After Ghost Magazine's interview with Hans Holzer and the discussion regarding his use of trance mediums in the field, the Editors were curious as to what other field investigating teams used mediums in their work. That curiosity led Ghost! Magazine to the doorstep of Lost Souls Paranormal Investigations and founder Amy Allan.

Amy Allan is a physical medium that has been tested by some of the same type of scientists in the field of paranormal science. She can also be considered a pioneer in the field of Paranormal Investigation. At age of 18, Ms. Allan created a new field investigation methodology that is based on the initial work of Hans Holzer and further collaborated on by William Roll.

When Ms. Allan was 26, she formed Lost Souls Paranormal Investigations, and then two years later formed the American Society of Spiritual Connections. In addition to her work with these two groups, Amy found time to squeeze in two degrees in business and is completing degrees in both psychology and sociology. Despite her extensive schedule, Amy has let Ghost Magazine into her home to ask a few burning questions.

GHOST! MAG:
Thank you once again, Amy, for allowing us this opportunity. Before we begin let me tell you that being from Tucson, myself, this is thrill to find such a unique talent in my own backyard. I was also wondering, do you think it would be possible if I could tag along on one of your investigations?

ALLEN:
No problem. But be warned you don't get to just tag along. I will put you to work.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Fair Enough. So Amy what initially sparked your interest in the paranormal?

ALLEN:
As a child, I had many paranormal experiences. I did not understand what was happening to me, so I searched out the meanings by reading everything I could about paranormal phenomena. My focus was on the science end and reading about the research that was, and is, being done in the field to try to explain what is happening in the world of the unexplained. For me it only inspired more questions and ideas on how to test them, in order to resolve them. Still it all left me wondering what was going on with me.

 

GHOST! MAG:
At that time were there many resources you could turn to for answers?

ALLEN:
As far as scientific literature, yes. As far as someone who could guide me through my own experiences, no, not until I was much older. Then I met Dr. Roll, and other parapsychologists who tested me, and other psychics and mediums.

 

GHOST! MAG:
So what did you do?

ALLEN:
I read avidly and still do. I began to do research and to conduct interviews of others who reported experiencing phenomena, and I subjected myself to testing by other scientists.

 

GHOST! MAG:
How has the paranormal field progressed since the time you were first introduced to it?

ALLEN:
I see far more women in the field as research scientists. I see many more 'Sensitives' in the field as scientists. I see new studies coming out that are using the resources that have only been limited to the other sciences. I see a focus of concentration on physics and neuroscience in the field. All of these are really wonderful advances for us. I also see new and stricter controlled methodologies as well.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Now Amy, you are physical medium. Can you explain what that means?

ALLEN:
It means I both see and hear the dead. That is a very simplified meaning, but to the point.

 

GHOST! MAG:
When did you undercover that gift?

ALLEN:
I have had this ability since I was a child. It is what motivated me to find out what was 'wrong' with me. As I grew older it became very difficult to deal with, others did not think it normal and I began wondering if I was not crazy. Then I met a parapsychologist. While doing an investigation of a local building, he said that he would like to do some preliminary tests. I agreed, hoping that this would finally allow me to know what was happening. I was subjected to PSI card test, Target Picture Tests, Blind Walks and Blind Readings. The Blind Walks and Blind Readings I had been doing before so that was nothing new. After his series of tests he (the parapsychologists) contacted Dr. Roll and asked him to take a look at me, as he had found no Psychological factors (mental illnesses etc..,) and I had been scoring very significant hits. Dr. Roll came and met with me and then he too tested me, taking me to Georgia. I was also being tested by another local Parapsychologist and all of them concluded that in fact I have some type of ability, that I was receiving information not through usual means (senses). As far as people believing me, I did not really care about that factor. It was more for my own sanity.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Tell me a little about Lost Souls Paranormal Investigations.

