Office of the Director

Settle Down, Children

2008-07-02T21:20:37Z

While I originally removed comment moderation on my blog, I must now return to it. Unfortunately, some people have taken to arguing with one another on a daily basis in the comments section. Even worse, people are posting comments that are harassing and uncalled for.

I really want people to comment on my blogs, so my team and I will try to regularly post responses in a timely manner.

Thank you all!
...

Are We Ready for the Next Step?

2008-05-19T12:54:53Z

It’s been an interesting decade for paranormal investigators. Since 1998, the presence of paranormal investigators has slowly resurfaced both in pop culture and within household discussions. Perhaps it’s due to the peak in popularity over The X-Files? Mulder and Scully, no doubt, made paranormal investigating cool again. The Internet, however, allowed the interest to grow at record speed. Websites for paranormal groups popped up over time, allowing investigators from all over to post photo, audio and video evidence for the world to scrutinize.

With the turn of a new century, America moved in to a post-9/11 society filled with fear, paranoia and questions.   Interest in horror resurfaced like never before. The Exorcist was re-released and, despite being over 25-years-old, was a box-office hit. Other movies followed, such as The Mothman Prophecies, White Noise, Signs, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Television followed suit with shows such as Psychic Detectives, Medium and The Ghost Whisperer.

The Internet, now an important part of our culture, essentially became a new way for paranormal groups to establish themselves. Over time, certain sites and groups became more recognized and influential over others.

In 2004, Sci Fi released a television series called Ghost Hunters, starring real-life ghost busters who investigate supernatural activity. Slowly, the show became a cable hit, and a new generation of ghost hunters emerged. With the continuing success of the series, TAPS grew a dedicated fanbase, spawning paranormal vacations, lecture appearances, book deals and more. The success of Ghost Hunters and TAPS drove many to feel that they, too, could make it in the field.

Many argue that the latest trend in the paranormal community is to have a television deal. Popular networking sites such as YouTube and MySpace are littered with groups posting “pilots” and other self-made documentaries of their investigations.

A&E probably added more fuel to that fire in 2007, when they launched a multi-million dollar campaign behind its new documentary series, “Paranormal State,” (co-starring yours truly). The show made records for the cable network and the series is now filming its second season.

With now two successful television series on air, and promises of more to come (Chris Fleming, Ghost Adventures and other personalities have announced the development of their own series, respectfully), as well as a top-secret paranormal project from filming legend Steven Spielberg, it seems that the ‘paranormal’ is back in a big way.

But where’s the field going with all of this? Are we hoping to merge the field in to the entertainment business? What becomes of the rest of the field and the researchers who do not have their own shows?

Essentially, the field must now change. It is the opinion of this author that interest in the paranormal is about to reach its pop-cultural peak, much like it did in the 1970s followed by a crippling slump in the 80s, where interest in the paranormal drastically declined, as did its respect as being a ‘legitimate’ field.

If we wish to avoid history repeating itself, then we need not rely on just the media. Let’s face it; Haunting Evidence, Ghost Hunters and Paranormal State will one day run its course. Whether it’s next year or five years from now, all things come to an end. Once the media hype is over, and the fans move on to other interests, where does this leave the paranormal field?

Last year, I had a conversation with a tenured Penn State professor in clinical psychology. Back in the 60s and 70s, he was heavily involved in parapsychology. He knew JB Rhine and James Randi very well. Back then; they were all in the same community together doing respective research on psychical phenomenon. But then, of course, it all died. So what happened?

“People lost interest,” he said to me. “One day we all just asked ourselves, ‘why are we doing this? What’s the point?’”

And just like that, college-sponsored programs on paranormal research shut down. Parapsychologists merged in to other departments such as psychology, chemistry and whatnot. The only major paranormal team to survive this decline was the Warrens, who remained the “go-to” personalities when it came to the bizarre and unexplained. Even Dr. Hans Holzer got the slight brush-off.

Late last year, parapsychology research took another major blow when Princeton announced it was shutting down its anomalies group. There are now only a handful of paranormal institutes left in the entire world, and more than half of those are on the brink of collapsing.

So where do we go from here?

That’s the current, hot button topic. Do we organize as a community, or not? There are supporters of both ideas. Go to any online message board and you can see the arguments for yourselves. Some fear that organizing is the same as conforming. Many groups have resisted joining “family” groups (loose associations between groups across the country), and often time’s miniature “wars” haven broken out over the Internet between organizations.

Then there’s the question of legitimacy. What makes one group more legitimate over another? How does one measure what makes a proper paranormal investigator/group?

I’d like to argue that Paranormal State has brought that question in to light like never before. It injected a much-needed different perspective for both the paranormal community and mainstream to consider. Paranormal message boards, radio shows and writers spent months talking about the show. And through it all, one thing became certain: there is a slight divide amongst the community over religious and spiritual tolerance.

It’s somewhat ironic that investigators who spend time trying to document proof of the afterlife, spirits, poltergeists and the demonic are so quick to dismiss spiritual/religious tones. But the bottom line is that there are just as many groups out there who strongly believe that spirituality and paranormal investigation go hand-in-hand.

So what we have now is a division between faith and science. And that’s something that isn’t new to the world at all.

In short, the paranormal community has yet to sit down and lay everything out across the table and say, “let’s make some decisions.”

It is essentially a chaotic bunch of individuals, with many believing that they have the correct way of doing things.

Some investigators have told me that the reason they’re so cynical about spirituality and even organizing is their fear of fraud and a monopolizing viewpoint. After all, there are many psychics out there who charge for their services. How do we regulate who is legit and whose not?   How do we determine which course of action is the best?

Essentially, their fear of organizing is exactly what hinders this community. Yes, there will be disagreements and power struggles. But if you observe the field at its current state, isn’t that already going on?

Let us not be jealous and petty over one’s successes. Instead, let’s celebrate together our accomplishments.

It is time for the field to ask themselves, both individually and collectively, if they’re ready for a change?

The community needs to organize and that requires people working together. Even if a large chunk of the community refuses to participate, the part of the community that wishes to organize should do so. Change is never easy. And it won’t happen overnight. Those wishing to change will come under great scrutiny and pressure. But that is the least of their concerns.

This renewed interest in the paranormal has an end-date, ladies and gentlemen. Fads will come and go. The key in all of this is to turn the paranormal from fad to phenomenon before it’s too late. From unprofessional, squabbling hobbyists to professional and respected individuals.

It’s time for us to think about what matters most. It’s the timeless questions that we all have and the answers we all so desperately want.   Let us not forget what drives us in to doing this research. Let us not ignore our fears, for you can’t have courage without it. Let’s not overlook science for faith and vice versa.

I challenge this field to look at itself and ask: are you happy with the way things are? Are we doing the best that we can do? Can we not do better?

Have we already reached the peak of our ingenuity? I don’t believe that we have. There are those who are trying to make a difference: groups and institutions that are struggling for funding and resources. Most importantly, they are struggling for moral support from their peers.

Since 2001, I’ve dreamt of a day where we could come together under one roof to present new ideas and perspectives. A place where we could challenge each other, not as enemies, but as colleagues who are only looking to better the field, its research and the people who need help. The paranormal community is a diverse field, with many perspectives and subdivisions. But nevertheless, we are one field, one group. We must learn to co-exist on a common ground.

This year at UNIV-CON, I am hoping for my dream to come true. This is not the PRS or “Paranormal State” convention. It is meant to be a conference that challenges the field. This year, we will do our part to set the bar to new heights. We will offer grants and scholarships. We have spent months assembling some of the best speakers to offer thought-provoking and challenging lectures. We will unveil new research and equipment. We will also offer a series of “congressional” sessions; a body of representatives from every makeup of the paranormal field to address some of the biggest concerns and challenges this field faces. And then, of course, we will offer some of the finest entertainment ever assembled at a paranormal conference. Are we raising expectations? You bet. Will we succeed? That depends on you. This conference can no longer solely be controlled by a small group of individuals. It must be a joint effort by many.

Therefore, by 2010, UNIV-CON is planning to become a non-profit entity. Its planners will consist of many respected individuals across the country. If you want to get involved, if you’re ready for a change, here is an opportunity to help us make that change.

UNIV-CON is just the first step. In order for the paranormal community to improve and move forward in to bold new directions, we need more than just an outstanding conference. But at least this is a step. We realize that there are many other groups out there who are already trying to bring about a change. I say to you, let’s work together. How can we help you with your endeavors?

