Dear Reader, Welcome to the first issue of The Paranormal Papers, a magazine dedicated to giving our readers the very best in the supernatural, mysterious or unexplained in Scotland and beyond! Scotland is an ancient land and is highly regarded as one of the most supernatural places in the world. In this issue we will discover some of the country’s diverse wealth of mythological beasts and legends that have been reported to dwell in its highlands and islands. Another Scottish beast we will look at look at is the infamous Loch Ness Monster, who is said to swim below the murky waves of the UK’s largest lake and the story behind the man who has dedicated the last 25 years of his life to try and find it. The Paranormal Papers offers its own version of ‘travel writing’ in which we will ask you to take a trip with us to Scotland’s own fairground of terror, Loudon Castle - a long since abandoned theme park set to the backdrop of an actual medieval fortress. Obviously no supernatural trip in Scotland would be complete without a visit to its capital Edinburgh, believed to be one of the most haunted cities in Europe. Our feature will offer insight to some of its paranormal hotspots, from the plague invested streets of Mary King’s Close to the Castle believed to host the spirits of long forgotten soldiers that dwelled with-in its walls. Other pieces within this issue will look at things like the phenomenon of the Northern Lights and how many different cultures including the people of Shetland interpret them, we will also have an interview with Innes Smith, a stand up comic, artist and ghost investigator. Looking beyond Scotland we also will be exploring what happens to people who have come back from the brink of death and have claimed to have ‘seen the light’. Is there real-ly life after death or is there actually a much more scientific answer? The only way to know is to keep reading. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we here at The Paranormal Papers enjoyed writ-ing and designing it. Throughout our time creating this issue we came across a wide vari-ety of people dedicated as much as we are to the supernatural, the mysterious or the unexplained and I hope you enjoy hearing their stories. But most of all, our mission is clear: whether it be ancient myths or the latest theories in paranormal research, we want our readers need to be spooked and thrilled, to be fulfilled! Readers beware, you’re in for a scare!
Martin Cunningham Editor
FEARSOME BEASTIES By CAMERON MCINNES The Scottish supernatural scene is dominated by one beast; Nessie. The mythical sea creature has left an indelible mark on Scottish culture, and has created an entire economy around its existence. But the world of Scottish cryptids (that is, any creature with a dubious existence – think Bigfoot or unicorns) is a wild and varied one. As a member of the Edinburgh Fortean Society, a group which specialises in the paranormal, Allan Perron has dedicated a number of years to hunting and documenting these elusive beasts. So, just what are some of Scotland’s more fantastic (and unknown) inhabitants? “You’ve got recent ones like the Hebrides blob, which was essentially a mess of a carcass that washed-up and was kind of given a cryptid status - but I don’t think it’s really anything more than a whale carcass that’s been through the ringer before being brought ashore by the waves. “On whales though, there’s a Giglioli’s Whale, which has been spotted in France,
Corisca and here in Scotland. It’s got two dorsal fins and there’s a number of explanations. I reckon it’s quite likely that it’s nothing more than a mutant, that is another, normal variety of whale and she’s been born malformed, or at least formed with something extra.” The United Kingdom has always played host to some remarkable creatures, from London’s Spring-Heeled Jack to the giants of Ireland. So what makes Scotland’s creatures stand out? “You’ll probably find that Scotland’s cryptids tend to be associated quite often with the water, which isn’t surprising since we are surround by the stuff, off the coast and inland with all of the lochs. “There’s also a great history of Celtic beasts and creatures, which again makes sense given the history of the country. I think that particular aspect gives the cryptids of Scotland a unique flavour.” So where exactly in Scotland can a potential monster hunter hope to discover something
most eerie? According to Allan, there’s one place in particular to watch out for; “Aside from Loch Ness and a lot of washedup carcasses on our shores, the Big Grey Man is spotted a lot in Ben Macdui. You can think of him as our Bigfoot. Sightings go back to the 1940’s and while I’m not aware of any recent activity, but aside from it being a beautiful place, it’s got that eerie feeling you can only get when you realise people have been having encounters with this thing up there.” The search for cryptids in Scotland is a field with a rich history. Most people will be familiar with the stories of the Loch Ness Monster, which the infamous surgeon’s
photo of the beast dating back to 1934. But according to Alan, the hunt for the paranormal raches much further back into history. “The 1800’s have a good few accounts, including the Stronsay beast, which is another carcass with unidentifiable characteristics that washed ashore. “But then we can go back to the first and second centuries to see evidence of the Pictish beast, that some folk think could have been anything from a dolphin to even Nessie herself. The Pictish beast has been found in carvings and jewellery from that time, so we’ve got a very long history of cryptids here.”
It’s clear that cryptid hunting is a field with a rich history, but what of more modern efforts? While Nessie has built a small army of dedicated hunters, but what of the less famous. As Alan says, it’s less paying profession and more a job for the dedicated hobbyists. “Well, as you can imagine, hunting for cryptids all comes down to time. I’ve had a keen interest in Loch Ness and Ben Macdui, but like everyone out there, you have to make a living. Sitting on the shores of a Loch or walking the passes of Ben Macdui can give me a particular sense of excitement, but it isn’t paying any bills. I know of one guy on Loch Ness who makes kind of a living out of it, carvying keyrings and such.
“But really it comes down to time and money. So searches aren’t extensive to my knowledge and I’m sorry to say, fall under the category of hobby, if we are brutally honest. It would be good to devote a lot of time and to practice a more scientific method, but it’s just not realistic for the people who are currently doing it.” So while it’s unclear if the likes of Alan will ever make a fortune on the backs of Scotland’s hidden monsters, one thing is clear. It’s a rich field, and as long as people like Alan continue to believe, it’s one due for an enchanted future.
