GHOSTVILLAGE.COM NEWSLETTER #83 - July 15, 2008

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UNIV-CON SEVEN - September 11-14, 2008, College Park, Pennsylvania
UNIV-CON SEVEN wants to represent the field of the paranormal community in a way that is more personal. Each guest and attendee will experience and learn from UNIV-CON differently from the other. We invite you to take a journey through the unknown and experience the paranormal field in a new perspective. http://www.univcon.org


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View this newsletter online at: http://www.ghostvillage.com/newsletters/Jul15_08.htm
Dear Ghostvillagers,

H-E-L-L-O, W-E-L-C-O-M-E T-O T-H-E J-U-L-Y N-E-W-S-L-E-T-T-E-R. Which is exactly how these communiqués will look one day after I pass on and need to send these newsletters to you you via a Talking Board, better known by the brand name, Ouija Board. In the paranormal community, there are few subjects as polarizing as the Talking Board. To some, it's just a child's game you can buy at your local toy store; to others it's a valid spirit communication device; and many more believe it's a dangerous portal that offers something from the other side a direct path into you.

I credit the Ouija Board with getting me interested in the paranormal in the first place. I was ten years old and living in Newtown, Connecticut. One of my friends lived in a 250-year-old house and we would bring the Ouija Board along on our sleep-overs. Ever the skeptic, we attempted blindfolding the users to see if the board would still work, we tried using it solo, and with everyone resting a finger. The Planchette glided across the board, messages were spelled out, and we were gripped with what we believed to be genuine spirit communication.

As I got older and more integrated into the paranormal community I listened to the cries of those who claimed these devices built of cardboard, paper, and plastic were inherently evil. I understood the arguments that Judeo-Christian clergy made quoting Deuteronomy which claims it's an abomination to adopt the ways of people from other lands. Or to put it a bit softer as one Rabbi friend of mine said, "We have our own ways of spirit communication. Ways within our religion. Those are acceptable. There's no need to go elsewhere."

Belief plays such a huge part of any spirit communication. You need to believe that your questions and messages are being heard, and you need to believe that the response you're getting is coming from the other side. I've often bristled at people who suggest Ouija Boards are dangerous, but dowsing, EVP, or automatic writing is perfectly safe. I don't personally understand the difference besides the medium being used. Talking Boards are a fascinating subject with a rich history in both popular culture and the occult. This month we're going to share our experiences, offer the pros and cons, and explore the subject a little deeper.

This month on Ghostvillage.com, we also have a new research project going on. Dr. Barry E. Taff, Jack Rourke, Pat Wheelock, and Dr. Andrew Nichols have put together a survey regarding paranormal experiences. Ghostvillage.com is proud to host this survey and help collect this important data. I'm hoping you'll take a few minutes to fill out the online questionnaire and help with this project. http://www.ghostvillage.com/psisurvey/survey.php

Watch for some exciting new developments in the coming month. Our editorial staff is growing, which means you will be seeing even more great content coming online very soon. Each section of Ghostvillage.com is going to delve a little deeper than it has before. As always, you're invited to contribute! Enjoy the rest of the newsletter below.

Supernaturally yours,

Jeff Belanger
Mayor of Ghostvillage.com

MySpace: www.myspace.com/ghostvillager


Monthly Contest
Congratulations to Dawn Larsen of Palatine, Illinois, who was last month's winner of an autographed copy of Jeff Belanger's book, The Ghost Files, a Ghostvillage.com window sticker, and a Ghostvillage.com t-shirt!

This month, we're doing the contest again, but we ask that you first click this link: http://www.ghostvillage.com/index.shtml#winner. If it says, "The search is on" then we don't have a winner yet and go ahead and send in your answer. If you see today's date and "We have a winner!" that means you weren't the first to email us. Sorry, please try again next month.

On to this month's question: This question can be answered by reading a page on Ghostvillage.com. The first person to reply to this email with the correct answer will win this month's prize.

In what building did Doug Kruger find the old graffiti that read "Three and Thrice, Three Cheers for Abraham Lincoln"?

Once we have our winner, we will announce them on our home page as soon as possible. Good luck! (Only Ghostvillagers who have not won a prize from us in the last year are eligible.)

This month's prize: We're giving away an autographed copy of Jeff Belanger's book, Our Haunted Lives: True Life Ghost Encounters, a Ghostvillage.com window sticker, and a Ghostvillage.com t-shirt!


Didn't win? Want to buy a copy? Click on the graphic.



Supernatural Calendar
The Supernatural Calendar is the place where thousands will learn about your events of interest to the supernatural world. The service is only available to registered members of the message boards, and it's free! Ghostvillage.com now syndicates our calendar of events so other Web sites can also display these supernatural happenings at no charge! To learn more about installing our calendar of events RSS feed, please visit our syndication page. Adding your own local events to our calendar is more important than ever!

