REVIEWING GHOSTOCK 4: SPIRITED FUN

"No matter what evidence we gather, any conclusion we come to can always be only a theory."

"I tell my investigators that the most essential piece of equipment to bring to a location is an extra pair of clean underwear."

These quotes from Ghostock 4 in Savannah February, 2007 capture the essence of this paranormal investiagion conference. All of the speakers and all of the conference attendees I met take scientific paranormal research very seriously. Most are skeptics in the best sense, meaning that they know by the evidence of their eyes, senses, and equipment that unexplainable things do occur and they are dedicated to attempting to discover the cause of those unexplained phenomena. Most, like me, are about 90% to 95% convinced that some form of energy or impression often remains in some places after death. Many believe that spirits linger and attempt to interact with the living. All think it is fascinating and yes, fun, to try to find out. And, as that last quote from Doris "Dusty" Smith of Daytona Beach Paranormal Research Group, Inc., indicates, they also sometimes get really, really spooked.

We met at the Hilton DeSoto in Savannah, about 150 of us including the speakers and organizers. It was the perfect location, right in the middle of the historic district of what many consider to be the most haunted city in America. Even the air of Savannah feels thick with history; everywhere you go, the past crowds in close. And, all weekend, everywhere we went wearing our Ghostock T-Shirts, people were eager to share their own stories of unusual events. From the lady behind the counter at the bookstore across the street who often comes in to find books where no book should be to the "Captain Jack Sparrow" at The Pirate's House who shared his unsettling experience during a basement tour, we came away believing that it would be much harder to live in Savannah and not have a ghostly tale to relate than it is to live there and accept the paranormal as, really, the norm.

Throughout the weekend, we were entertained and informed by dynamic and fascinating speakers such as host and organizer Patrick Burns, of Atlanta's Ghosthounds and Court TV's Haunting Evidence; the afore-mentioned Dusty Smith, who shared the experiences behind her team's Florida investigation captured on Discovery Channel's series "A Haunting...," and the mesmerizing Murray Silver, whose career includes rock promotion, photography, and journalism and a very close involvement with the Dalai Lama, as well as ghosts and ghost hunting. Steve Gonsalves, of TAPS and Sci-Fi's very popular series, Ghost Hunters, was also there and, as always, charming, friendly, and an articulate and enlightening speaker.

In addition to the discussions, we were very impressed as well as enormously entertained by hypnotist Russ Clarke, whose comedy hynosis show manages to be hysterically funny without humiliating even one of his eager volunteers. We were out of breath and in tears by the end from laughing so hard. Russ also provided a more serious demonstration and explanation of some of the many benefits of hypnosis earlier in the weekend, and even helped me to begin overcoming a long-standing phobia of knives during an on-line five or ten minute Fast Phobia Cures session, for which I owe him a personal debt of gratitude.

The highlight of the weekend was the chance to participate in an actual after-hours investigation in
an allegedly haunted location. There were eleven secret locations to choose from; ours was a beautiful and popular historic house which I have loved since I first visited it as a child. Our experience was limited by time restraints and the inability to use some of our equipment, but just being in that house and having access to its rooms without a crowd of others around was a real treat for the six of us. And we were impressed with Helen and David Kolin of Spirit Investigations in Jacksonville, Florida, able and professional leaders of our group. Other people in other locations had more dramatic experiences, including the incidence in which one team was temporarily unable to get the door of a certain room to open and let them out.

Overall, Ghostock was a wonderful experience. I was amazed at how quickly we bonded with so many of our fellow conference-goers. Paranormal investigators and enthusiasts are an amazingly friendly, open, outgoing and intelligent group of people. Kudos to Patrick Burns and the other organizers for a great experience. I look forward to next spring, when we can go again.

Ghostock 4 was the 4th occurance of a semi-annual conference event. The next Ghostocks will be in the Fall of 2007 and the Spring of 2008. Find out more at http://www.ghosthounds.com or http://www.ghostock.com.