Paraskevi 13 - A Very Unique Paranormal Event

Paraskeví 13

- by Amy Lassiter

Paranormal.

Controversy. Wonder. Good. Evil. Unexplainable.

Paranormal.

It’s just one word. But it is one word that certainly evokes a wide range of reactions and opinions. There are skeptics and there are believers, and even then, the believers and mediums use varying methods and have had different experiences.

Demonology. Ghost hunting. Investigations. Instrumental Transcommunication.

In its broadest sense, paranormal is a general term that designates experiences which lie outside the range of the norm or of scientific explanation. If you have ever witnessed or taken part in such an activity or are simply curious and want to learn more, you will not want to miss Paraskeví 13 on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14. This two day paranormal event, held at the historic Friday Morning Musicale, is focused on Investigating the Paranormal and includes workshop sessions, guest speakers and visits to three historic Tampa locations.

Here’s a sneak peak at the guest speakers as well as an introduction to their paranormal specialties.

Father David Price
Father Price is both the Assistant Pastor for Saint Christopher Old Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky and a professional Paranormal Investigator. In addition to his day-to-day ministration requirements, he practices demonology, assists in exorcisms, performs home blessings, and is one of the founders of the Paranormal Clergy Institute. The mission of the Institute is to help home owners and paranormal groups directly involved with demonic infestation cases or who have questions regarding demonic infestation.
Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and taught that there was no afterlife, Father Price converted to Catholicism at the age of 16 and was ordained as a Catholic Priest in 2007. The Old Catholic Church branched off from the Roman Catholic Church in the late 1800s over the declaration of papal infallibility in Vatican I. They believe that the pope is not infallible, meaning without error; therefore he is viewed as the Bishop of Rome but not as the head of the Church. Although the beliefs of the Old Catholic Church fall somewhere between liberalism and conservatism, the Roman Catholic Church does view it’s sacraments as valid. When Father Price converted to Catholicism, he began to volunteer at the Waverly Hills Sanatorium, considered one of the most haunted locations in the world. His investigations here accelerated his interest in the paranormal, and demonology in particular, “something I was drawn to all along and know I was called to do.” The Institute defines a demonologist as one who ‘has accepted his/her calling to devote their lives to the study of demonology and may be appointed by Church leadership to investigate demonic cases.’
Father Price and the Paranormal Institute receive anywhere from 2 to 15 requests a day for help in identifying or expelling a demon from individuals, homes or businesses. Because of funding, the Institute cannot always make the trip to help those that are suffering, so they focus on education: what a demon is or is not, what signs may indicate that a demon has targeted an individual or home, an explanation of the three stages (infestation, oppression and possession), and how to stay strong and take control of the problem. Ninety percent of the cases they see involve the oppression stage which is when the demonic problem becomes personal and interacts with the victim, sometimes taking over the person’s thoughts for a time and beginning to cut him off from society.
According to Father Price, demonic cases can be resolved in days, weeks, or through a lifetime of counseling and prayer. He explained that there are two forms of exorcisms, Minor Right and Solemn Ritual and that he can perform the Minor Rite of Exorcism on a place, but not a person. If someone is allegedly possessed and the investigation, physical report and psychological evaluation confirm it, then the Bishop gets involved. Without spiritual help, the end result of all possessed people is suicide, which unfortunately is the ultimate goal of the demon.
For more information on Father Price, visit http://www.paranormalclergy.com/ or http://www.usocc.org/.

