What Makes A Great Ghost Hunting Team

Great teams develop over time and like any good group endeavor, they depend completely on the leader's guidance and especially his motivation/agenda.

A great team does not depend on wearing matching tee's to the client's home. They have steps they go through before ever doing an investigation including having the client keep a log of activity, meeting the client away from the home in order to get a pre-interview in and check the mental status and earnestness of the client's story before entering their home. They also have the client sign a release before they set up equipment and invade their space. These are protections for the team and for the client, as well.

A great team has an online platform for their team to write up their reports and a deadline to put them up on their private network, to have evidence reviewed so the client can be updated as soon as possible.

You will never see a great team asking the clients to have the children at home or use the children as bait for ghosts. They will not dive into spiritual forms of healing upon the first meeting. In fact, they will offer other options first like opening an Bible, playing happy soft music in the home, and clearing up clutter and letting in sunlight, as well as collectively asking the spirits to leave. They do not jump to prayer, holy water, saging and such until other methods have not been helpful.

A great team does its research on the clients as well as the property. They do not discuss with clients, what they feel, sense, or "read" about the investigation as they undertaking it. They do not perform Ouija or seances or blessings of any kind without the owner's permission. They also do not go in assuming the place is haunted or taking the owner's reaction as a sign of the legitimacy of the claims. They debunk, look for incidents and situations in which things can be misinterpreted. It takes a good deal to impress a great team. Real hauntings are so very rare and giving that label to a homeowner just because of superficial evidence or "feelings" is dangerous.

A great team has disagreements, but they voice those in private and they go by consensus when making decisions. If a leader is too controlling and has a personal agenda, such as wanting a TV show or having people buy equipment for him, or only bringing in new members who are buddies or love interests, then the team is not a great team. It's likely a failing one.

It goes without saying, a great team does not charge for services.

Lastly, a great team allows for growth, introduction of new techniques, concepts, ways of doing things. They occasionally do studies in sites that are not client-based, like public sites where they can try some new methods rather than experimenting in a client's home.

I hope this has helped to clarify what makes a group great, but also for the client to know what to expect from a team when calling on them.

Origin: master-of-tarot.blogspot.com

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Beads Of Cambay Response From Com Marketing

I was just contacted by Sharon Swendner, President,.Com Marketing regarding the post I made about the company Beads of Cambay, back in October 2008. If you are not familiar with this debacle, read this:

Crafty Pagans - Beware of This Company! - then come back to this post!

Okay, so this Sharon person left me this message:

"Lisa, I'm posting here based on some things you said quite some time ago (October 2008), but since as you know things stay on the web for a long time, I only became aware of it yesterday. I wanted to let you know what really transpired and why. The posts I am speaking of are related to a client of ours, Beads of Cambay, and some posts you made about them. You were part of a paid blogger campaign that we ran on their behalf at that time. You were kind enough to accept our post opportunity and say some very nice things about them. However, it seems there were two things that happened after that and resulted in additional not so friendly posts. First you said that you were paid late for your post. I did check with the accounting group at our blog platform partner and my understanding is that the delay in payment was because you did not adhere to the requirements of the post (keywords, link, etc.). That was identified and you were notified to adjust the post. Once that was accomplished, the payment was released.

The second issue was around you being banned from posting for our client, Beads of Cambay. Part of what my company and team do for our clients when we use blog posts is follow their branding guidelines and insure we protect their reputation. As part of that service one of my team members made the decision (without input from Beads of Cambay) to remove you as a blogger with the concern that your beliefs may be offensive to some people. Our client, Beads of Cambay in no way was responsible for that ban and was not consulted in that decision. We apologize that this happened. We in no way intended to harm you and we understand that you are and remain a member in good standing of the blogging network. The decision to ban you was simply a subjective decision based on what that person knew and believed to be best for the client at that time. We were not making any judgement about you or your beliefs but simply a business decision that we believed would serve our client. Perhaps we were wrong in doing so and for that we apologize. Please however know that Beads of Cambay was not involved in this decision and did not condone or approve it. They welcome purchases from all people and do not discriminate in any way.

