Fifteen years ago I started a tour company called Paranormal Salem. I would take small groups on a walking tour through the haunted streets of Salem starting at 10pm, using ghost hunting equipment. We’d end the tour in the basement of what used to be Salem’s first firehouse. I wrote a book about my experiences owning that company, the spooky things that happened during that time, and how those experiences shaped who I am today.
I was on a couple television shows back then. I was asked to speak at historic places such as The House of the Seven Gables and Old Sturbridge Village. I even taught a class called Paranormal Studies at North Shore Community College. (Yes, really.) When my daughter was born, I sold the company to move back to Seattle to be closer to family. (And the woman who bought it caused it to fizzle out.)
I didn’t completely stop paranormal investigation when I left Salem, but it wasn’t my main “thing” anymore. I hosted a “Ghost Hunting 101” event on Saturday nights at Merchants Cafe in Seattle. I offered “A Spirited Evening Connecting with the Other Side” at Intraspace at the Old Rainier Brewery. I did similar events and mediumship circles for spiritual retreats like Souldust and other gatherings. I was still teaching about paranormal history, equipment, debunking, intuition, and mediumship. I was still guiding people through experiences. It just wasn’t nightly walking tours through dark streets anymore.
Then after living on a boat for a few years and eventually moving back to Salem, I met the owner of Gallows Hill Theatre at a friend’s BBQ. I told him about my old ghostly adventures, and he suggested we collaborate on an event. That’s how I started hosting the “After Hours Ghost Hunt” every night in October for the past five years.
So, here’s my honest confession… Ghost hunting itself isn’t really my favorite thing. I don’t like trying to “get something” to happen, and I really don’t like turning spirits into entertainment (even though tourists here in October want that entertainment and my event sells out every night year after year).
What I do love about that event, though, is that people end up connecting with their loved ones on the other side. Sure, Salem has ghosts. Everywhere in Salem has ghosts. It’s Salem. It’s haunted. But the most meaningful moments aren’t when a K2 meter lights up. They’re when someone says, “My grandmother always said that,” or “That song was his favorite,” or they feel something they can’t quite explain but know in their body.
Connecting with people you love is really freaking special. This is the part that feels aligned with who I am today and the rest of my business.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been brainstorming what I want my October events to look like going forward. I started thinking I needed to invent something new. Something exciting and marketable. And then I remembered that I’ve already done this…
Like I said, I taught Paranormal Studies at a community college. I lectured at The House of the Seven Gables and Old Sturbridge Village. I created “A Spirited Evening Connecting with the Other Side” years ago. I’ve blended history, investigation, intuition, and mediumship before. Many times. In many places. Somehow I forgot that this has always been part of what I do.
I want to do paranormal events that feel more me. More intentional and aligned with the healer, educator, and intuitive I’ve become.
I don’t want to “hunt ghosts”. I want to teach people how to listen. I want to talk about the history of ghost hunting and what pop culture gets wrong. I want to show my own photos and EVPs and tell the story of the ghost of a young girl at the Lyceum. I want to talk about the weight of hearing “It’s so cold. I’m thirsty.” at the site of the old witch dungeon and what that does to you over time. I want to explain the “clairs” and signs and symbols. I want to guide a meditation. I want to hand someone a pendulum and teach them how to ask a question to someone they love.
So instead of completely reinventing myself, I’m returning to something I’ve already done, but doing it even more clearly and more intentional. And in my own beautiful private office space.
So here’s the rough copy I have so far for this new event:
A Spirited Evening Connecting with the Other Side
A unique workshop bridging intuitive mediumship and modern paranormal investigation. Or… A hands-on workshop bridging intuitive mediumship and modern paranormal investigation. (Not sure which one I like better. Thoughts?)
Step inside an intimate 90-minute indoor workshop exploring the history, tools, and lived experiences behind paranormal investigation in Salem. Drawing from material I previously taught in college-level Paranormal Studies courses, along with years of leading investigations through haunted sites in Salem and beyond, this evening blends education, storytelling, and guided experiential practice.
We’ll explore how ghost hunting actually works, including the use of tools like K2 meters and spirit boxes, and how investigators responsibly interpret what they encounter. Through slides, personal photographs, and real EVPs collected during past investigations, I’ll share some of the moments that reshaped my understanding of the unseen and the responsibility that comes with this work.
Alongside the investigative foundation, we’ll dive into intuition and mediumship. You’ll learn about signs and symbols, the “clairs,” and how connection with the other side can show up in everyday life. The evening includes guided intuitive exercises to connect with your own loved ones, and a small-group spirit communication circle using investigative tools in a protected, respectful way.
Each guest receives a pendulum to take home and may choose a signed copy of one of my books, Ghost Stories & Hippie Sh*t or Sea of Colors: A Voyage Through the Chakras.
Part history lesson. Part intuitive development. Part séance.
Limited to 12 guests.
I’m planning to begin offering this new event on Saturday evenings starting in April, and then nightly in October. I’m not sure what this means for the October “After Hours Ghost Hunt” yet. I’ll likely do both this year. “A Spirited Evening…” at 7pm, and a 9pm “… Ghost Hunt”. Maybe. We’ll see.
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