I'd like to share a personal experience I had on the day my step mum ( will be 5 years this year) passed away and the week prior to her death. So a week before she died, my dad had asked me to come and talk to her ( She was like a best friend to me) as she was really upset. When I arrived at their house I found her outside having a smoke. I had asked what was going on and if she was okay. She was really anxious and had started to tear up and then I followed her to the bedroom where she pulled out her pendulum. She started to explain that she had a feeling she was going to die and had asked her pendulum if this was true. She explained that it kept answering yes and that it was always right. She told me that the pendulum then ended up breaking. She asked me to do a reading. I had said to her I don’t think you are going to die but asked if she would like me to get my angel tarot deck (I am not a pro tarot reader, I use the cards every now and then for personal use ) and I can see what that says. She agreed, I recall the reading being positive and she seemed to be very relieved after it. Anyway, one week exactly she passed away. When I went to see her in her bedroom as I was walking in I swore I heard her say to me It’s okay Nate, I’m okay and that I didn’t have to worry. I can understand that people may not believe that this actually happened or that I was in a state of shock/ disbelief. But for me, I truly believe that was her speaking to me, because it came into my head unprompted. And I felt a genuine calm. I also felt like she stayed in the room for a short time longer with her friend that had passed away about 6 months prior while my other siblings also were saying goodbye to her.

If you have recently listened to our latest TRUE HAUNTINGS PODCAST episode regarding the hauntings of the Chateau De Amerois in Belguim you will hear me reference the 'Thousand Points of Light'. In the second part of that episode Anne suggested that i do some research regarding the reference and find out more. So, as much as this seems like a rather strange article to write in amongst what have have already published, it is a deep dive into just a little piece of our latest podcast episode that we promised to explain to our listeners. Therefore, here it is: The phrase “a thousand points of light” was popularized in U.S. political rhetoric by George H. W. Bush during his Republican National Convention acceptance speech on August 18, 1988 and then repeated in his January 20, 1989 inaugural address, where he explicitly framed it as a metaphor for community organizations and volunteerism—“spread like stars” across the nation, “doing good.” In later presidential messaging (e.g., the January 29, 1991 State of the Union), Bush continued using the phrase as a civic-moral metaphor and a call to service. Within conspiracy ecosystems, “thousand points of light” is frequently reinterpreted as an “Illuminati” or Satanic “code phrase”, especially in narratives claiming it refers to a Belgian “Mother(s) of Darkness” site (often identified as Château des Amerois) or to elite child-abuse rings. A key finding is that one of the more rigorous reference works within the “hidden history/secret societies” genre—John Michael Greer’s encyclopedia—explicitly describes “Mothers of Darkness” as an item found in modern anti-Illuminati fundamentalist tracts, notes that it allegedly uses “the ‘thousand points of light’” as symbolism, and concludes no trace exists outside those tracts, which are said to contain “obvious historical and factual errors.” On the specific question of concrete evidence linking the phrase to (a) Belgian criminal child sex rings (most commonly, the Marc Dutroux case), and (b) a “Mother of Darkness” church/cult site: no primary/official record surfaced that connects Bush’s phrase to Belgian crimes or to Château des Amerois.

Before we talk about ghosts, haunted houses, or strange noises in the hallway at 3 a.m., we need to talk about something far less dramatic but far more powerful: the human brain. Specifically, the shortcuts our brains take when interpreting the world. These shortcuts are called biases. A bias is not the same thing as a belief, although people often mix the two together. Understanding the difference is important — especially when we’re dealing with paranormal claims. So let’s start there. What Is a Bias? A bias is a mental shortcut our brain uses to process information quickly. Psychologists call these shortcuts cognitive biases. They exist because the brain is constantly trying to save time and energy. Instead of analysing every single piece of information from scratch, the brain uses patterns, assumptions, and previous experiences to fill in the gaps. Most of the time, this is incredibly useful. If you see something long and thin moving through grass, your brain might instantly think snake. That reaction could save your life. The brain is designed to react quickly, not perfectly. But these shortcuts can also lead us to interpret things incorrectly, especially in situations where the information is incomplete, emotional, or mysterious. Which — not surprisingly — describes many paranormal situations. How a Bias Is Different From a Belief A belief is something you consciously accept as true. You might believe in ghosts, spirits, or an afterlife. Someone else might believe that all paranormal experiences have natural explanations. These beliefs come from culture, upbringing, personal experience, religion, or philosophical outlook. Beliefs are deliberate positions. They are things we can discuss, argue about, change, or defend. A bias, on the other hand, often operates below conscious awareness. You usually don’t notice it happening. A belief is like choosing a destination on a map. A bias is like the wind pushing your boat slightly off course without you realising it.

Hi All, I'm Nate, I just wanted to introduce myself as I am new here. :)