Author Archives: charlene
The Haunted Musuem (UK)
Project Paranormal Yorkshire Diverson
Welcome to Project Paranormals Haunted Museum Here is a list of all our Items, their history, background and reported activity.
With all items nobody can prove something is haunted or not as The afterlife hasn’t been proven or disproven but I thought id add a few suggestions in to help if you are looking to experiment.
I recommend buying one from a seller that you know, if you don’t no the seller, check they’re selling history. If they are and have been selling items in mass production id be more inclined to not buy. Haunted items isnt something that pop up all the time, they are quite rare. It’s knowing how and where to look for them thats the key.
Items shouldn’t cost the earth, generally if a person is scared and wants rid of the item they will sell it at a fairly cheap price. There is recommended haunted collectors we use and would recommend, where items do cost more but I have previously purchased items and like how unique their items are.
Another top tip is go to your local antique shop and have a feel for items. Items may not always have an attachment but you may be able to draw on energy.
Also be wary that you are bringing this object into your home.
By Charlene Kemp
The Crying Boy Painting
The History and Theory behind it:
In England, 1985, a series of bizarre fires broke out, destroying many homes and businesses. The link between the fires was a collection of paintings, known as ‘Crying Boys’. Out of the devastation of each fire, only the paintings would survive, and soon, they would be labelled as ‘cursed’.
Bruno Amadio, an academically trained painter, was working as a painting restorer in Venice, when he created his series that became known as ‘Crying Boys’. These paintings, of which at least 65 were made, all featured young boys, who stared straight out of the picture, with tears welling in their eyes and rolling down their cheeks.
The pictures were created for tourists visiting post world war two Venice, the significance being that the paintings showed the sorrow of the children who had been recently orphaned due to the war.
Eventually, some of these paintings were brought to England, mass produced and sold in shops and department stores at a cheap price. More than 50,000 copies of the paintings made their way into people’s houses all across England.
In September 1985, British newspaper ‘The Sun’ ran a report on some strange happenings surrounding the Crying Boy paintings.
The article told the story of Ron and May Hall’s home of 27 years, in Rotherham, which was destroyed by a devastating fire. The fire was started when an unattended frying pan caught a light and the house went along with it.
The strange thing was that only one item seemed to have survived the blaze. Found amongst the ashes and ruin was a frame, the painting within was face down on the floor, and only slightly scorched. The Crying Boy had survived the fire somehow.
Ron Hall’s brother was a fire-fighter, and he told how several houses had burned to the ground, and that the sole remaining item was a copy of The Crying Boy, found intact, lying face down on the floor.
He also insinuated that fire-fighters believed the painting to be cursed, and that none would hang the picture in their homes. One fire station officer Alan Wilkinson had logged more than fifty ‘Crying Boy’ fires.
With The Sun’s large reader base, and the fact that more than 50,000 copies of The Crying Boy were hanging in British homes, a fear in the curse quickly spread.
Many readers told their stories through the paper, and various other papers around the country. The story was always the same, soon after the picture found its way into a home, a fire broke out, destroying everything except the picture itself.
Several readers also wrote in, explaining that after they had read about the curse, they attempted to destroy their copies of the paintings. They attempted to burn them in their garden incinerators, but the painting failed to burn.
Soon after a ‘Crying Boy’ fire had gutted an Italian Restaurant, The Sun ran a story encouraging readers to send them their copy of the paintings, if they felt fear from the curse. The sun organised mass bonfires for the burning of the paintings, and soon over two thousand had finally gone up in flames. Although they were not easy to burn, they did eventually succumb to the fire and flames.
Soon other methods for lifting the curse of the painting came to light, such as handing the painting to another (thereby giving them the curse), or hanging the picture alongside a painting containing a crying girl.
The stories of the fires began to smoulder, and the series of events relegated to the status of legend. However, the question still is ‘If the paintings were indeed somehow causing or enabling fires to take place, what force could be behind it?
There are several stories behind the legend of the painting itself. One states that the models for the various crying boys were orphans who, soon after the paintings were completed, died in an orphanage fire.
Another version is that Bruno Amadio, also known as Bragolin, had fled to Spain soon after the end of World War Two. Here Amadio met a young boy named Don Bonillo, a mute orphan who had seen his parents perish in a house fire during the war.
Amadio soon adopted the boy, although he was warned off of doing so by a local priest, the boy being the centre of many mysterious fires that broke out wherever he went. The boy was known locally as the devil child.
Amadio refused to believe such stories, and the new family did well, Amadios paintings were selling well, and the two were living easy.
