitative study in the form of transcript analysis from Bundy’s previous interviews. Within this framework, some evidence of leisure motivation was found. Williams specifically recalls contributors such as seeing serial murder as a game, overcoming barriers to partake in activities, cooling-off periods, and other substantial evidence supporting the leisure theory.

What Motivated Bundy To Kill?

As mentioned previously and backed up by research, sexual serial killings are relatively rare. This is also one of the reasons why the killers who commit it get so much media coverage. Research has shown that this kind of criminal is created by a number of different factors. Not only was Bundy a narcissist, deceit in his childhood and pre-existing criminal behavior were clear warning signs of things to come. Of course, a bad childhood does not made someone a murder.

This is why researchers have started looking at the concept of leisure, in other words, serial killers who kill for pleasure. Proving that someone derives pleasure from killing and almost treats it as a hobby is remarkably difficult though, especially since researchers are often dealing with historic events that require transcript and case file analysis. The one advantage researchers do have is that sexual serial killer cases are usually well-documented by the media. Therefore, there are substantial transcripts to derive information from.

Breaking Through Barriers

During his interviews, Bundy repeatedly mentioned the barriers he would overcome to commit his crimes, which could be an indicator that he enjoyed his crimes rather than committing them out of compulsion. The difference between leisure and compulsion killing has been investigated over the past couple of years. As a consequence, more thorough research and supporting evidence is needed to prove the latter. He was also clearly a narcissist, as he chose to defend himself during his trial (Pérez-Peña, 2017).

In conclusion, Bundy certainly had a narcissistic personality and the ability to manipulate people around him thanks to his background in psychology. But in my opinion, the findings that support the leisure theory also support the compulsion theory as well as the need for power and control. Therefore, I am inclined to support the theory that Bundy wanted power and control. Furthermore, he also that he was left with a lot of anger due to childhood events. Ted Bundy is a well-known case, but I believe the truth behind his motivations is still not proven.

The Case For Obsession — Jock’s Hypothesis

In one of the greatest cases of Demonic Possession in the history of the USA, the major catalyst to the possession was the infestation and oppression during the act of rape, and the consecration by the father against his daughter. This of course was the case of Anna Ecklund aka Emma Schmidt (March 23, 1882 - July 23, 1941). So what does this case and Ted Bundy have in common?

As I have mentioned, the catalyst to the infestation was external to the individual based on the intent. So perhaps in the case of Bundy, this hypothesis might have some merit. Personally what I believe is that Bundy would have come under the phenomena of Interstitial Obsession.

Young Obsession

Could his obsession from a young age be one of the reasons that he reveled in such examples and images of death and violence. Furthermore, we might also hypothesize that his criminal behavior was also the result of external influence of an obsessing preternatural being.

If we also look at the above statement by Sandra who recounts the following statement regarding Psychologists;

In fact, it caused clinical and forensic psychologists to speculate that the killings could be motivated by a need to reclaim power and control, which was not present during early childhood.

We know that malevolent intelligences can fuel a need like a drug user needs a hit. There is no real proof by any statement on whether the Clinical Hypothesis is correct or whether the preternatural hypothesis is correct. The reality is that both of these lines of thought have merit.

Malevolent Intellect

We must remember that malevolent intelligences are for more advanced than we could ever imagine and the modus operandi has intelligence behind the intent and therefore, there is an intelligent pattern. We know that Bundy used his psychological skills to carry out his objectives, but perhaps the objectives were already sown into his being by malevolent intelligent forces.

The enjoyment of the crimes to which he was thirsty for may not have been fuelled by his own desire. They could have been influenced by external agency, which could control the urge seeded in Bundy from a young age.

References

Furst, G. (2012) The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia. Stony Brook, Virginia :SAGE Publications, Inc.

Pérez-Peña, R. (2017) ‘Why Do Killers Represent Themselves? Ego, Ideology, Paranoia...’ The New York Times, 5 January. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/us/dylann-roof-killers-defense-lawyers.html (accessed: 12 September 2020).

Williams, D. J. (2018) Is Serial Sexual Homicide a Compulsion, Deviant Leisure, or Both? Revisiting the Case of Ted Bundy, Leisure Sciences, 42:2, 205-223, DOI: 10.1080/01490400.2019.1571967

Son Of Sam And His Demons

As a psychology student, I have a distinct interest in what makes someone tick. While there are beautiful sides of humanity, many psychologists find themselves attracted to some of the darker sides. After all, many people try to understand why murderers and rapists commit the heinous acts they do. I am no different, as I often delve into the darkest sides of humanity in a bid to understand how a monster is created.