The Life of a Monster Hunter By Martin Cunningham What is the Loch Ness monster? A dinosaur that survived the ice age and wipe-out of its fellow prehistoric counterparts? Possibly. Is it perhaps not 8a monster at all and rather a Greenland Shark that has swum up the River Ness and settled in the vast and sprawling lake? More likely. Or it is just as one researcher once claimed, a giant duck? Doubtful. The answer is nobody really knows. There have been numerous ‘Nessie Hunts’ over the years, from scientists and fanatics alike, all taken by the legend of a monster lurking be-neath the waves of the UK’s largest lake. Time after time however, Nessie has escaped undetected. Sightings of the monster date back as early as the 6th Century when the abbot
Adomnan recounted the tale of Saint Columba who was said to have saved one of his followers from an unknown ‘water beast’ in the River Ness, one of the main flows of water leading into the highland loch. Many who believe in the monster point to this story, which takes place in the river rather than the loch itself as proof of Nessie’s existence. However non-believers point out that fictional tales involving water monsters were extremely common in medieval times and that Adomnan was simply recycling old stories to fit the location. Most notably, the sighting of Nessie by George Spicer and his wife in 1933 sparked the modern fascination with the monster. Spicer claimed that a creature about 25 feet
tall, with a long neck had stepped in front of his car and made its way towards the water while driving along the loch. Sightings of the monster increased over the following year and even resulted in Sir God-frey Collins, the Secretary of State for Scotland at the time, ordering a ban on any hunts or attacks on the creature.
or if it even exists has not deterred Steve Feltham, who for the last 25 years of his life dedicated to finding Nessie. Feltham who is originally from Dorset, lives year round by the loch in his caravan constantly on high alert in his quest for discovering the truth.
However, the picture is now considered by many skeptics as a hoax, who claim that the picture does not actually depict Nessie but rather a piece of driftwood or an otter swimming in the loch.
This leads to the question: what could possibly attract someone to move over 600 miles away, all in the name of hunting a possibly fictional being? Feltham explains that his fas-cination stared at a young age. He said: “Well, back in 1970. I was then aged seven, on a family holiday with my parents, and my brother Martin, we visited Loch Ness whilst tour-ing the Highlands. At that time there was a team of passionate monster hunters, called the ‘Loch Ness phenomenon Investigation Bureau,’ who had set up a summer long watch over the loch in the hope of spotting something unexplained. Their base camp was a group of large caravans gathered in a field high above the water, this giving them a great vantage point to observe from.”
But this uncertainty of what the monster is
He adds: We spent a while here, what I
There has also been many claims of photographic evidence of the monster, most infa-mously the ‘Surgeons Photograph’ which depicts what appears to be a long necked crea-ture resting on the surface of water. It was sensationalised by the UK media at the time and lead to much speculation as to whether there really was a monster roaming the se-cluded highlands.
remember most about that visit was that they had built a viewing platform sticking out from the sloping field. On this they had a camera mounted on a tripod, the lens on this camera must have been a metre long. As a seven year old I was instantly fascinated... grown men looking for monsters in Great Britain, amazing.” Feltham goes on to talk about how his fascination with the mystery of Nessie grew from there, making several trips back up north throughout his adolescent and early adult life. But it wasn’t until he started working in the family business installing fire alarms that he realised it was time for a change. “I instantly took a dislike to this kind of work,” he explains, “I found it a thankless job, no-body wants to spend a lot of money protecting their home and family, I felt as welcome as an undertaker. “Our most regular age group as customers were the over 60s, the age group that feel most venerable to burglars. Each day when
we took a break in these people’s homes to have a cup of tea, I would find myself in conversation with them about their lives. “So often these people would look at me in my mid twenties and say, ‘When I was your age I wish I’d climbed mountains, swam the channel, or gone to live in Peru, whatever, but ultimately follow their hearts. Instead they had each followed their heads, and now each wished they had followed their hearts.” This led to Feltham, who at the time had a girlfriend and his own home to take drastic ac-tion. He explains: “At this point I was also in a long term relationship. We had bought a house, started to settle down, next obvious step would be marriage and kids. Did I really want that to be my life, or did I want my life to be an adventure, a quest? “In 1990 I made one more ‘expedition’ to Loch Ness, to help me make the biggest decision of my life. Upon returning from that trip my fate was sealed, I wanted the life of a full time Nessie hunter. For better or worse, not knowing what would become of me, what
“grown men looking for monsters in Great Britain, amazing.” ques-tions about the mystery I would be able to answer, what I would learn along the way, and what adventures would befall me, were all aspects of life that I wanted to immerse myself in. Have an adventure!”
and also to say, ‘keep following your dream’.
Feltham now lives in his camper van near Dores Inn on the shores of the loch and says that this unconventional lifestyle suits his mission perfectly: “If I heard of a sighting of something in the loch at say Fort Augustus, or Drumnadrochit, I could move my whole home to that location and watch from there. I could also get a complete overview of life in the four main settlements around Loch Ness at the same time.
But after 25 years of vigilance, twelve moves of location and even at one point a rumour from the media that he was going to give up, Feltham is still down by the shores of Loch Ness and is now planning a series of talks about his time on the hunt for the monster.
“A wood burning stove makes the van lovely in the winter, and I find that because I have to outstretch my arm to touch the ceiling it does not feel claustrophobic. In fact the oppo-site is true, because the door of the van opens out onto the biggest front garden anyone could wish for. The whole time I’ve lived here I never have felt cramped.” To fund his research Feltham now runs his own business from his camper van, selling handmade models of Nessie and he says this is very rewarding. “I fund this quest that I am on by making little models of Nessie, and now because it is quite well known that I am here doing this, people turn up from all over the world, just to say hello, and to buy one of my models,
“Sometimes I inspire others to go and do whatever it is that makes their heart sing, this is also important to me.”