Unfortunately, one day Amadio found that his house and studio had burned to the ground. Remembering the priest’s warnings, he immediately blamed Don and kicked him out of the family. Don Bonillo was not heard from again until 1976, and surrounding another bizarre event.
Just outside of Barcelona a car smashed into a wall and burst into flames. The driver was killed and was so horrifically burned; he was not able to be identified. However, upon investigation back at the police yard, the glove compartment was pried open. There, among burned items, was an untouched driver’s license. The name on the license was Don Bonillo.
It is said all of Amadio’s paintings of crying boys were cursed by the memory of Don Bonillo.
Unfortunately, all of the facts of this story cannot be 100% confirmed. Bruno Amadio, the painter, died in 1981, the truth of this story has also gone with him.
So since having this picture in our possession we have had some interesting occurrences We got this picture to experiment with not claiming that it did or did not have an attachment, we were interested with the alleged curse associated with it. We have had some good itc during lives, the picture falling, members of the public sensing things and names associated with it. It seems that if this picture does have some kind of attachment with it then it likes when we refer to it has Tim.
The name Tim is something the itc has picked up on while working with the painting and something many of our viewers have sensed is linked with the picture.
When we first brought this item we also received Liz (another alleged haunted item) and worked with these two items together.
Previously on a live Lee Steer, who had these items at home, he called out to be bashed over the head to make him believe. Lee woke up to a head injury which he isnt sure how it occurred. This of course could have happened in his sleep at some point but the argument is that the injury remained sore for a good three days and any injury as such must have had some impact for it to last for so long yet Lee didn’t wake. Some mediums have suggested this could have been Tim as he was working with Tim during this live.
Also a report from a family member that 4 pieces of paper was placed on the floor, family member went to bin the paper to come back into the room to see another 4 pieces of paper on the floor.
So since then, we brought another crying boy picture, and decided to burn it live, the idea behind this was to trigger a reaction, we didn’t want to burn the one we first brought as it had some sentimental value to us so we brought another copy to explore the possibility of it triggering a reaction on the ITC.
What did happen during this was the ITC seemed to be calling us names before this took place and even pleaded to not be burnt. Once burnt the ITC was suggesting very peaceful and earthly things such as when asked what we should do with the ashes saying ‘ blow in the wind’.
Live can be viewed here.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WgTbikK0uUg&feature=youtu.be&a=
What was also interesting is that the picture did burn but it took a while to set alight and get going. We also had to put extra chemicals on it for it to spread.
We have also added another crying boy picture to our collection to see what results we get from this, if any, this is more of a newer copy of a crying boy, so it will be interesting to experiment with.
The Porcelain Doll
We bought this from another paranormal team who looking through their sale listings have never sold a haunted item before.
Reports from Charlene are that it makes her feel out of breath when being around the doll and holding it.
Back Story from the Previous Owner
I was given this doll by a friend who had inherited it.
She didn’t want it in her house as felt things were happening since she got it.
I don’t know if it is haunted but there is a possibility
I have taken it on a few paranormal investigations as a trigger object and had successful results
It does creep me out also and I prefer more traditional methods therefore passing it on.
Two followers feel they have some kind of attachment to the doll as if they have ‘met this doll before’. Also that they cannot stop thinking about it and sense it could be possibly a child attachment.
Viewers have also sensed a feeling of anger.
The Witch Picture / The Three Sisters
We got this picture from a eBay seller who we know within the paranormal field. Reports of whispering reported and the picture moving walls.
They previously had brought it from an another seller and the background information surrounding this is as follows:
From Pennsylvania USA, Painting is believed to be witches with a sinister presence attached the old owner felt attached to this item, he wasn’t sure why, but his wife didn’t quite like the painting said there is something in the eyes of the 3 ladies that doesn’t seem right.. she reported time and time again that she could hear whispering around the painting but no one listens to her, Years later the painting which was always in a certain room, decided to move into a different room, then the whole family started hearing the whispering sounds but also giggles started but only when close to the painting.
We have had some sinister ITC sessions with this item. The first session Lee did with this item he asked how they died with the ITC responding with ‘ We took his head off’. Also when working with this item it is interesting that a lot of whispers come through and when asked about about what is attached to it the ITC tends to become quiet. The picture has also moved from hanging on the wardrobe to being placed on the bed.
ITC has also said the name Ursula Kemp, an alleged witch who was held at The Cage in Essex before being executed. To read the story of this please visit the below link.
Below is the first Live Lee did with this item demonstrating some of this.
The Dybbuk Box
Dybbuk meaning in Jewish folklore a restless, usually malicious spirit, its believed to haunt and even possess the living.
