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Behind Every Cloud is a Kindred Spirit (BECKS)I lost my grandfather when I was 17. I had a VERY difficult time getting over it. How could I still communicate with him? I loved him so much I didn't think I could live without him. I read everything I could get my hands on to do with the "afterlife" and that started it all...the love of Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal. I have been researching the paranormal for over 37 years!! It is my way of staying in touch with my grandfather. Being a Ghost Hunter is not always as exciting as it seems on TV. Many nights I have sat in the dark and not a thing happened. BUT it is those times you DO get that one voice, that one explainable picture or have an experience that sends chills down your back that makes it sooo worth it all!!! My purpose of this blog is not to make people believe in ghosts but maybe to open their minds just a little bit... I LOVE this crazy thing called Ghost Hunting. It is as much a part of me as breathing. I am just a girl that refuses to accept we can't still contact our loved ones after they die. My grandfather won't let me.

8/27/2013

RELIGION AND GHOSTS-WE WALK A THIN LINE


            


Many times I have been told, "if you believe in ghosts, then you don't believe when we die that we go to heaven".  NOT TRUE!!!  I definately believe in God and Heaven and Hell.  Like I have always said, "I just believe it takes SOME OF US........ a little longer to get there". LOL

When it comes to religion, being a Ghost Hunter can sometimes be touchy.  Let me just say before I get to far into this conversation, that I respect YOU as an individual with your individual beliefs and would ask that you respect mine.  So, lets not send hateful emails ok?  LOL  We walk a "thin line" because we(ghost hunters) DO believe in God, but the theory is that if you believe in ghost then you believe they are a trapped soul caught in the "in between world" of earth bound and Heaven or Hell.  It is HARD to explain sometimes, but the bottom line is MOST of the people involved in the paranormal DO believe in God and Heaven. That is why when picking locations for paranormal conferences we try our best to pick locations away from the churches and religious gatherings.  So, that there is no conflict of beliefs and it doesn't appear "disrespectful" in any way.

This is MY OPINION AND MY OPINION ONLY.........I believe we all go to Heaven or Hell.  In saying that...I also believe that some ghosts may have an intelligent soul that with a little "help" be it from some of us Ghost Hunters encouraging them to go "to the light" or through some form of spiritual/Christianity belief.....I DO believe with all my heart that we should ALWAYS encourage a spirit(ghost) to "cross over".  No doubt, being "stuck" in between worlds is not the way God intended it.

To me a spirit stays behind because of some kind of emotional connection to a person, place or thing and chooses to stay connected to these places because they "left very suddenly" or "have unfinished business" before their journey can be completed to the other side.  If it is a residual haunting, then it is doing the same thing over and over and over the same way it had done when they were living.  Like the grandmother that got up and cooked her family breakfast everyday for the last 50 years, then when she passes, the smell of bacon frying and fresh fruit can be smelled or the sounds of clanging pots and pans can be heard.  That is what she had done for so many years she doesn't know to "let go" and move forward "toward the light".  We have to let her know, it is ok.....she doesn't have to make our breakfast anymore. :) 

Christianity believes in a physical birth and a spiritual birth. It also believes in the physical death and spiritual one.  Religions are interpretation. Ghosts are a term denoting a meaning. They have nothing in common with anything. If there are ghosts, they can be also without any denominator or any religion.

So, can religion and ghosts co-exist?????  Maybe........maybe not...........The truth is I don't have all the answers, but whatever you believe......the only advice I can offer you is this...........if you believe in something.....BELIEVE in it with ALL your heart......and the things that you are unsure about or don't believe in ..............just.............. smile :)

8/26/2013

VISITING MY GRANDFATHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS...



So, for those of you who know me and have been following me for years, know that my grandfather was a huge part of my life and when I lost him at age 17 it was devastating for me!  I had such a hard time coping with his loss that I read anything and everything I could to do with the paranormal and how to "Still" communicate with your loved ones that had died.

So, this is VERY personal.... and I don't talk a lot about it in detail, but I wanted to share something with you guys.

