What Doppelganger Really Is

A Doppleganger is a ghostly double, mirror image or resemble of the living. They are mostly entities that can copy images and sometimes, even voices.

Some believe that seeing a Doppelganger is an indication of bad luck. That is not always true. Sometimes, that is just the way of these entities of getting themselves noticed.

In most cases, what we thought as Doppelgangers are just imprints of the living. There are also times that our own minds project the image of a person we think about a lot.

On the other hand, there are incidents where we project our own image to a spot or before a person we think about when our emotions are high.

Take this for example:

My husband can project his image beside our door whenever he is so excited to go home. After seeing his image, I will get a phone call from him saying he is on his way home and he is so excited because he bought something for me.

Please give credits to Jade Martin of Intramuros Ghost Walk if you are going to share this post. These are some of the things I discuss during the walking tour.

The author, Jade Martin, is the founder and creator of Center for Paranormal Studies, Profilers of the Unknown and Intramuros Ghost Walk. She is also a Businesswoman, Life and Business Coach, Author, Singer and Songwriter, Ghost Tour Operator, Paranormal Investigator and Consultant, Energy Healer, Hypnotherapist, Past Life Regression Therapist, Numerologist and Tarot Reader. Please join Center for Paranormal Studies.

Intramuros Ghost Walk - A Combination of Things that I Love

Intramuros Ghost Walk (IGW) is a combination of several things that I love. They are as follows:

Walking: My father had a serious accident when I was in Grade 6,. That made my family lose a fortune. I was filled then with sorrow because I witnessed the sufferings not only of my father, but also of my mother. I had to stop going to a private school and I was transferred to a public school, which made me miss a lot of my dear friends in elementary. We've sold our belongings, which include my precious Yamaha One-Man-Band Organ and my mother's one-of-a-kind diamond wedding ring. We've lost a beautiful house and we had no choice but to stay with some relatives for the meantime. I became an outlet to my father's bitterness which drives me to take long walks everyday so I can drown my depression and anxiety. It wasn't so long until I realized that walking helped me save a lot of money from transportation. It also gave me physical, emotional and mental benefits. Since then, walking became my habit.

Learning: I love learning new things through experience and observation. Everytime I walk, I get a view of the real world and what's happening around us. Walking made me discover a lot of things that I haven't encountered just by reading books and watching TV.

Socializing: I meet new friends, contacts and connections. That will be rare if I will only stay indoors most of the time. I enjoy social life and as far as I am concerned, I was born to be sociable.

Philippine History: Before I get to know other countries and people, I'll get to know my own origin first and foremost. Until now, I explore our history and I share some of the things I learned to my Intramuros Ghost Walkers. Intramuros is a great place to explore if you are a Philippine History enthusiast. It holds a lot of precious memories of our past that will help us understand our present.

Intramuros: I am so attached to this place and a bit obsessed too. I take pride in helping people see this wonderful city in a different light. The hypnotic charms of the Walled City has captivated me in ways nobody will understand; not unless they get to know the place better...the way I got to know it.

Paranormal: Intramuros makes me learn new things about The Paranormal every now and then...things that I've been sharing with my guests.

Arts and Architecture: Intramuros is a home to a lot of beautiful things and buildings. It is no ordinary city and I truly enjoy strolling there while glancing at the many artistic works within its walls.

Charity: IGW is a strong supporter of Tribu Ni Bro, a charity movement that helps people who are living in remote areas and were deprived of the comforts of the urban life. Whenever you walk with me, you are helping them as well.

Join IGW and I promise you, I will take you to a meaningful journey.

The author, Jade Martin, is the founder and creator of Center for Paranormal Studies, Profilers of the Unknown and Intramuros Ghost Walk. She is also a Businesswoman, Life and Business Coach, Author, Singer and Songwriter, Ghost Tour Operator, Paranormal Investigator and Consultant, Energy Healer, Hypnotherapist, Past Life Regression Therapist, Numerologist and Tarot Reader. Please join Center for Paranormal Studies. 