July 23: Jeff Belanger - Beaman Library - West Boylston, MA
July 25: Jeff Belanger on Psychic Radio Detroit, Michigan
August 4: Jeff Belanger on WKAZ in Charleston, WV
August 7: Haunted Lighthouses Tour with Medium David Wells
August 23: Beyond Reality Event: The Mt. Washington Hotel, NH - Jeff Belanger will be speaking at this event
August 29: 2008 West Virginia Ghost and Paranormal Conference
September 9: Jeff Belanger on Asylumcam Radio
September 11: UNIV-CON SEVEN - College Park, Pennsylvania
September 12: The ScareFest


Who's Who in the Village?
Get to know some of your fellow Ghostvillagers.

>>moses_the_boxer<< - member since October 21, 2006

What is your name?
Yvonne Patch

How old are you?
48

Where do you live?
Rockford, Ohio

What do you do for a living?
I am a private duty aide/take care of the elderly so they can live at home.

What got you interested in the paranormal?
I really don't remember -- but it was when I was a little girl. I have always loved it and believe that some day I will see spirits. I have always heard spirits, and it seems like at least since age 18, I have lived in at least three homes that there was a spirit, but good spirits.

Have you ever used a talking/Ouija Board? Do you think they're dangerous?
I do remember when I was about 9 or 10, I found my sister's. I don't remember if I used it. I vaguely remember using it, but not sure. Yes, I do believe they are dangerous.

What's in your CD player right now?
Nothing. There was yesterday, but not today.

Last Month's Theme - Featured Content
Our last month's theme was Dowsing. Here's what you missed if you haven't checked in since last month:

Features Archive: Ley Lines, Old Straight Tracks, and Earth Energies from the Features Archives
Communicating With the Dead: Dowsing - Communicating With the Dead


Shopping at Ghostvillage.com
Have you checked out our Ghost-Mart and Ghostvillage U.?

Ghostvillage U.: "Professor Paranormal" Loyd Auerbach and the HCH Institute's Distance Learning Certificate Course on Parapsychological Studies is now available through Ghostvillage.com. Ready to take paranormal investigation to the next level? Check out the online courses.

Ghost-Mart:
Digital Voice Recorders: Going for EVP? Think DVR.
Paranormal Books: Ghost-Mart has many of the leading paranormal titles.
EMF Meters: Check out our line of EMF meters from cell sensors to tri-field.
Closed Circuit TV: From inexpensive to the high end, we have them all.


Supernatural Library
Ghostvillage.com's book reviewer, Lee Prosser and the staff have brought you several new book reviews and author interviews since our last newsletter.

This past month's Library additions:

Twist Your Fate: 7 Steps to Fortune by Geof Gray-Cobb
Western Herbs According to Traditional Chinese Medicine by Thomas Avery Garran
A Conversation with Judith Hawkins-Tillirson [AUTHOR INTERVIEW]
Between the Gates by Mark Stavish


Ghostvillage.com Advertising Opportunities
Each month Ghostvillage.com reaches tens of thousands of people interested in the paranormal. We offer the most effective and best-valued advertising and sponsorship packages of any paranormal media outlet. Please visit: http://www.ghostvillage.com/advertising.htm for details.

If you're ready to put Ghostvillage.com to work for your company or organization, send us an email to get started.

Recent Encounters
We receive personal encounters from all over the world. Many are scary, some are touching, but they are always profound. If you would like to share your own experience, please click >>here<<. Since our last newsletter, we added the following new encounters:

Shadow Person Passing By - Medford, Massachusetts
Haunted Chair? - Gainesville, Florida
The Shadow - Pluckley, Kent, England
Various Encounters - Anoka, Minnesota
The Scarecrow and Mr. Lincoln - New Bern, North Carolina
The Boy in the Mirror - Los Angeles, California
Red Flashes on Video - Milton, Florida [VID]
Dad's Home Early - Pontiac, Michigan
Old Man in a Flannel Shirt - Millbrook, Alabama
The Old Lady With a Lantern - Tampa, Florida


News
This is the place to find press releases and news items on paranormal happenings around the world. If you have a news item you'd like to submit, please see our guidelines.

WANT THESE HEADLINES ON YOUR SITE FOR FREE? Syndicate our news! If you have a Web site or blog, you can syndicate our news feeds to your site for free. Join the growing list of Web sites who carry our news by visiting our syndication page.