Short story.....When my grandfather died, I broke down at the funeral and had to be put in the car because I was so upset.  I didn't get to say good-bye to my Nan(Grandfather) because he died before I could get to the hospital after a triple by-pass surgery.  I was told he was doing great so I thought "great I'll just go see him in the morning"  but he didn't make it through the night.  The GUILT of that never goes away.  I can't write to much about it, because it is STILL hard after all this time.

Anyway, over the weekend, I thought it was time to go see him after almost 30 years.  The flood of emotion at seeing his and my grandmothers headstone at first was overwhelming!!! It was as clear to me as the LAST time I was there, as if it happened yesterday.  The casket, the flowers, the preacher, the people, the PAIN....... I guess in some weird way I needed "closer" or maybe just needed to say "Goodbye".  I don't know what I needed.  In my heart I know I can talk to my grandfather anytime I want to, I don't have to be at the grave site.  But after the initial shock of being back there, I had a really nice day and felt really good about things when I left.

I hope you guys understand about this next part.(I know some may find it disrespectful, but in know way was it intended that way).  I took a picnic with my Nan's favorite food....Angel Food Cake and for my grandmother.....Little Debbie's.  So, after working on the grave site with Deak, we had a picnic in THEIR honor.  Yes, that's right...right there in the cemetery.  I left at their grave site their Little Debbie's and Angel Food Cake.(I know animals will probably eat the stuff I left, but I still wanted to leave it).

So, see.....Nan left this world so I could find my PASSION in life and he could give me the DRIVE I needed to never give up.  ANYONE that is passionate about the paranormal will understand this when I say.....MANY MANY times in my life I could have gotten depressed and down, but turned to the paranormal that kept me searching for answering, which in turn distracted me from my "life" troubles.  IT got me though really hard times in my life with my Nan always looking out for me saying, "Beck, it will be ok....hang in there and NEVER lose sight of your dreams.  I AM HERE!!!".

Ok.  I am going to stop here, because this is much more than I original wanted to say.  But here are a couple of pics from a VERY SPECIAL DAY.  Thank you Nanny and Nan. I Love you and miss you everyday! And thank you for the support- my family and friends and my Paranormal Family...you guys ROCK!!!! :)



8/20/2013

OH GREAT.....YOU MEAN THERES MORE THAN ONE GHOST HERE????

So you move into that house on the hill that you fell in love with but soon after realized that it MIGHT NOT be your dream home!!!  You start to hear eerie noises during the night, you all of the sudden feel VERY COLD for no reason, the doors start to open and close by themselves, you start to feel like someone is watching you, things start to move on their own, things are just getting CREEPY.....NOW WHAT???  You love this house but are starting to think SOMETHING is going on.....what do you do?  MOVE? STAY? Or call Becks Ghost Hunters(oops how did that get in there???? LOL)

You decide to do some research on your own about your "dream home" and learn that their was a murder in your home many, many years ago.  A man shot his wife while she slept......THAT'S it!!!!!  It must be the spirit of the decreased wife!!!  Not that you feel better......but at lease you know what your up against and that would explain some of the things that are happening.

So, you come to accept that the "murdered wife" MUST BE the one haunting your home.   You realize SHE is the shadowy figure you have being seeing in your bedroom.  OK.  I love this HOUSE so I guess I will just have to learn how to live with a ghost.  You soon adjust to the whole idea of sharing your home with a ghost when you start to see another figure......another figure....... that DOESN'T look like the lady you have been seeing in your bedroom!!!  Are you kidding me!!!!  YOU MEAN THERES MORE THAN ONE GHOST HERE????

Well, I hate to tell you, but YES, more than one spirit can haunt a location.  Spirits linger in a particular place for such reasons as a person who was wrongfully tortured into death or deeply betrayed by a dear friend or loved one that resulted in death.  Then, there is just the opposite reason......... spirits haunt a location because of an extreme emotional connection.  Meaning....they LOVED the place so much they didn't want to leave.  And of course, everyone knows that ghosts also have "unfinished business" in many cases. See the thing is....a ghost doesn't "stake claim" to a location for a haunting.  Like...."Hey....I died here first, so this is mine...you go haunt somewhere else". LOL  It just doesn't work like that.

