Ghost Hunting and the Science of Seeing things that aren’t there

Seeing animals in clouds, or a face in the moon, are examples of pareidolia. Look here for photos and to test your own ability to see things that aren’t there.  In ghost investigations many of us think we see faces in windows or in designs on a wall. Here's an article from Earthsky.org that explains what's going on, with lots of amazing examples. - Rob

Ghost Hunting and the Science of Seeing things that aren’t there

By Larry Sessions in EarthSky.org

Blogs | Human World on Jun 16, 2014

Maybe you’ve seen the proverbial bunny in a patch of clouds, or a clown’s face in a mud splatter on the side of your car? Seeing recognizable objects or patterns in otherwise random or unrelated objects or patterns is called pareidolia. It’s a form of apophenia, which is a more general term for the human tendency to seek patterns in random information. Everyone experiences it from time to time. Seeing the famous man in the moon is a classic example from astronomy. The ability to experience pareidolia is more developed in some people and less in others. LOOK AT THE PHOTOS IN THIS ARTICLE TO LEARN MORE AND TEST YOUR OWN ABILITY TO SEE THINGS THAT AREN’T THERE.

FULL ARTICLE: EarthSky: Seeing Things That Aren't There

CAPTION FOR PHOTO (LEFT)

The “face of Jesus” in this photo is actually a child with a bonnet, and the hair is vegetation in the background. Anonymous Swedish photograph from the late nineteenth century via Wikimedia Commons

Hear the Podcast of my interview with Ghosthunting Bill Hartley here!

Had a GREAT interview and talk with Ghosthunting Bill Hartley on the Haunted Whispers Radio Show tonight.  Wow!  Time flew by!!
If you Missed it- you can hear it here!!
Thanks again, Bill! What an awesome time. I look forward to the next time!
LISTEN HERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/liveparanormal/2014/08/23/guest-rob-gutro-authorghost-trackermediumscientist
OR CLICK BELOW!

More Paranormal Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with LiveParanormal History FM on BlogTalkRadio with liveparanormal on BlogTalkRadio

Tonight at 8 p.m. EDT join me for my interview with the Haunted Whispers Radio Show!

Tonight at 8 p.m. EDT join me for my interview  with the Haunted Whispers with GHB radio show!  Hosted By: "GHB" Bill Hartley
Where: Live Paranormal / History FM  / Live Paranormal TV / The URN
TO LISTEN LIVE:   http://liveparanormal.com/m/chat/home/

CALL IN NUMBER:
619-639-4606

Lessons Learned From Talking to the Dead: Now An Amazon Best Seller!

On August 19, two of my books made the best seller rank on Amazon - and Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead hit the mark in the Supernatural AND Channeling categories. Wow. I am humbled and thankful for the support and the interest.

• August 19, 2014: Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,815 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
• #69 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality > Occult > Supernatural
• #75 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Channeling

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SUMMARY for LESSONS LEARNED FROM TALKING TO THE DEAD: Follow Rob on a treasure-hunt-style journey in Virginia as he and others try to explain what appear to be random and obscure words, signs and symbols from a spirit, that all wind up being intensely personal to the spirit.Explore the science behind how they communicate. Learn how to receive their messages, where they appear, and important messages in how to live your life. Rob takes you into cemeteries, battlefields, and historic places. You’ll see what happens to victims of suicide and murders, and how infants and animals pass messages to the living. Featuring: Inspired Ghost Tracking and mediums Barb Mallon, Troy Cline and Ruth Larkin. 

Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead for $8.99 paperback and $2.99 E-bookon AMAZON:http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgdeor to Purchase from the CreateSpace eStore:https://www.createspace.com/3824548

Spirits Come in Dreams: Birthdays, Anniversaries and Holidays

I received the following email recently that confirms two things that I've learned from talking with those who passed. First, the email, and then the lessons! 

EMAIL: You mention keeping an open mind on birthdays and anniversaries.  NEXT Sunday it will be (my late husband) Stan’s and my anniversary.  However, last night I dreamt of him TWICE!   I hardly ever dream about him and yet I awoke from the first dream remembering every detail – still do.  The second dream is not as clear, but I woke up crying.  I still miss him so much.  