There are now many boxes that have been found over the years, the one specifically everyone tends to know about is the Dybbuk box which Kevin Mannis had, it is still his, but he has taken it to a secret location and buried it due to his experiences with it. That is not our box, ours is another box.
We Purchased ours from the seller of the Witches picture, a paranormal team we know and have previously worked with. They had this item stored in the antic, they had never attempted to make any contact but never experienced anything with it. On collecting they did say they felt it didn’t have a nice feeling to it and didn’t dare open it themselves.
They had previously brought it from a seller from America.
It has been locked by the looks of it, sealed with wax and has rope tied around.
It has items in it which we are not aware what they are, but when lifting appears to be heavy items.
Written on the Box in Hebrew from reading upwards is SPIRIT SAUL SEALED WITHIN. Along the top it says DEMON/BAD SPIRIT.
King Saul is mentioned within the bible, the story is that god sent Saul a bad Spirit to torment him as Saul had sinned. Saul committed suicide has he could not cope with the torment.
Charlene collected the item and decided to do a spirit box session with it, when asking for its name it said ‘necho’, after researching necho is a name for a made up demon!
Another session is conducted and Charlene and her mum hear knocking within the box, Mike who is also present during this picks the box up and shakes it around and mocks it.
After the session Mike lays down where the box is and on waking up notices scratches, Mike doesn’t have nails but who knows he could have done it in his sleep.
Where the box goes trouble and illness seems to follow.
Its believed it could cause aggression while being within a house hold.
Ian conducts a Water ITC session where an image of an alien type creature shows through the water.
We have done a number of ITC sessions with it, common occurrences while doing these are that the ITC will respond in a demonic voice, will refer to itself has The Flash and The Box and has given the 23rd of September for it to be opened. The 8th of September has also came through. It seems that the ITC will play games, for example Lee will say Knock Knock, ITC replies Knock Knock and Lee says who’s there which it replies with Nobody.
It also makes many references to biblical terms and makes reference to the book of Revelations (The end of Days). ITC has responded with the 4 horsemen and apocalypse.
The 23rd September is a very holy day, properly one of the most holiest days within the bible. Many groups have thought over the years that the 23rd of September has been the day which the world has supposed to end and the 23rd of September 2017 is no different. This year on the 23rd of September there will be a alignment of the planets. Many groups believe this maybe the end or a indiction that christ himself will return.
Take a look, there is many theories surrounding this date so you can have a deeper look by googling.
Other activity surrounding this is detection in static, temperature changes and EMF readings.
Things often left on the box will disappear and reappear within a few hours.
Basically we don’t think the world is going to end this year, Our demonologist believes it may be a known entity called The Trickster.
There is some information below to read up on to make your own mind up but there does appear to be similarities.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickster
Documentary on our dybbuk box is below
The Bible
This bible was published in 1828.
Straight after buying this item Charlene goes to bed and has a strange dream of being in a concentration camp as a young women, a very graphic dream and when waking up from this dream Charlene went back to sleep and picked up from where she had been in the dream before waking.
Sensitives tend to feel this bible may have once been used in an Exorcist.
No other reports from this, but shortly after buying this we did buy the Dybbuk box. Sensitise has said that this could mean a protection as Good comes before Evil.
Background information from previously owner
A FRIEND OF MINE SHE HAD MOVED INTO A NEW PLACE AND SINCE THE FIRST NIGHT SHE WAS THEIR SHE FELT SHE WAS NEVER ALONE AS SHE FELT SHE WAS ALWAYS BEING WATCHED/OBSERVED BY “SOMETHING” . IN PARTICULAR SHE WOULD HEAR STRANGE SCRATCHING SOUNDS FROM THE WALLS AND FAINT WHISPERS TO CHANTING IN THE LATE HOURS OF THE NIGHT. ONE NIGHT SHE WAS MESSAGED THROUGH HER DREAM TO GO TO LOOK IN THE CORNER SHELF OF HER CLOSET AND WHICH SHE DID AS SHE GOT A CHAIR TO STAND ON AND FOUND THIS BIBLE TUCKED AWAY IN THE CORNER. THE SHELF WAS QUITE HIGH AND THIS BIBLE WAS THEREFORE HIDDEN. AS SHE REACHED FOR IT, IT FELL APART AS THE FRONT AND BACK COVER ARE DETACHED.
BEFORE SHE FOUND THE BIBLE SHE HAD HER FRIEND COME OVER WITH HIS DOG AND THE DOG WOULD NOT STOP BARKING AT THE CLOSET WHERE THE BIBLE WAS, IT GOT MORE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE AND WOULD NOT STOP.