Troy Taylor
When Troy Taylor was young, he was fascinated by unsolved mysteries and the unknown. “I grew up around some gruesome things and spent endless hours dragging my friends around the town, making them listen to my stories, most of which were made up!” Today, however, Troy no longer deals with his own imagination. He is the author of 84 books on ghosts, haunting, the paranormal, history, crime, and the unexplained, and is the founder of the American Ghost Society and the owner of the Illinois and American Hauntings Tour companies.
Raised on the prairies of Illinois, Troy developed an interest in "things that go bump in the night" and as a young man, moved on to ghost tours and writing about haunts in Chicago and Central Illinois. His entire day to day life is now devoted to the paranormal, ghosts and haunting and he believes that “ghosts are part of everyone’s story, whether you want it to be or not.” He is fascinated by crime scenes and unsolved mysteries as both “almost always spawn ghost stories.” For example, he recently learned of a woman who owned a grocery store in the 1960s who was killed with her own meat grinder. While the reaction of most others is “gross,” Troy can’t help be but be fascinated and compelled to learn more.
Troy began his first book in 1989, which delved into the history and hauntings of Decatur, Illinois and has been researching and writing ever since. In 1996, he organized a group of ghost enthusiasts into an investigation team and the American Ghost Society was launched. It gained more than 600 members in the years that followed and continues today as one of America’s largest and most honored research groups. If that isn’t enough, Troy is also the founder of Whitechapel Press and Dark Haven Entertainment and is the principal owner of the haunted Avon Theater in Decatur. Avon Theater is also one of the only places that Troy has seen a ghost, despite his more than 25 years of experience in this field. “I was in my office, getting some work done, and there he was, a guy – a ghost – just sitting down next to me.”
Troy’s most recent book, The Ghost Hunter's Guidebook:The Common Sense Guide to Paranormal Research reveals what it really takes to be a credible paranormal researcher; offers detailed methods for investigating homes, buildings and graveyards; and includes guides for collecting evidence and photographs. For more information on Troy Taylor, visit http://www.prairieghosts.com/


April Slaughter
April Slaughter began her journey into the unknown at the age of eight when her family moved into a home which was haunted. For twelve years April felt this presence and came to believe it would be best to educate herself on what might be happening. She began to study various phenomena, collecting books, doing research and spending much time in cemeteries and at the age of 21, she decided to pursue a full-time career in the paranormal field. Chris and Nancy Peterson of the Utah Ghost Hunters Society became her mentors and “took me under their wing.”
When April submitted an article to TAPS Paramagazine about a haunted hospital, she was asked to continue writing for the publication and had the opportunity to travel to various events, visit some of the most famous haunts in the country, and interact with others in the field. Although she gained a vast amount of knowledge, April grew tired of “hamster wheel ghost hunting, collecting evidence but not going beyond that. I wanted to learn from the people beyond and became interested in Instrumental Transcommunication (ITC), in other words, speaking to the dead.”
One vehicle for doing so is called Frank’s Box, “basically a hand-made, modified radio which constantly scans AM/FM and low band frequencies. The theory is that spirits can piece together voices through the frequencies and then send messages back.” When April first asked creator Frank Sumption for a box, he said no. After another year of ITC research, she approached him again and this time, received a favorable response. “Frank builds the boxes for people not when they ask him to, but when a box tells him to. Each is one of a kind and put together with various parts and thrift store finds. I have box numbers 37, 38 and 73 and after success with all three, others now send their boxes to me to work with.”
While she’s had incredible experience and success with Frank’s Box, April’s most impressive experience came from a device that does not use radio, but is based on a tool that electricians put up against a wall to find hotspots. There are only four of these out there and the device is beginning to work consistently for her. “The world is all about communication and I am communicating with something that I can’t see. When people die, they still check in and love us.”
At Paraskeví 13, you will see both devices and hear excerpts from April’s conversations with those beyond. “When I speak to the public, I bring emotion and my own experiences into it, showing that something positive and amazing can happen, but not indicating it as proof. This is what I believe, and if you don’t it is ok. This is just how I connect to the other side. We have a lot to learn from those beyond; they know I am listening, so they communicate with me.”
April is also the co-founder of www.paranormalsource.com and the author of Ghosthunting Texas, working on 3 additional. Visit http://www.aprilslaughter.com/ for more information.