Delving into the darker sides of humanity is not easy though, as even psychologist and student psychologist like myself have their opinion. But to understand what lies beneath, those emotions must be turned off as much as possible.

Today, I take a closer look at the infamous case of the Son of Sam. As one of America’s most prolific serial killers, he is an interesting case to start in our series.

Who Was The Son Of Sam?

The Son of Sam case took place in the late seventies, so it is possible that you are not aware of it. For those of you who are not, here is the quick synopsis of the case.

On August 10th of 1977, a 24-year-old man called David Berkowitz was arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder. According to local newspapers, he was the infamous “Son of Sam”, the serial killer who terrorized New York City for over a year.

David Berkowitz (Son Of Sam) was responsible for six deaths. He also wounded seven others with his .44 caliber revolver. The Son of Sam mainly targeted young women with brown hair, which caused many women to change their look in New York, in an attempt to avoid becoming a target.

Disproven Demon Claims

David Berkowitz claimed numerous times that demons were responsible for his reprehensible actions. However, this was certainly not the case in my opinion. In fact, Berkowitz himself pleaded guilty much later in his court case and admitted that the demon stories were made up to escape the death penalty. Berkowitz changed his opinion however after speaking to a Christian woman.

But what caused David Berkowitz to commit these horrible crimes? There are numerous theories out there, but mental illness was one of the contributing factors.

Childhood

Childhood is usually a reference point to figure out why some people commit horrible acts of violence. While childhood is not the only contributor to violent crime, it often sets the path towards them.

There are very few cases of killers who were born evil. In fact, some psychologists would argue that nobody is born evil. Of course, this is a point of contention to many. So, did the “nurture” factor contribute to the crimes of the Son of Sam? Or was “nature” the predominant factor?

I believe The Son Of Sam was a combination of the two. Considering Berkowitz’s fixation on brunettes, there is a serious indicator of previous trauma or an event that caused anger towards these women. It is also further proved that the demon theory does not hold water, mainly because Berkowitz chose his victims in such a specific manner.

One indicator of previous trauma was the fact the Son of Sam was rejected by his biological mother. His biological mother, Betty Broder became pregnant through her relationship with Joseph Kleinman. Kleinman did not want another child, as Betty already had a young daughter. The family was also quite poor, so Betty put David up for adoption.

David’s adoptive parents were middle-class and quite devoted to their son if records are to be believed. While some would argue there were absolutely no signs he would turn into a violent serial killer, some witnesses reported some indicators of future problems.

Neighbors of the Berkowitz family reported that Berkowitz was often aggressive and violent, bullying other children in the neighborhood. His parents allegedly encountered hyperactive behavior in their son, which proved difficult to handle. There are also reports of the typical loner and isolating behavior we have come to associate with serial killers.

Mental Illness

While I personally believe Berkowitz’s mental problems started in childhood, most people in his environment reported that his mental health deteriorated severely in 1975. However, I believe the death of his adoptive mother in 1967 set the stage for this deterioration. First, he lost a mother through rejection. Second, he lost another mother to cancer. It is possible that this fueled the anger that was already present in Berkowitz from childhood. Berkowitz revealed in interviews that his mother’s death impacted him greatly, so this could have been the fuse that lit the fire.

Declining Mental Health

Berkowitz’s mental health declined over the years, but this became more apparent in 1975. He started to isolate himself even more and started to set fires across New York City. However, it is possible that the fire did not do anything for the anger he experienced. I also believe this brings another possible motivator for his crimes, excitement. In fact, the latter may have lead to the killings and ties in with Berkowitz’s behavior in childhood.

Berkowitz was also diagnosed with schizophrenia later on, although I am not sure that I could support that diagnosis completely considering his tendencies to use mental illness as an excuse. While Berkowitz did not antisocial behavior, there is no mention of other mental health problems or potential traumas.

While there is no doubt in my mind that Berkowitz did suffer from mental illness, I do not think him being a paranoid schizophrenic was the only thing that fueled his crimes. According to my opinion, Berkowitz is a very angry man. He showed anger problems in childhood, and the death of his mother undoubtedly made that anger uncontrollable overtime.