The perfect example of places with several different spirits haunt the same place would be like a hospital, battlegrounds, asylums, theaters anyway....places like that....where at different times, for different reasons more than one person died there.

So, don't just think it's just ONE spirit when there maybe TWO or more.  Do your research and find out everything you can about the past and present owners.  Hopefully, you will find some answers if you feel you are dealing with one or more spirits.  Two famous places with multiple spirits calling it home is Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky(http://therealwaverlyhills.com/newsite/history/ )and Pennhurst State Asylum in Pennsylvania(  http://www.greatest-unsolved-mysteries.com/pennhurst-asylum.html)  The link with Pennhurst is a great site for several different hauntings)  They were the home to many children, nurses, doctors, etc.......so it is understandable there are many spirits here. 



 







Haunted Asylums

8/16/2013

CEMETERY GHOST-REAL OR NOT? YAHOO VIDEO

Just an interesting article on yahoo this morning and I thought I would share it with you.  What do you think.....a photo of a ghost REAL or NOT REAL?????

http://news.yahoo.com/video/photo-ghost-captured-titanic-victims-215218953.html

8/14/2013

BLOG CONTEST- DOES YOUR STORY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES???

 First Annual READERS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES CONTEST!!!

So, I am the one always doing the talking(or writing in this case lol)......so it's your turn.  Announcing Becks Everyday Ghost Hunters FIRST ever Annual READERS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES CONTEST!!!!   I LOVE all my readers(followers) that email me "behind the scenes" with their stories and pictures.  So, I decided that we need to have a contest for the most unusual, scary, creepy, intriguing, and just your BEST ALL AROUND GHOST STORY!!!!!!

The contest rules are easy.........email me at becksghosthunters@yahoo.com  or use the CONTACT ME form to the left of my blog right under the PAGES TAB and it will directly email me with your story.  If you are going to attach a photo, you will have to use the becksghosthunters@yahoo.com  address.  Here's what you do....write a short story about a paranormal experience you have had and include a photo(if you have one, not required).  Be sure to include the date(if known), year you had the experience, where you were and if anyone else was present to witness your experience.   You know, tell me about that ONE photo that just blew your mind or that ONE time you will NEVER forget!   That's it.  The what, when, and where of your story and how did you feel about your experience afterword's....like....."after that experience, down in the cellar, I felt so uneasy that I moved out of the house, but I now believe in ghosts".  You know something like that.

The winner will receive a one and only Becks Ghost Hunters Tee-shirt, a set of custom made Brass Dowsing Rods with reflective tips(better for night vision camera's to capture), and custom Yes and No response letters with carrying bag, instructional sheet on how to use your Dowsing Rods, a Becks Ghost Hunters Meg Flashlight and last but not least, your VERY OWN Death Mints (don't worry, they are just candy LOL).


You will also have your entry featured on Becks Ghost Hunter Blog.  And case you didn't know, I am in the process of writing a book(EVEN THE DARK HAS SECRETS- Tales and Encounters of the Everyday Ghost Hunter), and your story could be featured in my book.

Deadline  for your submission is September 4, 2013

The winner will be announced on.....you guessed it........ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th, 2013.

Good Luck Everyone!!!!   Have fun with this!  It doesn't have to be all serious if you don't want to be.  I can't wait......so start submitting your stories right away.  I am soooooo excited to read about your experiences!!!!!
 

8/13/2013

COOL HAUNTED PLACES III

Ok let's talk about some more COOL places to go ghost hunting!  I thought I would list some of the places I have heard about as being REALLY, REALLY haunted.  I also am going to throw in a couple of places that aren't as "famous" or as "well known".  Some of these I have actually been to and some of them are on my "bucket list".  And have you ever noticed when your a ghost hunter that your GHOST HUNTER BUCKET LIST is wayyyyyyyyyy longer than your LIFE BUCKET LIST???? What's with that?  I could be dead by the time I complete my GH BUCKET LIST!!!! LOL

Ok...Stay on the subject Beck.....I want to tell you guys about a really CREEPY PLACE in Houston, Tx called the Jefferson Davis Hospital that is now an apartment building for inspiring artist.