3rd Annual Paranormal Meet and Greet in Indiana
Casting Call: Haunted House Residents and Paranormal Groups Across the US
Haunted Lighthouses Tour to Feature Medium David Wells
Casting Call: The After-School Paranormal Club
Did Ghosts Crash Wedding at Middleboro Town Hall? - Enterprise News - Brockton, MA - June 24, 2008 [EXTERNAL NEWS]
Communicating With the Paranormal in Petawawa
Pembroke Daily Observer - Ontario, Canada - June 21, 2008
[EXTERNAL NEWS]


Features
Our "Features" section is a place for editorials, research articles, open letters to our readers, and other content of interest to Ghostvillagers. If you have a topic on your mind, agree or disagree with something you read recently, we want to hear from you! For guidelines, click here.

New features added since our last newsletter:

Economic Collapse and Depression in the United States - by Lee Prosser - July 14, 2008 [COLUMN]
The Portsmouth Lighthouse - Ghost Chronicles - July 9, 2008 [PODCAST]
Legends Set in Stone by Beth Brown - July 3, 2008
Investigating the Pukwudgies - Ghost Chronicles - June 25, 2008 [PODCAST]
Sensitive - by Lee Prosser - June 20, 2008 [COLUMN]


Jeff Belanger's Upcoming Events
This is the place to find out where author and Ghostvillage.com founder Jeff Belanger will be speaking on the subject of the supernatural. If you're interested in booking Jeff for a conference or other event, please email us for more information.

Events Scheduled:

A Weird (Massachusetts) Evening with Jeff Belanger at the Beaman Memorial Public Library - West Boylston, Massachusetts - 6:30 PM - July 23, 2008
Beyond Reality Events: The Mount Washington Hotel Conference - Bretton Woods, New Hampshire - August 23-26, 2008
A Weird (Massachusetts) Evening with Jeff Belanger at the Pollard Memorial Library - Lowell, Massachusetts - 7:00 PM - October 16, 2008
A Haunted Evening with Jeff Belanger at the Bancroft Memorial Library - Hopedale, Massachusetts - 7:00 PM - September 17, 2008
MASS Monster Mash - Watertown, Massachusetts - October 18, 2008
A Supernatural Evening with Jeff Belanger at the Tewksbury Public Library - Tewksbury, Massachusetts - 6:30 PM - October 27, 2008
Stanley Hotel Paranormal Retreat - Estes Park, Colorado - November 9-12, 2008
Queen Mary Conference - Long Beach, California - December 7-10, 2008


Hot Threads and the Ghostvillage.com Community
In the past month, hundreds of new people registered for free to join our supernatural discussion! Have you?

If you have registered for our message boards but haven't validated your account yet, it's simple to do! Look for the email that was automatically sent to you when you registered and click on the account activation link in the email (note: some bulkmail filters may block this email, so you'll need to check your bulkmail folder if the validation email didn't immediately come through). There are always great discussions going on in our huge message board community. We hope you'll get involved. It's free to register if you're not already a member. Here are some of the hot topics this month:

Why Would a Cemetery Be Haunted?
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=24302
What are your thoughts?

Spirit Communication
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=23445
Can ghosts answer the phone?

Urban Legends, Myths, and Folklore
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=23365
Uncovering stone circle's secrets - the Ring of Brodgar

Haunted Places
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=22768
Thornton-Riversale Road, Colorado

Terrifying Unexplained Experiences
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=24394
New house, startling occurence.

Psychic Kids - New TV show
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=24138
A show about children who have psychic abilities. Thoughts?

Spiritual Connection
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=24331
Do we share a psychic connection?


Board of the Month -- Talking Boards
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showforum=27
Talking boards, aka Ouija Boards -- just a game? Dangerous? Your thoughts?


Ghostvillage.com Quick Stats:
265,839 Messages in the Town Square Message Boards
21,586 Members in the Town Square
780 "Personal Encounters" published on Ghostvillage.com
1,033 Paranormal Web sites in the Ghost Links directory
26,433 Subscribers to this newsletter
7,554,241 Total Web site "hits" for Ghostvillage.com in June


Support Ghostvillage.com
Ghostvillage.com is the Web's largest supernatural community, the central place where people come to share their experiences, thoughts, and research. Please help us continue to grow by buying a copy of The World's Most Haunted Places, Communicating With the Dead, The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places, The Nightmare Encyclopedia, Our Haunted Lives, Ghosts of War, The Ghost Files, Weird Massachusetts, or shopping in Ghost-Mart. Every little bit helps run our servers and helps the site get bigger and better! Please also click on our banner ads and support our advertisers -- when you do business with someone who advertises with Ghostvillage.com, let them know you saw their ad with us and thank them for the support.

Please email us anytime at info@ghostvillage.com. Your comments, questions, and feedback are always welcomed.


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