Of course, the victims could have been chosen for sexual preference as well, and this is the theory I support the most. I think Berkowitz was attracted to brunettes and killing them gave him some form of sexual release. This is not uncommon in people with anger-related issues. That almost puts his schizophrenia on the backburner where explanations are concerned. Nevertheless, this theory is most likely in my opinion.

Sandra’s Conclusion

Berkowitz is an interesting case, mainly because his childhood was not that out of the ordinary. While there were signs of mental health problems, he could function in society and almost blended in among the crowd. Insanity would not have been a suitable plea, mainly because he knew the difference between right and wrong. I also believe David Berkowitz was sexually motivated in the killings, much like he sought excitement by lighting fires. Unfortunately, this cost the lives of many good people.

Jock’s Hypothesis - Obsession

Could it be possible that there is some underlying truth to the suggestion that Berkowitz was in fact influenced by malevolent beings? Whilst the former information from my colleague does indeed have merit, and I concur with her findings; I would venture that part of the abuse and part of the environment and state of being could have been a catalyst to Demon Obsession from a spirit intelligence. That obsession could have been so intelligent that it began all be it slowly and with a goal over a period of time.

Even though we have the confession that he made the claims up, could it be the claims have merit based on the modus operandi of the intelligence that could have been behind the mind control and the atrocities and heinous acts carried out? This if course, is merely a hypothesis, but it should plant a seed of thought.

Pseudo Possession

The very fact that Berkowitz tried to use the claims of pseudo possession to validate what he was doing, does make one consider that he was in control. However, there are certain modus operandi that leans towards the aspect of obsessive behavior and the choices that he made could have been influenced by malevolent intelligence. The choice of language from the letters and the belief he had in the occult suggest subtle influence. Even though there was no proof that he was part of a satanic cult, conversely there was no conclusion that he was not either.

For ease of understanding, let's suggest that a demonic entity did actually have him in a more controlled stage of possession or obsession. Controlling the influence of the mind in subtle but powerful ways of suggestion - could have been the impulse needed to make the free-will decision to carry out the atrocity, thus the impulse is mimicking the free will and therefore subtly controlling the will of the chosen host. In mediumship or those that are sensitive to spirit-energies are open to a form of what I term “Mediumship Psychosis” as discussed in deadly departed. A sensitive disposition through emotion or environment could also be the catalyst needed to spirit intrusion to those of a sensitive disposition.

Influence

Now whilst this seed that I have planted is enough to make you consider the possibilities, it does not vilify or quantify the reasoning behind the choices. Berkowitz still remains guilty for the crimes, but one must consider if there was indeed a power beyond him that was also steering the ship. If we examine the language in some of the victim's cases and the written correspondence, one has to propound that language and emotion contained therein does indeed have some separate intellect outwith the remit of Berkowitz. To discern that some other power may have had a hand in the atrocities makes one question deeper each role. Could he have been a chosen host well before - even at the point of childhood.

The Five Most Haunted Places In Scotland Have Been Named!

Scotland is known for its famous ghost stories, so there was no shortage in terms of finding haunted places and locations. That being said, some places have more reported paranormal activity and even famous psychics and paranormal investigators would put their reputation on the line, stating these places are indeed haunted. But which are the most haunted places in Scotland. Well, we are about to disclose the five most haunted places with paranormal events in Scotland. Visit them at your own peril!

1. Mary King’s Close

There is no doubt in our mind that Mary King’s Close is the most haunted place in Scotland, dare we even say the most haunted place in the world. Mary King’s Close is situated in the heart of Edinburgh and often referred to as Scotland’s spookiest street. Turns out, that reputation is well deserved.

Mary King’s Close is one of the many streets that is connected to Edinburgh Castle. It is known that the street was completely bricked up when the plague broke out. So, it is not surprising that this particular street holds many dark secrets.

The street has reported hauntings going all the way back to the 17th century. The street has been visited and investigated by numerous paranormal investigators. Some actual evidence was found to back up the local legends surrounding the hauntings, as research and archaeological findings seem to back up much of the tales going around about the street.

Interestingly, Mary King’s Close has only reopened in 2003; this is the actual street that was bricked up once the plaque broke out in Scotland. Fortunately, you do not have to brave the most haunted street in Scotland alone. Tours go through this haunted location, taking you along the famous Greyfriars cemetery and the location was Burke and Hare dug up corpses and sold them for medical experiments. In short, the stuff of nightmares!