The time has come to strip away the cynicism and passivism. It’s time for us to be aggressive and supportive. Is it possible? That depends on you.

This year, at UNIV-CON, I invite all investigators to come prepared to share their views on this subject. This is the mission of this year’s conference: to put everything on the table and evaluate the field. To see where we’ve come from, where we are and where we’re headed.

My friends, are we ready to take the next step?

That Whole "Demon" Thing

2008-04-06T16:56:11Z

So I'm at a bar here in State College, having a good ol' time when a group of fellow Penn Staters approach me to chat. They're fans of the show and we get to talking. For the most part, we chat about other things while taking turns buying rounds. I start hitting it up with very attractive gal. The night seems like it'll be a fun one and hilarious conversations ensue. But then she leans towards me and asks, "Ryan, what's with the whole 'demon' thing?"

WHAT a turn on.

Alas, it seems that a good chunk of America wants to know. I guess it makes sense, being that 2-3 million people got to see "The Name" and its continuation, "Devil in Syracuse." Back then, people had preconceptions of what this show is about. Heck, some still do. There's no shortage of ignorance in this world, that's for sure.

Now that Season One is over and done with, I guess many feel cheated and disappointed that It-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named didn't make another cameo. Some even bought in to my pre-April Fool's joke when I said that the demon would return in the season finale for a final showdown (I also said Lorraine would be wearing brass knuckles for the fight... people ate it up, anyway).

The demon never made a return visit because this show IS NOT scripted! It was part of something that really happened when we were filming, but then we moved on. Will we ever return to address it? Who knows...

The story of my confrontations with the "demonic" are personal and private. I have shared a little because I wanted people to understand where I was coming from with "The Name." "The Name," in the grand story of my life, is really a continuation of something that started years ago when I first started working on demonic cases. So, in reality, America got to see Part Three without seeing Part One and Two.

I was disappointed that A&E chose to air "The Name" so quickly, but I also understand why they did. I think the message and impact of that episode would have gone down a little smoother had it aired in the middle of the season, or even towards the end. Maybe not.

I actually agreed to do an episode commentary for "The Name" on the Paranormal State DVD, which is on sale via AETV.COM, and hits stores nationwide at the end of this month. I think people really wanted to know more about the demonic stuff will really appreciate that commentary.

Ever since these episodes came out, I've received a slew of e-mails from people claiming that the same demon is hiding in their bedroom or behind their toilet. The episodes definitely connected to a very real fear deep-seeded in many Americans. Whether Satan really is hiding in people's bathrooms is beyond me. Personally, I always imagined the Devil hanging out in Panama City on an indefinite vacation. Why does he need to be terrorizing people? The world seems to be in a pretty dark state as it is.

I do have to agree with skeptics/debunkers on some things. I don't believe the Devil is everywhere and I don't believe people should spend time worrying about demons. Alas, there are plenty of people out there frightening others with tales of the demonic and how Satan is going to get your soul. I hear about it all the time, especially on paranormal events. I recently attended OmegaCon and found out that I was speaking on the Demonology panel. I didn't realize that I had become an expert on demonology, but I spoke nonetheless. What I realized is that talking about the demonic really isn't my thing, because people just want to be scared. I said my piece, but really tried to affirm to the guests that we shouldn't spend a whole lot of time being worried about Satan. And this is coming from my religious views.

I think that the majority of people who come to these talks and want to get involved in demonology are already believers. They are drawn to it for many reasons. And they want to hear about the creepy Linda Blair stuff.

As for me and PS, the demon thing is done for now. If fate decides that we must address it again, then we'll deal with that when it comes.

Signs and Wonders of the Mothman!

2008-03-23T18:46:58Z

It's nearly midnight and it's freezing cold. I'm walking through the woods somewhere in the outskirts of Point Pleasant, WV. I'm shaking slightly. It's the middle of the winter, and this southern boy forgot to pack warmly. Armed only with my over coat and a dying flashlight, my goal for the evening is to hunt down a giant winged creature with glowing red eyes. Eyewitnesses who've seen the monster say that the experience left them scarred for life.

Its name is Mothman. According to legend, it terrorized an entire town and captivated a nation from 1966 to December 1967. The sightings abruptly stopped after the collapse of the Silver Bridge, one of the worst bridge disasters in United States history. The curiosity of this alien creature was replaced with a loss.

Looking around the town of Point Pleasant, it's evident that the scars have yet to fade. In certain areas, abandoned buildings stand lined up like Domino's. The town's main street is indefinitely silent, even during typical rush hours. Nearly forty years later, Point Pleasant feels like its two steps away from becoming another ghost town.

The modern setting couldn't look more like a town out of "The X-Files." And here we are on a weekend night, creature hunting instead of doing what any self-respecting college student should be doing – drinkin it up.

At some point, we huddle up inside one of the igloos - a semi-underground, former government containment center for TNT. A few UFO theorists believe that it was meant to house something extra terrestrial.

During the session inside, a tag-along reporter reportedly hears whispers while members of the film crew experience power drainages. All of this goes on behind the scenes while Chip, myself and the PRS gang stands at the center of the igloo. Chip is acting as an intermediary between two parties: PRS and Mothman.

Now this is where it gets crazy.

Chip - I mean - Mothman says that it is a being not of this world. It was never human. It means absolutely no harm. It happily obliges whenever we ask a question. At some point I begin to realize that the more I ask Chip to ask Mothman questions, the more Chip's personality starts to change. It's almost as if he's Channeling.

Despite all of this, my skepticism got to me. I ask Chip to tell the Mothman to show me a sign of its presence.

Chip looks at me for almost a minute in silence. He's staring at me but he's not there. He comes back after a while from wherever he was and tells me quietly, "If you want a sign it will give you a sign."

A member of the crew asks if they could receive a sign.

"No," Chip Coffey immediately responds, "it will give YOU (looking at me) a sign..."

Chip once again stares off in to space, but this time only for a brief second, finishing the sentence with, "but only if you want it."

"This is what the ultra terrestrial is telling you?"

"Yes."

I take in a deep breath and nod. "I'll take the sign."

Chip nods his head and looks down at the floor, his eyes darting around as if he's watching two animals run back and forth.

"It'll come to you. Tonight. Look for it."

The thought of the Mothman showing up in my hotel room in the middle of the night doesn't sound too appealing. I begin to wonder if I picked the right answer.

We call it a night and the cameramen finally take the cameras off of their shoulders. We trek back to the vehicles and head back to the hotel.

I'm sharing a room with Josh and Serg, both of who pass out immediately. So it's just me and the darkness of the hotel room. I place my digital audio recorder by the bedside table and then try to fall asleep. Problem is, I keep seeing shadows run by.

At one point, I swore I saw a tall, thin shadow standing by the doorway. Turns out, it was my overcoat hanging up. At this point I know my imagination is starting to run wild. I turn from the door and eventually fall asleep.

***

I stretch out as I open my eyes. It's morning and no sign of the Mothman. I get up, do some push ups, make breakfast plans and then go back over to my bed. I glance at the bedside table. The recorder isn't there. I look around the edges of the table to see if it fell. Nope. I ask the guys if they moved it. Negative.

My eyes fall on the table drawers. For shits and giggles, I open the top drawer. My recorder is there and it's still recording!

Did I subconsciously put it in the drawer and forget? Maybe one of my PRS guys did it and forgot? Or did something else move it? I thought about the possibility of it being the latter, and I won't lie, it actually gave me a chill. After all kids, we are in Point Pleasant. I turn the recorder off, thinking about what Chip said. Is this the sign? Is there something on this recorder?

It's been a year since my visit to Point Pleasant, and I still haven't listened to the recorder. For some reason, I just don't care to right now. I'm very aware that it's 99.9% likely that there's nothing there. But the small chance that something is...well, maybe it can wait. I'll listen to it when I'm good and ready.

Concerning Psychics & Chip Coffey

2008-01-29T23:35:07Z

Believe it or not, I am not a fan of psychics. I never have been. In my (relatively short) life, I have come across too many flakes; too many self-proclaimed Blessed Be's who have the gift of a Third Eye that tells them all. Too many a psychic has given destructive and irrational advice, but because they are linked with the Higher Power, they believe they aren't bound to the basic laws of human morality and decency.