1) Spirits come into our dreams to let us know that they're still around. That's one of many ways they can show us that they come visit from time to time.
2) Birthdays, Anniversaries and Holidays - these are popular times for spirits to give us messages? 
WHY?  Because those are normally the times you would pick up the phone and call a relative. Just think of spirits as people who live far away, in a different state, place, etc. They would call you on special dates just as when they were alive in the physical plane. 

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LEARN MORE ABOUT SIGNS: in my book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" by Rob Gutro
In medium Rob Gutro's second book, See photo proof of a ghost haunting a residence. Go on a treasure-hunt-style journey in Virginia as Rob and others explain random and obscure words, signs and symbols from a spirit, that prove the spirit was with his family. Learn lessons from Spirits and their suggestions on how we can live better on Earth.  Explore the science behind how they communicate. Learn how to receive their messages, where they appear, and important messages in how to live your life. Go into cemeteries, battlefields, and historic places in various parts of the U.S and beyond. Learn about spirits of suicide and murder victims, and how infants and animals pass messages to the living.  FOR THE BOOK ON AMAZON.COM IN PAPERBACK or EBOOK: http://tinyurl.com/keax3v4 

Interview on Chimichanga Talk at Paracon

While at the Pensacola Paracon, I met a fun, energetic woman named Angie. She's the mom of a young author (who published a science fiction novel you'll read about later), and she brought the podcast to my attention. In fact, she grabbed my hand and brought me over to the host and told him I was there for an interview! As I've said, I met some pretty wonderful people at the Paracon, and Angie was one of them.

WHAT IS CHIMICHANGA TALK? Every Wednesday they provide an insider’s look at the industries from comics to novels, from video games to movies. According to their website it's a geeky podcast which averages 2,500 listeners, Chimichanga Talks! takes an insider’s look at the industry from people in the industry. From comics to movies, video-games to novels, we cover it all! Past guests have included: Michael Rooker, Lew Temple, I Fight Dragons, Bobby Nash, and Lloyd Kaufman to name a few.

The Big Wang interviews Rob

One of the hosts known as "The Big Wang" interviewed me about my book "Pets and the Afterlife" and we talked about ghosts and spirits. In fact, He recognized that his grandmother's spirit has been around him. It's about 20 minutes long!
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST!
One of the hottest events this summer, Pensacola Florida was the host of 2014’s Paracon! Interviewed on our longest show ever, Reverend Dianne Frazier (0:11:11)from Spiritlight, Writers Rob Gutro (0:22:57), Shannon Bell (0:47:15), Reverend One Eagle Feather (1:05:05) from Spiritlight, and Jason Woodham (1:26:36); Actors Melanie Robel (1:44:18) and Jimmy Dempster (2:17:19). Plus the Fun with Wang Star Wars Saga Trivia Challenge!

(NOTE - There's quite a bit of background noise- it was BUSY at the Convention) 

LISTENHERE: http://chimichangatalk.com/2014/08/16/pensacola-2014-paracon-special/

PODCAST: http://chimichangatalk.com/podcast/
WEBSITE:  http://chimichangatalk.com/

Paracon Heat Adventure, People, Ghost Stories and Costumes

The heat curled a book cover or two

The Pensacola Paracon was Saturday, August 9 and Sunday August 10. On Saturday vendors like me (Rob) had to be there at 9 a.m. and the doors opened at 10 a.m.

2 women with an axe to grind?

TOO HOT TO HANDLE - The air conditioning was working... until 10 a.m. and then it died. The outside temperature hit 100F. The INSIDE temperature in the convention was about 105/110F. It was unbearable. I bought about 7 bottles of water and people were miserable. There were many people in costumes, too. I read some of the facebook comments, and some people left after 30 minutes. We had to stay from 10am to 6pm (8 hours) in 100F plus heat. 

Even R2D2 from Star Wars was there! 

The Joker in the background looking at toys

MY TALK -   My talk about a "double murder ghost investigation" was at 4:30 p.m. in another building, which did have A/C, but only 18 people showed as the crowds rapidly thinned out. The talk went well, despite the small group. 