Thank you for the opportunity to share this information and we appreciate all your efforts on the behalf of our and other clients out there who know and understand the value of blogging. Should you wish to discuss more, please contact me via our website at www.commarketing.com."Now, I'd like to respond, so I'll go point by point:

"First you said that you were paid late for your post. I did check with the accounting group at our blog platform partner and my understanding is that the delay in payment was because you did not adhere to the requirements of the post (keywords, link, etc.). That was identified and you were notified to adjust the post. Once that was accomplished, the payment was released."

- Ummm, no - that did NOT happen. I never said I was paid late. This is what I said: "I have altered the post to take out the links because honestly, this company deserves nothing from me. I had to wait 30 days from the date this post went live in order to receive payment and fulfill my end of the deal per the paid blogging company's TOS - now that it has been over 30 days, all bets are off!" - this means that after I WAS PAID (I had to wait 30 days as that is what the paid bogging company requires for all posts as they must be live for 30 days and then payment is sent.) So, only AFTER receiving payment did I remove links, already Sharon is mistaken.

"Part of what my company and team do for our clients when we use blog posts is follow their branding guidelines and insure we protect their reputation. As part of that service one of my team members made the decision (without input from Beads of Cambay) to remove you as a blogger with the concern that your beliefs may be offensive to some people. Our client, Beads of Cambay in no way was responsible for that ban and was not consulted in that decision."

- I know all about branding and marketing since I have been working for an excellent SEO firm. That being said, I also know it's NOT best practice for a team member (employee) to make any decision for a client without consulting them - at least not a decision like this. Tell me Sharon, did this team member realize that these were the categorie chosen (meaning blogs in the aforementioned categories were to be accepted.) I see 'alternative lifestyle' and 'religion and spirituality' I'd have to say this blog fits perfectly.

"The decision to ban you was simply a subjective decision based on what that person knew and believed to be best for the client at that time."

- So this person made a decision for your client without consulting the client, based on their very ignorant ideals - I guess they didn't realize that many Pagans are very craft and talented.

"We were not making any judgement about you or your beliefs but simply a business decision that we believed would serve our client."

- Okay, this part is just stupid. Sharon, how can you say I was not being judged based on my beliefs? I was obviously being judged on something and if it wasn't my beliefs, then what was it?

Oh wait, it WAS my beliefs because this was the response I got:

Yes, it says, " I don't prefer my client's to advertise on a Pagan Community website."

Yup, it was obviously what this team member wanted - no input from the client? WOW - way to run a business.

"Please however know that Beads of Cambay was not involved in this decision and did not condone or approve it. They welcome purchases from all people and do not discriminate in any way."

- If this is infact true, then my apologies to the company Beads of Cambay. Unfortunately, it was Beads of Cambay that hired this company to represent them - maybe hey need to be more mindful of whom they allow to do their marketing and public relations because I am betting that.ComMarketing has cost them lots of customers and money. Wonder how they will feel about all this?

Let's look at just what some of my readers said about the original post I made back in October 2008: Comment RSS feed

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The Real Reason God Is Hated