                     


One of the hallways in the Jefferson.  Notice the floor.  In all the
renovation, the floors still look like the original
floors from when it was a hospital.



An orb going up to one of the floor
Trying to be brave....and go upstairs.
 

The pictures above are my actual photos of the Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston, Tx.  This landmark was built in 1924 and is often referred to as one of the most haunted buildings in America. It was built atop a burial ground for confederate soldiers, slaves and city leaders.  The Jefferson Davis  Hospital sits creepily along the Buffalo Bayou near White Oak Dr.  The building was recently renovated and transformed into the Elder Street Artist Lofts.  The hospital is said to have spirits such as nurses, doctors, and patients that still roam it's halls.  Many have gone into this place and have had their own personal experiences such as being watched , seeing shadows, and smelling sterilization solutions in certain areas.                                                                         

This hospital was built upon a site of about 3,000 graves of civil war and yellow fever victims, from when it was a cemetery in the 1800's.  During some excavation work done in the area, approximately 60 "black earth graves" were uncovered.  The common characteristics of these graves were the orientation of graves East to West(the head), and body was wrapped in a shroud and buried without a coffin.  Because the graves were filled with fresh soil of high organic nature they are called "black earth graves".

I went to the Jefferson Davis Hospital several years ago, and I have to tell you...IT IS CREEPY!!!!! A friend of mine took me there, during the day, but HE was to afraid to get out of the car and come in with me.  So, I put on my "big girl shoes" and went in alone.  The smell, oh man... the smell of sterilization solution was overwhelming!!!!!  To the point I thought I was going to be physically sick.  That really bothered me, because how could that smell be that STRONG back from the 1800's????  It wasn't in just a couple of places, it smelled that way the whole time I was there.

There are people living here so you have to be respectful of that.  There are signs that say "Residents Only" but.....lets just say....I must not have seen that sign until I had left. lol ssshhhhh   I just snapped a few pictures in the entry way and it was deadly quite.  I walked up and down the hallway taking pictures, but you could absolutely feel what it was like a long time ago when it was a hospital...the sadness...the concern, much like you would feel in a hospital today.  The residents have the doors decorated in their own styles, but that doesn't matter at all.  You still feel sadness.  I decided to be really brave and go up the stairs, they were very narrow and creepy.  I have to say that after all my years of going to "haunted places and graveyards" this place really made me uncomfortable. I walked all the way to the top floor on the stairs taking pictures.  I didn't stay long, even though it was in the day, I just wanted to get out of there.  I WILL go back someday....One of my readers wrote me just the other day and said he delivered some packages their and the SMELL was so bad he couldn't believe people could live there.  I didn't really capture anything to exciting but a few orbs in some of the pictures.  But if you are in the Houston area, don't pass this one up.
 
The next place is more well known. It sounds like a really, really cool place and is also on my bucket list. 
 
New Orleans-And the legend of Marie Laveau.
 
 
  New Orleans is said to be haunted by the ghost of the world famous Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau. Her spirit has been reported inside of the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, walking between the tombs wearing a red and white seven knotted turban , and mumbling a New Orleans Santeria Voodoo curse to trespassers. Her Voodoo curse is loud and even heard by residents on nearby Rampart Street. Locals say this has started in recent years for she is alarmed by the many vandals and state of the cemetery. Voudon believers, tourists, and locals still come to her tomb every day and leave many, many Voodoo offerings (candles, flowers, the monkey and the cock statue, Mardi Gras beads, Gris Gris bags, Voodoo dolls and food in hopes of being blessed by her supernatural powers from beyond the grave. Many make a wish at her tomb marking three X's. while others say they have her Ghost on film emerging undead from her tomb. They say her soul appears here as a shiny black Voodoo cat with read eyes. If you see it run!   I am attaching a website for Marie Laveau
 
 
 
 
I have not been here yet but I have friends and family that have (darn it!) and they said it is "quite the sight".  So someday.........Marie and I will hopefully meet.  Let me know if you guys have been to New Orleans and seen her grave.

 
 
And the last place I am going to talk about is the McPike Mansion, in Alton, Illinois
 
 

    
 
 








                       
 
The above photos are mine.  The last picture is just the original photo of the one above it that is blown up.
 