2. Rosslyn Chapel

Most Haunted Places In Scotland

You may know this location already, as the chapel has been featured in both the novel and the movie The Da Vince Code. The chapel was originally built for the Sinclair family. Local legend states that a ghostly light appears in the chapel whenever a member of the Sinclair family is about to die.

There have also been reports of a ghostly apparition within the chapel grounds, which is believed to be Apprentice Pillar. Legends state that the apprentice was killed by his teacher and that the apprentice is still roaming the grounds.

Considering Rosslyn Chapel is more than five-hundred years old; it is no surprise that there are more reports of hauntings. Many tourists claim to have seen the lady in white, which is roaming the inside of the chapel. There have also been several sightings of a black knight riding on horseback. The latter is believed to be a knight who fought against an English invasion in 1303.

In addition to the many ghostly reports coming from visitors, there are significant rumors that valuable artifacts may still be buried on the chapel grounds. That being said, the actual construction of the chapel is well-documented, so this is a pure local legend at this point.

3. The Niddry Street Vaults

If you are still up for more, then the Niddry Street Vaults should be on your to-do list as well. Much like our previous two suggestions, the Niddry Street Vaults have quite a reputation in Scotland too, as they were featured in British TV Shows such as Most Haunted and Joe Swash Believes in Ghosts.

At the end of the 18th century, Niddry Street was the home of countless merchants and taverns. However, it was not your average commercial shopping street. No, it was a street where anyone who wanted to stay outside the law would go to.

Unfortunately, much of the documentation surrounding the Niddry Street Vaults have been lost over time. At the moment, it is uncertain why or when the street closed down. It remained undiscovered until the 1980s, during which countless artifacts and a genuine historic black market were unearthed.

But this isn’t where the long history of the Niddry Street Vaults ends. After the black market was excavated, a witch coven found a new home in the street. Many believe that the rituals performed by these modern witches has attracted all kinds of paranormal activity.

There are various rooms in the vault who are believed to be extremely haunted, and some of these spirits could cause harm to visitors; at least this is claimed by some people who have visited the location. There have been reports of a shadow man seen in a mirror, but also exploding lightbulbs, a poltergeist attacking visitors in his vault, and more. Interestingly, tours have to be done with torches and lanterns, as no light bulbs stay lit long enough. So, this location is not for the faint of heart.

4. Dryburgh Abbey Hotel

Contrary to some of the previous locations, the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel is not cashing in on its haunted reputation. In fact, the owners of the hotel have been trying to keep haunting as quiet as possible, at least if some of the guests are to be believed.

Dryburgh Abbey Hotel has a long history. As the name suggests, the location was originally the home of an abbey where Roman catholic monks resided. Documents show that it was founded as early as 1150 by the Lord of Lauderdale. Evidently, the original building has now been reduced to ruins, but they are still found on the hotel grounds. The hotel itself was also built on a religious building, which could explain some of the hauntings inside the hotel.

Various visitors and guests of the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel have reported hearing and seeing a female apparition in the hotel and on the grounds. Local has come to call the ghost “The Grey Lady”. Some have reported seeing a group of monks on the grounds, which seem to have been chanting.

Local legend claims that the Grey Lady was a woman who had a love affair with one of the monks who lived on the grounds. It is alleged that the relationship was discovered and that the monk was executed for his betrayal. After this, the Grey Lady threw herself into the River Tweed and drowned. It is believed she still haunts the grounds where her biggest loss to place.

5. Stirling Castle

Our list of most haunted locations in Scotland would not be complete without a genuine Scottish castle. While there were plenty of options to choose from, the most haunted castle in Scotland is undoubtedly Stirling Castle.

There are countless ghosts that are said to be haunting Stirling Castle, but one of the best-known ones is that of the so-called “Highland Ghost”. Visitors claim they confused the Highland Ghost for a tour guide, only for him to disappear right in front of their eyes. It is also claimed that the ghost was caught on camera in 1933.

Another ghost that is said to roam the halls of Stirling Castle is none other than Mary Queen of Scotts. The Green Lady has also been spotted, which is believed to have been one of Mary’s servants who died during a fire. Plenty of interesting tales to go check out if you feel brave enough.

