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May 18 through May 24, 2026

We could experience a busy week as planetary activity surges. On Monday, Venus will move into the sign of Cancer, followed by Mars’ entry into Taurus. With the Moon in Gemini on the same day, our focus will be on higher education and inspired conversations! The Moon wades through Cancer on Tuesday and Wednesday, so we’ll need to watch for the urge to be overly sensitive or emotional. If we have important decisions to make, our best bet is to wait until Wednesday when the Sun exits Taurus and takes up residence in Gemini. The Gemini Sun will set the stage for four weeks of focusing on new technology, updating or adding new apps to our smartphones, and diving deeper into subjects we are most interested in. It’s also a powerhouse for expanding our insights, improving our communication skills, and charming people into our way of thinking! The Leo Moon holds court in the heavens on Thursday and Friday, which could bring us into the spotlight, or at the least, make us the center of attention at any meetings or gatherings we attend. We’ll have to stop this weekend and restore order to our surroundings as a Virgo Moon instills the drive to clear out clutter and become more organized, so we can move more freely into the future!

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 Although nearly thirty years old and considerably outdated, Ray Parker Jr.'s Ghostbusters and the theme from the show The X-Files are still occasionally played as introduction music when a credible guest is interviewed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.

I was born 11/15/53. My deceased wife was born 12/17/55. She passed on January 2, 2008. I don't dream about her that often, and when I do, it feels more like a presence in the dream - I don't see her as if we were face to face. I ask her to come to my dreams and tell her that I want to see her and talk to her. I tell her that I miss and love her very much. Am I trying too hard? Do you think she wants me to let go?

Antonio

Astrea:

I know exactly what you mean about perceiving your wife in your dreams but not as you would if she were a living person. She's there but she's not there. I understand.

I don't want to believe that we are just dreaming about our loved ones, for many of us have a deep need to really connect with them and even discuss things with them. We may function in the world like we're supposed to but it doesn't feel right all the time. Though we are deeply sad and missing the loved one who has crossed over, we can act normal around other people. In fact, it's good to do that, for it makes us feel more normal.

Over the past six months, I've read many books about grief, yet I've found nothing that really hits the nail on the head for me. My mother passed away in late October and Daddy followed her in early December. I don't often see my mother in my dreams, but Daddy is there almost nightly.

Once you get used to all of this, you can tell if you're visiting with someone in spirit or dreaming about them. I think you already can discern the difference between those two kinds of experiences, though sometimes it's a fine line. Of course, even when we are just dreaming of them, they're with us all the time.

I know that there are a thousand little things that come up daily that you want to share with your wife. I talk to Daddy all the time. After six months, I finally realized that I CAN still talk to him. What's different now is the quality of his response.

I'm sure you've had many decisions to make where you needed her input, and if you're like most people, you can imagine what she might say to one thing or another, but it's not the same, is it? For many of us, our only opportunity to get those responses is in the dreams we have of them.

Mourning and grief are two different animals, and all the books I read say that we move naturally from grief to mourning. I'm not so sure about that yet. Most of the time, I hide behind my inner strength and courage to go on while I long for those clear and lucid dreams.

You are doing just right to ask her to come to you, and she is doing her best. After a calendar year, you're experiencing more lucid dreams and visions of her. Good for you!

I just finished reading a very good book. It's called The Year of Magical Thinking. It didn't take me but a day to read it, and it helped me. It's by Joan Didion, and she has some very deep and meaningful observations about grief. She began to write after her husband passed away suddenly. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has recently lost someone close to them.

*****

Susyn:

When a loved one passes over, it's never easy to let go or to remember that we are only separated from them by the veil between the physical and spirit worlds. From both perspectives (ours and theirs), moving forward can be difficult.

Your departed wifeís spirit will always be with you, but after a while, you will both have to accept this transition and continue on your paths. That does not mean you won't hear from her, feel her presence, or dream of her now and then, but that will tend to happen less frequently as time goes by.

You have probably noticed that on certain dates or during times of the year that were special to the two of you, your feelings of connection are stronger. Then at other times, it will seem as if she has disappeared or gone away. This is a natural phenomenon that occurs when we experience this kind of loss and move through the process of grieving.

Keep in mind that your wife is being led forward on her own path just as you are. When you think of her or meditate in an attempt to contact her, be sure to offer her your support for her own journey. By doing so, you will gain the strength you need to continue on your path as well.

One of the biggest misconceptions we may have when we lose a loved one is that they are gone and no longer available to us. In truth, they are nearby and happy to talk with us, and they can make their presence known in unusual and unpredictable ways. To answer your question about whether you're trying too hard, it's important to remember that, like those of us here on the earth plane, our departed loved ones aren't constantly on call because they have their own obligations to fulfill.

Guided meditation can enable you to have contact with her in an awakened state. Select a quiet place and fill it with her favorite flowers, colored candles and incense. You could also add a picture of her or one of her treasured belongings. Light the candles and incense and then immerse yourself in silence and listen for her.

To gain some resolution and reconnect with your wife, you may also want to consult a psychic medium. As a mediator, the psychic can send messages back and forth between the two of you, and in that way, you can receive affirmation that she is fine and that she loves and misses you while also getting answers to any questions you may have.

As you move forward in your life here on the earth plane, you will always carry her in your heart and soul, and if you continue to work on meditating and connecting with her, you will find her presence in your life will grow stronger and more constant.

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.