ANOTHER TIME, HER FRIEND SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE SPARE BEDROOM SHE FELT SOMETHING VERY DISTURBING AND STRANGE IN HER HOUSE, SHE ABRUPTLY AWOKE IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT AS SHE FELT SHE WAS SUFFOCATING!
SHE HAD HER BOYFRIEND KEPT SEEING SOMETHING OUT OF THE CORNER OF HIS EYE AND FELT THREATENED BY AN OMINOUS FEELING, HE FELT HE WAS BEING SMOTHERED BY SOMETHING AND PARALYSED.
Extra Note: Also my friend started acting strangely, collecting religious statues only and placing them all over her house. She had no more room for them all and had to get a storage to place them. It was an obsession it seemed that she could not shake. All her money went for statues of the divine. She also started going to church regularly which she had never done before.
The Devils Toy Box
The First Devils Box what you can see into from the OUTSIDE.
It’s no secret that light conducts waves of energy. Light is an electromagnetic field. These waves can be manipulated to produce different results. Mirrors reflect this light and mix the two and what do you have? A conductor? A trap? A catalyst?
In an experiment, let’s say you take a laser beam of light and instead of speeding this beam up, instead decrease and this causes an infinite loop. Now, take a mirror and hold it up to another, and what do you see? Presumably, you just see its own reflection, right? Well, not so fast! You see an infinite number of reflections until it gets so dark that your eyes cannot perceive the reflection. Therefore, this does not mean they don’t exist…instead it’s just the naked eye cannot ‘see’ them. So….Imagine multiple mirrors and you’re taking 6 directions, in an endless loop, simultaneously. Does this intensify what level of existing energy is there? A boosting signal?
Effectually, this device is supposed to ‘trap’ a demon or spirit inside. Hearing growls, hissing, mechanical noises and so on a so on….
So, many ‘ghost’ hunters claim that taking this device on site to a haunted house cannot only attract demons but also trap them.
Now this is was brought with the knowledge that no attachment was with this but this leads on to our next item
Love Letters
History and Background Information
Alleged to be haunted by a spirit of a 4 year old by the name of Samantha Houston its alleged to have associated herself with this painting, who sadly died by falling down some stairs chasing her ball and people believe she spirit haunts this painting to this day.
Originally the claim was just of the painting within this house in which she died but after researching there is many claims from people who have hung copies up of this painting.
Reports: Her face is meant to change when you look or stare into the painting, Makes people feel light headed, dizzy. Her ball is reported to be seen bouncing around the room of where the picture stands, some people even reported levitation while looking at the painting.
Shortly after bringing love letters into Lees home within a few hours marks appear on the Devils box.
Later on in the evening Lee notices what appears to be a question mark within the box.
Heres a short vid explaining
Hands Resist Him
History and Background
Stoneham’s famous piece, The Hands Resist Him, also known as the “eBay Haunted Painting”. The Hands Resist Him is a painting created by artist Bill Stoneham in 1972. It depicts a young boy and female doll standing in front of a glass panelled door against which many hands are pressed.
In 1972 Bill Stoneham, an artist from Oakland, California used an old photo of himself from the age of five, to be the model for the boy in the painting. The boy is either looking to the future, or the viewer is looking back into their past.
The hands seen in the windows are other potential routes and possibilities his life path may have taken, or other potential lives that may have been, but he does not see them, his back is turned. The little girl doll is his guide through life, though she is holding a piece of herself, a battery and some wires.
Finally, the glass door is a veil between waking and dreaming, and perhaps between life and death.
The painting was first displayed at Feingarten Gallery in Beverly Hills, California in the 1970s. The painting was purchased by actor John Marley ( Jack Woltz in The God Father). Sometime after Marley’s death the painting was found on the site of an old brewery. An elderly couple found the painting and put it on Ebay in February 2000, according to them they believed the painting had some sort of curse.
They claimed that the characters in the painting moved during the night, and that they would sometimes leave the painting and enter the room in which it was being displayed. Also included with the listing were a series of photographs that were said to be evidence of an incident in which the female doll character threatened the male character with a gun that she was holding, causing him to attempt to leave the painting. A disclaimer was included with the listing absolving the seller from all liability if the painting was purchased.
Some people claimed that simply viewing the photos of the painting made them feel ill or have unpleasant experiences. Eventually, the auction page was viewed over 30,000 times.
After an initial bid of $199, the painting eventually received 30 bids and sold for $1,025.00. Eventually Bill Stoneham was contacted was told the story of it. He reported being quite surprised by all the stories and strange interpretations of the images in the painting. According to the artist, the object presumed by the eBay sellers to be a gun is actually nothing more than a dry cell battery and a tangle of wires.
