Friendly Face or Frightful Figure? Pareidolia's Role in Paranormal Pop Culture

At Sinister Coffee and Creamery, we love coffee, ice cream, and a good paranormal investigation. You can read more about our investigations here. These are the things that define us, and brought this blog to you!
Pareidolia in ghost hunting is an often overlooked factor that can be a confusing experience for even the most seasoned investigator. To learn more about pareidolia and how to avoid pareidolia mistakes when ghost hunting, check out our paranormally good coffee selections and read on! Your senses will thank you!

Pareidolia in Ghost Hunting: Fact or Fallacy?

In the paranormal world, there exists a phenomenon that can twist perception and blur the lines between the mundane and the supernatural. As humans, our brains seek patterns in chaos, an adaptive survival instinct ingrained in our genetics. With this in mind, is it really all that surprising that what we see, is heavily influenced by our mind? As ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts, it’s necessary to make space for pareidolia and how it may appear in investigations and paranormal experiences alike. Although true that not everything one experiences as paranormal, is in fact paranormal, pareidolia can help sharpen your skills as an investigator so you are focusing on the right kinds of evidence.

Faces in Clouds

A common human experience of seeing faces or animals in cloud formations is one aspect of the fascinating world of pareidolia. Where things aren’t always what they seem, kinda like the movie The Labyrinth-a cult classic for a reason! Is what we see, just the best approximation of what our brains can process? When confronted with ambiguous or unknown stimuli, our minds conjure the familiar. Faces in trees or the clouds are good examples of our mind putting together patterns in elements that either change or have structures already similar to things or people we’ve seen before.

Shroud of Turin image

One of the most well documented human relics which many experience pareidolia around is The Shroud of Turin. The Shroud of Turin, dates back to the 1300’s and is a linen cloth bearing an image or outline of a man. The authenticity of the cloth has sparked intense debate since its acquisition. While some believe it to be the burial shroud of Jesus Christ and the imprint of his body is revealed on the cloth, others argue that the image is a result of pareidolia, our mind perceiving facial features and details in the irregularities of the fabric's weave. This picture found on Wikipedia is credited to Secondo Pia's 1898 negative of the image on the Shroud of Turin. Image from Musée de l'Élysée, Lausanne.

The Science of Pareidolia

Pixaby Image

According to a Psychology Today article, the human brain is set up to recognize facial features because of the importance expressions have for human interaction. For the human brain to perceive and interpret facial features in any human or non-human form, several different parts of the brain are triggered and work together. Some may even say, as humans we are hard wired to put together patterns in seemingly unrelated things to try to make snap decisions and process complex data.

Pareidolia in ghost hunting

When it comes to paranormal encounters, it is important to consider pareidolia and its influence on how we experience our world. If it is normal for us to try to create easily identifiable patterns out of what we see, then one could assume pretty quickly how that may influence a paranormal investigation or even an experience it feels like we are having. In the dark of night, where our vision is far less precise, our eyes may perceive danger where there is none relying on that fight or flight response that is ingrained in our biology. Proper debunking, and sharing of data across the paranormal community is a necessity for legit ghost hunters many argue, because of pareidolia and how it may manifest in images, or across our visual spectrum during investigations of haunted locations.

Tell us what you think! Is pareidolia part of your experience? Feel free to share this post and give us your take in the comments below! In the meantime, check out our coffee selection, other myths and lore blogs and get your spooky on!

Too Scared to Sleep? Get Coffee! We got the perfect coffee to help you stay awake. Check out our Guatemalan organic roasts or our Peruvian roasts. Click the following link to check out our full line of coffee products you can buy online. Don't forget to check us out for ice cream during our farmer’s market pop-ups!

Black Eyed Children in Portland Oregon: Have They Been Seen Here

At Sinister Coffee and Creamery, we love coffee, ice cream, and a good paranormal investigation. You can read more about our investigations here. These are the things that define us, and brought this blog to you! Check out our coffee selections and read on!