ALLEN:
Lost Souls P.I. started in 1999. I have been through many people, before this team finally came together. I am very serious about what it is we do and how it is done and Lost Souls is not for those who do this as a hobby or those who are not into science. The team that is now Lost Souls came together about three years ago. They are all very serious about what it is they do and how they do it, which makes us all happy. We are of like-mind in that we can bring both spirituality and science together.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Lost Souls is unique in its use of mediums, and psychics. I believe the term you use is Sensitives. Tell me what these unique individuals bring to an investigation.

ALLEN:
We do use Sensitives in the investigations. They bring a lot! All of the Sensitives have been tested before they are allowed to do any work. Their hit ratio must be significant.

GHOST! MAG:
So what is their role during the process?

ALLEN:
What we do is a three-way correlation of Sensitives on the investigation. Each Sensitive is different. Say we would have a Psychic Knower (P.K.), Physical Medium (P.M.) and Psychometrist. Each of them will get information, but in different manners of perceptual experiences, through this method I have found that they will in effect get the whole story! One sensitive is nothing. They are NOT going to get the entire facts that exist in a given situation, they will get maybe 35% maybe 65%, but not the whole! You know that old saying two heads are better than one. Well three is the key! The Physical Medium will talk to the individual. IF there is a conscious entity to be found that individual may be biased in their recounts of the situation. The Psychic Knower will see (through their mind's eye) how the events went down, but may not encounter the actual person. The Psychometrist may get more details on the event than the Psychic Knower by touching an object that was present during the event.

Using a simple scenario as an example: The P.M. was able to give you a detailed description of the individual (what they looked like, mannerisms, accents, age, sex, ethnicity, style of dress, their personal quirks as well). The P.K. will tell you that he knocked his wife down on the floor and ran from the house and the Psychometrist will tell you yes the room looked like a 1970's disco with a red floor and orange walls and that a beating did in fact take place while a woman was sitting in this chair.

There you have the complete incident from all angles and now you have a load of information to work with while performing historical research.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Have you always used the same Sensitives or have they varied from investigation to investigation?

ALLEN:
They vary and we always switch them around.

 

GHOST! MAG:
So you have three Senstives, a Coordinator and the Equipment Personnel. That must be quite the undertaking to keep everyone coordinated.

ALLEN:
It is strange and you think it would be hard to keep everyone coordinated, but after you do two or three investigations it all seems to flow correctly. The techie, coordinator and interviewer are always the same, and they know what they are doing, they stay out of the Sensitives way. We have such a solid method that everyone follows to a T, and that helps while performing the investigation. Everyone knows their job in and out and they know the ins and outs of what others are doing, so we go in and do our job.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Being a scientist you must use some science based equipment?

ALLEN:
We use an EMF, Ion Detector, Compass, Motion Detector, Radio Frequency Detector, Maps, Video equipment, microphones, tape recorders, Cameras, 400 speed film, Walkie Talkies the list goes on, and for the real slow nights cross-word puzzles are a must. {Laughs)

Outside of that we use information provided by astronomers concerning solar flares.

This information is used to look at environmental phenomena.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Wow, combining Sensitives with measurable scientific evidence. That is rather unorthodox. How have the other members of the paranormal community reacted to your methodology?

ALLEN:
Well, this is a loaded one. We have had mixed reactions. Dr. Roll rarely (if at all ) used Sensitives in his investigations, and that is why it is such an enormous honor to have been tested by him and mentored by him.

Many ghost hunters do not understand that there is so much more to this field than what they are doing. Most of the negative reactions have been by ghost hunters or hobbyists. The Parapsychologists sees the possibilities much more clearly, as we are doing research not only of field investigations, but Sensitives too.

A word of caution though. If people do use Sensitives in their investigations, test them first.

 

GHOST! MAG:
You said Dr. Roll was one of your mentors. How much influence has he had on you and what you are doing with Lost Souls?

