KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

May 25 through May 31, 2026

Stepping back to regroup will be a theme on Monday and Tuesday, as a balancing Libra Moon illuminates where we are out of sync, both physically and spiritually. There’s a Sagittarius full Moon coming this weekend, and because it usually starts generating its influence about five days before it peaks, we’ll have to be on the lookout for the surprises it could bring our way! Add the Scorpio Moon that prevails from Wednesday to Friday, and even more unexpected things could come our way. The best way to walk through these days is to trust your intuition, pay close attention, and practice the art of flexibility and patience! The weekend unfolds under a Sagittarius Moon, with the full Moon waxing on Sunday. Overall, it will be an easy-going few days, but remember that a full Moon always kicks off a two-week cycle of release, and being in the fiery sign of Sagittarius, we may want to look at any areas where we need to make amends, forgive others, or simply reconnect with loved ones on a more personal basis.

Ghost Hunting vs. Paranormal Investigation, by Richard Southall

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

When I started to investigate the unknown in the 1980s and 1990s, paranormal investigations and ghost hunting were not taken too seriously by most of our society. Back in the day, when a person on the street was asked about his or her knowledge and opinion of the paranormal, images from movies such as Poltergeist and Ghostbusters would often come to mind.

To be honest, this mindset is still held by a small portion of our population to this day. Although nearly thirty years old and considerably outdated, Ray Parker Jr.'s Ghostbusters and the theme from the show The X-Files are still occasionally played as introduction music when a credible guest is interviewed about the paranormal.

Of course, there were some of us who have always taken the paranormal very seriously. Those of who knew about the reality of the paranormal persisted and held true to our beliefs. Finally, our voices began to be heard and people started to listen.

Since the late 2000s, the public's perception of the paranormal has evolved to the point that it has become socially acceptable and in some cases even en vogue to believe in things otherworldly. According to a 2005 Gallup Poll, approximately 32% of the general population believe in ghosts. National polls in different countries have yielded similar results. Not too shabby.

I believe that this paradigm shift is absolutely fascinating as it gives paranormal enthusiasts a sense of credibility that was really not there in the past. I'd have to think that the Internet, social media, and television shows such as Ghost Hunters or Ghost Adventures have brought ghost hunting out of the shadows and has made it an accepted part of our mainstream culture.

However, I've noticed that a small number of people have simply jumped on the bandwagon and have started to "ghost hunt" without having any real understanding of the paranormal. A smaller number still will use a "paranormal investigation" or "ghost hunt" as an excuse to party, trespass, and vandalize. Sadly, this type of irresponsibility and ignorance has occasionally had devastating results. Just think of the tragic end to Lebeau Plantation in Arabi, Louisiana. In 2013, a group of people went "ghost hunting" while under the influence of drugs and alcohol accidentally caught the antebellum mansion on fire, burning it to the ground.

I think that we as paranormal enthusiasts should unite together in order to make certain that the general public understand what ghost hunters and paranormal investigators do, how they do it, and, more importantly, why they do it. In order to do so, I think that it would be useful to make a distinction between ghost hunting and paranormal investigation.

At first glance, the terms "paranormal investigation" and "ghost hunting" appear to be interchangeable, used to describe the active study of paranormal events that take place at different locations. However, with years of experience in the field, I believe that there are some minute but important differences between ghost hunting and paranormal investigation.

What Is Paranormal Investigation?
As the name implies, paranormal investigation is simply the investigation and study of events that mainstream culture would define as "paranormal." As I have said in previous articles, blogs, and radio interviews, the vast majority of a paranormal investigation does not actually take place at a haunted location. Most of the time spent conducting a paranormal investigation involves doing research.

When I conduct an investigation, I tend to srpend the first part of an investigation learning as much history as possible about a location that is allegedly haunted. This would include researching names of people, important dates, significant events, and other facts about the location. When I have gathered enough information about a location, I would then collect rumors, legends, or any related information that may lead some to believe that a location is haunted. Finally, I will search for eyewitnesses to any paranormal activity. This is actually easier than a person would expect, since most often the people experiencing a haunting are seeking me out. Needless to say, this process can take some time if done properly.