FASCINATING PEOPLE - 
  I got to meet some really great people over the weekend, though. People who came to the table to ask questions, share stories and find out what my books were about. A young gentleman named Will was there with his family and I was amazed how much he was so spiritually developed. I met a wonderful woman named "Silver Wolf" (nickname) who rescued many dogs in her neighborhood.  Justin was sensitive to energies and realized that bad relationships cause negative energy that no one needs. I met David and Maria Chavez who are starting "Phantom Paranormal Research and Investigations" in Pensacola. I met Ray and Heather Carlson of Bellview Paranormal Society;

A guy with a beaded face painted on

2  SPIRIT RESCUE STORIES- 1)  One woman gets a headache whenever in the presence of a ghost or spirit just as I do. She said she felt her grandmother's spirit with her and her husband when they spent 72 hours on a kayak in the NW Pacific before being rescued by a Japanese Coast Guard boat. 
2) Another woman told me that even though her dad passed 4 years ago, she knows his spirit is around. One day her breaker box shorted and the lights in her house went out. She called to her dad to fix it and shortly all the power was restored and the breaker worked again!  She knew it was her dad. 

Deadpool and Darth Vader

Paracon Friends: Meet Spiritlight and Shannon Bell

Dianne and One Eagle Feather

There were many highlights to my weekend event at the Paracon in Pensacola, Florida. Many of them included the people I got to meet.

Here's a look at some amazing people that I befriended, whom I was fortunate enough to be positioned next to at the event.
The first couple is Dianne and Reverend One Eagle Feather of Spiritlight.

Dianne tames a dragon

  They truly lit up the room. They perform Native American weddings, they are psychic healers, mediums, paranormal investigators who also do house clearings, Reiki masters, authors and they make amazing jewelry, too! Dianne did medium readings at their table and was always spot on.
  We had something else in common: Dog rescue!  They are very active in animal rescue!!  Check out their Rescue page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spiritlightanimalrescue

One Eagle Feather hugs a magical beast

For their regular website:  http://diannespiritlight.com/
AND, if you live in Kentucky or thereabouts you can see them at Scarefest in September 12-14 in the Lexington Convention Center.
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MEET SHANNON BELL - Shannon and her husband John sat on the other side of my table, and also lit up the room. I really lucked out with great people around me. Shannon just published her first novel, a Vampire romance. Her website is: http://shannonwritesandblogs.com/

ABOUT HER BOOK: "The Mortal One" - The Mortal One is a paranormal romance. Dylan leaves her life in Florida to go on a vacation of a lifetime so she can find herself. Instead, she finds vampires – even after she has convinced herself they don’t exist. She is flung into the arms of Nico, an immortal who must mark her to save her. The problems

Shannon and husband John

compound because another vampire feels he is entitled to mark her as well. She is caught up in an exhilarating love affair as well as vampire politics. She finds it hard to be the only mortal one.
Kindle – Buy here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mortal-One-Shannon-Bell-ebook/dp/B00HAC0LZK

Set up at the Paracon and More Spirit Assistance!

his is part three in Rob's trip to the Pensacola, Florida Paracon. After checking

outside the paracon

into the hotel I drove to the Pensacola fair grounds to set up my table for the weekend (Sat./Sun.) event.

Setting up at the Paracon

A MESSAGE FROM SPIRIT -  As I was pulling in the front gate I noticed the first building on the right housed the Paracon, but I heard my mom say "keep going, keep going straight ahead." I wondered why, but didn't question it. In the next building was a dog show! Since I was there promoting my book "Pets and the Afterlife" it was a perfect place to visit... so after I set up my table I walked over to the dog show.

Connie Fleming and one of her agile Shelties

  That's when I met an amazing dog trainer and dog lover named Connie Fleming. She was warm, wonderful, and welcoming and saw my badge and said "I think you're looking for the other convention!" - I told her I was in the right place and told her about my book. We talked about her Sheltie dogs, our 3 kids, and her experiences with pets who have communicated from the other side. She told me that some of her dogs posed with Star Trek actors and she loves sci-fi! She took the 2 business cards I had and said she'd display them. How kind!  