Interestingly, despite living in the highlands for so long, Feltham says he is no step closer to discovering the truth but that doesn’t bother him. “Ultimately despite all of the efforts to identify what people have been glimpsing here, by many good people, Nessie’s identity still remains a mystery, currently it’s up to you to draw your own conclusions. “If I find the answer I will let you know, but for now I really must get back to the hard task of monster hunting.” What is clear upon speaking to the man who has dedicated his life to this cause, is that he has a love for Nessie and above all, he is dedicated to spreading a simple message: follow your dreams and never give up.
THE MERRIE DANCERS SHINING A LIGHT ON THE AURORA BOREALIS By Niamh Harnett THE AURORA Borealis or the Northern Lights as they are more commonly called are some of the most well known phenomena in the world. Often referred to as nature’s own theatrical performance they are as beautiful as they are frightening. Many different cultures and ethnic groups where the lights were seen developed a number of myths and legends to try and explain these occurrences and provide meaning to them. If you were wondering about the name, that came from Roman mythology. Aurora was the goddess of the dawn, therefore Aurora Borealis means ‘dawn of the north’ and Aurora Australis means ‘dawn of the south’.
The Northern Lights featured primarily in Norse mythology and there have been many differing interpretations of them. The most popular belief was that the lights were a reflection of the shields of the Valkyries handmaidens to the god Odin – racing across the sky on their way to their resting place, Valhalla. In Icelandic folklore it was believed that the northern lights would ease the pain of childbirth; however that was contradicted by the fact that they also believed that if pregnant women looked at the Aurora they would bear cross-eyed children. At times, the lights were seen as an omen and harbingers of doom. Mere weeks before the French revolution broke out, a dramatic
red Aurora Borealis was seen in Scotland and England, people reported to have heard and seen massive armies in the skies. Today in Chinese and Japanese culture, the Northern Lights are linked to fertility and childbirth, similar to Icelandic folklore. It is still believed that a child conceived under the Northern Lights will be blessed with good fortune. There are also many beliefs still strong today that people say you shouldn’t do in the light’s presence. The most widely respected of these in the North, include no waving, singing or whistling at the Northern Lights. These superstitions stemmed from beliefs people once held, that any sign of disrespect would result in the spirits swooping down to take you away.
flock to countries where they can watch the lights dance across the sky. In recent years Iceland, Finland and Sweden have been among the most popular places to take in the auroras and Shetland is no stranger to the craze. “People come from all over the world in the hope of seeing the sky lit up in the array of marvellous colours they have only seen in photographs, but a lot leave frustrated if they don’t takes factors like the weather into account” Young tells me. “The best you could wish for is a clear, frosty night, but if the skies aren’t clear it may not be possible to see them; all it takes is one thick cloud and the show is over.” Although the Aurora Borealis is shrouded in legend and myth, extensive scientific research has been undertaken to get to the bottom of what this light show really is.
Here in Scotland, we also have our own share of folklore about the Northern Lights and surprisingly for some we have one of the “The Northern Lights are caused by best spots in the world to watch the Aurora gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere Borealis. colliding with charged particles released “One of the most wonderful things you can from the sun’s atmosphere” says Dr John experience in Shetland is the Northern Mason, a principal lecturer at the South Lights or the ‘Merrie Dancers’ as they are Downs Planetarium in Chichester and a known locally” says Jim Young, a guide for proud fellow of the Royal Astronomical the Shetland Islands Tourist Association Society since 1976. “There is a considerable and keen observer of the lights. “Generally, amount of myth surrounding the colours you are most likely to see the phenomenon of the Aurora but the variety and change in the months between October and March, of colours is actually a result of different which in Shetland we also consider to be our types of gas particles colliding. The most winter months.” frequently witnessed aurora is a vibrant green, which would have meant peace and Indeed Shetland’s long winter is an essential tranquillity. The rarest is a bright red, feature in making it a haven for lovers of the which was believed to be a sign of danger; in lights. During the winter months, Shetland reality that red colour is produced by highexperiences entire days consisting of very altitude oxygen. Blue or Purple auroras are little sunlight and it is this lack of ‘light produced by Nitrogen” Dr Mason informs pollution’ that makes it such a fantastic me. stage for the Aurora Borealis. Since the first recording of the Auroras in “In Shetland we have great uninhabited New England in 1719, which brought fear plains of land and on clear nights the of Judgement Day to those who witnessed auroras can light up the whole sky with a it, different cultures have embraced the spectacular show, however it can be fleeting. lights and immersed their beauty and wrath The lights can last for hours or can prove within their fables. Nature’s performance to be more temperamental so if you want to has gifted those of us who eagerly indulge catch them you should expect a sleepless in the tales of old with plenty of material night and plenty of waiting around” says and imparted the knowledge that if you are Young. going to travel to Shetland to view them, make sure you check the weather first. Every year people from around the world
Fairground
of Fear How Ayrshire’s Landmark Theme Park became a Chernobyl-resembling wasteland
By LIAM MENZIES As we arrived in Galston, there was an unshakable feeling of dread though not in the same way as we may have expected. When somebody brings up the topic of abandonment, you half expect the nearby villagers to heckle as you as outsiders and wield their pitchforks while doing so like some cheesy B-horror movie. Instead, we were welcomed by what seemed like a friendly village not unlike most of Scotland. It wasn’t until we ventured further out of Loudon that we stated to experience some ominous vibes. With every step we took outside of the village, it seemed like the nearby villagers were staring at us, plotting our every moment as if we were a bunch of hooligans. It wasn’t until we reached a set of rusty gates, adorned with an abundance of