ALLEN:
Well, you may have noticed he had a GREAT effect on my group and me. He was the one who taught me about environmental factors, we have had many discussions about what needs to be looked into as far as these environmental factors and Sensitives and what it could all mean. He was also the one who set up my school plan, and generated the thoughts to test other Sensitives before using them. Yes, I could say that he was instrumental in my life.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Were they any other people you would like to mention that had an influence on you?

ALLEN:
Yes, while creating the method I had many people who influenced me. Hans Holzer, Gertrude Shmidler, Gary Schwartz and Bill Roll, along with the many Sensitives and individuals who had experience with hauntings.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Were any of these people the inspiration for the formation of American Society of Spiritual Connections (ASSC)?

ALLEN:
This would be the public at large. I started ASSC to help Sensitives and the public.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Can you tell us a little more about the ASSC?

ALLEN:
ASSC was started initially to provide tested Sensitives for the public. It has since turned into a place where Sensitives can come and meet others like them and go through scientific testing in a comfortable way.

 

GHOST! MAG:
In addition to all the other stuff you are involved with, you created the Spiritual Awakening Workshop. Can you give us a more little insight into what this is exactly?

ALLEN:
It is an intensive workshop for those who are serious about the experiences they have had and want to find out if there is something going on with them, or for those who are professionals looking for personal or public validation.

We do provide testing within the workshop, along with meditations that are created by those teaching and the student (it is a very individualized process), the workshop is very long due to the testing that we do and the opening process that the person goes through. We are in it for the long haul and many issues may surface during the workshop and we are there for them as well as the other students. The workshop, through the testing that we do also offers the student the ability to discover what it is they are best at doing with their ability, we do everything from murder scene investigations to readings.

One thing to remember though, just because you take the workshop, there is no guarantee that you have abilities. We look only to the facts to see if someone does or does not have a unique ability.

 

GHOST! MAG:
So basically it is a case of "Let the data speak". By the way that is a great motto. It says a lot about your commitment to the science as it applies to the unknown and the role of hard evidence in proving your findings. You seem to take education at a premium. Do you feel education is important in your work as an investigator?

ALLEN:
I am not certain who was the first to utter those words, but William James comes to mind as well as Dr. Schwartz, who constantly stated those words during the research he did into mediums.

And you are right; I do take education very seriously! When I met Dr. Roll I had already received my degrees in business, which have become invaluable! I do after all operate my own business. Both of my parents are entrepreneurs too and I learned much from growing up in that household about how to run a business. Dr. Roll suggested a course of study for me. Psychology to him is an important aspect of performing research in this area. As I finish up that degree I see that importance. Though I was a scientist before, and had created methodologies, I have learned through pursuing this degree not only how to conduct a true scientific research project, but also the dynamics of the personalities that I come into contact with through this business. The importance of having this knowledge is enormous. I can now not only conduct scientific research, but use other tools I have learned too. Sociology brought more of this to light for me and I then decided that it too would be an important degree to have. I plan on pursuing my P.H.D in clinical Psychology and Methods. The importance of an education in this field is immeasurable. The first is to be recognized as a professional when it comes to doing investigations, research and testing. There is far more to investigations than just walking around taking pictures and my degrees have only helped me to understand the complexities that surround performing an investigation. I feel that as a result of my education it has only broadened my conceptions about what it is I do and how I can to it to the best of my ability.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Between Lost Souls and ASSC what have you gained since you began?

ALLEN:
I have learned a great deal more about the field and the people that are working in the field and those who are drawn to it. I look forward to performing more research.

 

GHOST! MAG:
In closing, do you have any advice for those out there who are experiencing things they just can't explain?

ALLEN:
There is nothing wrong with asking for help. If you are ill you see a DR. If you want to learn how to draw you go to art school. If you are having experiences that you cannot explain look for those who can help you and always check credentials.

 

GHOST! MAG:
Thank you again for you time Amy. You have been terrific.

ALLEN:
You're welcome.