This blog article talks about The Black Eyed Children Phenomenon. Are The Black Eyed Children Urban Legend or Unnerving Reality? Read on to find out more on True Stories & Sightings of Black Eyed Children. Would You Dare Talk to the Black Eyed Children if they came to your door?

Black Eyed Children in Portland Oregon the Untold origin Story

Did you know that one of the first documented encounters with Black Eyed Children comes from Portland Oregon? Link to one reddit account of events found here. Admittedly it’s not very much, but we are hoping to open up a dialogue on this if others have experienced them in Portland, or anywhere you call home! Referenced as one of the first places Black Eyed Children sightings occurred according to Brian Bethel, the person who brought this phenomenon to light, Portland Oregon is an underrepresented area for Black Eyed Children Sightings...until now?

What are Black Eyed Children

Black Eyed Children, often abbreviated as BEKs, are said to be paranormal entities that resemble human children between the ages of 6 and 16. Their one distinctive and unnerving feature: completely BLACK eyes, BEKs often go undetected until they approach whomever their focus is on. Witnesses describe encountering these entities as appearing “with eyes as black as coal”. Their eyes appear to be devoid of any discernible features apparent in human or animal eyes. Something about this characteristic makes those who encounter Black Eyed Children feel uneasy and that there is something untrustworthy about the circumstance they find themselves in. To put it plainly, this unfamiliarity seems perplexing when put into the context of how we normally feel towards or about children.

Ghosts With Black Eyes

The origins of Black Eyed Children are shrouded in mystery, with various theories and urban legends circulating among paranormal enthusiasts. Some speculate that they are the spirits of deceased children seeking entry into the realm of the living, while others attribute their existence to extraterrestrial or demonic origins. Regardless of their origins, encounters with these entities have been reported across different cultures and regions, adding to the intrigue and mystique surrounding them.

Encounters with the Black Eyed Children: True Stories & Sightings

Earliest documented encounters trace back to the 1990s. One encounter, as told in The Sandy River Review occurred in Abilene, Texas when a journalist named Brian Bethel was in his car outside a movie theatre. Two children with entirely black eyes approached his driver side door. They sought a ride home, but an overwhelming sense of uncomfortibility prompted Bethel to decline and drive away quickly. Another chilling account comes from a reddit user named Sarah, who reported encountering a pair of Black Eyed Children on a deserted road late one night. As she drove along the dimly lit road, she noticed two children standing by the roadside, their faces obscured by the shadows. Feeling a sense of unease, Sarah slowed down, only to be met with a feeling of fear as she locked eyes with the children. Their eyes, she recalls, were like two dark voids, lacking any humanity. Overcome with fear, Sarah quickly sped away, haunted by the encounter for years to come.

Perhaps one of the more bizarre encounters with black eyed children mimics the story above but raises it an apple and ketchup. In an article from Thought Catalog, a Texas woman heard the doorbell ring and answered it to children with deep black eyes asking if she would let them in. Being out in the country and hard to find, she was hesitant and then declined. One of the children asked if “he could at least get some ketchup for his apple” before the woman shut the door.

Black Eyed Children As Urban Legend

BEK’s make for good urban legend based on their ability to tap into primal fears surrounding innocence(children) turned sinister(unknown). Their appearance as seemingly normal children with unnaturally black eyes evokes a sense of dread and unease, eliciting an instinctual fear within us to flee an unsafe situation. The ambiguity surrounding their origins and motives adds to their mystique, opening up the phenomenon to various interpretations of what they are and speculation around if they even exist in the first place. The anecdotal nature of BEK encounters shared through word of mouth and online forums ensures it’s continued space in modern folklore. The question remains however, would you answer the door?

Conclusion

Tell us what you think! Fact or Fiction? Feel free to share this post and give us your take in the comments below! In the meantime, check out our coffee selection, other myths and lore blogs and get your spooky on!