What Sceptics Have Done for Spiritualism and the Paranormal

Sceptics Have Heightened Interest in the Paranormal Considerably

Astoundingly, over the last 30 years, sceptics have heightened interest in the paranormal considerably, and consequently defeated themselves . Even their own polls show that they do not understand the fundamentals of the subject and their highly publicised goading has brought the subject to millions of people who are investigating the subject and finding real results. A most spectacular own goal in advertising the paranormal.

Is There Life after Death? Fifty Years of Research at UVA

In the YouTube video 'Is There Life after Death? Fifty Years of Research at UVA' there is a spectacular account of the scientific advancements that have been made. The featured conference on the paranormal, which took place on February 22, 2017, has garnered close to 660,000 views. Google the heading above to watch.

Amazing Facts on Paranormal Subjects Such as Reincarnation

The UVA video goes into detail about some of the amazing facts on all kinds of subjects such as reincarnation and the fantastic details given, primarily by children, on their own past lives with some explicit details. NDE’s (Near Death Experiences) are also covered in this one hour special. Honorary speakers are Jim B Tucker, Bruce Greyson, Edward F Kelly J Kim Penberthy.

Discredited Book "Heaven is For Real"

At the end of the talk there is a short Question & Answer session. One especially for me, concerns the book and film “Heaven is For Real,” about a six-year old boy's NDE. The book has since been discredited because the now grown up boy has disputed his own version of the account in the book, stating that it was influenced by his father, a religious minister.

All Religions are Substantially Man Made

This is delicately handled, categorised as an NDE, but again balanced with what the child has since stated. It seems that whatever religion you are, yours is “the best,” right, and should not be disputed. All religions claim to the correct version, yet all religions are substantially man made, with man made flaws and also supported greatly by the political arena of the time.

No Real Religion Except Spirit

As you will become aware, after a certain level there is no “religion” - only “Spirit”. We come to see the real truth of the state of things when we, ourselves, pass into the world of spirit; a sense of familiarity and certainly a resemblance of earth at that initial level.

Mr Leslie Flint

The Greatest Direct Voice Medium, Mr Leslie Flint

There are some excellent Physical mediums, Mental mediums and Direct voice mediums amongst others. The greatest Direct voice medium that ever lived, Mr Leslie Flint, made over six thousand recordings of those who came to speak at his seances. I would strongly advise to Google him and see the results of his work, as it is astounding to hear the “dead” themselves talk matter-of-factly about their own real experiences of passing, where they found themselves on their re-entry into spirit and the lives they now live there.

There are those who had passed fairly recently (in the last hundred years) and those who passed in the 1600's talking about their lives both on earth and in spirit.

A Few Thousand Sceptics Jumped On the Paranormal Bandwagon

The fact is that perhaps a few thousand sceptics jumped on the bandwagon and were paid handsomely to do so. They committed their lives to trying to convince as many people as possible this is all “hokum” in a very public manner, which has of course jeopardised their reputations, both now and certainly as far as history will recall.

Sceptic's mind set "Cant be, won't be, you're all wrong".

Sceptics Will be Confined to the Rubbish Bin of History

I have publicly stated for many years now that these sceptical 'scientists' will be only remembered, after being consigned to the “rubbish bin of scientific history” for their completely absurd views. There are very many examples of the stupefying absurdities stated by them and others through out history.

Modern-day sceptics will be recalled with as much mockery as the examples given below do now.

One of Two Sceptic Investigators Have Now Changed Sides

One or two of these paranormal investigators, having seen the light, pun intended, have now quite noticeably appeared to have changed sides in an effort to become “experts” on the subject, presumably after many years of investigation. To me at least, it does smack of rats leaving a sinking ship and desperate for some ego boosting recognition on some scientific basis.

I wonder how the modern day sceptics will fare! I often have amusing thoughts about how those like James Randy and Stephen Hawking will get on when confronted about the reality of passing. Stephen William Hawking CH CBE FRS FRSA, passed on the 14th of March, 2018. It will be interesting to see, faced with reality, whether Mr Hawking makes himself known.

A Sceptic Having Had an NDE Said, "It Was Nothingness"

I once had an interesting exchange with a hard-line sceptic who stated after an NDE that: “I have been there. There was nothingness, blackness, there is nothing after death.” I then pointed out to him that he had of course “been aware of nothingness”, strongly implying that if there was complete nothingness, he would not have known at all. Of course there was no reply to that simple statement.

