Paranormal Living in NYC: Not strange. Just Faithful.
by Moni Briones
Photography by Winnie Au

If someone were to walk up to you and ask if you’ve experienced the paranormal, would you have anything to share? What if they casually mentioned that collective energy is the root of harmony and that metaphysical happenings can occur if you open yourself up to the energy around you? Would you listen?

All of this may sound odd or at least more on par with the tabloid trash that the media spoon-feeds us each week via their distorted "ghost" photos and cheesy paranormal reporting. But in actuality, a strong belief in paranormal activity and ghost haunting, as well as an overall acceptance of spiritual experiences beyond your holiday religious rituals is alive and thriving.

"About 12 percent of Americans believe in a higher power but not the personal God at the core of monotheistic faiths. And since 1990, a slightly greater share of respondents — 1.2 percent — said they were part of new religious movements, including Scientology, Wicca and Santeria," reports Rachel Zoll of the Associated Press.

Take for instance Gilberto Maúrtua Jr., a high school teacher who is not only a member of the Paranormal Investigation Team, a New York City non-profit organization that finds and records ghost activity, but also claims to share his 2-bedroom Washington Heights apartment with a ghost named Edward.

"I've only seen Edward in the form of steam, but my niece and sister have seen him at full glance," explains Maúrtua.

From his time spent studying ghosts and visiting prospective ghost sites Maúrtua has concluded that most people who experience the paranormal are simply looking for validation after.

"People don't want to feel crazy nor do they want to live in fear. Our investigative team does its best to validate claims and bring a sense of closure to suspicions." 

As for the ghosts, Maúrtua believes they may be stuck in time or simply trying to deal with a mission of "unfinished business."

Such pending intent may be the case for Mary Beth's ghost. A little less than a year ago Mary Beth moved into her grandparent’s former home in Queens. Her grandfather was the last living person to reside there and he died in the house 10 years prior.

"The ghost behavior was evident from day one,” explains Mary Beth. "Night noises and unexpected moving objects happened a lot."

The ghost's activity steadily climaxed to an unbearable point, leaving Mary Beth at her wits end.

"I finally found the courage to acknowledge the ghost. I told it to please leave me be. I knew I had to do something, and talking to it was the best I could do."

Mary Beth's attitude lends to a more realistic approach to spirit/human interaction. Why not just talk to the ghosts and deal? Seems easy right? 

Dee Colon, of the Paranormal Investigation Team, concludes that opening yourself up to the spiritual world around you can lead one to metaphysical experiences that are not only resounding but also enlightening. Her mission in New York is to bring a metaphysical expertise to ghost hunts.

"All spiritual investigations we execute have structure as a means to gain scientific proof. And in that structure, faith is needed to connect with the spirit world,” she says. “It takes that leap of faith to be completely open and that can ultimately lead to a realistic spiritual break through.

Many people try and disprove haunting or paranormal experiences by deeming them as coincidences. Reverend Victor Fuhrman doesn't believe in coincidences.

"Everything happens for a higher purpose and is not coincidental," he counters.  

Rev. Fuhrman is an Interfaith minister who practices and teaches the acceptance of all faiths. He is also the creator of EnerVision, a curriculum that develops psychic abilities and personal auras.

"Every one of us has the ability to sense subtle energies around us. Once we nurture our psychic faculties, we are then able to sense, interpret and enjoy life's surrounding energies." 

The mission behind his teachings is to "move from a fear based egoism to altruism."

"By taking away fear and practicing open dialogue, we have the invitation to grasp more and more, creating the continual growth process of our souls."

Aside from EnerVision, there are those who simply believe in self. Adam Krief is a self-professed auto-syncretic.

"I follow my own intuition. As a result of this extra sensory perception, I am able to transcend and experience life deeply," says Krief.