cautionary signs that the real fear struck us: all of a sudden, a silver Audi rolled in behind us, slowly creeping up before coming to a complete stop. Out of the car appeared a woman who could only be described as resembling Cruella De Ville who quickly and not very politely told us to head back home. We asked one word of question and were met by a threat of calling the local authorities which was all that was needed to confirm our suspicions about there being something off. This kind of story seems better fit for subpar creepy pasta but in fact describes a personal tale of trying to explore the landmark Scottish theme park known to many as Loudon Castle. With a tartan wearing, red haired lion called Rory as their charming mascot, the attraction was a
staple of family entertainment in the early noughties. It played home to many a school trip outing or child’s birthday party and with plenty of rollercoasters, it was every kid’s idea of heaven. From the loop-de-loop joy of the Twist N’ Shout to the vertigoinducing craziness of the Barnstormer, there was plenty to make a day out to Loudon Castle the highlight of your year. When taking all of this into consideration, it makes the current state of Loudon Castle all the creepier. No longer is there the colourful and inviting entrance to the park, instead replaced by a stretch of fences that warn any potential trespassers of the security in place who are said to be extremely vulgar towards those who dare to set foot into the place. If you’re lucky enough to get into the park without being spotted then the creepiness only begins to increase. The Loudon Castle that many fondly remember is nowhere to be seen. It’s odd to think that many family outings took place here, laughter and smiles in droves, when the park seems to resemble Chernobyl more than it does a theme park. The benches that you’d sit down at to recuperate and enjoy your lunch at are now covered in moss, almost as if nature is taking over the park after being left dormant for so long. It’s not until you see the rides themselves that you start to get this mixed feeling of nostalgia and sadness, even if you’ve never been to the site before. The rollercoasters that once took you to blistering heights and nausea inducing twists and turns are now just relics of their former selves, eroded and covered in rust and algae after spending almost a decade without being used. Almost as upsetting for those who grew up with the theme park are the empty spaces where rides used to remain such as The Black Pearl, an inverting pirate ship and a fan favourite that has since been relocated to Lightwater Valley in England. Anything that still remains in the park looks like it could topple over with a slight gust of wind: Logger’s Leap, the park’s flagship log flume ride, is pretty much entirely corroded and looks as fragile as a glass hip. Even the massive blue globe at the centre of the park is still as daunting as it was for many as kids
though the once polished monument is now starting to show its age, a sad reminder of the park’s descent. However, the feeling of nostalgia is sadly outweighed by the ominousness of the abandoned park. Along with commonplace sounds of creaking doors and giggling, many members of the Urban Glasgow page have reported of the rustling of rusty swing sets and seeing strange figures wandering the park. One visitor lucky enough to see the sight beyond the rusty, sign cluttered gates was Mairi McAnena. Talking about what she had witnessed, she mentioned “the creepiness that radiated from every yard of the place. Having never went when I was younger; there was no attachment to anything that would override the sinister presence that is abundant in the park”. Whether this is the security or some sort of paranormal phenomena, it’s no surprise that many who visit the park do not want to stay for very long after getting a few pictures. It’s impossible to talk about the downfall of Loudon Castle without mentioning a particular event that shocked families and visitors. On the 15th July 2007, 18 year old Mark Blackwood began his first day of operating the fun and fast ride known as The Rat. One of the carts got caught and via the recommendation of one of the nearby workers, Mark began to push the cart despite health and safety regulations. He then tripped and clung onto the cart as it began to ascend up the track before he fell off, dropping 80 ft in the air. Mark was swiftly taken to the nearby Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock for treatment but sadly his injuries were fatal and he died the following day. What followed was a two week long trial that saw the park being found not guilty by a jury in Kilmarnock’s Sheriff Court. This wasn’t the end of Loudon Castle’s troubles though. Despite the not guilty verdict, the news of Mark’s accident at the park seemed to have an impact somehow. This ended up having an economic impact, specifically with the staff which was reported to be minimal around 2010. In addition to this, the park owners were
trying to do everything in their ability to get customers back with discounts such as “70% off if you bring a group of 10” being commonplace. These efforts ended up causing a lot of rumours surrounding the park owners being in a considerable amount of debt which eventually came full circle when in September 2010, Hank Bembom, the site’s owner, announced the park would be closed due to it no longer being economically viable. While many rumours have circulated around saying that the site will soon be used for a golf course, there hasn’t been any
solid evidence over the past half a decade that anything is set to happen. According to a man, who wishes to remain anonymous but posts via the handle dickyhart on various form boards, meetings have taken place with Bembom who reportedly lost heart in the business after the accident that took place. Since 2010, along with the aforementioned golf course interests, many speculate that the site may be converted into anything from a scare attraction to a holiday park. The most recent piece of news about the park was that Scottish ministers had called in the planning application which proposes a multi-million pound leisure
and tourism development at the former theme park. Michael Keane, East Ayrshire Council’s planning chief, was given the news just before Christmas 2015, after the council failed to make any decision themselves. Keane has stated: The ministers have directed that plans be referred to them for determination. The application has now been referred to the ministers in accordance with the terms of their direction. “However, with the current Scottish government debating effortlessly about a second independence referendum as well as the attainment gap in Scotland, it seems like
any attempt to bring the issue to Holyrood will fail to even make an appearance. As we walked back to our car after being threatened by the mysterious woman, we took a minute to peer in between the trees that separate Loudon Castle from the adjacent Loudon Academy. While very little can be seen, the unmistakably iconic blue globe is in plain sight and overlooks not only the park but the entire village. Whether or not any plans come into fruition, it seems set into stone that the shell of Loudon Castle will shadow over Galston indefinitely.
