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Latest Pennhurst Paracon Updates: Exciting News and Paranormal Adventures Await!
Good morning from Pennhurst Paracon! As we dive into the day, I’m thrilled to share some exciting Pennhurst Paracon updates with you. The website has undergone a major overhaul, and it’s looking fantastic – a fitting hub for all the latest news and events from one of the biggest paranormal conventions in the US.
As I update you from the heart of Pennhurst Paracon, I can’t help but feel the electric atmosphere. The updates to the website have made it easier than ever to connect with fellow enthusiasts and keep abreast of all the happenings. Last night’s kick-off party was just a taste of the incredible energy we’re going to experience today.
Now, let’s talk about some of the Pennhurst Paracon updates that are sure to excite you. The Paranormal Circle is now live, and it’s a game-changer for the community. This online platform is a treasure trove for those passionate about the paranormal, offering live webcams, exclusive meet-ups, and member-only discounts.
In addition to the Pennhurst Paracon updates, there’s news on my other projects. While Kindred Spirits is in limbo, I’m embarking on a new television project that’s very close to my heart. Plus, the sixth season of my podcast, Haunted Road, is in production, and my cookbook, Food to Die For, is set to release on July 30th.
With all these Pennhurst Paracon updates and personal projects, it’s shaping up to be an exciting year. I’m eager to meet many of you at the convention and at upcoming Strange Escapes events. Remember, next Thursday is our first live event for the Paranormal Circle, and it’s not to be missed!
So, as I gear up for another day at Pennhurst Paracon, I want to remind you to check out the updated website and join us in the Paranormal Circle. It’s the perfect place to stay informed about all the Pennhurst Paracon updates and connect with the community.
See you soon at Pennhurst Paracon, and let’s make the most of these thrilling updates!
Cheers,
~ a
Why are you doing larger/well known locations?
It’s Friday! That means tonight it’s an all new episode of Kindred Spirits on Travel Channel at 9/8c.! Make sure you check out our investigation of Sterling Hill Mine in New Jersey tonight! It’s a doozy.
Now, on to today’s question. I’ve answered this before in another blog, but thought I’d readdress it since we get it a lot!
Why are you doing larger/well-known locations?
When Adam and I created Kindred Spirits, our goal was to help families. Every investigation focused on a family who felt they were being haunted and they were desperate for answers.
As we started applying our thoughts and theories to these investigations (see my blog, “Why We Don’t Cross Things Over”), we began to realize that in addition to helping the living members of these families, the spirits seemed to want and need our assistance as well.
As the show began airing and gaining in popularity, more and more people from locations that weren’t residences began reaching out for help. Some of these places had been treated as novelties for quite some time and the owners were ready to treat their ghosts in a more humane way, to find out what they actually needed. It was time to stop looking at these spirits as something spooky that provided you with a scare and then you left, to actually finding out their stories, their names, their reasons for being where they are.
The other deciding factor was how many employees, volunteers and staff at these locations were having experiences that were actually hindering operations or scaring them. Or visitors having experiences that terrified them enough they either stayed away or it left them wondering what was really going on there.
So, we branched out. We feel like these entities in these larger spaces, as well as the living people trying to operate them, need our help too and it’s been extremely rewarding. Not only have we identified a number of potential spirits and found out why they linger, but we’ve also corrected SO much misinformation historically about some of these places, in addition to finding entirely new bits of history during our research. (Honestly, the research is my FAVORITE part.)
Our focus is and has always been, helping. The idea of someone’s loved one being trapped in an old infirmary, hospital, jail, etc fueled us to start taking those cases as well. Frankly, we’re incredibly glad we did. We also love our family cases and we’re glad to have a healthy mix of both each season for you.
Thanks so much for following along with these this week! I may do this again soon!
In the meantime, enjoy the show tonight! Make sure to tell your friends!
xoxo
The Hard Truth About Planning Paranormal Events
Someone has to say this, so it may as well be me. The first time I wrote a blog about this was on Myspace…which tells you how long I’ve been running paranormal type events.
Now, this isn’t a blog about the price of paranormal events. That’s a blog for a different day.
This is a blog about people who throw their hat in the ring and decide to have and promote a paranormal event or convention with little, if any, event planning or promoting experience.