A Strong Fixed Mind is Detrimental to the Afterlife Experience

Those who have strong minds and those who cling onto material things, will have great difficulties when they pass. In fact, as you will see from the video, one of the great things that happen with NDE’s is that people have a complete change of mind. They become more spiritual, with a lack of regard for material things. Those who completely believe there is “nothingness” may find, as I know that gentleman did, that for some time they will be correct.

Of course, many will only recognise them in their present guise of starting to champion the paranormal. They can claim of course that overwhelming “new evidence” has convinced them.

Sceptically Speaking, I Would Venture That This is More About Ego and Financial Recognition

All we have to do is look at their completely unsympathetic grasping and blatant ridiculing of the subject and those involved in it, to clearly see that if a leopard has apparently changed its spots, that there is a reason for it. Sceptically speaking, I would venture that this absolute about-turn is more about ego and financial recognition.

Historically, Closed-minded Sceptics Have Opposed Every Invention and Discovery and Have Made Fools of Themselves

• Sir William Preece, former chief engineer of Britain’s Post Office, will be remembered for making one of the most ‘idiotic’ comments in history about Edison’s inventions. Sir William stated that Edison’s lamp (parallel circuit) was a ‘completely idiotic idea’!

• Professors, including Professor Henry Morton who knew Edison, stated, immediately before Edison demonstrated the electric light globe: ‘On behalf of science … Edison’s experiments are a … fraud upon the public.’

‘Scientifically Impossible For Machines to Fly’

• The Scientific American, The New York Times, The New York Herald, the U.S. Army, academics — including Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy Simon Newcomb from John Hopkins University— and many other American scientists, all heaped derision, ridicule and denigration onto the Wright brothers claiming that it was: ‘scientifically impossible for machines to fly’!

• One of the leading scientists from the French Academy of Sciences stated that hypnosis is a fraud and stated after seeing a hypnotised subject with a four inch needle in the top of his arm: ‘This subject has been paid for not showing he’s in pain’.

• Another scientist from the French Academy of Sciences, after listening to a record made by Edison, stated: ‘… clearly that is a case of ventriloquism’!

• John Logie Baird, the inventor of television, was attacked by closed-minded sceptics who stated it was: "Absolute rubbish that television waves could produce a picture"!

Light to all, always,

Leo

America's Most Haunted Restaurants

You do not have to head to the nearest castle or tudor house to go ghost hunting, because there are plenty of haunted restaurants in the United States. One with a more bloody history than the other, let us take a look at the haunted restaurants where you might encounter a ghostly apparition or dine with the local spirits of the times.

Americas Most Haunted Restaurants

Muriel's (Louisiana) Is One Of The Most Famous Haunted Restaurants Full Of History

Situated in the cultural epicenter of New Orleans, Muriel's is the restaurant we start our most haunted restaurants list with. Compared to most restaurants these days, Muriel's has a really long history, as it was originally found in 1718!

Muriel's is believed to be haunted by a previous owner of the restaurant, Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan. He even has his own reserved table every night, which is set by the staff with bread, cutlery, and wine. Pierre allegedly died in the restaurant in 1814 after losing a game of poker. Since then, many guests and staff have reported sightings of the former owner.

Haunted Restaurants in History - Scarlett O'Hara's (Florida)

As haunted restaurants go, this restaurant is listed in the National Directory of Haunted Places, you may have guessed that this place has quite a haunted history. Many believe that the place is haunted by the man who built the restaurant, a man called George Colee. If stories are to be believed, the founder of the restaurant died in the bathtub right after his fiancé left with another man. Since then, George's spirit is spotted at the restaurant's "Ghost Bar".

Poogan's Porch (South Carolina)

South Carolina is already known for its frequent paranormal activity, yet it would be easy to miss this haunted restaurant if you did not know where to look! Built as a Victorian home back in 1888, this restaurant also comes with a rather sad story.

According to a local Charleston legend, the owner who commissioned the home in 1888 had a dog called Poogan. However, the owner would leave the loyal canine behind and Poogan would die shortly afterward. Today, it is believed that the ghost of the dog is still haunting the place. In fact, the restaurant was named in his honor.

Unfortunately, the tragic history of Poogan's Porch does not stop with the abandoned canine. The woman who owned the restaurant in the 1900s, Zoe St. Armand, allegedly lost her mind when she lost her sister. Shortly afterward, she died after falling down the stairs within the home. Locals say that Zoe still haunts the house to this day in search of her sister.

