David Graham of Twisted Paranormal
The interest in paranormal investigation is on the rise due to the ample amount of Paranormal TV shows out there these days. I’m not going to lie, I eat those shows up. I love them! However, what we don’t really get to see is the repercussions when The Living interferes with the affairs of the Spirit World. I had the privilege of speaking with Mr. David Graham author of Paranormal Travel and creator of Twisted Paranormal Research. Mr. Graham is a seasoned veteran with 6+ years of investigation under his belt. His specialty is capturing photographic evidence which will be discussed later on. David is very keen on learning everything he can about the Spirit World he can. He is an avid reader and researcher. He views himself as an investigator and researcher of the unexplained; shying away from the term “ghost hunter”. So, when fellow author and good friend Chuck Banks sent him at picture of scratch marks on his neck he recognized the symbol etched on his neck. It was the mark of Pan, God of the Forest. Pan is known to be a rather fun and mischievous god. Much beloved in the
Pagan World (I included). Once David did a bit more research he contacted, Chuck to 1.) Explain his thoughts of what entity gave him the mark and 2.) Give him advice of how to be rid of him. The exact details of what happened to David cannot be disclosed at this time due to privacy and other legal issues. However it can be said David was at Twisted Place and received two very black and swollen eyes, a broken nose, and several lacerations on his face. This attack happened in less than 24 hours after his conversation with Chuck. The attack was deliberate and sudden. With his guard down for a moment, he didn’t see it coming. With a stream of unusual circumstances David believes that he was attacked because he tried to meddle in Pan’s affairs with Banks. He views Banks beginning “marked” by Pan for unknown reasons at this time. In pain physically, David is spiritually stronger than ever. However, let this be a lesson to everyone who feels that dabbling in the paranormal world is all fun and games. It is not. There are real risks involved in investigating, studying, and opening one’s self up to the paranormal world. The physical, mental, and emotional consequences are no laughing matter. With this being said, one may ask why people like David and Banks clean their wounds, get themselves off the floor, and continue on in this field. All I can say is that it is a calling and sometimes, Fate will not take no for an answer. When the Spirit World chooses you, resistance is futile. David explains a bit of his thinking process into what has attached itself to Chuck Banks.
“I’m aware of Pan and I know just talking to Chuck he is a proud man that does a great job at what he does. Before Chuck and I ever met we never did a investigation together and when we finally did we were in sync you would have thought me and him worked together forever, we was never in the way of each other but we were would strike at the same time when need be. I know Chuck shares his adventures with his students, my solution to him was he struck the interest of one of his students and maybe they accidentally not knowing conjured. I don’t know if he was in an area that Pan was being prayed to and Chuck being a sensitive it latched on to him. So I told him if he picked it up look for some markings in unusual spots that you don’t see: like window seals, curtains etc. maybe it made the mark to invite itself into his home. I sent him several markings of Pan to look for; he couldn’t find anything so I would say maybe option one or two was his answer”
I asked David how and why he got started in paranormal investigating.
“I’ve been actually hunting for 6 or a little more years but I’ve always had a fascination. I guess just one day I was watching some ghost show and I would say that aren’t real or they would have circles going across the screen but you still didn’t see what they were saying. I thought what if I could disprove them. So I started slow and actually caught some amazing pictures. I was actually scared and stopped for about a month and then I was like I’ve put all this money into this I might as well keep trying. There is a quote I made up in my book and it says “Why not question everything until you can’t question it no more. Then you have just found your answer.” With my pictures I do just that; it has to be clear or it does not get saved. Then I started going to different places with different stories of what horror was there. I would study my pictures and start using the story for what I saw then I would come up with what ifs. I’m seeing different things. Then I would start to study things in a science format and I knew a little bit about the Bible and start mixing the three. I call them Davidisms, I know sometimes I sound like a cult leader but I’m way far from that. I like to consider myself a researcher/investigator, not a hunter.”
I love hearing about different investigator’s techniques in capture evidence. No two researchers are the same and sharing these concepts can only help in expanding research in the paranormal field. I do hope to see the day that the paranormal research field is removed from the pseudo-science stigma. As stated earlier, David specializes in photography evidence. His pictures are amazing and some of the clearest pieces of paranormal photography I have seen in a while. I asked him how he is able to capture such compelling photos. His method is simple really. If it is not clear, then it is not worth keeping. He explains further.
“How I get my shot maybe is because they can see an open part of me and I want to listen and they can see that, usually people who don’t experience a ghost encounter is because they don’t believe and they are not open to the possibility of what might be, it’s like if I was trying to pick a girl up at the supermarket and I try to talk to her and if she doesn’t engage back I’m most likely going to walk away, with ghost I think they can see who is open or who isn’t. I don’t think even scientifically we will ever know and won’t be able to talk to someone on a regular basis, it’s a game of chance, I always say when I got different style ghost that I have caught a moment in time, because I have everything from skulls to beast to regular looking people. I have had conversations with ghost that acknowledged my questions by using witching rods and two recorders, or simply called intelligent conversations. It’s easier to get a yes\no answer than a full sentence, which I do have but they are rare. I think of a ghost as a battery and they are using their energy to speak. So if you’re trying to ask 20 questions in 2 minutes you’re not going to have a Q and A like me and you can. “
When David mentioned “witching rod” I instantly became intrigued. I have never heard that term used before so naturally I asked if he could elaborate a bit and share is technique.