Maureen Patrick
Maureen Patrick
Maureen Patrick is a 3rd generation Floridian and a Tampa native who holds an advanced degree in Cultural History and is a graveyard specialist. About 20 years ago, she became interested in the 19th Century Rural Cemetery phenomenon, “which is what happened when Americans let go of the baggage their Puritan ancestors saddled them with, which included a fire and brimstone view of the afterlife. The most common epitaph in the 18th century was ‘Stranger, pause and look at me; as I am now so you will be.’ To put that on a grave marker was a constant reminder that life is short and hard and the afterlife isn’t going to be much better.”In the mid-1800s, the view of death and everything connected with it began to change. Formal landscaped graveyards were featured as a part of urban planning.”The afterlife was viewed in the 19th century as a garden and cemetery design was intended to mirror that: to make people feel like they would enter that garden and be reunited with loved ones there. “People love old cemeteries for different reasons – the aesthetics, the design for comforting people, the historical stories connected with them. The dead live again through their epitaphs and grave art, and through the stories that their survivors inherit. Oaklawn Cemetery (founded 1850) in Downtown Tampa presents this all in quite a nice little package.”In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, Maureen also hosts ghost tours. “I am a classic example of no one being stronger in their belief then a convert. I can’t say I ever disbelieved; I think we often brush shoulders with the paranormal and just may not always be paying attention.” Maureen started out doing history tours in Ybor City and in 2002 began researching ghost walks. “When I started I had a thesis which was that if an area was haunted, it had to have certain things in common: original buildings that were still standing and in use, and a history of the unusual, the violent, or the bizarre. It’s important that the buildings remain ‘inhabited.’ There is something about the proximity to humans that keeps spirits active.”Learn more from Maureen about Oaklawn Cemetery and participate in one of her ghost walks. For more information about Maureen and her ghost walks: http://www.historicguides.com/ Learn more from Maureen about Oaklawn Cemetery and participate in one of her ghost walks during Paraskeví 13. Visit http://www.historicguides.com/, http://www.tampahistoricalsociety.org/, or http://www.theaterprep.com/ for additional information.

Everyone attending Paraskeví 13 will find something to be excited about! SPACE IS LIMITED. Advance Tickets are $75 Per Person for all events/ $100 Per Person After January 1. To purchase tickets, visit http://paraskevi13-2012.eventbrite.com/.

Your are Invited to Paraskeví 13

This is your invitation to a unique Two Days at Paraskevi 13

Our Space is VERY limited, so sign up early ! (Might Make a Very Unique Holiday Gift as Well)

Friday, January 13, 2012 - 7 PM - 10 PM at the historic Friday Morning Musicale in Tampa - Investigating the Paranormal - Please arrive early for this event.
10 PM - ? Social meeting

Saturday, January 14, 2012 - Locations to be announced
10 - 11: 30 AM - Workshop Session 1
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN
1 - 2:30 - Workshop Session 2
3- 4:30 - Workshop Session 3

DINNER ON YOUR OWN

8 PM - Workshop Session 4 aboard the American Victory Ship
.

WORKSHOP SESSIONS will give you the opportunity to break into smaller groups lead by our speakers. Sessions to include:

• Spiritual influences in Paranormal Investigations, including Exorcisms



• Investigating Haunted Locations with Crime History
  


• UFO Investigations



• Visits to Three Historic Tampa Locations including the Oaklawn Cemetery

Participating speakers and investigators:

Troy Taylor, Author of 84 books on ghosts, the paranormal, history, and crime. Founder of the American Ghost Society. From Illinois.



April Slaughter, Author, paranormal investigator, and one of only two owners of the controversial Frank's Box. She also served as a contributing writer and manager with Taps ParaMagazine. She and her husband founded The Paranormal Source. April is from Dallas, TX.

Father David Price, Assistant Pastor for Saint Christopher Old Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky . Fr. David also performs home blessings and assists the Archbishop Long in exorcisms. Father Price is from Louisville, KY.

Maureen Patrick, President,Tampa Historical Society and Historic Guides. Maureen conducts tours in Ybor City and other historic locations.

Bill Sharpe, Tampa Ghost Watchers.

Other Speakers to be announced.

SPACE IS LIMITED.

$100 Per Person



Buy Tickets Here

Investigations and meetings

When will the meetings start up again? Are there any more private investigations?

Investigations Announced

Two nights at the historic
Island Hotel in Cedar Key
on Friday, August 19 - Sunday, August 21. Get more info here

Regular Meeting

Sunday, Feb 21
7 PM

No Cost to attend - this meeting is open to members and non-members.

Location: Office of the Tampa Marketing Company, 1906 N. Armenia Ave. #306, Tampa.
(813) 283-0760

Agenda:
Upcoming Events
Project Assignment

If you have an interest in investigations, history, or anything paranormal, plan to attend and meet some of Tampas real time local ghost hunters.

Dear Members

Recently I received an email questioning me about the costs of our events. Let me crystal clearly explain things to you.

We do not charge when we have home investigations in almost all cases.
With over 200 members, we can't exactly march 200 members through someones home.

We try to provide you with the best events possible - as planned.