Too Scared to Sleep? Get Coffee! We got the perfect coffee to help you stay awake. Check out our Guatemalan organic roasts or our Peruvian roasts. Click the following link to check out our full line of coffee products you can buy online. Don't forget to check us out for ice cream during our farmer’s market pop-ups!

Unraveling the Mystery of The Bandage Man: Haunting Encounters Along Oregon's Highway 101

At Sinister Coffee and Creamery, we love coffee, ice cream, and a good paranormal investigation. You can read more about our investigations here. These are the things that define us, and brought this blog to you! Check out our coffee selections and read on!
The story you are about to read is on the infamous Bandage Man, an Oregon Coast urban legend who is said to wander along highway 101. The Bandage Man tops the ghostly tales of the scenic highway 101 and the paranormal lore of the Oregon Coast. Strap yourself in for this spooky ride and you’ll live to tell the tale aside a campfire, s’mores and the tenacious waves of the Pacific Ocean in the background!

The Haunted History of The Oregon Bandage Man

Welcome, fellow spooky enthusiasts and adventurers, to the eerie realms of the Oregon Coast, where the misty shores hold secrets whispered by the waves and shadows dance in the moonlight. For those of you lucky enough to experience this dynamic captivating coastline, you know the intrigue of untapped explorations awaiting you at every visit. Or do you really? Among the tales that linger in the coastal fog, few are as chilling and enigmatic as that of The Bandage Man—a spectral entity said to haunt the winding roads of Oregon’s infamous Highway 101, leaving a trail of fear and mystery in its wake.

LEGEND OF THE BANDAGE MAN

Legend has it that The Bandage Man is a restless spirit, forever bound to the rugged coastline after meeting a tragic end. Witnesses describe him as a figure draped in tattered bandages, his presence accompanied by an unsettling feeling of decay and despair. From the depths of the mist, he emerges without notice, lurking along the roadside, a harbinger of doom to those who dare to venture too close.

BANDAGE MAN ECOUNTERS

Countless travelers have reported eerie encounters with The Bandage Man while journeying along Highway 101 near Cannon Beach. Some claim to have seen his spectral form looming in the darkness, while others speak of sudden gusts of icy wind and inexplicable chills creeping down their spines. Yet, perhaps most disturbing are the accounts of those who claim to have felt his cold, clammy touch, leaving them shaken to their core.

Who IS the Bandage Man

But who, or what, is The Bandage Man? Some speculate that he is the ghost of a logger who met a grisly end in a logging accident along the coast. Others believe him to be a lost soul, forever searching for redemption in the shadows of the Oregon wilderness. Still others, paranormal investigators looking for answers on a cold rainy dimly lit night, walked away with more questions than answers, more spine tingling dialogue and imagery than the silent solace the Pacific ocean had to offer that spring night. Whatever his origins may be, one thing remains certain: The Bandage Man is a force to be reckoned with, a spectral enigma that defies explanation.

VENTURE INTO THE UNKNOWN

For those brave enough to embark on their own adventure along Highway 101, the legend of The Bandage Man awaits, shrouded in mystery and waiting to be unravelled. Keep your wits about you, and may the spirits of the Oregon Coast watch over you as you delve into the vast world of the supernatural looking for glimpses and hoping for sightings of the Oregon Bandage Man.

Too Scared to Sleep? Get Coffee! We got the perfect coffee to help you stay awake. Check out our Guatemalan organic roasts or our Peruvian roasts. Click the following link for our full line of holiday products available now! Don't forget to check out our Sinister Shwag!

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*We do not recommend any kind of investigation without proper safety measures. We also do not recommend instigating entities for fun or entertainment. We take our investigations very seriously and offer many follow ups to ensure we have left the places in better shape then we found it.

SLS Camera and Ghost Hunting

At Sinister Coffee and Creamery, we love coffee, ice cream, and a good paranormal investigation.  You can read more about our investigations here. Read Origins Part Two to get the behind the investigation scoop. Today's topic is SLS Cameras. How do SLS cameras work? Is there a connection between SLS cameras and ghosts? Get ready for an insight into one of the paranormal world’s newest assets when communicating with spirits.