Witching rods was basically to find water, unmarked graves all sorts of stuff. Farmers use to use them all the time. I use them to get a basic yes/no answer from whom ever I’m communicating with to guide me where they want me. In cemeteries I would ask several yes/no questions and to find out who I was talking to. I would eventually get their date of birth and date of deaths. I will start with 100 years then go down to 50 then 25 to 10 to eventually going by single digits till it gives me a yes answer. Then I ask male or female and what direction to point the sticks for each. Then I go row by row and let them point me in the direction until X marks the spot. I’ve been a 100 percent with these; I’ve even told people there birth dates that I didn’t know. They seem to help bring a higher power and have had better audio success after using them. With six years of experience under his belt David has encountered all kinds of spirits, from the demonic, child spirits, to the just plain grumpy. David was kind enough to share his views and some intense moments in his investigations, including his recent work with Chuck Banks at the infamous Villisca Ax Murder House.
“Yes I have made contact with a demonic entities, but demon I don’t think can just take over your body, there is more to it, it has to be invited in and you let it take over, I think they can back door there way or loop hole there way but it’s not very likely , when I say Backdoor I mean like an Ouija because your inviting it in. Say a druggy or a alcoholic that is in a bad way unknowingly invites it in, but I don’t think it’s a common thing as everyone thinks, the grumpy ghost, some people are just genuine assholes in life and nobody likes being around, I just don’t think there attitude changes after death; David on the controversial child spirits.”
I don’t like them, I get a weird vibe. I think they are a ruse for something else. If you go traditional Biblical rules; children get a free golden ticket. Despite some of the kids I know. I have come across several, they have been the only entity that has given me the creeps, and I think they are something else, sharing an intense experience during an investigation.
“There was a house that used to be a old civil war hospital, I think that they would send the important people there like the colonel or sergeants like that, when we entered the house the environment was right, it couldn’t been wrote in a book any better, dark stormy night , lightning and thunder . It was a creepy old house on the hill with no street lights or anything. The only lights I had were from the lightning in the sky or our flash lights. I most of the time do my investigations on my own but in this night I had my brother helping me, as soon as we entered the house. You could tell that the house was alive; we just kind of stood there and soaked everything in. The floors were the old wooden floors and it sounded like someone was being drug across the floor up stairs. So my brother and I started going from room to room setting up all the equipment. Usually I use just a hand full of things but on this night I wanted to pull everything out. I got done putting the motion lights in the hall way and I had tape recorders in each of the active rooms. So during set up I notice a motion light going off in the hall upstairs. You got to be pretty close to them to set them off. My hands were taping the recorder to the wall in the room and I had a small flash light in my mouth. All of a sudden it felt like I was punched, upper cut style and the flash light cut my mouth open from one side of my gum to the other. Luckily I keep a small camera on me just in case my regular camera stops and then I got one of the creepiest pictures I ever caught, The Villisca Ax Murder House.
Another experience had been when I was with Chuck investigating the Villisca House; Chelsea and I went to the cellar to investigate. I think Chelsea’s camera went dead and I let her use one of mine. It was pitch black down there but I could I could see Chelsea’s silhouette because of the moon light shining in the door. I was standing in the corner waiting for Chelsea to get done figuring out my camera. I guess she hit the flash button and it lit the whole cellar up for a few seconds. Chelsea was still looking at her camera when I saw an image of her, besides her looking straight in the side of her face. I jumped up and yelled “Holy fucking shit”, and to my knowledge I’ve never been startled to scream. I do believe Chelsea’s arm got red on her shoulder.”
When I tell people about my fascination with the paranormal and that I do investigations myself (on a rather small scale), I get asked why I do it. My answer is always because death is a part of life that we don’t fully understand. It is a huge part of our very existence yet our understanding of it is very limited. I want to learn more and bring some understanding into our life after death. I would love nothing more to come into contact is a lost spirit and help him/her cross over and find piece. I believe that is why most people do it, to find answers to the age old questions. There are a few charlatans out there that are in it for the fame and glamour. However, I firmly believe those people are far and few between. David one of those people that are in this field for all the right reasons. I asked David what his ultimate goal or reason why he continues to investigate.
“I keep doing this to hope one day to be able to discover a theory that someone can’t explain. I would like to be able to make an impact were something could be called the Graham Effect; named after me. I think that is the drive too. I don’t think we will ever have an exact answer to the afterlife but I would love to be able to put a stamp on the category so maybe one day when someone can say, “The Graham Effect says…”
David now can add author to his list of occupations. His new book Paranormal Traveler is now available on Amazon. At this time the book has a five star rating on Amazon. In Paranormal Traveler, David shares series of stories, experiences, and paranormal theory that he has formed throughout his years of investigating and researching the paranormal. It is a fascinating read for veteran and amateur investigators alike. Those with just mere passing interest in the paranormal world will also find this book an intense and thought provoking read. When asked as to what inspired him to write this book, David explains.
“The book was just a process of my mental state was worn out and I needed a release. I don’t mind that if anyone has an opinion and ghost are a hard to swallow subject. However, t it was getting to a point that it seemed I was defending it as anyone would their own religion. I guess the supernatural is my religion and I have obvious evidence that it exists. So I just want to spread the knowledge and in the middle of my theories I have some great stories in between.”
I am honored that Mr. David Graham agreed to speak with me and open up about some of his personal experiences behind the veil, where so many are fearful to take a glance at. Mr. Graham is a great man with passion and integrity. I do hope that he allows me to make another coverage piece on him if and when the day The Graham Effect becomes a thing.