Once I have gathered and researched this information, then I will generally make a visit to a haunted location. Although I tend to remain open-minded, I try to look at things realistically and rationally. I don't want to simply jump to conclusions; just because there are rumors and legends that a place is haunted does not necessarily mean that it is haunted.

This point is where I believe that paranormal investigations really can get exciting. A person can still bring all of the interesting technology along to along to capture an EVP or photograph of the ghost. Technology is essential to an investigation, but it is important to remember that there is more to the investigation than simply relying on the technology. It is used to support the hypothesis as to whether or not a location is haunted, one piece of a much larger puzzle. That being said, there is nothing more exciting and than to be able to satisfying than to trace EVP or apparition back to a particular person.

To give you an idea of how paranormal investigation has influenced our society, think of Gray Barker's book They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers or John Keel's The Mothman Prophesies. Barker and Keel both meticulously researched information from a large went through a variety of sources (interviews, newspapers, etc.), which allowed them to weave together stories have influenced several aspects of our culture. Think of the movies Men In Black and The Mothman Prophesies. Without Keel's and Barker's thorough dedication into properly investigating their respective topics, these stories would likely have not endured over the years.

What Is Ghost Hunting?
Ghost hunting has a slightly different flavor than paranormal investigation. As mentioned earlier in the article, the paranormal and especially ghost hunting have received a great deal of positive attention recent years. Although research of a haunted area is conducted prior to the ghost hunt, it is sometimes not conducted to the same extent as with a paranormal investigation. I feel that sometimes the main focus of the ghost hunt is for the people to have a fun and scary experience while in an area that is believed to be haunted. There is nothing wrong with that. To be honest, some of my most memorable scrapes with the paranormal have been on ghost hunts.

Some ghost hunters rely heavily on technology to gather proof of a haunting. This is all well and good, but sometimes a person can have the tendency to focus too much on the technology that they often overlook some the bigger picture. Think about a person who sees the ocean for the first time but is so concerned about capturing it on film that they miss the entire experience. I've seen it happen all too often.

If a person relies heavily on listening for EVPs or over-analyzing a photograph, there is the danger of finding something that really isn't there. This phenomenon is known as pareidolia, or finding a familiar visual or auditory pattern in some stimulus that is not really present. Sometimes, a shadow in a photograph isn't an apparition of a ghost. Sometimes, it's just a shadow.

That being said, there have been many, many legitimate examples of convincing anecdotal evidence collected during a ghost hunt. Some of the most impressive examples of EVPs and photographs have been captured by people simply going through an area that is believed to be haunted.

Another difference between paranormal investigation and ghost hunting is that ghost hunting can often be considered more of social event than paranormal investigation. Several businesses have sprouted throughout the country that offers "ghost hunts," especially around Halloween. Ghost hunts are often accompanied with some publicity or fanfare. Paranormal investigations are usually more low-key with only a few participants.

So, Is One Better Than the Other?
Although there are a few subtle differences between ghost hunting and paranormal investigation, I am not going to say that one is better than another. In fact, I think that the two can complement one another quite nicely. I know of paranormal groups that have ghost hunts for the public and conduct paranormal investigations for private individuals. In essence, they can provide the best of both worlds for those interested in ghosts.

A ghost hunt conducted by a group of responsible friends or under the supervision of a tour guide will allow some people the opportunity to know what it is really like to search through a haunted area. For some, a one night trek by flashlight through an abandoned asylum or prison is quite enough to quench their thirst for the unknown. These people would likely enjoy ghost hunting immensely.

However, there are those of us who want to know the who, why, when, where, and how of a place that may be haunted. People of this mindset will likely be more inclined to enjoy conducting paranormal investigations.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2015. All rights reserved.