Case in point. The PRS gang headed to Duffy's Tavern to celebrate with fans and supporters of the show. We watched the new episode with them. Later, I was introduced to a woman who claimed to have psychic ability. She did a walk-through of the restaurant and claimed she felt the presence of spirits on the second level. I was polite and seemed intrigued by the whole matter. I decided I wanted to tour the upstairs just for historical purposes and the psychic-in-question offered to tag along and show where she felt the spirits. We were followed by a very small crowd of people who wanted to check it out also. One young man was already up there. The psychic-in-question immediately said, "oooh, do you feel that? The cold spot? That cold energy?" Both Heather and I looked up to a vent that was right above us and said in unison, "it's the vent." She looked like she had just ate something sour. "No, I'm not talking about VENTS, I'm talking about ENERGY." I just shrugged and walked off. In truth, I was more interested in checking out the upstairs. The young man, however, continued to be lectured by this psychic-in-question about the energy she was feeling. She stressed that he needed to let go of his perceptions and open himself up to the feelings around him.

As I walked around, I suddenly heard this lady getting really testy with this young man. "Are you getting smart with me?" she asked, and the man, who looked like a guy one wouldn't want to mess with in the first place, was genuinely apologetic and said that he just wasn't feeling anything. But then I heard her again, this time accusing him of being a "smart-ass." I finally had to intervene.

She goes on a tirade about how she doesn't have to prove herself to anyone and that people need to leave their ego's in check. I looked directly at her and told her that the only ego causing a scene was hers.

She looked a little blasted and began to get defensive, saying how she was being attacked. I sat down on a rocking chair and explained that the only attacks I've heard were coming from her. The young man who was giving her the time of day was asking what sounded to me as very innocent and curious questions. But to her, she was taking it as something else. She continuously said that she didn't need to prove herself and that if people didn't agree with her that she didn't care. I said that this was fine, and that I didn't agree with her. But I wasn't the one causing the scene. She was.

Eventually, she calmed down and began to discuss the spirits she was seeing. She asked me if I sensed anything and I honestly said no, but as I explained to her, I also didn't feel that I had any psychic ability. I then left the upstairs.

I later heard her apologize to the young man, which made me feel better about the situation, but overall, this is a wonderful example of how psychics and I don't get along.

I'm amazed how Chip and I can get along. I suppose it's because Chip knows and understands that I do not give psychics carte-blanche. Chip understands that, no matter how many times he "wows" me, each episode the slate is cleared and he has to earn us trusting his information.

When I first met Chip, I fear that I wasn't very hospitable towards him. Most psychics walk in with their ego's. They demand special consideration for their "senses" and to question their information is to question their integrity and their being. So, naturally, I like to test them. I like to push their buttons to see how far they'll let me go.

I put Chip under a small level of scrutiny and he was surprisingly comfortable with that. I also questioned his information. "Do with the information as you wish," was his response. In short, Chip Coffey is by no means insecure about his abilities, at least to me and my team.

Have I put Chip Coffey through the ringer? Have I demanded that he put on a monkey suit and take the "Amazing" $1 Million Challenge? No. And I understand that makes me a piss poor researcher in some people's books. But I also have ethics.

What concerns me about psychics actually has nothing to do about their abilities. It's how they are as human beings. My current take on the whole matter? Who the heck knows if psychics are real or not? There's SCIENTIFIC research that suggests the possibility, and then there are SCIENTIFIC individuals who have debunked self-proclaimed psychics. What concerns me is not who the greatest psychic is.

In my short life, I have met only a handful of psychics who have demonstrated an amazing ability that could be called "psychic." Half of them were flakes; idiotic individuals who felt they are above the law of humanity because they're special. Oh, they're special all right.

Just because you're a psychic doesn't mean you can spout out anything and everything and not be held accountable for it. Just because you're a psychic does NOT mean we shouldn't be allowed to question your abilities. I'm willing to sympathize that hearing and seeing things that other's cannot can make you a little crazy, especially if they talk to you all the time, but you are still a human being. One must remain rational and understand that the rest of the world does NOT perceive things as you, the psychic, may be perceiving. A psychic is an interpreter. They possess a gift that should be used, yes, but not worshipped.

Why I like Chip Coffey has nothing really to do with his psychic abilities. He's quite capable to function and help others as a human being without his psychic gifts. There are too many people out there who look as if they've built their entire lives based off of the fact that they are psychic. Instead of "Hi my name is Linda," it's "Good Day, I am Linda the Psychic, and while I shake your hand I just received a Message From the Beeeeyoooooonnnd." Cut the crap, please.

Chip Coffey can sit with a client and talk to them as a human being. Him being a psychic is secondary to the entire process; he's there to help people as an investigator.

On occasion, I get an email or remark from my fellow Christians asking why I choose to condone psychics when it clearly says in the Bible that it is wrong? Let's be honest about something. As we've learned over the past few centuries, the Bible isn't always clear. We don't always know what God is saying. We do our best to follow our hearts and any divine advice we get. My heart tells me that there's some good use a psychic can be of on my investigations. Chip has helped me resolve many situations and helped bring peace and understanding to my clients. I like the way he chooses to use his gift, and the way he holds himself as a human being. He is very careful about the advice he gives to not only my clients, but to his as well.

And for the record, although I don't think I can ever be fully sold that Chip Coffey is a psychic, I believe he has some extraordinary talent, whatever that may be called. My belief in psychics can never be 100%, so long as I retain that one ounce of skepticism that forces me to wonder if it was guesswork or coincidence. Maybe this is an irrational insecurity of mine because I fear of being duped or punk'ed.

Many people have dogged Chip Coffey over the year. Chip Coffey stands for what he believes in and he'll take criticism, so long as its done to his face and fairly. And that gives Chip Coffey class.

Concerning psychics, the jury is still out for me. Concerning Chip Coffey, I'm a fan. God love him.

Edit: After reading a letter from a woman, I've decided to tone down the language in this blog. It's a very heated subject for me, but I do apologize for being strong. I also foresee this as a blog that may have a second part, a lot like "Whom Shall I Send?" just because its a very important topic for me. I am not, however, apologetic about my position towards these types of psychics. The point that I'm trying to discuss in this blog/editorial is that I am very skeptical of some psychics because of how they mistreat, mislead and act.

Some Random Updates

2008-01-28T19:26:01Z

It's been some time since I've sat down to write an entry, but I've been working on a few. I'm happy to say that PRS and PARANORMAL STATE is finding its audience. Some people said it wouldn't last past five episodes. Well, we did. Then they said ten. We did. A lot has happened since the last time I posted, which I'm happy to share a little bit with ya'll.

Brian's Bar
I experienced my first "fandom" event. We traveled to NYC to attend a party at Katie's Bar and watch the episode live. There were more than 200 people there. As soon as we walked in to the door, people started clapping and cheering. I almost felt like running out. Haha. It was a fun night of taking photos and signing things. Everyone was so nice. I also met a nice group of investigators called the LIPI - The Long Island Paranormal Investigators. I love meeting fellow investigators. I don't get to do it often, except when they travel to UNIV-CON.

Maury Povich and "Demon's Fear Him" quote
If any of you caught Maury, you'll notice that my introduction was "girls love him, demons fear him..." I just wanted to clarify something because, as a Catholic, I feel a little weird about it. I do not believe that demons fear me. I believe demons only fear God/Jesus and their power. I certainly do NOT fear the demonic, but I don't want to be propped up as Ryan the Demon Slayer. I also blush about the "girls love him" bit.

Comments
I'm having trouble going through all of the comments here on this blog. I will likely turn off the "must be approved" option, which means they will automatically post. But please refrain from being rude, nasty or mean. Likewise, I love all of ya'll, but let's keep the comments for this blog for discussion about the posts I make. And please spell check. The posts will still be moderated.

Asking for Advice
Please do not ask me for advice here on the blog. If you wish to correspond with me, please email me at ryanb@pennstateprs.com . It's hard for me to stay focused when people are writing to me through MySpace, Facebook and this blog asking me for advice. I'll respond to the emails if I can, but this blog is mainly for discussion.

What's Next?
I've got some great articles/blogs that I'm working on. It's just very busy over here for the time being. I've been traveling all over. I still haven't gotten the chance to see my nephew (yes, I'm an uncle) nor my grandfather who had a stroke. There's a lot going on right now, so I am very, very slow at responding. We are working hard to adapt, so please be patient.

Heroes of 2007!

2007-12-31T19:00:24Z

It seems every publication has an annual list of people they honor for various reasons. I may not be an editor for TIME or ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, but I sure have my own list of people I’d like to honor, and every year I like to take the time to do just that.