Now, here's my story.  I went up to Alton, Illinois for one of the annual American Ghost Society's Conferences.  I registered late, and therefore, missing out on an investigation of the famous "McPikes Mansion".  I was soooooo bummed!!!  So, on my way to the airport, returning from my trip, I was talking to the cab driver.  He asked me if I got to do everything I wanted and I said "no".  I missed out on an investigation on the old McPikes Mansion.  He said, no problem.  I know where it is, if you would like to go there before catching your flight?  ARE YOU KIDDING!!!!! YESSSS I would love to go there.

So, off we went. After a short drive, he pulled up in the driveway of the McPikes Mansion.  No one was there because it is abandoned and most people go at night. The cab driver stated that he did not want to get out. He was to afraid.  I got out of the cab and walked just a little ways up in the front yard, because there are "NO TRESPASSING" signs posted everywhere. I just kinda walked around the front yard taking pictures.  I got back in the cab feeling awesome that I got to at least see the outside of the mansion.  Of course, that cab driver got a GREAT tip!!!!!

When I got home I downloaded my pics of the mansion.  My first thought was, wow what a beautiful old mansion and what it must have been like to live there.  THEN.... I looked at my pictures a little closer and couldn't believe my eyes!  It looks to me like two people, maybe one adult and a young girl are in the window on the second floor.  I could see them clearly!!!  I was sooo excited!!!

So again, if you are ever in this area, DEFINITELY check this out.
 

 

8/07/2013

NEW LAYOUT OF SITE

As you can see, my blogs format has changed a little bit.  I am just trying to add a couple of additional links so I have rearranged my blog a bit.  Hope you like the new layout. :)  I know it will take a little bit to get used to. Thanks for the support.

8/06/2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAN!!!!(MY GRANDFATHER)

Today is my grandfathers birthday. So, I know you guys know..... he is the reason I ever got started in the paranormal so, be sure and wish him a Happy Birthday today by hitting the Like button at the bottom of this post.  Happy Birthday NAN!!!!! I miss you EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!
My life has been amazing and I know you have been there the whole way! You are the reason I do what I do and know that encourage me.......and I know you laugh at me or with me.....when I am driving myself crazy trying to make sense of it all by saying "Nan.....really......you couldn't give me a better sign than that"?  Until we see each other again.......I love you.

GHOST HUNTER APPS-REAL OR JUST CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT???

So, I wasn't going to talk about this because I don't know how much "stock" I put in it.  But in today's world of technology I guess just about anything is possible.  So lets talk Ghost Apps for Iphones.

Do I think they are REAL or cheap entertainment?  Both.  I think if a ghost can move objects, talk to us from beyond and show themselves on camera and video....then why couldn't they manipulate an electronic device into a form of communication with us?  Anything is possible....right???

The other day I was just goofing off and found this app for your Iphone.  There are several apps for ghost hunting but I read and read reviews to try and find out which one was the best.  So, the one I found with the most reviews and the best reviews was the Ghost Hunter M2.  It is a little "dorky" because when you first turn it on, it plays cheesy thunder and lightening sounds...but oh well.
 
 

I think it cost $ .99  but to me it is way worth the  $.99 in entrainment. Of all the apps I have used THIS one is the one I believe to be the best.  I also feel this one could be used out in the field and possibly for collecting evidence that might be reliable WITH other equipment.  The one thing I love about this app is that ALL the different sections has a log that can be reviewed at anytime.  It logs, the date and time and the words for EVPS.  Ok.  Here is my brief encounter with the M2 so far...

The very first day I downloaded it at work. I didn't really know how to use it.  But it looked fun and interesting.  I went home and was just sitting in the living room and decided to turn it on..  So, I turned it on and just put it on the chair and continued just to relax and watch tv.  Nothing was happening...the radar was going around and around but no "blimp" on it at all and no words where showing.  After about 30 mins all the sudden... the radar starts going off and there was a little blue light on the radar.  I thought...huummmm interesting....and then....(because it has sound) it said "Rebecca" and the word "Rebecca" shows up on the screen!!!  NO WAY!!!  Now...... I wish I could say that being a Ghost Hunter that I thought this was way cool....but the truth is...... I thought "What the ???????"  It scared the crap out of me! lol  I know, I know, I am supposed to lie and say it didn't but it DID!!!!