White Horse Tavern (Rhode Island)

Most people are already familiar with White Horse Tavern, as it is the oldest tavern in the United States. Evidently, such as long history is also accompanied by plenty of stories, including a rather gruesome story of murder.

All locals of Newport know the story that surrounds the White Horse Tavern. It is said that two men stopped at the White Horse Tavern in search of a room in the 1720s. By the next morning, one of the men was found dead by the fireplace, and the other disappeared. Some who have visited the tavern claim that the ghost of the former visitor is still sitting by the fireplace.

Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn (Missouri)

Some locations have a creepy look naturally, and this certainly applies to Lemp Mansion Restaurant in Missouri. Being an old Victorian mansion that has been prime investigative ground for paranormal investigators in the past, it is no surprise that the mansion made our list.

The current owners of Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn have embraced its paranormal history and currently offer ghost tours. Visitors have reported weird voices and figures, but no explanation has ever been found. And, despite the fact that guests already leave feeling creeped out, Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn is still one of the most popular venues in St. Louis.

Brennan's Restaurant (Louisiana)

Let's head back to Louisiana for another haunted restaurant in New Orleans. This time, we are dealing with some strange ghosts, because their backstories are almost too crazy to be believed.

One of the ghosts that are said to be haunting Brennan's is that of its former Chef Paul Blangé. Upon his death in 1977, he was buried with the restaurant's menu as well as a fork and knife across the chest. His passion for the restaurant is said to be the reason why he still keeps an eye on the kitchen.

Not only the kitchen is haunted at Brennan's though, because the wine cellar is the home of a sommelier called Herman Funk. According to witnesses, he likes to clink bottles for no apparent reason.

Succotash (Missouri)

Traveling back to Missouri, this time to Kansas City, we pay a visit to Succotash. Originally a saloon with the name Dutch Hill Bar and Grill, guests regularly smell cigars when they visit the restaurant. However, there is never a cigar in-sight. It is believed that the smell is left by a man called RAdar, who was known to frequent the old saloon with his favorite cigarillo cigars.

Stone's Public House (Massachusetts)

Another restaurant with a tragic and morbid history is Stone's Public House in Massachusetts. In 1845, the owner of the public house - John Stone - allegedly killed one of the guests and buried him down in the basement. There were allegedly several witnesses to the crime, who are still stuck haunting the place. According to witnesses, they love to make a mess and cause regular mischief.

Beardslee Castle (New York)

We end our overview with arguably one of the better known haunted restaurants. The story of Beardslee Castle even gained commercial known as it was featured in Ghost Hunters. The makers of the show would even claim they managed to spot some spirits.

As is usually the case with most haunted locations, Beardslee Castle has a bloody and sad history. One story states that several Native Americans were killed in the venue in the 1700s. Another story states that a former owner who passed away is still haunting the place.

Honorable mentions

It is not difficult to believe that there are lots more haunted restaurants around the United States. In our honorable mentions list, there is the Moon River Brewing Company (Georgia), The Whitney (Michigan), Old Town Pizza (Oregon) and The Twisted Vine (Connecticut). If you should run out of haunted restaurants to visit, be sure to pay a visit to these ones too!

Premiere Documentary Series ‘Ghost Notes’ Mixes Music, Magic and Mystery

Lovers of music, magic, and mystery are in for a supernatural treat with the launch of GHOST NOTES, a deeply engaging, new documentary series that deftly fuses the mystical worlds of paranormal phenomena and music.

Believed to be the first of its kind, Ghost Notes is the collective brainchild of three self-styled, paranormal explorers: Ohio-based musician and tattoo artist Chad Wells, his wife Michelle Wells and Chad's band-mate Aarika Watson.

"I’m surprised that a documentary series like this hasn’t already happened," said Chad. "Music and the paranormal are extremely interlinked. When we feel the music, it feels like magic is happening - you get vibes and chills. The same thing happens in a spooky room or historic place."

"I’ve read interviews with Keith Richards from 1967 and he talked about how none of us really write the music. We just put up the antenna and catch what comes through. That’s an older outlook from a lot of musicians but it’s not talked about much. We want to take credit for what we have written but a lot of the time it just writes itself." Chad Wells

Music Channels of a Different Kind

Chad and Aarika are both vocalists in the Psychedelic Rock band Cricketbows and the acoustic offshoot Wells & Watson.