You do expression that God is hated right? If you were asked what the matching of Impression was, what would you say? Sure would say be repulsed by. I would hold to say that be repulsed by is love that has been ridiculous. The matching of love is Lack of concern if you ask me. The devil is full of love, moral love for himself and in view of that has a natural be repulsed by towards God. May I intimate whilst that the real tolerate and the underlying tolerate that Lucifer hates Jehovah is aristocratic one great issue: Imaginative Tug. The devil had enmity towards God in detail up similar to he was not brought in to the inner circle to remedy the policy of creating earth. Now daydream about it for a sec, God creates humans and an earth for them and commemorates Convention via a day He calls Become known or Sabbath. This is the tolerate for the Sabbath, it is to feature the Convention. In return to that, satan hates humans when they were fashioned in the image of God and they too were unquestionable a lump of this inexhaustible Tug. Humans can breed, the devil cannot. In a deduce that puts us in a carve up of suspicion to the arch-rival. The devil hates creative talent in complete. He himself is not creative, he doesn't know how to be. His schemes are all old magical that he puts a new part on but they all go back to the issues of the beginning. I daydream God fashioned each of us with a great down long for to achieve. Think about similar to you get to be creative. It may be with composition a garden, or drawing a picture, or dwelling a put up, or making a video, or making fare.^A At all it may be, it involves creative talent. I arouse you to examination on the elements of creative talent and by seeing your own torso and looking to the natural world to expression that God is a engineer and Designer at focal point. He loves to Generate. I be keen on that in time without end He will span up where He left off similar to we sinned. Not good enough a doubt, we are leaving to be co-laborers with Him in creating new and pungent bits and pieces in the imminent. Tally out these words from a book called 'The Comprehensive Contoversy' in reference to fantasy and Creativity: Current, morally upright minds will deliberate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. Current will be no sarcastic, mistaken foe to request to slackness of God. All vigor will be urban, every segregate improved. The acquirement of knowledge will not fall the stare at or habit the energies. Current the grandest enterprises may be carried remit, the loftiest aspirations reached, the pinnacle ambitions realized; and constant exhibit will come new heights to overcome, new wonders to look up to, new truths to notice, fragile equipment to grip forth the powers of stare at and principal and torso. GC 677.2 All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God^aEURTMs redeemed. Unautocratic by demise, they outlet their indefatigable mad dash to worlds afar-worlds that ecstatic with depression at the prospect of possible woe and rang with songs of gladness at the word of a ransomed principal. Next to beyond description delight the children of earth category featuring in the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. They amount the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained knock down ages upon ages in contemplation of God^aEURTMs masterpiece. Next to undimmed knowledge they favor upon the celebrity of creation-suns and stars and systems, all in their correct order spinning the throne [Commence P.678] of Spirit. Upon all bits and pieces, from the smallest to the pinnacle, the Creator^aEURTMs name is in print, and in all are the resources of His power displayed. GC 677.3 In the same way as a God! Let's keep going to cheer on creative talent in the lives of community forcibly us and divide the Tidings of God for new inspiration on what real Initiative is all about. Current is minute allowance be in love with studying God's Tidings and learning from the Designer, Himself.

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The Magic Of Mother Essencevictoria Pettella

THE MAGIC OF MOTHER'S ESSENCEVICTORIA PETTELLA*One can Be a Mother to Many Things..Mother can also Be a SACRED PLACE one feels withinMother can be a place that is warm, a space to Grow without fearA space of love to stretch your Wings of LifeMother can be a safe coccoon to become Strong and Empowered againMother is a song in your lonely heart that heals and turns all thingsto Love and Light once again**Mother can be many thingsMother can be all thingsThere are Mothers of ChildrenMothers of SpiritMothers of CreativityMothers of Poetry and Prose and the Written WordMother's of all things that GrowMothers of a Garden..of each and every Shining FlowerMothers of Song, Music and HarmonyMothers of Travellings Souls, Those Brave Gypsy spirits exploring the body of Mother Earth teaching us wisdomThere are Mothers of Nature and Mother's of Beautiful Creatures big and smallMother Earth, Mother GoddessMothers of Myth and Folklore, Mothers of Religion, Saints,The Divine MotherArchetypal Mothers of Tradition and CultureMothers carrying the Ancestral Trees of Life*There are Universal Mothers of the Sacred Elementsof Water, Earth, Air and Fire and EtherThere are Mothers of the Stars and Sky, the Sun and Dancing Heavens*There are Mothers of MagicMothers of the FairiesMothers of the InvisibleMothers of EnchantmentMothers of Art and all artformsMothers of Creative projects...Mother Weavers..of books and ideas...and stories that come into Form *Mothers come in many FormsChildren come in many Forms*CELEBRATING THE ESSENCE OF MOTHERYOU MAY HAVE FOUND THIS ESSENCE IN YOUR OWN MOTHER..OR EVEN BLESSED TO FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS BECOME LIKE A SURROGATE MOTHER TO YOU IN SOME WAY....SOMEONE WHO FEELS LIKE A MOTHER TO YOU..You may be One who Carries Mother's Essence and never had a child..BUT YOUR CHILDREN ARE THE CREATIVE LIFE ESSENCE YOU GIVE BIRTH TO EVERY DAY!*WHATEVER KIND OF MOTHER YOU ARE..KNOW EACH OF YOU ARE REAL..VALID..MAGNIFICENT AND PERFECT.. JUST AS YOU ARE!
Whether you have walked the Pathof a Traditional Mother and bore a child from your Beautiful Body..or whether you adopted one..or whether you never had a physical experience of giving childbirth...or raising children,you may be a MOTHER OF CREATION..walking the Earth giving birth to Children that come in many forms of Magic, Light and Beauty!
Wishing everyone the Beauty of Mother's EssenceThe Magic of Mother's Essence belongs to all..
I Know Mothers that come in all shapes and formsMANY PEOPLE CELEBRATE THIS DAY...BUT I ALSO KNOW THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE LUXURY OF KNOWING THIER MOTHER OR HAVING ONE..AND ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR MOTHERS..OR THOSE MOTHERS WHO HAVE LOST A CHILD..*so for some today is a day of both joy and challenge( keep those close in your heart!)*Whatever your path....wishing you all Blessings in whatever way you need..and may your Hearts fill with The Powerful Lov a Mother's Essence in whatever way it is sent for you to Receive!*WE ALL CARRY MOTHER'S ESSENCE..WE ALL CARRY THE ABILITY TO LOVE...NOURISH, SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE..INSPIRE, EMBODY STRENGTH, HEALING, TO EMPOWER, TO EMANATE WISDOM AND GIVE ALL THAT WE ARE...TO WHATEVER WE ARE A MOTHER TO...
Celebrate Mother's Essence..in all forms...Blessings Today and Always..*Share your Own Magicof Mother's Essence*Victoria PettellaAwake with Charm and Spirit