Now, I don't know if everyone knows this but Becky(my name) is short for Rebecca!!! Oh, NOW I      have your attention....lol  I didn't really know what to do...so I did the bravest thing I could think of...........I TURNED IT OFF!!!!! How could it know my name??? It couldn't be retrieving names from your phones account because my cell phone is in Becky.   Huuummmmmmm
                       
But that's not all of it......it gets better...  So, I didn't think anything else about the app and later just     went on to bed.  I'm not sure what time it was....but if I were guessing it was about 2 or 3am that morning and I was awaken by my phone going off with that "blimping" sound.  I, of course just waking up from a dead sleep was like.....what is that?????? I picked up my phone and INSTANTLY could see the M2 radar with a red dot on the radar(meaning STRONG presence). Well, I just thought...."oh that darn little app" and turned it off and went back to sleep.  Again, I was already asleep or I would have thought more of it.  Not even realizing that I had turned it off earlier that day.

For those of you who have Iphones, you know that if you have a password on your phone you can not get into your phone or your apps until you physically punch in your password and THEN you have to touch the app you want to open….
                                                                                               

So, the next morning I got to thinking about it, and there just is know way possible I could have  picked up my phone and INSTANTLY saw that RADAR.  I would have had to enter my password    and THEN go into the app itself!  And when I picked up my phone the radar was already up!!!   I don't really know what to think about this little app but when I went to Galveston to met Britt from    Ghost Hunters International almost everyone there had this app.  But there where a lot of people that had never been on an investigation before so they could just be downloading anything.                     

I have included a link below that talks about the app and explains how to use it.  I thought it was good so I wanted to share it with you, so that it would give you a better understanding of what I was seeing and hearing.

            
I would love to know if anyone else has used or heard of this app.  If you have please tell me about your experience so I won't feel so crazy.

Sorry this is sooooo long, but it is hard to write about experiences and try to give you all the details.  I will say that since then, I have just turned it on a time or two and it does throw out random words.   But I guess, to me anyway, Rebecca is a pretty WEIRD word to through out there! What do you think???? 
                                                                                                                                                                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fqKppQrGsE

Paranormal

So, the above app is called Paranormal. It is VERY simple.  The above screen comes up with a radar and below it, a writing area.  Is this app fun and creepy? You bet.  In a way, it is one of my favorite little apps to play with, but for an actual investigation NOT my first choice. lol  How it works.  There is a sound that goes off and a "dot" appears on the radar that indicates a spirit is present and where it is located.  And at random times(supposedly when a spirit is communicating with you) below the radar, in the writing  space, a word suddenly starts to appear....in a creepy, squiggly writing.  It LOOKS really cool but here's the problem.....there is NO sound associated with the word, so if you are not looking at the apps constantly you will MISS the word. (the above photo is an actual photo on my phone of the word "ball" being written) Another problem is there is no recording of this word at all.  I don't think this is a great app for collecting evidence, but it is certainly entertaining.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Ghost Detect

I have not used this app very much, but it LOOKS impressive, doesn't it?  It has a little of everything on it.  Would I use it in an investigation......maybe, but to be honest I just haven't experimented enough with it to say.  The one thing I do like is that it DOES keep a log that you can go back and review.(unlike the Paranormal)  If you use this app, I would love to know what kind of luck you have with it in your investigations.

Strobe App

This is a fun little app that has different colors you can use as a Strobe light.  Some say that by using a Strobe Light you can see spirits easier.  When I investigated the Queen Mary this is what one of their investigators used.

Misc. Apps

The above apps are the ones I am experimenting or playing with to you the truth...ssshhhhh that doesn't sound very professional does it........ANYWAY.....some are just a waste of time and some I find to be entertaining and some I find.......could very well be useful in an investigation.  You guys give them a try and get back with me on your luck with them.  Some do cost a little money....but not more than 99 cents(I think)  I'll give you an update on them after I  have used them more.