The Near Death
Experience Science or Spirit? By Ryan Mcdougall “I could’ve sworn I saw my long gone Grandfather, my Uncle, and a few other folk I’d known who have passed over the years. I felt myself floating away from where my body was, as if I was about to enter the afterlife or something like that. Then my mate dragged me out. I came to shortly afterwards.” These are the words of Andy Graham, 33 of Glasgow, who explained a time in his youth where he almost drowned after falling from a canoe, before being rescued by his friend. This is a classic near-death experience. Near-death experiences are an incredibly common phenomenon amongst those who are on the brink of transcending between the human world and the spirit world. Common characteristics of the phenomenon include the physical sense of being dead; a sense of peace or painlessness; out of body experiences; feelings of being with deceased
loved ones; the feeling of being reluctant to come back to the world; and the classic sensation of ‘feeling their lives flash before them’ and ‘seeing the light.’ While some believe it is a genuine spiritual experience, sceptics and scientists have tried to explain and justify the phenomenon through a variety of explanations for decades. Spirit Spiritualists and religious people believe that experiencing an NDE truly is the act of dipping your feet into the waters of the afterlife. Different faiths have tried to explain the phenomenon in relation to their own personal beliefs. For instance, Howard O. Pittman, who was a Baptist minister for over three decades, was left dead for several minutes in surgery after his aortic artery ruptured. In his book Placebo, he
explained his ‘grand tour’ around what he calls ‘second heaven’ by heavenly beings: “May I say at the outset that I know the difference between dreams, visions, and a real experience.”
encountered showed him some of the demons who plague the earth, visible only in the spirit realm: “At the very top of the order were the warring demons which were the cream of Satan’s crop.
“The angels were there and they took my spirit from my body. These angels were present all the time that Satan tempted me although I did not know it because I was still in the flesh.
“They looked like humans with the exception that they were giants. Appearing to be about eight feet tall, they were rugged and handsomely constructed, somewhat like giant athletes.
“When the angels lifted my spirit from my body, they carried me immediately to the Second Heaven. We did not have to leave that hospital room in order to enter the Second Heaven. We entered there in that same room where my body was, just by passing through a dimension wall. It is a wall which flesh cannot pass through, only spirit.”
“The second most powerful type of demon was also revealed to me in human form and these demons looked like ordinary people.
Howard explained that the angels he
“Chief among this group was the demon of greed and contained within this same group were demons of hate, lust, strife, and a few others. “The third most powerful type and group of demons were revealed to me in mixed
shapes and forms. Some had human form while others had half human and half animal forms. “These demons possessed skills in the dark arts area such as witchcraft and other related areas.” While some sceptics might dismiss Howard’s experience as being false, or as some sort of lucid dream he experienced in what he thought were his final moments, Andy, who was mentioned earlier, said: “I’m not a religious man at all. In fact, I used to think that once you’re dead; you’re dead. But after my experience I changed my views. For me to see something and feel something so vivid, to see people I’ve known who have died and that. I don’t think it’s something my mind could’ve just made up. I honestly think I had a glimpse of the afterlife.”
Science Every supernatural phenomenon has a scientific explanation. Whether said explanations are true or not is open to your interpretation. Spiritual near-death experiences are no different. One of the biggest, and most recent explanations is the DMT model. DMT, or Dimethyltryptamine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance found in many different life forms, including various plants and the human body. It can be consumed in the form of a drug, and is generally inhaled. People who ingest the drug claim to see intense, otherworldly beings, colours, feelings of dissociation and as if they are in another dimension, or the spirit world. Amazonian tribes have used the drug in the form of a drink they call Ayahuasca for centuries. Ayahuasca generally contains
Chacruna leaves, which are where the DMT is found, mixed with the roots of a Banisteriopsis Caapi plant, which is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Normally DMT has no effect if it is orally ingested, but when mixed with Banisteriopsis Caapi, it allows the DMT to pass through the blood/brain barrier where it binds to the brains serotonin receptors, as the substance is molecularly similar to serotonin and melatonin. The Shamans of these Amazonian tribes traditionally drink Ayahuasca in order to contact spirits, and to bring prosperity to their tribe. Unfortunately, anything spiritual the drug once represented has been tarnished by the fact that it has fallen into the wrong hands, and has been abused as a recreational drug in western culture. It is currently a class A drug in the UK. Despite this, it naturally occurs in the human body, and is found in large quantities in the cerebral spinal fluid, lungs and eyes. It is also speculated that it is made in the pineal gland in the brain. Interestingly enough, the pineal gland is often referred to as ‘the seat of the soul.’ Canadian YouTuber Psyched Substance, otherwise known as Adam (who preferred not to give his surname) has studied the effects of psychoactive substances for a long time. Despite admitting to have been into illicit drugs in his younger days, he does not take any nowadays.
are physically about to die during a neardeath experience, Adam linked this to a DMT trip, saying: “Often when you smoke DMT, it’s a sure-fire way to reach ego-death, and fast. When you reach that ego death, you’re often not aware that you’ve just smoked DMT. You can’t just say to yourself ‘oh yeah I smoked DMT’ because there’s no longer an ego to communicate with. So yes, in that respect the two are similar.” In relation to people being totally at peace, and seeing a white light when they are just about to die, Adam said: “I often felt like I was wrapped in a blanket of love [after taking DMT] as I slowly ejected my body.” Dr Rick Strassman, a medical doctor who specialises in psychiatry, has conducted extensive research on Dimethyltryptamine, and was the first person in the United States to use psychoactive substances on humans for his research. He refers to DMT as ‘the spirit molecule.’ In his well-known book: DMT: The Spirit Molecule, he says, despite admitting that he is not able to prove it, that DMT is released from the pineal gland upon the moment of death and near-death experiences alike. He has also hypothesised that alien abduction experiences are due to the brain accidentally releasing DMT. He says that if DMT is used wisely it could ‘trigger a period of remarkable progress in the scientific exploration of the most mystical regions of the human mind and soul.’