St. AuGHOSTine we brought some of the best speakers and investigators from around the country. Paying for their costs and airfare. Speakers came from San Francisco, Colorado, Kentucky, Savannah, Gettysburg, New York and more. Get a grip, do you really think these quality speakers just go everywhere at enormous expense to themselves just to provide you with some program that you may or may not show up for ? Do you think these facilities will provide free space just because we are nice people ? Get real.

The Day of the Dead will include dinner and a hall rental. How do I make that happen free ?

The cost for Cassadaga will go to the home owner at their request and for a fee to the psychic conducting the séance. If you have ever been to Cassadaga, you would know that every psychic there expects to be paid.

As to the Myrtles, it includes a hotel room, additional staff to be on hand all night, and a required one million dollar liability policy . When I commit our group to that, I have to commit to paying for ALL of the rooms at the Plantation and those extra costs. In New Orleans, I also have to make major commitments. I will be expending over $5,000 in deposits alone in the next 40 days for a trip and investigation not to be held until late May.

The event next Saturday at the Hillsborough River State Park requires a $6 per car entrance fee to the State of Florida, the cost of the Fort event is $5 per person that goes to the park service and to the over 6 reenactors and additional park ranger that are staying late just so our group can have a special visit to Fort Foster.

If you cannot afford to attend an event, I understand. I can't afford to dine at Bern's either - so I don't go. But that sure doesn't mean that others can't or shouldn't or that Bern's doesn't serve a fine meal - because they sure do.

In St. AuGHOSTine we had the opportunity to experience the Telephone to the Dead belonging to Chris Moon, Publisher of Haunted Times magazine. While I am still unsure of what I thought about it, I can tell you, that I considered this to be one of the most amazing experiences I have had since doing investigations. We covered the cost to bring Chris from Colorado. It was well worth it. Father David Price of the Old Catholic Church actually spoke of about demonic positions and exorcisms - from experience. Mark Nesbitt is continually on televison shows talking about Gettysburg and Fredericksburg ghosts - he spoke at our event on investigating battlefield ghosts. Murray Silver shared a near death experience. Gloria Young shared her experiences investigating in San Francisco including Alcatraz. Stacey Jones from New York brought her expeiences as a cop. Ericka Boussaharne shared stories as a cold case psychic that many in attendance remembered. Dusty Smith provided local guidework as probably the most knowledgeable person on St. Augustine Cemeteries. All of these speakers are of national acclaim. Google their names with paranormal or ghost after it and find out. Have you bothered to spend anytime doing that so you might be a little knowledgeable ?

If you want to continually stomp into supposedly haunted homes with teams
that are disorganized and that think they know everything because they stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night, then so be it.

Tampa Ghost Watchers has earned a national reputation for well organized events with knowledgeable speakers, quality planning and execution. When I commit to a location or event, I am the one on the hook. Your only commitment is to select to attend or not.

We have about 10 people at the Hillsborough River State Park - guides and costumed reenactors - that have planned part of their day next week for our group members. Is it too much to ask for you to tell me if you plan to attend or not ? And to pay the cost to enter a state park and pay the fee that the general public pays ? I think not.

I spend hours doing research, making phone calls, and sticking my financial neck out so that you have the opportunity to expand your knowledge or to have an experience. Have you researched any of our speakers or locations ? When you have been on an investigation with us, have you responded with an email as to your findings or experiences ?

I apologize for my lengthy dialogue, but I felt I needed to speak up. I am very proud of our past accomplishments and efforts - the coming years will only get better but only if you open your minds and spirits and participate when you can.

St. AuGHOSTine Wrap Up !

Thank you for everyone for all of your help and assistance over the weekend.

Special thanks to our speakers and guides: Erick Boussarhane, Murray Silver, Chris Moon, Dusty Smith, Stacey Jones, Mark Nesbitt, Father David Price, and Gloria Young. What a tremendous amount of experience and ideas were shared ! Thanks Dusty for a special event on Thursday evening.

Thank you to Steve Williams, Kevin Hull, Frank Perrick, and Claire Castillo for the guiding assistance to the group. Thanks to L&W Catering, the St. Augustine Boating Club, the Holiday Inn- Historic District, and to Meredith, Pam, and Sara at the St. Augustine Light House.

As always, we want to hear your comments and about your experiences. Please click on the comment box below this post.