Stoneham recalls that both the owner of the gallery in which the painting was first displayed, and the art critic who reviewed it, died within one year of coming into contact with the painting.
We purchased this picture off the artist himself.
We did a 15 min still live asking the viewers to tell us how they felt while viewing it, some said nothing, however, those who did feel something, felt similar feelings to others and that was sadness, panic, headaches and anxiety.
The Mirror
Background and History
This item is owned by path finders paranormal and we currently have it in our possession to study along with our other items,
Some other reports are: Feelings of been watched, Seeing things at the corner of your eyes,
Derek acorah went weird in front of it on a visit and Yvette fielding also got freaked out by it as well as Bex Palmer from the past hunters, Seeing things move in the mirror, Icy cold spot what moves around the mirror.
Charlene picked up on a lady in a white nightie with long black hair who changed in age. Seems to call out for help but doesn’t say what help she needs she tends to disappear. Looks as though she may have been drown. The best way Charlene can describe her is she looks like the lady from the film ‘The Ring’.
2 other mediums picked up on this lady around Charlene. Detailing the exact same.
Short echovox session conducted asking if she was around Charlene and it replying yes and Help.
Peter (Doll standing) and Bubbles (Doll Sitting)
History from previous owner Jason Love behind the items…both have came from Jason Love’s Museum of haunted artifacts.
Peter – Reputed to be behind the causes of 27 unexplained deaths, most from the same family line. Level 2 object with a varied degree of paranormal activity, including burns, scratches and bruising. Not to be mocked. The doll comes with a written history and paranormal notes from my own research.
We are yet to recieve written history and paranormal notes.
Bubbles – The doll was used as a vessel for something powerful, not demonic, but an entity that caused intense psychological harm to the homes occupants. Severe Poltergeist activity. Level 3 item.
ITC sessions conducting since recieving has been of a sexual manner.
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Top 10 Paranormal Hoaxes
By Charlene Kemp
There is a certain criteria that a story meets in order for it to be classed as a hoax. Below is a list of criteria that the stories below meet and unfortunately is classed as being a hoax.
Criteria
The hoax must be deliberate and may have a motive to what is wanting to be established.
The hoax must include an obvious “paranormal” occurrence of some kind.
The hoax must have achieved a reasonably high public profile.
The hoax must have made a lasting impact on human society. This is the deciding factor—more important than how well the hoax was executed or how believable it appears to be. Lack of information/background information or records to back the story up.
http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com/directory/top/hoaxes.html
so here is a list of the Top 10 paranormal Hoaxes in History
10. King Tut’s Curse
Tutankhamen’s Tomb was discovered in the 20th Century. Upon the Tomb a curse was found inscribed over the entrance which read ‘Death shall come swift wings to him who disturbs the peace of the king’
Not long after there was many stories being told about unnatural deaths of the workers on the site. It wasn’t long before this news spread and found its way into popular culture, which over time as set the stage for a whole sub genre of horror stories and movies.
In 1980 a security officer for the original excavation site admitted that such stories had been suggested and circulated to scare away any thieves. There are also historical records which back this claim up that show most excavation workers went on to lead long and healthy lives.
9. The Cottingley Fairies
Young cousins Elsie Wright and Frances Griffith produced a series of photographs in 1917 and 1920. These photographs displayed themselves interacting with fairies. In todays society it is hard to picture how so many could be fooled by such clear fake photographs but in the 20th century people was convinced and a huge following supported this.
It wasn’t until 1981 that Elsie and Frances admitted that in deed some of photographs was indeed a hoax but still claimed that they did indeed had seen fairies and that one of the pictures was genuine.
8. The Cardiff Giant
Workers digging a well in Cardiff, New York in the year 1869, uncovered what appeared to look like the petrified remains of a giant, The remains was of a man who was 10 foot in height.
Archaeologists declared that the body was indeed a fake but the public was more accepting to the idea and the reaction was in support of the claim, this was especially popular among those who thought it was evidence in support of biblical history. The body became popular and became somewhat of a business assets as crowds of people would pay for a glimpse. Showman P.T Barnum tried to have ownership of the body but after failing decided to make his own replica, which caused confusion to which one was the actual genuine giant found.
In 1869, George Hull a tobacconist, admitted it was indeed a hoax and that the body had been sculpted from concrete and buried a year before work commenced on the well digging.
7. Uri Geller – Spoon Bending
During the 1979 Uri Geller enjoyed success with his mentalism acts. This was based on his ability to bend spoons with his mind. Throughout the years Uri Geller stood firmly by his claims of having supernatural powers up until James Randi published a book with hard evidence exposing Uri’s tricks. Geller was also caught numberous times on camera manipulating his stage props (mainly pre-bending spoons) before shows.
Uri Geller has never offically outted himself but he did tacitly confess to the hoax in 2007 expressing the following
‘Ill no longer say that I have supernatural powers. I am an entertainer….My entire Character has changed’.
6. The Amityville Horror
Ronald Defeo Jr shot six members of his family in 1974 in Amityville, Newyork. A year later The Lutz family moved in. 28 days later the family fled from the house claiming to have terrorised by an unseen forces ( a ghostly presences).
Jay Anson wrote a best selling book and made a series of films based on their story, which was highly successful based on the claim of a true and verifiable story.
However, on closer investigation, it seems that not much of any story can be verified. Police and other records contradicted the book’s claims and many holes had been found in the story. In 1979, A lawyer William Weber claimed
‘ I know this boom was a hoax, We Created this Horror story over many Bottles of wine.’
5. Loch Ness Monster – The Surgeon’s Photo
There are many hoaxes which surround the Loch Ness Monster but the one which stands out amongst them all is ‘ The Surgeon’s Photo’. This was submitted to the London Daily Mail in 1934 by Dr.R.Kenneth Wilson.
It wasn’t the first reported sighting of the monster, or even the most convincing but had somewhat became an icon in the world of cryptozoology.
It is believed that Marmaduke Wetherall orchestrated the hoax, a photographer who had previously been humiliated after taking pictures of a fake monster footprints.
In 1975 Werherall’s son, Ian, explained how the monster in the photo was actually a toy submarine what was attached to a wooden neck.
4. Alien Autopsy Footage
Ray Santili shocked viewers when he released what was alleged to be autopsy of an alien that was found in a craft.
The 17 minute black and white film titled the ‘Alien Autopsy’ featured what appeared to be real life dissection on film.
When Ray Santili was asked where he had got such footage, he claimed he had received it off a retired military cameraman who wished to remain anonymous.
After broadcasting and selling the footage to the television, 16 years later, in 2016, Santilli finally admitted that the film was indeed a hoax. He admitted that even though some of the film was fake there was a few scenes which was actual real autopsy footage but never stated or made clear which ones these were.
3. The Fiji/ Feejee Mermaid
P.T Barnum ( owner and founder of Barnum and Bailey Circus) rented what he believed to be a mermaid for $12.50 a week.
American sea captain Samuel Barrett Edes bought the mermaid off Barnum from Japanese sailors in 1822, this was displayed within several outlets and was believed to be caught off the coast of Fiji.
Barnum believed the mermaid was 100% real, sources close by stated they believed it wasn’t. A naturalist debunked the mermaid has being that of a head of a monkey attached to the flesh of a fish.
Despite this, Barnum had already prepared a show with fake advertisements, which shown a half women and half fish. The advertisements looked nothing like the mermaid he had on display and even hired a phony naturalist to give him a back up story that the mermaid was in fact real.
Nobody really knows what happened to the mermaid, Barnum’s museum caught on fire many times and it was rumoured that it had been destroyed by this along with countless other artefacts.
However, The Harvard University Peabidy Musueum of Archaeology and Ethnology had an artefact which appears very similar to the Fiji mermaid but had been given the name ‘The Banff Merman’ So over the years there has been many speculations and questions to whether or not it’s the same artefact or not.
2. The Well to Hell
A team of Russian engineers drilled a hole in an unknown part of Siberia. They said the hole, was deeper than what they had expected it to be. The hole according to them seemed to reach temperatures of 1,090 degrees. They also claimed to have heard noises and they decided to send down a heat tolerant microphone along with other sensory equipment. When they brought the equipment back from the well the team claimed to be shocked by what recordings they had captured.
They reported listening to strange noises and screams as though people was being tortured.
It was said that the whole crew was in a state of panic and they believed they had discovered the portal to hell.
The story was sold to the news and made major headlines, it even caused a stir between spiritual organisations who took to praying and preaching but this all came to an end when it was realised that the actual recordings was fake, they did indeed drill a hole but admitted that the screams and strange noises heard was actually a recording they had on a loop of the 1972 film ‘Baron Blood’
1. The Fox Sisters
The Fox Sisters are responsible for one of the most influential hoaxes of all time, although it is not well known today.
Even to this day more then 150 years on since the original events, the effects can still be seen in the spiritual beliefs of millions and millions of people.
In 1848, two sister Kate and Margaret Fox living in New York claimed that they could communicate with a spirit in their home. They claimed they could do this by audible tapping or ‘Rapping’. Later joined by their older sister Leah, the three toured the U.S and build a support for the spiritual movement.
By 1853 spiritualism claimed over two million followers worldwide, influenced hugely by the Fox sisters.
They influenced the idea that humans might be able to communicate with spirits and this became a part of western culture, which still continues today as we know it.
‘Rapping’, however has since long gone out of fashion and isnt used as it was.
Margaret Fox signed a confession which was published in the New York World in 1888 stating…
“My sister Katie was the first to observe that by swishing her fingers she could produce certain noises with her knuckles and joints, and that the same effect could be made with the toes. Finding that we could make raps with our feet – first with one foot and then with both – we practiced until we could do this easily when the room was dark. Like most perplexing things when made clear, it is astonishing how easily it is done.”
The Fox sisters Fell out and difted apart and all three sisters died within 5 years of each other.
Even with the confession regarding the ‘rapping’ that did not stop people believing that the Fox sisters indeed have a genuine power.
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Folklore behind the Northern Lights
By Charlene Kemp
The Northern lights have intrigued many over the years and has somewhat scared communities to what they believe they represented.
There is also a southern lights which is less reported as it appears in the South pole, which I’m sure if penguins could talk they would tell you the fantastic stories of the displays they have seen.
So here I am going to detail some of the many stories and superstitions from different cultures and communities around the world and what they believed this display of lights represented.
It seems we have been festinated with the lights for many years and It is believed that the northern lights is mentioned in the old testament in the bible.
The Ancient Greeks and Romans
The Northern Lights also known as Aurora Borealis. Aurora Borealis is derived from the Greek Words ‘Aurora’ meaning ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Boreas’ meaning ‘Wind’.
For the ancient Greeks to have even experienced seeing the Northern Lights suggests that some incredibly strong solar activity must have occurred as sightings to this day so far south are almost unheard of.
The Greeks believed that the Aurora was the sister of Helios and Seline, which was the sun and moon. If was believed that she would race across the morning sky in her multicoloured chariot to alert her siblings to a dawn of a new day.
The Romans also linked the northern lights with a new day belief with also associating them to be Aurora, Aurora who they believed to be the goddess of dawn.
North America
Omen of War – The Fox Indians, who lived within Wisconsin, thought that the lights represented that of war and that the lights was the ghosts of those who was their enemies, they believed that the ghosts of their enemies was that restless that they sent this as a sign for revenge and that they had tried to rise again in order to settle it.
Evil Thing – The Point Burrow Eskimos believed that the lights was evil and carried knifes around with them in order to prevent seeing them.
Spirits of Children – The East Greenland Eskimos believed that the lights represented that of children who had died during birth. They believed that the dancing of the children round and round caused the streamers and draperies of the aurora to constantly move.
Game of Ball – Even though some Eskimos communities had varied belief’s to what the lights was a sign of, Most Eskimo groups believed that it was spirits of the dead playing ball and that they played this with a warus head or skull. A different opinion on this was by the Eskimos of Nunivak, they thought it was Warus spirits playing with a human skull, so even though the same concept it was slightly different on what was potentially being portrayed to them.
Fires in the North – The Mahak Indians of Washington thought the lights was a fire that was occurring in the far north, over which a tribe of dwarfs, half the length of a canoe paddle and so strong that they caught whales with their hands, boiled blubber.
The Stew Pot – The Mandan of North Dakota also believed that the lights was a fire, which the great medicine men and warriors of the northern nations set their dead enemies alight in enormous pots. The Menominee Indians of Winsonsin however, regarded them as torches that was used by great, friendly giants in the northern nations to spear their fish at night.
Creator Reminder
An Algonquin myth of Nanahbozho, believed to be the creator of the earth, travelled to the North after finishing his task of creation, where he remained and built great fires to create reflections, as a signal to his people that he is still thinking of them even though he is so far away.
Europe
Scotland
In Scottish Gaelic Folklore the lights was know as the Na Fir Chlis meaning ‘the Nimble Men’ also known as the merry dancers. It was believed the Northern Lights was epic fights among sky warriors or fallen angels.
Finland
In Finland the Northern lights was known as ‘Revontulet’ which was associated with the arctic fox.
Folk tales of the arctic fox, is that it runs far in the North, touching mountains with its fur, while doing this they believed sparks would fly off into the sky which created the lights.
Another tale with the arctic fox tells the story that the fox throws the lights up into the sky by sweeping snow upwards with its tail, later on a more developed tale was told was that it was actually the moonlights reflection on the snowflakes that caused the lights by the fox’s tail.
Iceland Greenland
It was believed by people living in Iceland that the lights was associated with childbirth and that they would relieve the pain of delivery as long as the expecting mother didn’t look at the aurora while giving birth.
Greenland
In Greenland people believed the lights was also linked to childbirth but it was believed it was the souls of still born babies and babies who was killed at birth.
Sweden
In Sweden the lights was often regarded as a coming of good news. Many believed that the lights was a gift from the benevolent gods providing warmth and light in the form of a volcano which was located in the North. Others believed the lights to be a light reflection from large shoals of herring and bode well for the local fisherman. The Swedish farming community took the lights as a sign that a good harvest was coming in the coming year.
In Norse mythology the lights was often mentioned and one of the legends surrounding them is that it was the lights was reflections or a glow from shields and armour of the Valkyrie. It was thought that it was a sign that female warriors who choose or may have died during battle and who may have lived to fight another day.
It was also mentioned within Norse mythology that the lights was ‘Bifrost Bridge’ a glowing and pulsating arch which could led to those fallen in battle to the warriors, where was their final resting place in Valhalla.
The Baltic States
The Estonians believed the northern lights to be a magnificent horse drawn carriages carrying guests of the heavens to a spectacular celestial wedding.
China
Even though the lights should have been a rare occurrence within china they also must have experience a significant solar event to have witness them, but they were in absolute awe of them and early legends believed the lights was associated with dragons. The main belief was that the lights was fire and that battles was happening between good and evil dragons and while fighting the dragons would roar fire from their mouths.
Japan
The Japanese believed that if a child was conceived underneath the lights that the child would be bless with intellect, good fortune and good looks.
Australia
Aboriginal Australians would have experienced seeing the southern lights and also watched in awe and believed it was their gods dancing overhead.
Even though in some communities many have tried to turn to science for an explanation such as ancient greeks who did try to explain it has the sunlight reflecting of the earths surface Even to this day modern day solar scientists admit that there is so much that is still not understood, which in turn continues to fuel stories passed on throughout the world from generation to generation.
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St Marks Eve – 24th April – The Old Forgotten Tradition
‘Tis now, replied the village belle,
St. Mark’s mysterious eve,
And all that old traditions tell
I tremblingly believe;
How, when the midnight signal tolls,
Along the churchyard green,
A mournful train of sentenced souls
In winding-sheets are seen.
The ghosts of all whom death shall doom
Within the coming year,
In pale procession walk the gloom,
Amid the silence drear.’
What is the History behind St Marks Eve?
A old Tradition lost in time.
The feast day of St Mark the Evangelist (founder of the Church of Alexandria) falls on 25th April, but there are some interesting folk customs that fall on the eve of the feast the 24th April.
Between the 17th and 19th century it was thought that holding a vigil in a church porch during the hours of 11.00pm through to 1.00am on three successive years would reveal the identities of those due to die and be buried in the churchyard over the coming year as an apparition or coffins or headless corpses when the church bell strikes 1AM.
This was a tradition throughout Britain though probably more popular in the North and West. There are some variations on the tradition.
1. Some accounts say this vigil must be repeated each year of your live instead of just three.
2. Others say the exterior of church had to walked around before the vigil begins.
3. And another say that those undertaking the task had to be fasting.
4. Lastly some say just going on this night and partipating in a vigil will able you to see.
Divining For Future Husbands
It was also believed that St Marks Eve was also the time when young maids would try to use divination to discover the identity of their true love and husband to be. One method was to hang their smock before the fireplace and await for the arrival of an apparition of the man your due to marry to come in and turn it for you.
‘On St. Mark’s eve, at twelve o’clock,
The fair maid will watch her smock,
To find her husband in the dark,
By praying unto good St. Mark.’
In North Kelsey, Lincolnshire young women would visit the Maiden Well on St Marks Eve.‘Girls coming to the spring with the view of divination must walk towards it backwards, and go round it three times in the same manner, each girl, meanwhile, wishing the wish that she may see her destined sweetheart. After the third circle is complete, the inquirer must kneel down and gaze into the spring, in which she will see her lover looking up out of the depths.’
(County Folk-Lore by Gutch and Peacock,1908)
Another method of employed by young women was to place a nut by the heath and whisper the name of the man they believe may be their true love. If the nut jumped from the fire then the love was meant to be.
So come and join us on The 24th April 2017, we will be broadcasting live from facebook bwtween 11PM and 1AM.
We will have equipment set up around the porch, Wildlife cameras scattered, a walk round of the area will be shown and we will even have the spirit box going to see what comes through, on The night the veil is meant to be at its Thinest so lets have a go to see what happens.
If you would also like to take part with us or want to take part from another church yard let us no we will do another article with who is taking part and what experiments they have planned.
And please dont forget to send us any evidence you may have collected for our upcoming documentary on it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kxfJHEb5hLA&feature=youtu.be
Paranormal Magazine UK 