J.K. Rowling (author)
Simply put, I adore this woman. It’s not just her writing. It’s her passion and her dedication to her young fans. She’s become the literary spokesperson for the entire world and she’s more than up for the task. You don’t see JK Rowling binging in the streets of London or using her fame to endorse products or party scenes. She uses her image and notoriety to bring awareness to real world events. In the age of MySpace, iPods and YouTube, she can get children – young and old – to sit down and do this crazy thing called read. I have no doubt in my mind that the influence of JK Rowling has yet to be fully realized. She has undoubtedly inspired many future writers. I know that she has inspired me. But she goes beyond just the pen and paper. She is a role model, something quite scarce in today’s society. I hope that one day I can sit down and have a conversation with this remarkable woman.

Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert (talk show hosts)
It’s sad when Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, two comedians on a channel known as Comedy Central, sometimes have the responsibility to inform the nation on topical events. Just like Johnny Carson and other comedians/talk show hosts, they have the ability to make us laugh and think about the absurdity of our times.

Bill Maher (journalist/talk show host)
There’s a lot to disagree with when it comes to Bill Maher. He’s an atheist and quite honestly, he’s too liberal for me. Perhaps it the youthful ignorance in me, but Maher at least allows for a fair debate even though it’s held in his arena. There’s no denying the man is intelligent and his panel is always thought provoking (well, okay, most of the time). I think this man is underappreciated, but maybe that’s what makes him so appealing.

Bob Woodward (journalist)
He’s probably one of the most well known journalists of our time, yet what amazes me about this guy is the constant dedication to his craft and pursuit for the truth. His series of books about the War on Terror are definitely in-depth and thought provoking.

Van Halen (rock gods)
It may sound weird that I’m honoring musicians who’ve been in rehab and other debaucheries, but I’ve always been a fan of their music. It was one of the bands I inherited from my father. They’re (in)famous for their dysfunctions and break-ups, but the fact that they were able to pull it together and throw one damn fine reunion is why they make my list.

THON Dancers (volunteers)
If you don’t go to Penn State, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about, and that’s a shame. Every year, thousands of students work their butts off to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund, which goes towards treating kids with cancer. These college students are remarkable human beings doing a big charitable undertaking. Last year, THON raised over $4 million (yes MILLION). Although I have volunteered for THON, one of my biggest regrets is never being a THON dancer. The dancer represents a student organization or group that has been raising money for THON. The dancer stays up for 48 hours during the actual event where the money is tallied and the amount is revealed at the end. Please check out www.thon.org for more info.

Any college student taking the time to help others, whether it is through counseling, volunteering or donating blood deserves my respect.

Father James Lebar (Catholic priest)
The man treated me and the entire UNIV-CON crowd with respect on so many levels despite the fact that there were many people there with different religious and spiritual beliefs. His kindness is inspirational.

Honorable Mentions…
There are many other people who have influenced me in some way, shape or form this past year. Some I have omitted out of respect for our friendship. What impressed me the most this past year are the individuals who are positive role models for children and young adults. In my view, a role model doesn’t necessarily need be a saint. None of us are perfect. But these role models have the bravery to stand up for something positive that they believe in, despite the enormous roar of negativity that this world currently seems to be focused on. There is good in this world. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

Who are your heroes of 2007?
Now that 2007 has come and gone, I’d love to hear from you as to who your heroes and honorable mentions are. I also welcome comments for my own choices. As always, be mature, courteous and respectful when posting.

Happy 2008 everyone! May 2008 be a great year for you and your loved ones!

Here I Am, Lord

2007-12-28T16:46:50Z

The opinions of this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of The Paranormal Research Society.

Introduction: Over one year ago, I wrote the editorial, “Whom Shall I Send?” which can be found by visiting here. The following is a continuation.

-----------------

My journey in to demonic territory began three years ago with a case involving very real people who have asked to remain completely anonymous. At some point, I took on another case that involved an eastern Catholic diocese. The clients had asked us in at the advice of a mystic priest. I jumped at the chance. The details around the case sounded unbelievable. I wanted to witness it for myself and try to help the family and Church resolve the situation. I got involved in a very serious, psychotic and out-of-control case that I’m not sure I was ready for. I did everything I could to hold my teammates together, but it wasn’t enough to stop the damage that now seems was inevitable. Several people who were involved with that case have been affected simply because they were a part of it. In short, we changed.

I changed because, at that point, I had it confirmed that the realm of the demonic exists. I won’t lie to you; it was a very frightening thing for a 22-year-old college senior to find out. Shortly after resolving our part with that case, several terrible things happened to my team and I.

Months after these respective cases, I found myself still partially immersed in Catholic demonology. I was regularly consulting with priests/exorcists involving other cases. Some didn’t even know my age. They simply knew me by name and the fact that I worked on another case.

Some of the priests and I came to an understanding about things. Others were, well, harsh and condemning about my whole involvement in Catholic demonology. I myself became increasingly aware that I didn’t want to be a demonologist. But I couldn’t shake my involvement from demonic cases. More and more claims of demonic activity began to gravitate towards me. I’ve knocked on the doors of many Catholic dioceses within the northeast. Some have been positive and others haven’t. What greatly discouraged me was their lack of tolerance and interest in working with haunted families who didn’t have anywhere else to turn to.

And so I continued to help those involved with demonic activity. Some of the cases turned out, I believe, to not have demonic elements. Others were suspect and I did everything I could to get religious clergy involved.

As I wrote earlier, the entire process discouraged me. I was fighting with some of the people I was supposed to be working with. There came a point where I was angry over my entire involvement.

Part of me wanted back the time, energy and sacrifice that I put in to working on these cases. It’s hard to explain to anyone how having a supernatural experience can change your life. But this one was very negative. It was exactly like touching a hot stove; the burn marks and pain remain with you for quite some time afterwards. There came a point where I felt I didn’t have anyone to turn to for council or advice.

I later discovered that there was a small group of individuals within the religious community that were very passionate against my involvement in the work of demonology. They condemned the fact that I was allowing non-Christians to be involved in my research society. They condemned my lifestyle; part of which I understood because the thought of college students being involved in religious demonology does not sit well. Nevertheless, they were very hard on me about it, completely ignoring the fact that the only way I could stop working on demonic cases would be to turn down and abandon the families who approach me for help. They condemned my criticisms of the Church, even though none of them ever presented a defense or explanation against my concerns; they simply condemned me on the principle that I was questioning the practices of the Church. The frustration became exhausting.

This is where I was when I wrote, “Whom Shall I Send?” I’m still in some of the same predicaments that I addressed in that editorial. But my viewpoints and understanding of things have aged and settled.

I began working with Lorraine Warren shortly after writing that editorial. We began to talk about my frustrations about the Church. I remember her being very clear and commanding with the way she said the following: “Listen to me very carefully, Ryan. You must never let any priest nor the institution itself ever discourage your relationship with God. All priests are human and they make mistakes.”

I asked if she and her late husband, Ed, ever had complications when working with the Church on demonic cases. Without missing a beat she responded, “all the time.” She explained that it never stopped her from respecting priests as a whole nor did it ever stop her from doing “the work.”

I later spoke with a priest who was aware of my frustrations as well as the warnings against me from a few religious clergy. He said to me, “I have heard their complaints and I still choose to work with you. Isn’t that proof enough that not every priest chooses to judge before giving you a fair chance?”

I didn’t know how to respond so I didn’t say anything. Looking back on it, I should have just responded with, “yes,” but things are always more complicated when they’re in the moment. He finished the conversation off by addressing my predicament. If the only way for me to leave the work of demonology involved me abandoning families who were being tormented, then it seemed obvious to him that I should not stop. He presented a compromise: don’t go looking for demonic cases, but never turn down a demonic case, either. If at all possible, pass the case over to clergy once I am able to reasonably rule out natural explanations. Lastly, do not take the resistance of religious clergy personally. If my goal is about helping families, then I should focus on that and not let personal feelings get in the way.

I decided to let this be my practice.

Over the past year, I have needed religious intervention on about half a dozen cases. I have been able to connect every one of these clients with clergy within their religious beliefs. The majority of them have been Catholic, and I am happy to say that I have found willing priests to take on the burden of helping these families.

Some of the clients are still struggling, but they at least have a support system to help them weather the storm.

As for me, I suppose there will always be a small community of religious people who disagree with my work and practices. But thankfully, they have never interfered with my intentions of trying to get help to my clients.