The war between science and spirituality over whether near-death experiences really are one’s soul leaving the body, teasing those who are on the other side with their He compared and contrasted the differences presence before being thrust back into the between a near-death experience and a world of the living, or whether it can all be DMT trip in order to see if the scientific explained by the powerful substance DMT theory that DMT is the reason for NDEs that exists throughout the human body, as could be legitimate or not. In relation to well as throughout nature in general, will the feeling of ‘slipping away’ people have no doubt be a war that continues to wager when experiencing an NDE, Adam said: “The until such times where science is advanced feeling of trying to hold on, and being unable enough to prove or debunk their theories. to, as eerily similar to the feeling you get Until such times however, it is up to you, the when you ingest DMT.” reader to decide what you think seems more believable. When people feel like they are certain they
Photo credit Nick Mailer Photography
HAUNTED
HOTSPOTS By KIRSTY MORRISON A dim, faded blue sky covers Greyfriars Kirkyard, the sunset beaming over it indicating that darkness is looming. Walking through the graveyard on the Tour of the Undead (a City of Edinburgh ghost tour), the tour guide tells us about a notorious individual buried here: Sir George Mackenzie, the Lord Advocate, notorious for imprisoning 1,200 Covenanters in a field next to the graveyard in 1679, subjecting them to torturous deaths. We are told the story of Greyfriars Bobby, the Skye Terrier who guarded the grave of his owner until he died himself in 1872 and is buried in the graveyard. The city could be regarded as a supernatural hotspot for ghost tours and other similar attractions, telling the tales of many supposed supernatural sightings or the stories of gruesome acts committed centuries ago. Many ghost tours are populated throughout Edinburgh: City of Edinburgh Tours, City of the Dead Tours, Mercat Tours and the Edinburgh Dungeon, to name a few. But what exactly makes them so appealing to tourists and locals compared to ones in other cities? Clad in traditional costumes of shirts,
trousers, waistcoats, lace-up boots, tailcoats and canes, with the added detail of the garments spattered with fake blood; it is obvious that the tour guides are very skilled in telling the stories of the city’s fabled past, giving the groups they take on tours a scare. Francesca Dymond, Marketing Manager at the Edinburgh Dungeon, emphasises this at the popular hotspot; it is their selling point. “People are really attracted to the idea of pushing their boundaries and seeing where their limits are. At the Dungeon, we do that but in a really fun way. We’ll give you a scare and we’ll teach you about the gruesome history of Scotland,” she says. But what makes Edinburgh as a haunted hotspot different than haunted attractions in Glasgow or Aberdeen? According to one expert tour guide, Edinburgh’s dark history is a key factor in its popularity for ghost tours; people have more conversations about it. Joshua Stirling (or Dr. Knox when he is in-costume) works for City of Edinburgh Tours and takes groups of brave people around the city’s most haunted spots. “There is quite a well-documented dark past [in Edinburgh]. [There are] a lot
of bad things that have happened. That’s not to say there’s not bad things in other cities but people certainly talk about it a lot more, it’s on people’s minds a bit [here]. People seem very in gear to mention when they see ghosts. The attitudes that people have here towards ghost-hunting is not seen as a strange, niche thing. I think it’s more in the mainstream. I think it’s to do with the history of the place; people who have died in bad ways,” he says. Indeed, the scary stories are rooted in the gruesome ways that people suffered. Dymond echoes Stirling’s sentiments in that Edinburgh has more of a notorious dark history. She cites Edinburgh having “a wealth of dark and interesting stories that pepper its history” as key factors. Furthermore, literature and architecture have an important part to play. “A lot of the literature of the time we are particularly interested in, things like [The Private Memoirs and] Confessions of [a] Justified Sinner; the Devil; characters with
alter egos that are Satanic in some way are the pieces of literature that are really famous in Edinburgh. There is a natural mood. The architecture of Edinburgh is gothic and lends itself quite well to those spooky stories. It is quite austere; if you are walking through the Old Town you very much get a sense that you are walking through history. People are very interested and intrigued by moments in history where humans have done dark and gruesome things, comparing them to the way that we live now,” she says. It is important to take into consideration the key facets of a story and if visitors will be interested in it. These are top priorities for the cast and crew at the Edinburgh Dungeon. “Is it a really good story? Is it something that visitors to Edinburgh will be interested in? How can we bring it to life in an innovative way? We are interested in the story aspect of it,” Dymond says. The terrible tales behind the shows at the Edinburgh Dungeon are prominent in the
storytelling. Dymond mentions a particular show on the Edinburgh Dungeon tour that is filled with witchcraft. Their new show called ‘Witch Hunt’ tells the story of Agnes Finnie, Edinburgh’s most powerful witch. Finnie was renowned for apparently cursing people that she interacted with, for instance, people that bought something from her and then came back to complain. In some cases, it was said that people would lose the use of their tongue or fall down dead the next day. Cases of witchcraft were reported against her; subsequently the Edinburgh locals got her prosecuted. Finnie was executed at Edinburgh Castle and then burned at the stake. The show at the Dungeon is about the interrogation chamber; things happen in the room related to her witchcraft. Dymond says: “[It is] one of our highest scoring shows. There [are] lots of special effects in there, the drama is really good. Things happen in there that don’t really happen anywhere else in the Dungeon at the moment.”