The Non-Visible World

The newest addition to the Sinister Coffee and Creamery ghost hunting arsenal is the highly coveted SLS Camera. Due to it’s recent climb into the forefront of ghost hunting technology, there are conflicting theories and feelings around the use of the SLS camera in paranormal research. The SLS camera works differently than other ghost hunting technology we have discussed to date. The SLS camera, uses technology built into the Kinect system to “map” non-visible movement. Without further ado, this is the SLS camera.

What Is An SLS Camera

Structured Light Sensor(SLS) cameras work by projecting invisible infrared laser grids over a wide field of view. The camera’s sensors calculate the distance between the infrared dots to build a 3 dimensional model of it’s visible field. These cameras are different from typical cameras in that light and color are none factors in what you will see displayed, changes in movement is what the SLS is made to track as this technology was made originally for the X-box Kinect. Movement in the camera’s visible field is recognized as breaks in the grid. Many SLS cameras are sold as a system which includes a Windows tablet, audio equipment, infrared recording and screen capture software, and a handheld or docking station for stability.

SLS and the Paranormal

The SLS, was invented by renowned engineer Bill Chapel and uses Kinect gaming technology. This technology measures both changes in movement and the mapping of “human” forms for Kinect based games so that you can use your body to make moves in a game. Many people reported that the Kinect started mapping “phantom” figures, or figures that weren’t actually in the room. Some people reported that those figures even started being active participants in the games. Although this has been brushed off as a glitch in the system for gaming, the question of what the Kinect was actually mapping has been of interest in the paranmoral world. This technology has been repurposed to capture possible non-visible changes in movement.

Sinister and SLS Camera

The SLS Camera so far has been taken out on two investigations, one at night, one during the day, and we have been busy trying to interpret the recordings at each investigation respectively. As with all paranormal investigations, it is important to spend time debunking and or trying to find the rational explanation for things that occur out of the “ordinary”. During the day and night investigations, the SLS seemed to “pick” certain headstones to map out human type figures over the top of. Those are similarities in our footage that both occurred during the day and night investigations. When we first turned on the SLS camera, we were able to get what is termed an intelligent response. We mapped a human shaped figure by our front door, that when asked to wave as an acknowledgment of our questions, waved. This form of communication hasn’t been duplicated in a formal investigation setting to date.

Modern Ghost Hunting Tech

Garry Galka and Bill Chapel are two of the more well known engineers propelling ITC research forward for next generation ghost hunters, but they are not alone with an increasing amount of engineers and inventors trying out different technologies. The story below is one of many that brings collaboration to the ghost hunting community.

“‘’On the screen I noticed a small figure the size of a child. The figure seemed to be limping, and when I waved the little figure waved back,” Mr Lewis said.”

— abc.net.au

Graham Lewis is an electrical engineer that captured this SLS footage at Quarantine Station in Sydney. He shared the footage with a medium who concluded that it was evidence of a former worker’s son who walked with a limp and was rumored to haunt the station. The SLS Camera is among other ghost hunting tech that this ghost hunter/engineer continues to modify in an attempt to hone in on newer better ways to find paranormal evidence.

Keepin It Spooky

Staying up late is no problem with our Specter coffee. It won’t give you any medium like abilities but it will help you stay alert when prowling the night for paranormal activity.

Ghost Hunting Equipment

Interested in who we are and what we do, visit our about page.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE OR PLACE YOU WOULD LIKE US TO INVESTIGATE?

SUBMIT2SINISTER@GMAIL.COM

*We do not recommend any kind of investigation without proper safety measures. We also do not recommend instigating entities for fun or entertainment. We take our investigations very seriously and offer many follow ups to ensure we have left the places in better shape then we found it.

Resource Links

SLS and the Paranormal

Using X-box Technology

What is an SLS Camera