Credit: pagan-space.blogspot.com

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Let Get This Food Alphabet Started A Is For

Arugula, Ale, and Angel Delight.

Appropriately enough, I'm eating avocado on toast for breakfast as I write this, to keep me in an alphabetical frame of mind.

Let's kick this off with 2 great questions from Torwen:

1.I have noticed a lot of recipes calling for arugula. I have never seen it in the UK but it looks like wild rocket to me. Do you know the difference and whether I can substitute them for each other without missing out on something.

Arugula and rocket are actually different names for the same plant variety (why on earth do they do that?) so feel free to use them interchangeably as they are the same. Incidentally, I came across one gardening board where someone was quite puzzled by the fact that the had bought both rocket and arugula seeds from different sources and just had double of the same plant.

There are different varieties of arugula / rocket so the pepperiness of the plant may vary slightly.

2. I would like to cook/bake with ale (just luv it, can't stand the Continental beer) But the only thing that pops into my mind is steak-n-ale pie. Unfortunately I am a vegetarian, so this is out of question. Do you know some other English recipes using ale?

This was actually much tougher than I expected, largely because the rich flavor of ale goes so well with meat (sorry!).

You mentioned using ale in baking and I came across the following recipe for Midsummer Ale bread in my copy of The Wicca Cookbook: Recipes, Ritual, and Lore

Midsummer Ale Bread

(makes 3 loaves)

3 cups SR flour

2 tbs sugar

12 oz ale

1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350F or 175C. Mix the flour and sugar then gradually blend in the ale. Transfer to 3 loaf tins and drizzle melted butter over the top. Bake for 50 minutes.

I was also determined to find a recipe for cooking vegetables with ale, and finally found one in the Vegetarian Times for Ale-Braised Cabbage with Leeks:

(serves 6)

3 Tbs olive oil

2 medium leeks, sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 red cabbage, cored and finely shredded

2 cups pale ale

2 Tbs lemon juice

2 Tbs chopped fresh dill

Heat oil over medium heat in 12-inch skillet. Add leeks and garlic, and sprinkle with salt, if desired. Saut'e 1 minute. Add cabbage, and cook 15 minutes, or until cabbage wilts and begins to brown, stirring frequently. Add ale, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes, or until most of ale has evaporated. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice and dill. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

If anyone else has any vegetarian recipes using ale, feel free to share.

Also, for any Guinness fans, I have a recipe for Chocolate Guinness Cheesecake that I'll be sure to post once I've tried it.

And finally, Angel Delight.

If you live in England and have not yet tried this, y should. It's a powder dessert that you mix with milk to create a sort of mousse and it was a favorite when I was young. There used to be dozens of flavors and I think there are only a few now, but butterscotch, topped with Dream Topping was a personal favorite.

Tomorrow, we cover b: blancmange, beetroot, and more. So send those questions if you have any.

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