The Edinburgh Dungeon is owned by Merlin Entertainments, who created the tour in 2001. The “performance element to the attraction” was what Dymond was interested in when applying for her role as Marketing Manager at the Dungeon; her background is in the arts and performance. She started her career in publishing, and then worked for Dance Base (the national centre for dance in Scotland) as their Communications Manager, before becoming the Marketing Manager at the Dungeon. City of Edinburgh Tours was founded by David Nish in the 1980s, who was the first individual to take people into Edinburgh’s underground vaults. The key factors in the creation of the company were to delve into the history of Edinburgh and the ghost stories. “All the guides that we have will be in costume; we do a little bit of theatre in our storytelling. Another thing is not having any actors, nothing planted and [nothing] fake. We go to places that are meant to be haunted, so if anything does happen, [there
could be] real ghosts. It is also grounded completely in history and facts instead of wild and crazy ghost stories,” Stirling says. Moreover, a great interest in history and storytelling were factors influencing Stirling becoming a tour guide. Furthermore, as a believer in ghosts, he emphasises that he would like to be there if strange occurrences were to happen. “If something does happen; if somebody does see a spirit, I’d like to be there. It’d be quite an interesting thing to see. I’ve never actually seen a ghost, but I’d really like to,” he says. On the other hand, Dymond is a bit more sceptical when it comes to believing in the paranormal. She would like to completely admit that she is a non-believer but occasionally is more convinced. “Every now and again, I think there must be something to it. The very vague and unexplored area of the human soul; we have these characters and personalities, we are born and then we die. What happens to all of that? There’s a part of me that thinks there is something in that, however intangible and vague,” she says. Dymond is interested in the recreational side of the paranormal; film and literature on the subject. She says she likes “ghost tours, ghost films, things that are unexplained, slightly weird or alternative. I do tend to gravitate towards those kinds of subjects.” Looking ahead, Dymond hopes that the Dungeon will thrive on the cast and crew’s great ideas and develop into a niche attraction that stands out in the crowd of different companies. After all, in a world of competition, uniqueness will no doubt carry you far. “I hope that the attraction will be continuing to innovate [and] that we will be able to offer even more extreme special effects, even more extreme experiences to people. [Hopefully] the innovations and the technology in terms of attractions and immersive experiences will have caught up with where our imaginations are. We have really great ideas about where we want to go; it’s just a question of finding out if there is a way to do it. I hope in five years time we are able to realise some of the great ideas that we have, to give people a unique experience that they can’t get anywhere else.”
Photo credit Nick Mailer Photography
The Man Upon The Stair By NEIL DALLIMORE Who investigates a haunting? The images that come to mind for anyone who’s watched a supernatural thriller or read a scary book are probably along the lines of either an older, quiet woman “cleaning” a house of spirits or a small team of hunters, kitted out with all sorts of gadgets; the Ghostbusters surely pops into more than a few heads. Here’s hoping all these eccentric and colourful characters exist somewhere in the real world, but in the real world nobody outside of trashy “reality” shows is making money from hanging around haunted houses. Here in Scotland, a person devoting their time to such work, free time when they’re not working at their paying jobs, does it to help. “If anything, it’s taught me that there’s nothing unique or different about a
paranormal problem to any other kind of problem; it’s how people cope. And some people will take advice and others won’t. A lot of people want somebody to wave a magic wand and make their problems disappear, but it’s much more about a collaborative approach.” Innes Smith, 45, is a freelance writer and actor and has been involved in the Scottish Society of Psychical Research (SSPR) since the 90’s. Professor Archie Roy began psychical research classes in the 80’s, before becoming the society it is today. Innes’ mother had been involved with astronomy classes run by the professor and due to experiences she’d had, started attending the SSPR. Prompted by a shared interest in the paranormal, which Innes says is due to the fact both he and his mother experienced
“Learning to listen and being careful of what you say to people looking for help is important.” “anomalous” events, they both attended together and gradually his interest grew to the point he became a full-time member in 1998. Rather than encouraging him to pursue the subject, Innes’ mother did the opposite. “She actively discouraged me,” says Innes. “She ‘has experiences.’ Premonitions really, but she doesn’t like them or ask for them. I have to say that my childhood had its fair share of unwelcome anomalous experiences too, but it’s possible to ignore such things and get on with life. I’m interested, but ultimately I believe that it’s not too healthy to be obsessed with such things.” To this point, Innes has had a very full and varied career, starting out in bands gigging around Glasgow, moving on to his own shows on radio, the releasing his own albums, before finding a place within comedy in the form of the Franz Kafka Big Band on BBC radio Scotland and The Atrocity Machine on the now extinct Channel 4 radio.
“I’ve worked with a lot of fun and funny, brilliant people, notably Colin Edwards who masterminded both shows,” Innes remembers. “He worked with the Oscar winning animator Sylvan Chomet and that collaboration could have birthed the ‘Scottish Simpsons’. I was involved in a small way, initially as a performer, but swiftly ditched! But I was privy to how close people can often get to major breakthroughs or opportunities, but then it coming to nothing! Colin could have, should have, been the next Matt Groening, but, hey ho, it was not to be.” Innes is no stranger to such so-close-so-far opportunities. BBC Online commissioned his own chat show, with everything in place and a pilot already filmed, Innes felt that a breakthrough and proper exposure had finally arrived, before they pulled the plug. All of that lead to a jump to animation and he’s had many commissions for BBC Learning, but at the cost of pitching processes that he describes as “moralesapping.” His artistic background has, and continues to be, eclectic and exiting, but then there’s his other job.
The SSPR is contacted regularly by people who are being troubled by one form of paranormal disturbance or another and help is given in the form of their investigators, of which Innes is a lead. The group of investigators consists of volunteers, guided by regular group meetings to discuss protocol as well as findings. The people contacting the society for help come ‘from all walks of life, all religions and none’ with the common factor being that they simply want reassurance. “They want something to stop, reassurance that they can’t be hurt, aren’t in danger and very occasionally, just want to know what’s going on, i.e. they’re not scared, or bothered, just curious,” says Innes. “I mean, if people have a health problem, then often the solution is a change of behaviour and attitude, rather than a pill to pop! But most people want to pop a pill, they want that instant magical cure, whether we’re talking about gout or ghosts.”