I have tried to confess to a few priests about the work and struggles that I go through, and unfortunately I have still met resistance. There are still many priests out there who are uncomfortable and admittedly frightened about doing this work. Even sadder, some priests do not believe in demonic attack. So, I still have personal struggles to deal with, but I pray. I also have the comfort of talking to people like Lorraine, who’s been doing this work for decades.

My goal is to continue to help as many people who come forward as possible. I will go where I’m meant to go. I am Christian, so I believe in the power of Christ, the Resurrection and the ultimate triumph of good versus evil. Although I will continue working on demonic cases that I am called in to, I’m also in my mid-twenties, and I’ve discovered that there’s a whole life out there for me that doesn’t have anything to do with evil spirits or annoying demons who claim to be following me.

Thank you to the people who helped me, supported me and encouraged my spiritual growth over the past few years. You know who you are. One day, perhaps, I will fully tell our story. And what a story it will be.

Rubbish/Poppycock Digest #1

2007-12-27T17:45:43Z

Hello, everyone. I hope everyone is having an awesome holiday. I can’t believe that 2008 is days away. I’m sorry for not posting since the show came out. It’s been a whirlwind month to say the least, but I have actually been working on a number of things (including a few posts), so expect to see a post at least once a week (I hope).

Now, I won’t do this often because I didn’t create this blog to debunk rumors. However, from time to time I will address some so that you, the reader/viewer, can make up your own minds. Unfortunately, when one gets a TV show, one is instantly thrown in to some public scrutiny and rumors seem to pop up over night.

So here we go!

RUBBISH CLAIM: “Paranormal State is right-winged propaganda funded by the Catholic Church.”

Absolute poppycock! How does one even come up with that claim? Do they have an informant within the Vatican giving them exclusive-yet-false information? No, PS is not a Catholic-funded or sponsored program (at least, not that I know of). I think this rumor has ultimately debunked itself once the episode, “Dark Man” aired. If anyone did their research, they would know that it’s no secret that we have a pagan/witch in our group: Eilfie Music. Eilfie happens to be one of my best friends. I believe that all positive-based religions/spiritual beliefs can be a benefit to people, and therefore I am very open-minded and accepting of other faiths.

Furthermore, we work with our clients’ religious beliefs when we bring in the spiritual/religious element. If we have a Jewish client, we wouldn’t consider bringing in a Catholic priest. That’s just common sense.

RUBBISH CLAIM: “Paranormal State is a completely fictitious program with actors.”

I’m honored that some people think I’m an actor, but alas, I’m not. These are real stories based off of our investigations. We are all real people. Our clients are VERY real. This is just something that is said about EVERY reality/documentary show. That being said, do I have creative control over the editing/final product of the show? No.

RUBBISH CLAIM: All of their shows are about dangerous spirits or demons!

False. First of all, anyone who makes a comment/claim about the overall series should be taken with a grain of salt. They are making purely speculative opinions. To date, only four episodes have aired. There are a total of twenty episodes for season one. I’ll be laughing at this claim even more as future episodes are aired!

RUBBISH CLAIM: “PRS doesn’t conduct an actual investigation! They just walk in assuming that the case is paranormal!”

False. I have stated the following a couple of times, and it only seems fitting here: you are making a judgment based off of 22-minutes of TV time. That being said, I understand that that’s all people have to judge us off of. There are actually future episodes where we feature more of the investigations and the beloved “evidence.” However, keep in mind that the goal of this show is not to feature evidence nor is it to prove the existence of ghosts. There is an emotional and human element that many investigators have forgotten about over the years. It involves people who are frightened and scared and they have no one to turn to for help. Our clients don’t want validation. They want to lead normal, peaceful lives. We try to help them cope with their experiences, yet at the same time we’re also trying to figure out what is happening.

We actually have plans to share more information about cases, including deleted scenes, etc. This was always the plan. However, we got severely behind due to filming additional episodes and then going straight in to promoting the show. Look for more on this in January.

As for the claim that we always assume that a case is paranormal, this is unbelievably false. This is more due to editing and time constraints. I’ve had many arguments and conversations that deal with our skepticism, but they don’t always make the cut. However, future episodes focus more on this, so I will let the work speak for itself. Also, if you listen carefully to the “Director’s Log’s,” I make it pretty clear sometimes that we never come to a conclusion as to whether or not we believe the phenomenon is paranormal.

Lastly, we go in assuming that something is going on because we believe in our clients. These people are genuinely frightened or concerned, and whether it’s paranormal or not, we try to help them figure it out.

RUBBISH ALERT: Sadly, some haters of the show have resorted to going under several different aliases in the attempt to bash the show as much as possible over the Internet. It’s sad that people have so much time on their hands to do this. Nevertheless, there’s nothing I can do about the people who hate this show. They’ll weed themselves out and we’ll continue to do what we believe in. However, a large portion of the paranormal community is extremely fragile right now, and I urge these people to focus more on helping people and doing their own respective work as opposed to spending time being negative and spiteful. It’s silly and immature. And this is coming from a 25-year-old. There are bigger things to worry about, in my opinion.

NON-RUBBISH-RELATED NOTES: As I’ve written a few times before, I’ve received a heavy amount of messages that goes in to the thousands. I will do my best to respond to everyone. I also urge people to e-mail me at ryanb@pennstateprs.com as opposed to messaging me through MySpace or Facebook. It’s hard to weed through them and it can be quite daunting. Starting in January, e-mails to my PRS account will get priority response. Just FYI.

OTHER POSTS COMING UP: An article about the use of faith on investigations; a follow-up to the “Whom Shall I Send?” editorial, and my Heroes of 2007!

Take care, God Bless and Happy Holidays!

This is Paranormal State

2007-12-13T19:03:06Z

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for coming on to our website and visiting my blog. Here, you will find postings based off of our research, the television show as well as additional commentary on the paranormal as a whole.

I want to devote this blog to PARANORMAL STATE. Over a thousand people have reached out to me (and the numbers constantly grow each day). There's a lot of praise, a lot of questions and some criticism. While watching PARANORMAL STATE and judging the show and/or our society, please consider the following:

This show isn't about the evidence!!!
Geez, people, can we make this any more clear? We're not "Ghost Hunters." Why would you want a carbon-copy of another show? This show is about the people who are experiencing paranormal phenomenon and they have nowhere else to go. Almost all of them have involved some assortment of counselors, psychiatrists, doctors, neurologists, etc. They didn't find any answers. They brought us in as a last resort. We DO CONDUCT research on the case, but the show focuses on the human and story element. So if you want to take something out of this show, stop waiting for "the reveal" and think about how you would handle these clients and how would you have helped them cope with their experiences?

This show is not about the demonic!
A&E decided to air what they thought were compelling and creepy episodes first. The events that happened on THE NAME and DEVIL IN SYRACUSE are indeed real. However, there are other investigations that we've conducted, including: a haunted bar, haunted objects, a teenage girl seeing a murdered victim, the Mothman, a location with possible ritualistic-abuse on animals, etc. This show is very diverse and we cover many elements. By doing so, I think that people will see more elements about what we do.

This show has a religious/spiritual element to it. Get used to it.
Some of the criticisms have been on us using religion and spirituality, proclaiming that we've gone back to the Dark Ages. Okay, let's play fair for a minute. IF we were truly dealing with the demonic, what the hell is a scientist or a thermal camera going to do to help the family?

We try to conduct as best of an investigation as we can. But if a client wants the spirit to leave the premise, or if they feel they are being harmed by something, what can scientific evidence do at this point to stop it? We do our best to rule out mental illness, lying and other physiological factors (like hallucinations) before filming the investigation. We've also made more of an effort to show some of this in future episodes.

However, there comes a time when we've gone as far as we can with investigative tools. We then turn to the client's spiritual beliefs to try and bring a positive atmosphere back in to their lives. There is nothing wrong with a positive, spiritual belief system.

I'm so baffled at PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS being OFFENDED by the use of religion. If we believe in spirits, don't we believe in a God?

That being said, when it comes to the case, people need to focus on the clients' needs, not the needs of your organization! That's at least what we do. Help people first.

You Will See More Investigation and Different Techniques.
Yes, it's true. And not all of them involve Holy Water or psychics!

Hey guys, big revelation: THIS IS A TV SHOW!!
I do not own A&E Network nor am I the executive producer. But I trust my producers and they have ultimately honored our journeys into the paranormal and the stories of the clients. Are things sometimes over-produced? Over-edited? It's a freakin' TV show guys. Trust me, I'd LOVE to have a five-hour documentary on one of our investigations. But at this stage, we haven't had that opportunity.