Why a Relationship with a Ghost is Sometimes Better

NOTE: This article is made for fun. Please don't take this seriously. But that's up to you. :

1. You don't need to worry about faithfulness. He won't flirt with other girls and is not interested in that anymore.

2. He won't nag. He no longer have vocal cords. He won't be demanding as well.

3. You won't get bugged by text messages asking you where you are and who's with you. He doesn't need to ask anyway. He knows. You don't need to lie.

4. He won't need space. You wouldn't suffer because of his so called "caveman drama" where he'll just stop communicating and disappear from your sight for a matter of days or weeks and then, come back when he's ready to mingle with you again. He sticks with you. And more than that, he lingers 24/7.

5. He doesn't have a Facebook account. That is why there is no reason for you to get jealous of the pics he uploads, and the statuses he posts; and vice versa. You don't have to unfriend him when the relationship turns sour and add him back when your anger has passed.

6. It's not difficult to say sorry. No effort is needed for this most of the time. He isn't hard to please too.

7. You don't have to oblige yourself to have sex with him. He doesn't need it.

8. Less obligation is required. No need to wash and iron clothes, no need to cook, and so on. He also wouldn't complain if the house is not clean.

9. He wouldn't add up to the monthly billing and other expenses. He doesn't use electricity (though he may absorb electrically charged ions to be able to manifest), he doesn't need cellphone load, water and so on. Hence, you'll be able to save more money.

10. Communication is easier if you are sensitive enough. It only needs telepathy to send and receive messages from him. You don't need to text him or send him PMs and wait for his reply forever.

11. He can't hurt you physically, emotionally and mentally.

12. You can always shut him off if you wish. And he'll wait patiently until you're OK again.

13. It wouldn't matter to him if you're gaining weight or if you're developing wrinkles. You don't need to be upset if you're tummy has grown bigger and if your breasts are already sagging. He always sees you as the real you. The young version of you.

14. He doesn't have bad influential friends. You wouldn't get that much headache because he doesn't go to drinking sprees, spend money on other girls and expensive gadgets.

15. His love is forever.

The author, Jade Martin, is the founder and creator of Center for Paranormal Studies, Profilers of the Unknown and Intramuros Ghost Walk. She is also a Businesswoman, Life and Business Coach, Author, Singer and Songwriter, Ghost Tour Operator, Paranormal Investigator and Consultant, Energy Healer, Hypnotherapist, Past Life Regression Therapist, Numerologist and Tarot Reader. Please join Center for Paranormal Studies.

 

The 10 Commandments of Ghost Hunting

Whether you are a seasoned member of a ghost-hunting group or an occasional investigator who likes to participate around Halloween or at special events, there are rules you must follow. Too often we have heard of ghost-hunting groups that seem to operate without any rules at all, and the result is almost always chaos, bad evidence, sometimes even illegal activity and injury.

Every ghost-hunting group should have a set of bylaws by which it operates, and these should be written down, agreed to, and pledged to by every member of the group. Yes, these investigations can be fun, but they must also be taken seriously and handled professionally -- especially when the investigation is in someone's home.

Here are some guidelines -- 10 Commandments -- that every paranormal investigation group should consider and take to heart:

1. Thou Shalt Be Informed

Before you start an investigation, learn all you can about the location and the paranormal activity that has been reported there. Seek any books, magazine and newspaper articles that might have been written about the place. If possible, interview eyewitnesses to the activity. The more you know about a location, the better you'll be able to conduct your investigation. You'll know about specific areas to look into, the right questions to ask, and will be better able to understand any evidence uncovered.

2. Thou Shalt Be Prepared

Being informed is part of being prepared, but you should also be prepared physically and equipment-wise. Physically, be sure you are feeling well enough to endure whatever the investigation might demand: climbing stairs, creeping through damp basements, etc. If you have a bad cold, you don't want to spread it among your fellow members or your clients.

