50,000 is a number that I never thought we would achieve.
When we started this channel in 2015, I had no goal for a subscriber or view count; only
a desire to make the best possible videos I could and to be able to share them with
others with similar interests.
Even now, as I am looking forward towards even higher subscriber counts, I will always
remember the people behind the numbers.
You.
All of you.
Some of you have been here from the start, offering your support and encouragement throughout.
Some of you have joined later on.
Some of you only recently.
I appreciate you all, and thank you for the time you give to me with each and every video
you watch.
I read all your comments, and I do recognise those same names who comment again and again,
offering me far much more kindness and support than I could ever have wished to receive.
You are what make this channel alive.
Because of your interactions, my videos have greater meaning, becoming something more than
just a one-sided lecture of fact, they become a vibrant discourse between you and I.
This will always be something I want this channel to be.
So, thank you.
And thank you once again to everyone who submitted a question for this Q&A.
And, with that said, the first one is...
Do you believe in demons?
If so, do you think that ghosts are just demons in disguise?
The existence of demons is one of those questions which is difficult to answer.
There is nothing from my own personal experience which I can use to inform my answer here,
so please keep that in mind.
I am sure that many will disagree with me, but I do not believe in demons, at least not
in the Biblical sense.
Rather than define demons as fallen angels, I think the notion of them being "unclean
spirits" makes much more sense.
That is to say, a demonic entity could very well be the malevolent spirit of a deceased
person.
A spirit which is strong enough to inflict pain and suffering upon the living.
Interestingly, the Ancient Greek origins of the word "demon" does not actually refer
to anything evil.
The connotations of danger, and the ability for a demonic spirit to possess someone, are
thought to have evolved later.
So, discussing what a demon is is difficult enough, before then deciding whether they
are real or not.
I have discussed in detail before my thoughts on life after death.
I feel like the notion of a demon links into that: if we become spirits of the dead, or
if we transfer to another plane of existence, demons - by the modern definition - could
very well be those malevolent people who get trapped.
But, as always, I do not know.
You have asked for my opinion, and I have tried to whittle out a poorly articulated
response.
Ultimately, I do not know.
But, I am open-minded to the possibility of everything.
Which country's history do you enjoy the most?
Growing up in the UK has naturally biased where my historical interests lie.
There is much about the history of the British Isles that I love.
However, I would say that my enjoyment for history stretches beyond national borders.
Especially as those borders looked different in the periods of history which I enjoy the
most.
The nationalistic sentiments of the modern day are very new by the standards of history.
As I love monarchical history, the relations of one European kingdom were very much connected
to others, because of the personal, familial, relations between monarchs and other important
figures.
The relationship between Francois 1st of France, and his 'brother' kings, Henry VIII of
England and Charles V of everywhere else(!), and their display of kingship, is much more
interesting to me than the specific functionings of a particular place.
I very much enjoy the personalities of history.
In the future, I would very much like to do more history-centric videos.
They are my favourite to make.
For example, my mini-documentary on the persecution of witches in the Medieval and Early Modern
periods was among my favourite to research.
What do you hope to achieve in terms of, or from doing, YouTube?
I am so grateful to have this space here on YouTube, where I have the chance to offer
my own, hopefully fresh, perspective on topics which are so often, and so easily, sensationalised.
I don't want to just blow things out of proportion to make a spectacle.
Or, worse, dumb content down.
Whilst the paranormal is, and will always be, difficult to discuss in purely academic
terms, I hope that my efforts on this channel can help to show that it can be thought of
in a more scholarly way.
This is why I always try to cite my sources, either on screen in the videos or over on
my website.
This is important to me.
Sadly, there is so much misinformation, not just on the Internet, but in books too.
And, I am by no means perfect: I have been caught out by it.
In the past, I have made mistakes in videos, because of this problem of misinformation
and conflicting information.
Even something as seemingly straightforward as putting together a timeline of events,
such as in the case of Anneliese Michel, is fraught with confusion.
I hope that, by making these videos, I can clarify some of these facts.
I always love the challenge of making my research visually appealing.
I don't just want to present you with an essay.
I want you to be visually and audibly engaged: to feel scared; to be intrigued; to question;
and to, hopefully, learn something new.
Also, on a more personal note, YouTube is a space for me to experiment with my interests
and new passion projects.
In the future, for example, I am planning to film full-length documentaries.
I hope that this channel will give me a place to launch this, and other, ventures.
It is so wonderful to have a place with such a supportive community who shares my interests
and passions.
I cannot wait to continue honing my craft and to share these new projects with you all
in the future!
What's your opinion on cryptids or otherwise unknown or misplaced creatures?
Cryptozoology is something I would love to cover more on my channel.
I'd be interested to know if you would like to see more of this as well.
So, go ahead and click on the poll at the top of the screen to let me know!
Anyway, to the question in hand.
I think there is definitely something there.
Taking the example of the Bigfoot or Sasquatch, this is one which often gets dismissed as
too far-fetched - even in paranormal circles.
However, with so many reports, eye-witness testimonies, footprint casts, and the bizarre
Sierra Sounds, it is difficult to completely dismiss Bigfoot as nonsense.
Here I am reminded of a discussion that was had on the Paranormal Scholar forum a few
months ago.
The point was made that, since new animals and species of animals are being discovered
all the time, even in the modern era, could such a creature - Bigfoot - be living right
under our noses?
Such an argument, of course, stands for many cryptids.
It is interesting to consider how, by the standards of history, the formal discovery
of the gorilla was quite late.
The first scientific description dates to the mid-1800s.
However, it was not until the 1920s that the first proper study was conducted.
At the time, I imagine the idea of a gorilla was quite bizarre to an unknowing society
- just as a Bigfoot is today to many.
Once again referring to the forum thread, I made the following comment which may be
interesting to you in this matter.