While there’s a few gadgets, as you might see on TV, to bolster an investigator’s repertoire, Innes emphasises the most important things along with paper, a pencil and a digital recorder, his basic interviewing and sometimes counselling skills. Learning to listen and being careful of what you say to people looking for help is important, offer some practical advice to calm the situation and being cautious to give only interpretations of events, gently; investigators never confirm or deny what is happening, nor promise what they cannot deliver. A far cry from Most Haunted’s hysterics, these investigators are there in a mostly observant capacity, doing what they can to ease a person’s discontent. Of course the sceptics among us will be well tuned to the ghost hunter who says they are reserved, open-minded but not so much their brain falls out, not quick to believe - a
likely story to make us believe whatever they say. But Innes exudes a realistic, nonsensationalist point of view, describing himself as an open-minded sceptic and it’s no act; that draughty feeling a person is getting will have a hundred common, nonsupernatural causes that he goes through before even entertaining the notion that a ghost is present, or as he puts it: “Even if you’ve had extraordinary experiences and are 100% certain of the reality of paranormal phenomena, as soon as you uncritically accept something to be real without thinking/checking/ investigating, you’ll flush your credibility down the toilet for believing that a cat in a green sock is a goblin.” However there’s also the acknowledgement that aside from the paranormal being a very difficult subject to study, often things that occur are of a temporary nature, making the recording of events difficult and as Innes
points out, if it were not this way “If these things lasted forever and phenomena could be guaranteed, somebody would put a fence round it and charge for admission. And that’s never happened.” Much has changed over the years, with parapsychology finding a place in psychology books where once it was completely ignored and as far as Innes and many academics are concerned, there are legitimate things occurring that cannot be written-off. “It would be wrong to say that ‘there is a lack of any findings’, on the contrary, evidence is strong and robust. Psi is a real effect,” explains Innes. “It has been proved over successive studies. The evidence is definitely there, it’s just that the sceptics invoke Sagan’s Law ‘Extraordinary Claims demand Extraordinary Evidence.’” Innes the artist doesn’t veer too far from the otherworldly when he’s not putting his
critical mind to work, helping out a trouble person being haunted. His next project, a BBC learning radio show, is a co-production with Canadian counterparts and a half-Scottish, half-Canadian cast. Once Upon A Time In Zombieville sees a father and son start over in a small North American town, where things take a dark turn. “Zombies. That’s what goes wrong. They’re zombies, but they’re much closer to the original Haitian folklore, rather than the undead horrors that they’ve become in film and TV these days,” says Innes. “So there you go! I’ve used my occult knowledge to make some proper zombie entertainment for, eh, school children. Don’t worry. I’ve worked for BBC Learning for years, it’s all good. It’s all good, nothing too scary.” Innes’ work at the SSPR is on going, with new people welcome to come along to investigator’s groups and the twice-annual events. Asked about where he stands on the paranormal and if the SSPR has changed him, he’s not sure that it’s made him believe in the paranormal more: “Maybe reality is a badly fitted carpet and we’ll never hammer the wrinkles out?” And he’s had his own experiences along the way, notably in an alleged haunted castle, whereby he tasted a ghost, “no sniggering please”, in the form of a floral perfumed smell at the back of his throat, that he later discovered was identical to the experience of another witness at the location. In terms of what happens when we die, does he believe he’s going somewhere? “I think I do believe in survival. Yes. I do. But, it ain’t an open and shut case. I think the Tibetans and Daoists are right: you gotta put some work in,” Innes responds. “Spiritualists believe we might have an eternal soul, but these souls are always getting stuck in the basement of hotels in Lincolnshire waiting to speak to the likes of Derek Acorah. I mean, that’s not much of an afterlife, is it? Waiting to whisper ‘Mary loves Dick’ to a scowling Scouser whilst Yvette Fielding shrieks into the earhole of a now incontinent make-up girl called Debz?”
UPCOMING
EVENTS By Niamh Harnett
Ghost Hunt Jedburgh Castle Jail, Borders, 15th April 2017 Feeling brave? Join the Haunted Evening team when they take on Jedburgh Castle Jail this weekend. Built on the site of the Royal Burgh’s medieval castle, it was one of the most important border strongholds, destroyed in 1409. The land was also documented as the towns Gallows, making it one haunted hotspot. Armed with the latest technology the experienced ghost hunters will take you through the reportedly haunted castle after dark, but watch your footing, people have been left behind – just ask your ghostly encounters on the night!
The Original Loch Ness Tour, Edinburgh. Take part in the original Loch Ness and Highlands tour and tick Nessie off your list in just one day! Scottish Tours, established in 1985 takes you on an exploration of some of the most show stopping scenery in Europe before stopping in Loch Ness where you can take a monster spotting cruise and decide for yourself if Nessie is just a myth. The tour starts in Edinburgh and takes twelve and a half hours before returning that night to Waverly station. Prices vary depending on the season so check out the website before booking. www.scottishtours.co.uk Are workers still roaming the halls? Why not find out?! Go to ukghostnights.co.uk for more information.
The Scottish UFO and Paranormal Conference 2017, Falkirk Town Hall, 8th July 2017 Experience paranormal phenomena for yourself in none other than unassuming Falkirk! The Scottish UFO and Paranormal Conference will take place in Falkirk Town Hall this July. Tickets are £10 and the event will run from 10am to 5pm. Join Alyson Dunlop, Malcolm Robinson and Ron Halliday as they take you on a trip through time and space. Check out the Scottish UFO and Paranormal’s blog to keep up with announcements and changes to the event. https://scottishufoandparanormalconference.wordpress.com/
Ghost Hunt, Fairfield Heritage Centre, Govan, 19th August 2017 Looking for a scare or a history lesson? Join the Scottish Ghost Nights team as they investigate one of Glasgow’s most significant locations; Govan. Between 1864 and 1967 Govan was the centre of shipbuilding in the world and over 3000 ships were built where the Fairfield Heritage building now stands, however the history is not all that remains. Staff of the heritage centre have reported spooky goings on with reports of flickering lights and strange noises all too common. Are workers still roaming the halls? Why not find out?! Go to ukghostnights.co.uk for more information.