So please be mindful that you're watching a television show. Try to sort through the creepy music and the edits and you might find some interesting materials. Like with Matthew from SIXTH SENSE... what if there really are kids out there who can speak to the dead? How would your organization deal with a child claiming to see dead people? These are the thought-provoking questions that I think we should look at, not "A&E got the Kreiger Family Murders facts wrong!!!! FAKE!!!"

Just for the record, if you listen to Director's Logs or go to Paranormal Insider to read my post-mortems, you would know that PRS put the information out there that the murders did NOT happen in Pa.

Please visit Paranormal Insider for my Post-Mortems!
I post a lot of commentary about the investigation, and additional information that was left out of the show. For a lot of people who feel that there is a lot left out, you aren't the only one. This is why I have created these "post mortems." And they are just part of what we're doing to make the experience more thought-provoking.

www.paranormalinsider.com
Post Mortems are posted every Tuesday after a new episode.

Here is a link to the SIXTH SENSE post-mortem and for THE NAME.

Evidence & Case Studies.
Even though this show is NOT about the evidence, we will be posting some collected data for peer review, as well as case reports from specialists who went on the case. Investigators such as myself will also include additional information.

We ENCOURAGE debate/constructive criticism.
It's true. Please visit our message boards: forums.pennstateprs.com to discuss various aspects of the paranormal. Likewise, you may also email me at ryanb@pennstateprs.com . I will try to answer emails as soon as possible, but keep in mind it may take up to a week or two.

Many thanks for all of you who watched the show. 2.5 million viewers is quite a lot of people!

It's All Beginning...

2007-09-10T11:25:44Z

Ah, updates! Trying to get back in to the habit of updating regularly. Apologies to anyone who subscribed and found nothing but archives to read!

Paranormal State. I guess this is the biggest news right now. It's been a little over a year since we started working on "Paranormal State" (formerly "Paranormal U"). A&E has been more than supportive. I can't begin to tell you how fun and creative this process has been. And now, the promotion for A&E is literally just beginning. The official website has just opened. www.paranormalstate.com . We are also going to a few conventions/paranormal groups to promote it. According to the website, "Paranormal State" debuts in December. That's three short months from now. Gulp.

UNIV-CON. I can't believe that it's less than a month-and-a-half until UNIV-CON. I can't wait to see ya'll. We're working full-time on the conference right now. It's insane here in the office. Sergey is workin it pretty well. This will be his third year as conference manager. We can't wait for people to be a part of this conference. Heck, I can't wait. If you haven't been to the UNIV-CON website, check it out: www.univcon.org

Penn State Football. Did anyone see Penn State whoop Notre Dame on Saturday??? I was expecting it, but it was still awesome to watch. Now we're ranked at Number Twelve (at least on the AP). A lot of people are talking about how we have a good shot at being the Big Ten champs. However, that depends on how we deal with Wisconsin and Ohio State. I'm gonna do my best to attend the Ohio State game. So far I've had to miss the past two home games.

Dragon Con. An amazing event. I thought it would be interesting to go to a convention but I never put much thought in to it. However, we finally convinced ourselves to go. We also got to do a Q&A panel for "Paranormal State." It was a lot of fun and I got to see a lot of familiar faces: Dave Schrader, Patrick Burns, Chip Coffey, Jason Hawes (didn't get to see Grant), Steve, and others. I also got to meet Spike, Commander Riker and Darth Maul! Crazy!

The Paranormal Counselor. Has anyone been over to Jamie's PRS blog? jamie.pennstateprs.com . It's very thought-provoking and a great read. For any paranormal investigators, I highly suggest you taking the time to read it. It has a lot of good material.

Welp, that's it for now. Take care.

THAT'S A WRAP! (the end of "Paranormal State" season one filming)

2007-12-14T13:20:34Z

Wow. Four months and all I can think of to describe how i feel is the cliche: this is been one of the best experiences in my life! But I truly feel that way.

It's taken PRS more than four years to get a TV series off the ground. Two years into the process and so-so interest from networks, PRS met producer Betsy Schechter, who contacted them via email because she was interested in the group's dynamic. Within days, PRS teamed up with Betsy, whom they felt would bring about unwaivering dedication and honesty to the work and to what PRS held dear.

She has not let us down.

She brought in a dream team of people from across the country to put together another what might have been another regular reality television show...this one about creepy college kids who spend their free nights looking for ghosts instead of booze and whining about demons.

I was expecting a crew who were just looking to get in and get out. Obviously it's a job and we'd rather be with friends and family. The beginning started out awkward. But each episode/case got better and better. Before I knew it, we had learned to work with each other. We knew when we needed to clarify something for the camera. Brian and Ben, the two greatest camera guys on earth, knew that bradley, the greatest director on earth, wants "beauty shots" on a regular basis. Alan, Stephanie and Autumn, three of the greatest producers on earth, learned to predict my moods. And after four months, we got to understand Heather, one of the PRS trainees, who just came out to us as stating that she is a princess from the Planet Ding-Ding.

From New York to Las Vegas, we got to have some wonderful adventures together. There was a lot at stake and you guys showed me in your work that you cared.

I'm really excited for everyone to see our work. I believe that we did this from the heart and that it will show when it airs on A&E. I hope that we made a difference in the lives of the clients we helped. None of them wanted to do this show for selfish reasons. None of them wanted fame. For the clients, I will be forever in your debt for your openness and honesty, for which a show like this could not have been possible.

For the crew, I don't ever want to work with another television crew. You all have been engraved in my head and I thank you for helping me. I wanted to do this show only because I wanted to honor the work in this field, the people in it, and most of all, I wanted to honor the people being haunted. When do the haunted actually get to speak and tell their difficult story? With this show, they had the chance.

I have seen rough cuts of the episodes, and I can't be more pleased at this point. This show is ambitious. It is artistic. Brad Beesley and our Art Director, Big Ben, worked hard to make the atmosphere and mood come alive through background. They could have just took a camera and pointed it. But they wanted to put their best in to the show the best way they could, so they used our background as if it were a stage. We're real people in real environments, but they lit it in a way to give it mood and personality. The only thing I can apply it to is "X-Files," and we all know how I feel about "X-Files." If there is an Emmy's award show for non-fiction TV, I truly believe this show will win awards for its art direction.

Betsy, Gary, Tina, Alan, David, Brad, Autumn, Stephanie, Ben, Brian, Trevor, Joel, Shah, Raquel, Dominique, Tommy, Dan, counselor Jaime, Sergey, Eilfie, Heather, Katrina, Chip Coffey, Lorraine Warren & Tony, Ron Milione, Joyce, Keith & Sandra Johnson, Josh Light, Rev. Andrew Calder, CJ Sellers, PSU Forensics department, curator John Ford, Professor Simon Bronner, forensic babe Irina Geiman, Dave Schrader, a few Roman Catholic priests, The Isenbergs, Matt & Chandra, Lauren, Cheryl & Bill & family, Carol-Anne & Brian, Brian & his awesome bar, The Sylvias and their puppies, Jodi, Teena & Katie & Raymond, Nadine & John, Stephanie & Savannah, Jeff Wamsley, the Frick Brothers and the town of Point Pleasant, Elaine at A&E, Barry Rosenburg at A&E, the dozen other names of people at A&E with whom I have barely spoken to but haven't yet learned their names so I feel really really guilty, the LA office who I am in the same predicament with as I am with A&E names, Cindy Hall at PSU and the people at Old Main who supported the show, our wonderful intern PA's, my puppy Xander, Lorraine Warren's storytelling hour, Bradley's warm-up push-ups, Shah's Prince-inspiring songs and Borat impressions, the broken haunted piano, using the word bunnies in a straight face, las vegas bowling and drinking, David's inspiration behind antiquing, Katrina's russian mock-accent, Eilfie's victory dance, Sergey's photo's, Jaime's cuteness, Alan's Jedi powers, supportive friends and family.... THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PARANORMAL STATE will be one hell of a show. I am proud to have been a part of this project and I will be forever in your debt. Together, we did something very special that will contribute greatly to how this subject, stories, and people, are taken. We were in great hands all the way.

With much love and appreciation,
RYAN

(the cast & crew, save for a few missing people, of A&E's ****ing awesome "PARANORMAL STATE")

Just a Quick Update...