"As musicians on stage, it’s very tribal," explained Chad. "We create a massive electromagnetic field around ourselves with amplifiers, guitars, stage lighting. We kind of put ourselves in a box that allows for a flow-through of whatever you are opening yourself up to. That’s why we can get on a stage and play together and not have to think about theory or where it’s going. We just make it up as we go along and create fully formed songs with verses, choruses, and bridges. When we write music, we often just improvise and words come out that I wouldn’t have sat down and written myself - so that’s coming from somewhere."

Chad, Michelle, and Aarika recalled experiencing paranormal phenomena and other influences as children. When they began to share their personal stories, so began their collective experiences of undeniable paranormal activities.

"We’ve had so many strange, unexplained things happen in and around the Cricketbows band and in our personal lives," said Chad. "Michelle and Aarika would often find themselves on some little adventure in the back of a venue we were playing, or at a studio, we were recording at, and together they birthed the idea of doing a paranormal show."

Ghost Notes Sneak Peek

The Ghost Notes pilot episode introduces the show’s concept with an exploration of a reportedly haunted former speakeasy in Dayton, Ohio, uncannily attached to Chad’s business premises, Wells & Co. Custom Tattoos.

The investigation team conducts an experiment with a Spirit Box - a research device used for contacting spirits through the use of radiofrequency and white noise. It is believed that spirits can manipulate this energy to relay messages and answer questions.

"I think it (Spirit Box) allows Michelle and us to get into a place where her brain is interrupted by the white noise and puts her into a natural meditative or trance state without even trying. And there’s the sense that happens where we kind of just feel the right direction to go with the questioning. It tends to work in a way similar to automatic writing. Michelle is not hearing our questions or sensing what we are feeling. She is giving us something which is automatic. Like nature, it looks like wild chaos but as you come in, there’s order there."

The pilot episode also features Wells & Watson perform and record two songs; one is akin to a "Stream of Consciousness" improvisation based on cryptic graffiti found on the wall of the speakeasy; the other a cover of the dark, 80's closet classic "Silent Running", originally recorded by Mike + The Mechanics in 1985 (now streaming).

Incidentally, the first word the Ghost Notes team picked up on the Spirit Box was ‘success,’ which also happens to be the first word of the first song that Cricketbows played together as a band. An encouraging start to an extraordinary journey that is a clear-cut case of 'definitely meant to be'.

An Amusing Twist

"The problem with this whole thing for me is that I am 100% a skeptic," said Chad, "which is a good thing. But I can also feel myself getting swept in the drama of those moments of, ‘What was that? Was that a knock on the wall?’ I almost had a hesitance of going into this in case I was proven wrong - or proven right."

However, Chad has a completely open mind when it comes to the realm of the collective consciousness or energies that are available to everyone. "We try to feel our way and use our intuition. Even though I am a big skeptic, I was raised by a mother who was into numerology, astrology, etc so I see synchronicities everywhere, I see numeric clues everywhere, I can hear a word and it triggers my intuition. But Michelle and Aarika have it better than I do."

While many TV shows, books, and movies have conditioned us to believe that the paranormal realms are all dark, scary, dangerous places, the Ghost Notes team has had largely positive experiences with their new spirit friends and look forward to seeing where their unfolding destiny will take them. They are also respectful of the places, people and beliefs they encounter, apply safety and protection measures, and proceed with caution.

"The (Ghost Notes) show is not just for the sake of a show," said Chad. "It’s for the sake of our personal, spiritual and artistic growth. We would love to take this coast to coast and experience different places and different things. A big part of it for us is creating in those spaces. That’s why it’s important to put ourselves in new places to continue to create and explore things that are interesting and fascinating."

Ghost Notes Team: Aarika Watson, Chad Wells, Michelle Wells

Coming to a Streaming Platform Near You?

The Ghost Notes team’s long-term goal is to produce a weekly series but will initially aim for twice-monthly episodes to ensure quality content. And you never know - Ghost Notes may eventually find itself on a streaming platform near you!

In the meantime, if you know of a haunted place that you would like to see investigated, the Ghost Notes team would love to hear from you: ghostnotesparanormal@gmail.com.

Watch Ghost Notes Pilot on YouTube - Ghost Notes

Follow Ghost Notes - Facebook Instagram

‘Silent Running’ - Wells & Watson - YouTube Spotify Facebook

Cricketbows - cricketbows.com Facebook Spotify