For a few years now, small children under five will seem to stare at the top of my head and smile. I don't know what they're looking at but they seem to be mesmerized. I love kids and they seem to trust me even when I'm a stranger to them. I feel that what attracts them may be some sort of light. Some have said it's my angel, inner child or my aura. I am in the medical field, and some very ill patients of mine seem to receive comfort from whatever this is. At the other end of the spectrum, some have said it was evil and that I should go receive communion from a priest. I reject that idea because I think if it were evil, I would sense that. Nevertheless, that idea does have me a little concerned. Thanks in advance for your time!

Michele

Astrea:

You are probably an Angelic Being of some kind. Most Angelic Beings have light around them or around a certain part of their bodies. Light shining like a halo is simply the manifestation of the positive energy you are radiating.

This halo is probably always there, but it may shift with your mood and only be visible to some people. Children would be the prime viewers of this since they haven't built up walls against their psychic abilities yet. Not only that, but more and more Indigo and Crystal children are emerging into speech now, so they are able to communicate what they see. To them, seeing a halo or band of light is a normal, everyday thing, while to fearful or envious adults, it could be interpreted as evil. Ignorance is agony sometimes, isn't it?

This halo is energy you're giving over to others in Love and in Healing Light. Some people might say you have the gift of laying on hands even though your hands are just one physical conduit for the energy channeling through you.

Touch is only one way that you can help others. The patients you see as adults are quite ill at the time, and in illness, we tend to stop blocking psychic perceptions because our ego's defenses go down.

The people who say this is evil are misinformed and trying to scare you for some reason. They fear what they don't understand. Often because they can't see what is there, they feel insecure, and they may try to create confusion for people who can. If what you had was evil, no one would be taking comfort from it, and children certainly would not be so trusting of you.

While Beings like you are few and far between, they are nevertheless all around us. The Beings of Light I encounter seem to be finding easier ways to be recognized. Their need to communicate the light of love is motivating them to be inventive. More of you are coming out by allowing your light to be visually seen in addition to being psychically sensed. Your halo is pretty; there is no reason to fear showing it off.

For your communion, try going deeply into nature. Find a place with running water or go to the beach. Be quiet. Renew yourself from the wind and water, the earth and the sun. Your body is your temple and your temple is your church. Think of new ways and ideas to share your gift of light. Renew yourself with these ideas.

*****

Susyn:

The light that surrounds your head is definitely an aura and not something evil. When faced with a phenomenon they know little to nothing about, some people will naturally fear it. This has been going on for centuries. In fact, even when the first camera was invented, most people were frightened of it and erroneously believed that it could steal one's soul.

Fortunately, our generation is in the midst of a spiritual evolution. As we are beginning to understand the capabilities we possess as spirits encased in human bodies, we can cast aside these unfounded fears to see the truth. Your patients receive comfort from you because you are emanating a gentle, enlightened aura. If this were not the case, you would find your patients becoming upset or feeling agitated when they are near you.

Young children are more capable of psychic perception and are more open to metaphysical experiences than adults. They feel free to talk or play with spirits and discuss memories of their past lives. Children's perceptions are not limited by practical thinking or rigid ideas about what is and is not possible.

When young children are clearly drawn to some people while fearing others, it's because they are listening to their instincts and intuition, which operate unhindered when we're young. It is only when we get older and have been admonished or encouraged to ignore our inner voice and adopt someone else's opinions that we start to lose our ability to see the auric lights that surround each and every one of us.

When people work in the medical field and they are surrounded by patients who are very ill, their auras tend to be amplified simply by virtue of the spiritual aspects of the work they are doing. Though an illness might be centered in the physical, the most healing aspect of your work is the spiritual and emotional care you give to your patients.

I am certain you have witnessed amazing miracles in your work, which is another testament to how your healing and spiritual aura soothes and delights everyone you meet. When you bring hope and joy to others just via your presence, you are activating the light and aura within them, which facilitates healing.

Instead of worrying about this phenomenon, embrace it! Then it will grow stronger, which will make the work you do even more effective and rewarding.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.