Defining Shadow People, Pt. III

They called it the Supermoon. On March 18th, 2011, the moon would be closest to our earth than it had been in 18 years. It would appear noticeably larger and brighter in all its full-status glory, and although a full moon has never really influenced our ghost-finding results, this Moon -- Super as it was -- proved a different story. Particularly when coupled with the prodigious paranormal powers of the LBJackson Building.

The LBJackson Building has always reputed to be a sensational place for haunted happenings. Thirteen individuals have purportedly jumped from the structure and our photographic evidence has been as varied as streaks, orbs and now shadow people.

This post includes an original photograph taken by a guest on the night of The Full Moon with a shadow person clearly seen in one of the windows.

The only other sighting we've had in four years is pictured below, taken during a paranormal investigation. The shadow person can be seen in the open doorway with its ubiquitous glowing eyes. The top of its head is clearly seen breaking up against what should be the even horizontal line of the wainscotting in this particular room.

For the definition of shadow people, see blog entry Defining Shadow People, Pt. 1. Pt. II outlines the prevailing theories of how these entities exist.

Ghost Blamed for Punching Wife

There's something spooky about this excuse.

Rather than say "The Devil made me do it," a Wisconsin man arrested on domestic abuse charges told police that a ghost punched his wife, authorities said.

Police responded to the disturbance call at approximately 8 p.m., Sunday, according to a Fond du Lac County Sheriff's report obtained by The Smoking Gun. At the scene they found 41-year-old Michael West and his wife, who told cops that her husband twice attempted to strangle her and struck her in the face when she attempted to contact 911.

West told authorities that his wife sustained injuries as a result of several falls, The Northwestern reports. When an officer pressed the issue, West allegedly changed his alibi, opting instead for a supernatural excuse -- "A ghost did it."

"It must not have been Casper," HyperVocal quips. "He's way too friendly to do such a thing to a working woman with a drunk, abusive husband."

West is charged with domestic abuse, strangulation, battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. He remains in custody in lieu of $1,000 bail.

Defining Shadow People (Pt. 2)

There are no current scientific tests to prove the existence of shadow people or what they might be. There are , however, many theories attempting to explain the phenomenon. These include:

1. Optical Illusions? Brought on by physiological or psychological circumstances, drug use, side effects of medication, schizophrenia or sleep deprivation. The brain incorrectly interprets random patterns of light and shadow as familiar patterns such as faces and human forms. (See 5.10.10 blog entry: Do You See What I See? on matrixing).

2. Time Travelers? Could people from the future have found a way to time travel and be visiting us in the form of shadow people?

3. Ghosts? Shadow people may be only one more type of ghostly manifestation along with ectoplasmic mist, orbs and apparitions.

4. Demons? Accompanying feelings of malevolence and darkness lead researchers to theorize that shadow people might be possible demons.

5. Astral Bodies? Author and lecturer Jerry Gross claims we all travel out of our bodies when we sleep. Could shadow people be the essences or shadows of people having out-of-body experiences?

6. Hypnagogia? Also known as "waking sleep," hypnagogia is the physiological state when a person is between sleep and full consciousness allowing for subconscious perceptions which could include the "seeing" of shadow people.

Next Up: Ghost Hunters of Asheville Tours' experience with the shadow person phenomenon. Coming in Defining Shadow People (Pt. 3)!

The Flying Nun

I entered this business unconvinced about the reality of ghosts -- unsure, but open to their existence. Now, 18 months later, I must admit: There IS something out there. This photograph was one of those instances that made me draw this conclusion.

The Story Behind the Photo
Chris Krukar of Louisville, KY took this photo on one of my tours on Church Street -- one of Asheville's two most haunted pathways. When I first saw it, I immediately thought/ sensed it was a nun. Yet, this made no sense; there are no Catholic churches on Church Street.

Two weeks later, I uncovered a ghost story that explained it all. Apparently, the Trinity Episcopal Church once had priests and nuns in service. The nun met an untimely and sordid end (this tale is told in detail on the Ghost Hunters of Asheville Downtown Interactive tour) and her restless spirit haunts the area. This picture was taken on the street corner across from the Trinity Episcopal Church. It took a few psychics and some investigative research to uncover the nuances of the story, but my first intuitive thought was correct: This spirit is a nun.