Make sure your equipment is ready: plenty of extra batteries, clean camera lens, plenty of memory cards for cameras and camcorders, tape for voice recorders and camcorders, note-taking supplies, flashlights, extension cords.... You should have a checklist of equipment and supplies. Check it and be sure you have everything you need and in good working order.

3. Thou Shalt Not Trespass

Just because you have a well-organized ghost-hunting group with cool T-shirts does not give you automatic permission to go into any abandoned building or even any cemetery after hours (most are closed after sunset) to do an investigation. Even though a building looks abandoned, the property is still owned by someone, and going into it without permission is illegal.

Always -- ALWAYS -- get permission to investigate a building. You can often get special permission to investigate a cemetery by contacting the owner, if it is privately owned, or from the city, town, or county if it is a public graveyard. 

4. Thou Shalt Be Respectful

A big part of your ghost-hunting group's reputation is based on how respectful it is -- to the property being investigated and to any clients that might be involved. A property owner or client is going to want to feel comfortable that your group is not going to be destructive in any way, that the possibility of theft is never an issue, and that you won't be noisy or rude.

Treat any client and witness with the utmost respect. Listen to their reports of experiences carefully and seriously. Every member of your group should be especially mindful of this when investigating a private residence.

Be respectful of your team members. Ghost-hunting groups -- like all such groups of people -- are fraught with infighting, personality conflicts, and differences of opinion. Without respect for one another, your group will fall apart.

Someone else who needs your respect is the investigatee -- the ghost or spirit that might be haunting a location. Some investigators take a confrontational approach, being rude and obnoxious when trying to elicit a response from a spirit. You've seen this kind of stuff on TV, and in my opinion it's done for whatever "entertainment value" they think it might have. Unfortunately, some ghost hunters copy what they see on TV, thinking it's the right thing to do. If spirits truly are people who have passed on, they deserve to be treated with the respect you'd give any living person.

5. Thou Shalt Not Venture Off On Your Own

We have heard the news reports of ghost investigators who have gone off on their own and gotten seriously injured -- even killed. When your ghost hunting team splits up to cover various areas of a location, they should always be in groups of two or more. Safety is a primary reason.

Also, the evidence collected by a person who goes off on his or her own might automatically be suspect. To help ensure the integrity of any evidence, it must be gathered in the presence of two or more people. Which leads us to...

6. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness

Or "Thou Shalt Not Fake Evidence." For those who don't know, bearing false witness means lying. And if you're going to falsify, exaggerate, or otherwise alter evidence, then why are you doing ghost investigation? These investigations are about trying to find thetruth about a possible haunting as best we can.

So falsifying or exaggerating a sighting, manufacturing EVP, Photoshopping pictures, and other evidence tampering and passing them off as genuine is a ghost hunting mortal sin. Why do people do it? For the attention, obviously. But it's counterproductive to the investigation, what the ghost hunting group is all about -- and just plain wrong.

7. Thou Shalt Be Skeptical

This can often be a difficult thing for ghost hunters because we want to find evidence. We want to record a Class A EVP, take an anomalous photo, make contact with the "other side", or otherwise have a paranormal experience. That's what drives us to conduct these investigations. But we must take caution and not be too eager. Be honest about that evidence: that EVP could be just the sound of noisy pipes in the background; those orbs probably are dust particles; that "apparition" in the video really is just a reflection on the glass door.

Be diligent in trying to debunk gathered evidence. Find plausible explanations; do not automatically jump to a paranormal explanation. Being skeptical will make any possibly genuine evidence all the more valuable.

8. Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Evidence

In other words, do not steal from other ghost-hunting groups. Many groups with websites have found that their evidence -- EVP, pictures, etc. -- has been "borrowed" by other groups without giving credit where it is due. Do not take evidence from other groups (from their websites or in any other way) without permission. And certainly do not claim it as your own.

9. Thou Shalt Know Thy Limits

It doesn't happen very often, but on occasion a ghost investigation can get rather intense. Phenomena might be taking place that you do not have the experience or skills to deal with. Know your limitations on what you are able to handle. You might have to call in or turn over the investigation to a more experienced investigator, particularly if there are physical attacks. Again, these are quite rare cases, but they can happen and you should have a plan for what to do.

10. Thou Shalt Be Professional at All Times

This last Commandment is one that overarches and includes all the others: Be professional. You want your ghost-hunting group to be respectful and respected, to be honest and forthright, to be ethical and have the highest degree of integrity. Without these things, your group is doomed to failure and will have contributed little if nothing to the search for truth in this field.

In many endeavors, the term "professional" means that you get paid to do what you do. Of course, that does not apply here. You should be professional in your conduct.

And this leads to a corollary or 11th Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Charge for Thy Investigations. No group should charge a client for an investigation. Period. Not one dime. In special circumstances, if your group is being asked by a client to travel a long distance to conduct an investigation, the client might offer to pay part of the transportation costs, but this should not be a requirement.

The author, Stephen Wagner, has been a paranormal researcher and investigator for over 30 years. He has written articles for numerous magazines, including FATE, and is the author of "Touched By a Miracle: True Stories of Ordinary People and Extraordinary Experiences". Please join Center for Paranormal Studies.

Ghost Tour: Experience a Different Kind of Tour

The idea of doing ghost tours began so many years ago when people all over the world became more and more interested in hearing ghost stories while doing an actual walk in a haunted place. In addition to that, the desire to hunt for ghosts and get an actual ghost experience became rampant everywhere.

Here in the Philippines, several travel agencies started to conduct their own haunted tours, especially during Halloween seasons. It is definitely a good idea to book with them because they have all the means to organize travel escapades; however, if you want a more meaningful night tour, I would suggest that you go with seasoned ghost hunters. There are some in the country who organize their own, like my team, Profilers of the Unknown.

First and foremost, ghost hunters like us who have been doing haunted tours for years are more experienced when it comes to going to haunted places. Take note too that we hold tours regularly and not only seasonal. To cut it short, we know what we are doing better than the rest and can handle the type of tension guests might feel during an actual visit to a haunted location. Moreover, those who want to get firsthand information about ghosts will get more interesting answers because these answers will come from people who have wider knowledge on the subject. You'll also get more information about what ghosts are and what they are not, the reasons why you shouldn't really fear them, to mention a few. 

Going to a night tour with real ghost hunters who know their responsibilities is beneficial to those who are doing a research as it is guaranteed educational. You can even experience an actual and direct guidance on ghost hunting if you want that experience; something that a regular ghost tour with travel agencies may not give you.

A ghost tour may be a different type of adventure; however, its intention is not to scare people but rather help them get more understanding of the unknown while having fun and enjoying the activity. On the other hand, if you are pregnant, having a weak heart or not really into this type of adventure, it will be best to set aside the idea of going until such time comes when you're pretty sure that you're ready to go. 

Your safety, however, is of utmost importance. An authentic ghost tour will make sure that you will get the enjoyment you deserve while keeping you safe and sound.

With Profilers of the Unknown, you can book for ghost tours all year round, day or night. You do not have to wait for another Halloween. You can visit the most haunted places in the Philippines with us any time of the year.

The author, Jade Martin, is the founder and creator of Center for Paranormal Studies, Profilers of the Unknown and Intramuros Ghost Walk. She is also a Businesswoman, Life and Business Coach, Author, Singer and Songwriter, Ghost Tour Operator, Paranormal Investigator and Consultant, Energy Healer, Hypnotherapist, Past Life Regression Therapist, Numerologist and Tarot Reader. Please join Center for Paranormal Studies.