I feel I have to address this as I watch events continually get canceled and/or speakers being canceled sometimes days before an event because “ticket sales weren’t that great.” It’s not fair to people who bought tickets expecting to see certain people there. It’s not fair to your speakers who have allocated valuable time and possibly said no to other bookings because of your event.
Attendees shell out a ton of hard-earned money to attend these things. Some go so far as having bought flights and booked hotels, only to find out their event isn’t even happening! I’m sorry event planners, but that is shameful and it reflects badly on all of us who host events.
I’m going to tell you the hard truth about planning paranormal events. If your website is shoddy, if you don’t pay for marketing, Facebook advertising, press releases, etc. – your event is NOT going to sell – no matter who your speakers are. You can’t book a big name and expect the world to know about it magically.
Second – if you are hosting a paranormal event – there better be enough money in your bank account to cover all the costs of that event if your ticket sales aren’t what you’d hoped. It should never be an option to cancel or change your line up according to ticket sales. It’s a business – sometimes you win, sometimes it doesn’t work out. (Trust me, I’ve had many events lose money in my time, ha!)
Lastly, paranormal events are HARD. They are a hard sell. It’s so easy to see what people are charging for tickets and then say, “oh, I could do that and make some money!” But it’s such a specialized, curated market that without precise vision and hours and hours of work and planning, it will not work.
I am all for other successful events out there. Lord knows I love attending them as a speaker because I get to show up and not run them, (yes please!) But it makes my heart hurt every time I see another cancellation. Events are my livelihood and the livelihood of many others I know and I’m meeting way too many people these days who are afraid to book a paranormal event because they’ve been burned in the past.
If you’re an attendee looking for an event – look for an event that has happened before, look at reviews online, look for a professional website, ask around about others’ experiences. It’s pretty easy to tell a reliable event company from others. These gatherings are such a cool way to meet and make friends in the paranormal field. It’s sometimes the best way to get to investigate some of the most famous haunted places in the world with some of the coolest researchers and para celebrities in the world. Let’s all work together and see if we can make the paranormal event industry a thriving and positive marketplace.
xoxoxo,
Spirit and “Ouija” Boards
As many of you know, I have a tremendous interest in spiritualism and how the whole field of paranormal investigation began here in the US. A very important part of that history was mediumship.
Mediums used many tools during the hey day of spiritualism – from tarot cards and spirit trumpets – to spirit boards.
Yes, spirit boards.
Ouija is a brand name, not the name of the board. The name ouija is trademarked by Hasbro. Spirit boards were introduced as a parlor game in 1890. It wasn’t until their use by mediums during WW1 that they were seen as being associated with the occult – and it wasn’t until a spirit board made an appearance in the Exorcist that it was associated with demonic possession.
I own many spirit boards. Personally, I have never had a run in of the paranormal nature using one. It is my opinion that if you are going to use ANY TOOL to communicate with the other side, you should be ready for any repercussions. Be it a K2 meter, a digital voice recorder, a camera, a dowsing rod, a pendulum – what ever you fancy.
That being said, the entire reason I’m writing this, is because one of the designs on t-shirts I sell is that of a spirit board. I am fascinated with their history, and I think many of them are beautiful. They are a large part of what we do and I recognize and appreciate that – hence the design. I feel like every time I post related to it, I get a few, (not many), overly zealous ouija board haters.
FYI, the few times I’ve met people who actually dealt with demonic possession – not one had toyed with a ouija board. In almost all the cases, they had a moment of weakness in their life and a “demon” took advantage, or they were investigating a place they had no business being in. Most of the people I’ve met who have experienced activity after using a spirit board, experienced typical haunt type activity from a entity who had learned to communicate and wanted more – as seen many times using many other methods of investigation.
I have a collection of vintage spirit boards of my own – as well as old spirit photos, tarot cards, etc. None of these things have brought any harm to me or my family. I know – some of you will say, “YET.” – But, I could get in a car accident driving to the post office tomorrow. I can’t dictate my entire life on very slim chances of danger, because they’re everywhere. Truthfully, I feel my space heater or a lit candle pose a greater threat to my safety at home than my collection of occult artifacts.
So, there you have it. My feelings on the Ouija. Expect to be referred to this if you ever question my merchandise designs. 😉