2007-09-10T00:34:22Z

Hey, no major blog contribution, just random news. Been working on a hellish case in New York and have been petitioning for Catholic Dioceian (sp?) intervention for another in PA. These two cases, though miles apart, had a distracting connection that proves how cunning paranormal agents can be.

It's hard to accept the fact that you can't be there for all of your clients at all times. It's something that I've struggled to understand for a year or two, but now that I'm juggling literally DOZENS of cases a MONTH, it's hard to get back to them all. In a perfect world, they'd only need a weekend or a couple days of assistance and their problems would be solved. Sadly, this isn't so. But at least they have my phone number to call me whenever they need it!

I fly to Las Vegas in a week for a case! I've never been there and so I'm excited, but not just because of the flight. I often dreamed of the day when I'd be flying somewhere with my team to investigate a case. It sounds silly, I know... I've always wanted to be able to say "there's a really good case out in ____ state, so let's fly out." We chose this case because it's also important. It's not just because it's in Las Vegas. We had the option of going to other states (one in my home state), but the cases weren't as compelling and urgent as this one in Vegas.

I'm going to miss my crew. Holy cow, have I bonded with them. They respect what we do and they give us the room to do it. If there was ever something I was uncomfortable with, they adapted and changed it. When the death of a loved one hit PRS, they cancelled shooting even though it would be slightly costly to production. Whenever I had an idea, they embraced it. Whenever we reached out to help a client, they also did the same. Once the camera and sound guys (Ben, Brian and Shaw) put down their equipment to give a client a hug in the middle of an intervention-like moment. It was the only time I was about to cry (as of present, that is) on a case. But it's not time to reflect just yet. We still have a few more episodes to finish.

I also think I should give a shout out to our counselor/therapist Jamie. If you're a paranormal investigator, I highly recommend getting a therapist on board. This gal has done an amazing job and has been able to connect with clients in ways that we sometimes can't. And obviously she does a lot of it off camera to respect clients' privacy.

We wrap filming in early March, so I'm wondering what the heck I'm going to do with myself. Obviously I have a lot of cases to follow up on. I'm also going to use that time to put a dent in to the writing that I'm supposed to be doing.

I received a couple dozen emails about UNIV-CON already. I'm so thrilled that so many people have embraced this conference and are completely excited about VI even though it's 7-8 months away. We've been working on it, trust me. We are moving away a bit from the entertainment stuff and putting some more serious meat in there. Don't worry, there'll still be entertainment. It's our signature, I think. But we want to be tasteful about it. UNIV-CON may be "run by a bunch of kids" as one cranky 50-year-old lady once put it, but damn straight, it's better than what she could have put on. And what drives me to keep improving the conference is when I see people posting pictures and blogs and articles about their UNIV-CON experiences. I see it more for UNIV-CON than any other conference. And there were even some negative reviews, which I enjoyed. The nasty ones were entertaining and the respectful ones were thought provoking. Obviously it doesn't help anyone when insults are thrown. I'm human and therefore I speak from previous experience.

Does anyone else ask what kind of drugs Patrick Burns is on? TWO conferences a YEAR? Holy cow, man. That guy has some spunk! One conference a year puts me on my death bed. Go Patrick! Whatever he's on, I want some! I have never been to Ghostock but I still need to fulfill my promise and speak at one in the near future.

Well, this has been a long rant. I'm going to pack up for this weekend's case. It's a haunted object case. Can't wait to check it out.

Further Entry on our Adventures with Lorraine Warren

2007-01-31T00:02:00Z

Sorry for the lack of updates. We spent two weeks of our three weeks of Christmas break shooting and investigating cases out of state. I then returned to move in to my new house and then went back on the road to do MORE cases and episodes. Let me tell you something... amazing stuff. Can I reveal anything? Ha, of course not, silly. I will say that I got to work on my first case with Lorraine Warren.

How can I describe Lorraine Warren? She is the female version of Albus Dumbledore (the aged headmaster of Hogwarts School in the "Harry Potter" books). People tend to think that she's something of the past and faded, but I give you my word that she has more wit, straight-forwardness and charisma than any other investigator I have ever spoken with. Period. What else can I say? This broad knows how to bring it.

The film crew just fell for Lorraine on a personal level. She sat everyone around and told old war stories of possessed dolls, the Enfield case (which Ed worked on), demonic infestations and, more interestingly to the females on the crew, how she and Ed fell in love.

I know that this field is very cutthroat and that everyone fights for who's more credible than who, who has more books published than who and all that bullshit, but if you don't have respect for the Warrens, then I'm not sure I'd have any respect for you. That's just me being straightforward and honest. They've been there and done that. Lorraine, bless her, is now out there doing the same things, only on her own. And she doesn't even flinch. She's one tough broad, so I can only imagine how Ed was. My I do wish I got to meet Ed in real life. According to Lorraine, we have some things in common.

Lorraine helped me to appreciate certain things that I had forgotten to appreciate. I had done a number of cases where the clients (as you know, our goal is not to find paranormal evidence, but to investigate the truth of every claim and help people) had refused our help, did everything we asked them not to, etc. They pretty much did everything but spit in my face after we drove more than a hundred miles back and forth to help them, spent our own money, and our time, to learn that they didn't want our help to begin with. It was very discouraging. And I found myself slowing down. It was just another day in the office when someone came to us for help. But here's Lorraine, who has been investigating since before my MOTHER was born, and she's definitely seen her share of non-responsive clients. She's faced a heck of a lot of political bullcrap within religious organizations, yet she still wears a smile and does whatever she can to help. And there's sincerity.

She didn't come out with us because we were doing a television show. In fact, it seems that no matter how many times I told her about it, she always forgot. She did it, as she explained to my producers, for me. She wanted to repay me for the way PRS honored her late husband at the conference. That, in turn, made my heart melt. True honor and respect. It's something very hard to find in this field, and sometimes even I falter at our disciplined motto of To Trust, Honor and Always Seek the Truth.

But she woke me up inside, letting me know that a few bad clients can never be enough to outweigh the potential good in others. It's not like I didn't help clients after I felt discouragement. Not at all. I still did what I could, I just didn't feel that fire inside. It was a short-lived coldness, I'm happy to say, because I'm more than back on my game. I think I handle 2-3 cases a week, on top of other responsibilities, projects, and a dog. And I'm happy despite the fact that I have maybe ten minutes of free time to check email.

So, Lorraine, thank you for your support and friendship. I know you're not reading this, but I just want the whole world (or, the couple thousand people who read this, but it's a start) how much I appreciate your generosity and kindness. I think the world needs more Lorraine Warrens. One of my Top Ten big things that I hope comes out of our TV show is that people rediscover the Warrens. They have a lot of stuff to say, especially to those who want to enter the demonology field. Don't read all that other bullshit out there. Start with "The Demonologist" then move to their other books. Then come to UNIV-CON to hear their tales through Lorraine.

There were so many great moments with Lorraine over the case, but I think I'll share that for another time. But I'm happy to announce that she'll be in a few more episodes.

I'm behind in discussing the million other topics that I wish to discuss. We're looking to post more photos from the show (behind-the-scenes stuff, that is), and I also want to write about Medium Coffey, Chip Coffey that is. But I'll save that one for another blog.

I really want to write in more detail about the cases we've done, the people we've met and the conflicts we've come up against. But it's only fair that we wait until you can see the half-hour summary for yourself. Then I'll be happy to go into more detail here and in other places.

Captain James Tiberious Kirk is one of my role models

2006-11-26T14:31:00Z

I feel this way every time I kick some ass on a case, which is every case by the way.

Five Years Ago...

2007-09-10T00:26:58Z

Maybe this subject has been beaten into the ground already, but I can't believe that it's been five years since the disappearance of Cindy Song. It was my first year at Penn State University Park. I didn't know a soul and I was starting out my college career. Penn State is a very intimidating place, as some of you know and 2001 wasn't the best year in history. September 11th hit days before the first PRS meeting. Then a month later, Cindy Song disappears. It was an odd time. People were always talking about it but very few actually did anything.

In the spring of 2002, a psychic named Carla Baron, in passing, emailed our group just to say how happy she was that there was a paranormal group from her area (she grew up in Lock Haven). We later started to talk about partnering up over something. She said that if we ever received a missing persons case or ever worked on one to give her a call. It then occurred to me, so I told her about Cindy Song. She said she would help on the case as long as the police department assisted/approved. So I called up Ferguson Township Police, shaking. I was afraid they'd arrest me for "being stupid" by suggesting the use of a psychic. But oddly enough, the head detective, Brian Sprinkle, was totally game.