  The next morning I went over early and brought her more business cards and a bunch of promotional post cards, and gave her a free copy of the "Pets" book to say thanks. 

  AMAZING TURNABOUT - One of the gentleman attending the dog event saw the book on Saturday, walked over to the Paracon to find ME, and bought my book. Wow. He said he and his wife lost a couple of dogs and believe they've received messages. He walked in the 100F heat to get a copy and I was really honored!

The dog show - agility set up! 

    

WHAT IS THE PENSACOLA PARACON? A Science, Comic, Sci Fi, Anime, Gaming, paranormal, art, horror and Costuming Convention! Pensacola Interstate Fair Grounds Conference Building, Pensacola, Florida Pensacola Interstate Conference Building 6655 Mobile Hwy Pensacola Florida 850 941-4321

http://www.pensacolaparacon.com

NEXT: MEETING SOME NEW FRIENDS/FELLOW VENDORS
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**NEW** PETS AND THE AFTERLIFE: The loss of a pet is like the loss of a child to pet owners. The love we share with our pets never dies, and in a new book called "Pets and the Afterlife" by Rob Gutro, the author provides proof that our pets do communicate with us from the other side.    Available in paperback and E-book, on Amazon.com and other outlets at: To order paperback of Kindle- click here 

FOR  ROB GUTRO'S  OTHER BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON ((Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium for $7.99 paper/$2.99 E-book and Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead  for $8.99 paperback and $2.99 E-book:  http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgde

Pensacola Paracon Trip: "Spirit Assistance" #2: "Escape from Motel Hell"

Yesterday I mentioned that my parents' spirits influenced me to take a brochure of Pensacola as I arrived into the baggage claim area of the airport. I thought nothing of the hotels, and thought the maps may be useful and I thought nothing of it.
  I picked up the rental car, programmed the first Dunkin' Donuts into my GPS and

Lunch and the brochure from mom & dad's spirit

stopped for lunch. Then it was off to the hotel. For the sake of not bashing a place, I will leave the name out. I'll just call it the "A" Hotel.
ARRIVAL AT MOTEL HELL -   I pulled into the "hotel" and it didn't look like the picture on-line. In fact, it resembled a 1960s three floor motel. It was adjacent to a McDonalds and there was litter all over the parking lot border. The restaurant also meant loud traffic all night long, but I always bring ear plugs. Here's where it really declined.
  I walked to the "Lobby," which was a motel lobby room (not connected to the rooms, which were all only accessible from the outside. The door was locked at 1 p.m. I was stumped. I waited 10 minutes and saw someone cleaning a room (and saw no replacement sheets or towels) and a middle-aged, ragged-looking woman approached me and said "Hey! You waiting for check in?" I gulped. I decided I could not stay there. It was dirty, loud, a motel, and obviously not well-run. The kicker was when I asked if I could put my 1 bag in a room and she answered, "Yeah, for 20 bucks early check in fee." That did it!!! I was paying too much anyway, and it was disgusting. I walked out and went into the rental car, where I called AARP Travel (yeah, I'm a member and I'm glad I got their insurance).
  THE SPIRIT ASSISTANCE PART- The AARP Travel agent was awesome. But she asked what hotels I would like to check into. I then heard my mom's spirit say "Get the book we had you pick up!"  I did. I went through the book and the agent patiently called 7 hotels and found 2 with availability. I happily booked into the Hampton Inn on Davis Road. Awesome, clean, quiet, wonderful place. Thanks, mom and dad for the major assist!
 (BTW- AARP travel insurance prevented a cancellation fee).
NEXT: Set up at the Paracon and More Spirit Assistance! 

**NEW** PETS AND THE AFTERLIFE: The loss of a pet is like the loss of a child to pet owners. The love we share with our pets never dies, and in a new book called "Pets and the Afterlife" by Rob Gutro, the author provides proof that our pets do communicate with us from the other side.    Available in paperback and E-book, on Amazon.com and other outlets at: To order paperback of Kindle- click here 

FOR  ROB GUTRO'S  OTHER BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON ((Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium for $7.99 paper/$2.99 E-book and Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead  for $8.99 paperback and $2.99 E-book:  http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgde