DIARY OF A GHOST HUNTER

Quality Row where most of the official houses stand, has its eerie tales. Soldiers in coloful uniforms of old and Empire gowned and crinolined ladies are said to have revisited their old homes and the clanking of chain gangs is held to re-echo at times. Beyond Quality Row lies the graveyard and if you walk there after dark you must whistle to send wandering spirits back to their resting places. Western Satr ans Roma Advertisier - Saturday 23 September 1939                                        One of the house on Quality Row - Norfolk Island That comes from a newspaper article written in 1939. I have just returned from my second visit to Norfolk Island. I spent 3 days there with another 13 gorgeous people and we were all out to explore the island and it's ghostly stories.                             ...

We live in landscapes filled with ghosts.The scenes we pass through each day are inhabited, possessed by spirits we cannot see but whose presence we nevertheless experience. What I am describing  is a common feature of human experience of place for both modern and traditional peoples. The meaning of a place, its genius loci,depends upon the geniuses we locate there. Ghosts of the living and the dead alike,of both individual and collective spirits of both ourselves and our own selves, haunt the places of our lives. Places are in a way 'personed' - even when there is no one there. by Michael Mayerfeld Bell Theory and Society Vol. 26, No. 6 (Dec., 1997) As anyone who has been on a haunted site and has felt the presence of someone there you will agree with the words of Mayefeld Bell. Bell goes on to say that it isn't always about memories and that sometimes these ghosts are alive and playful and are rooted to their space - immovable. This is someth...

We have a magnificent theatre here in Newcastle. It's called the CIVIC THEATRE. The heritage listed Civic Theatre was designed by prominent architect Henry Eli White and opened in 1929 . Regarded as one of the finest architects of the period, Henry White specialised in cinemas or 'picture palaces' as they were then called. Although designed as a live theatre, the Civic was immediately leased as a cinema to Northern Amusements (in association with Newcastle Theatres Pty Ltd and Greater Union).  In 1941 Hoyts gained control and the Civic continued under this management until 1973.  Newcastle City Council then decided to move towards more live productions and phase out cinema operations completely. This adaption was undertaken over 1974-76. (info: http://www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/About/History) With little maintenance having been done on the building over the years, the Civic was in much need of renovation.  In June 1992, the Civic...

Some would say that the only protection people need is against charlatans like 'us' fleecing innocent victims. Haven't I heard that one a few times! So firstly start with self protection against nasty, cranky words that do a lot of damage to our souls even before we deal with ghosts. But aside from THAT type of protection I want to use this blog to talk about some of the different types of personal protection people may prefer to use when going ghost hunting. Smudging - this is most probably the most well known and used type of protective ritual people will use. Performed before and after ghost hunting the act of smudging, or using some sort of a smoking ritual is one that has been around for centuries as a purification and protection If you would like more information about smudging or any of these protection activities please just google - there is so much out there that I wont waste time by repeating it here. What matters is not the idea a man holds...

I'm considering a deeper look into this topic of protection on paranormal investigations in this blog post. Of course, I am only expressing my humble opinion here as someone who has been in the 'spooky' business for 25 years and has spent most of that time trying to get in contact with spirits. So if you want to delve into how to protect yourself when going ghost hunting, go for it. But don't fear what may not happen before you even start. You are not likely to get attacked by some horrible spirit on your first ghost walk or ghost hunt! This post has a few analogies - it's the only way I can explain things simply. So stay with me... You may have spent your whole life never having heard a voice from outside of yourself, never felt a poke or prod when no one is there, never been aware of outside energy forces - just gone on your merry old way, oblivious, and not wanting to really think about ghosts, nor they about you. And that's perfectly OK. ...

I was asked an interesting question last night during my "Haunted Tales of Newcastle", ghost walk. Mind you, it hasn't been the first time this question has been asked. I hear it often. It will come from people who have never had their own experience and are genuinely interested in the paranormal and have moved on from what they see in the movies. The question? How DO people see ghosts? Or maybe it's better to say - in what forms do they appear to people?                                                                  Photo:Pinterest That might sound funny to you, but for those that have never had an experience, they have no real conceptual idea of how it happens. Is it like it is shown in the movies? Do they come out in their long white 1800's nighties with hair covering their faces? Do they move or stand...