The bulk of my job was putting law enforcement and psychic profiler together...and then documenting it. But it got me into something so much greater. One hot summer day in late June, myself and two others went hunting for Cindy Song using clues from Baron. At one point, we thought we had found her. And it was one strange moment. I mean, I didn't really expect to find her body. But we certainly found something. For a good solid minute, we thought it was her. The remains looked similar to that of a petite human's. On top of thinking that we were about to change the world, I thought to myself how great it was that we were gonna potentially solve the case since there would be a body to shed new light. But as my partner got closer, we realized that it was animal. My heart fell hard. There was this rush and adrenaline when we thought we had identified her. But then it suddenly ended. I didn't want to admit it to myself. Regardless, we had to tell the police so they could at least see for themselves.

I was supposed to leave the next day to head back to South Carolina. It was summer break and I chose to stay in Carolina for the summer, but I had come up just to give psychic investigation a try. When I contacted the police, they asked me to go back to the area with police so I could show them. Now, I was sun burnt, dehydrated and very muddy. I didn’t want to go anywhere, but I had to hop back in the car and meet the chief of the Pennsylvania State Police. He asked us to return in the morning to show them. I told him that I was supposed to leave for South Carolina. He pretty much told me, in a very kind manner mind you, that I had to stay an extra day.

When it was all said and done, I felt as if I had my heart ripped out. I never meant to get so emotionally involved in a case, especially since I heard Carla tell me a million times that it doesn’t help to get emotionally involved. Nevertheless, I did. For one moment, I thought that I made a breakthrough in the paranormal regarding evidence. I still think Carla is psychic mainly because it was her readings that led us directly to the body, even though it wasn’t Cindy’s. She still foresaw a future event.

Even today, it hurts to know that Cindy is still out there. Five years later, the police still don’t have any leads and her mystery is far from being solved. Almost the entire population at Penn State has changed since her disappearance (which makes me feel VERY old, by the way). No one knows who Cindy Song is. And why would they? They’re not from Penn State. They just got to school. Maybe they heard it from an upperclassman who had a friend when she disappeared. Cindy’s apartment has probably changed tenants at least two times. Her friends have graduated and moved on. And perhaps this applies to her killer, also?

I really think that only divine intervention will solve this case. Carla told me once that a case will be solved when it’s meant to, once all the lessons are learned. What more is there to learn, I wonder? But perhaps this is the essence of faith? Maybe faith is learning to accept loss and believe that, in the end, everything will be all right?

Former Blogs Erased...Oops.

2006-10-31T21:05:00Z

Hey everyone,

Ya know, even though I'm 24, I still have a lot to learn about technology. So yeah, all my former entries, save for the one I saved, have been erased. So I'm starting from scratch. Oh well. Live and learn.

I look forward to posting weekly blogs, so stay tuned!

Whom Shall I Send?

2006-08-05T20:59:00Z

You know, I truly despise talking about this subject now, but I also realize that it's my duty to do so. I know that it will probably be my duty for quite some time. Some of the stuff I will say in this "blog" will be a little strong, so be warned if you're uber-religious.

The demonic stuff is very scary indeed. No doubts about it. I fear society is on the very brink of a demonic epidemic. And where is the Roman Catholic Church in all of this?

If you go through a demonic haunting, you're probably going to come out the other end finding everything demonic and conspiracy-like. You need to realize this and get a grasp on whatever reality you have left in your life.

It took me a good while to get stable again. I withdrew from college the very semester I was supposed to graduate, left a lot of my friends hanging and was completely unhealthy for a 22-year-old. When I meet other priests and "adults" who've done this work and I tell them what I've done, many of them become infuriated over the fact that I was invited to do this to begin with. Well, let me say that if I were 40-years-old and a 22-year-old told me the same thing, I'd be angry as well. But these are the cards I've been dealt and there's nothing I can do about it now.

Does it infuriate me to some extent? Oh yes, the Roman Catholic Church makes me very angry indeed. They are hypocritical and ignorant in many regards, and I say this not because I'm a silly young adult who’s joining the fad of questioning authority. I say this because I've experienced the ignorance first-hand. In fact, I'm still working with the Church on occasion, and all the same, some part of the Church still manages to piss me off on a regular basis. Trust me, my book will go into some detail about this.

My take on the Church has been sore ever since I got involved with them in the first place. Let me say for the record that there are some priests within the Church, to whom I still work with, that I admire and appreciate very much. I also consider myself a practicing Catholic. But the Church is unknowingly causing problems for many out there.

The trouble came when suddenly I was being told from multiple sides that I shouldn't be doing this work. Their reasons? Because I was too young, because I didn't have enough faith, because I wasn't leading a good Catholic life, because I wasn't following canon law and yadda yadda. The only person I want to hear say I shouldn't be doing this work - and trust me, I'll listen - is from God, whom I'd like to argue picked me in the first place.

I have a very interesting story that will show you where I'm coming from. A family whom felt that their house was infested by demons called us. They even contacted their local Catholic Church who referred them to a Deliverance minister/priest. This priest turned them down, and later, another priest actually recommended PRS! I was quite surprised. To this day, I still get contacts from people who said they went to the Church and someone discreetly told them to contact PRS. How bizarre, but that's not the point. Later, when this case turned out to be, in my best guess, demonic, I handed it over to a Deliverance minister who happened to be the same man who turned it away at the beginning. This man whooped and hollered at my involvement and felt that I put this woman in grave danger and if it weren't for him and his crew, this family wouldn't have been saved. I made the point to this priest that he and his team turned the couple down to begin with, to which he never confirmed nor denied nor defended.

Now, is it logical to say that a priest should be doing this work more so than a 22-year-old man? Absolutely. I don’t deny that priests should be doing this work. The problem comes when families are turned away. You want to know how many people contacted me and, when we tell them that they should consult religious clergy, they tell me in frustration that they already did and they turned them away? A lot. This is what’s frustrating to me. If the Catholic Church and other religious organizations cannot do their job, then who is left to pick up the slack?

We are. Organizations like PRS are, and people like me are. The Catholic Church leaves it to us “ill-prepared, non-Catholic abiding” citizens to go out there and do what is every priests’ duty. One man whom I agree highly with is Father Gabriel Amorth, who feels that almost every priest out there is failing in their duty of the cloth to pick up their Holy Water and fight the forces of darkness that attack the living. I know that if I ever meet him and tell him my tales, Father Amorth’s eyes will probably bulge out of his sockets and he would probably try to excommunicate me from the Church, but that’s okay. I still believe Amorth is right for giving every priest a beating for their incompetence.

During this same case, I ran to a Church late at night to try and get some Holy Water and a rosary for protection. The priest looked at me in his comfortable pajamas and said, “Do you know what you’re getting yourself in to?” I then invited him to come with us, to which he declined. Well, the question you need to ask yourself father is, do you know what you’re ignoring? Do you know what you’re leaving us “common folk” to deal with? It’d give me much pleasure to not have to tackle on a demonic case again, but I know I’m going to have to. Because people don’t know where to turn.

Sure, we’re living in an age of medicine, space travel and psychology. But we still have priests. And if we continue to believe in the forces of darkness, and if we continue to witness the growing threat of something dark creeping up into the hearts of men, women and children, at times controlling them and making their loved ones despair, then these priests need to do what they’re called to do. And it’s only when they don’t take up on their responsibilities that we find others doing so. I'm not saying that a priest needs to throw reason and science out the window. I'm also not saying that priests need to stop all of their other priestly duties in order to focus on the demonic. I'm angry and frustrated with the priests who do NOTHING when the opportunity, or calling, rather, comes for them to perform their priestly duties.

And I’m certainly not condoning just anyone to go out there with some Holy Water and a crucifix. In fact, after the past year, I’m more in agreement with these priests that it should be left to religious specialists. And I’ll easily admit that I’m far from saintly, but I’m also not a godless heathen, either. But again, the only problem is that these specialists aren’t pulling through. I’ll pull myself out of the trenches as soon as the Church sends a replacement. But that has yet to happen.

So, for all the priests out there condemning paranormal investigators and rogue deliverance ministers: spend less time yapping and more time doing. We’re not going anywhere until either Hell freezes over or until you’re capable of reclaiming the load that many of you have dropped and abandoned.

Edit: I welcome any member of the parish, or anyone else who is performing Deliverance work or similar, to respond to this editorial. I will gladly post your responses as long as they are valid, fair (you’re not making senseless ramblings) and coherent.