The absence of cadavers is often used as evidence against the existence of Bigfoot, etc.
However, the swathes of forest in which these creatures are supposed to live are just so
vast that it is not unbelievable.
For example, wolves and vultures (or other predators and scavengers) may be responsible
for disposing of the bodies.
Or, simply the natural course of decomposition before a human can discover the corpse.
Then again, there is something else to consider.... how similar to humans are Sasquatch?
Can we go so far to say that they bury their dead?
When discussing these sorts of unknown factors, anything becomes possible.
The scope for hypothesis is vast in this area of the paranormal.
So, you can have a lot of fun with developing ideas and looking for evidence.
If a video on cryptids is something you would like, or if you have a particular cryptid
in mind, be sure to let me know!
What countries or regions have you done your studies in?
Any military related experiences?
Firstly, I do not have any military experience.
As for where I have studied, I mentioned in a previous Q&A that my husband and I have
lived in various different places in the past.
Certainly, despite neither one of us being French, we now live in France.
However, all of my formal education took place in the UK.
That being said, I am not someone who places a lot of value on formal education.
Admittedly, I used to.
I always worked hard - probably too hard - at school.
I attended a prestigious university.
It was then that I realised that there is so much more to learning than the institute
in which you do it.
Since I left the education system, I have not stopped learning.
Formally, I have gained no further qualifications.
But, that does not mean anything.
Call me anti-establishment, but I do not believe you need a school, college or university to
be learned.
In my opinion, one of the best ways to learn is by yourself.
It requires a greater level of discipline and focus.
Academic institutions can provide you with the tools, yes, but they cannot force you
to use them.
Only you can do that.
And that, the picking up of those tools of learning, can be done by yourself.
So, to answer the question, I have done my studies everywhere I have lived, or even visited.
Even on vacation, if you visit a museum for example, you are learning.
I am a big believer in self-education.
Especially in the modern age, with the accessibility of tutorials and advice online.
If you have the motivation for it, you can learn anything, anywhere.
Would you ever do a live stream?
A live stream is not something I would want to do, at this moment in time.
As the core content of this channel is the result of lots of research and editing, I
am not sure how this could translate to a live video.
Of course, if you have any suggestions, as always, let me know.
Would you ever do a paranormal meet up in the UK?
A paranormal meet up is not something I have ever considered before…
Really, 50,000 subscribers has taken both of us by surprise!
I don't think we ever expected to reach this amazing milestone.
So, as the channel continues to grow, who knows where this will take us!
I really do enjoy communicating with you all - your support and feedback means the world
to me.
However, I don't think I am quite ready for a 'face reveal' or in person meet
just yet!
By nature, I am quite shy, and - as I have said before - get nervous just recording the
voiceovers for my videos!
But, I will never rule anything out.
The growth of this channel has already surprised us, so who knows what the future holds.
What do you make of names in a spiritual context?
Growing up I've read and watched movies, shows, books, and a common trope among them was that
there is power in names.
For example, media that follow this trope insist that a demon would never, willingly,
give up is true name.
As knowing anyone's true name would give you a level of power over them.
Though dramatized and exaggerated, we can see this in exorcisms in movies, where a priest
demands to know the demon's name, to be able to cast it out.
So I'm wondering, could there be any truth behind this?
Or perhaps a better question would be, where did this trope or myth originate from?
What is it about names that could make someone/something see it as a kind of weapon?
This is a really intriguing subject.
From what I understand, the concept of one's True Name has been debated since Ancient times.
In Egyptian mythology, the God of the Sun, Ra, had a secret name which held the key to
his power.
For this reason he revealed it to no one.
That was until the Goddess Isis poisoned Ra and was able to trick him into revealing his
secret name.
With this name, Isis had power over him.
Moving on from Ancient times, the True Name of the Biblical God has been debated for thousands
of years.
In Islam, there are said to be 99 "Beautiful" names of God, which secures one a place in
paradise if committed to memory.
According to some, however, there are rumours of one final name, the 100th name.
In Sufism, this hidden 100th name has become the elusive object of mystic devotion.
Once again, the idea of a True Name being linked to great power or great spirituality.
Then, of course, there is the traditional German fairytale, Rumpelstiltskin.
In the story, the miller's daughter is able to free herself from the power of the imp-like-creature
Rumpelstiltskin by learning his True Name.
So, names in a spiritual context is a very old notion, which exists across many different
cultures.
Whether there is any truth in the power of a True Name, however, is a different matter.
Does it mean that we all have a True Name, concealed within us somewhere?
Or, are these names of power reserved for Gods and other worthy beings alone?
I do not know.
Either way, it is a really interesting concept, and I can see why it has been absorbed into
modern, dramatic portrayals.
What is your favorite place you lived?
This is a difficult question!
As France is the first place we have really been settled for a good period of time, I
am biased in that direction.
I love our home and our immediate location.
We have everything we could need here: peace and quiet; the comforts of home; and access
to great locations, filled with folklore, as well as beautiful nature.
The beaches nearby are stunning.
Then there is the availability of high quality, fresh produce.
We have lived in other areas of France, but where we are now is by far our favourite.
However, there are some things that I miss about the UK.
I miss the history in particular.
That is not to say that France is lacking, it is just that a lot of what I know and love
is in the UK.
Also, the UK has a strong preservationist culture, which means that museums and historic
locations are very well-kept and presented - like no other place I have ever been.
But, that being said, the UK does have problems of its own, as do all places, which can make
it unappealing as a place to live full-time.
So, the UK is a fantastic holiday location for us, especially as it is so close by.
The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, is another place which is amazing for the
accessibility of cultural attractions.
Moving around the city on public transport is very easy, which makes everything feel
a lot closer than it is.
The Old Town in particular is beautiful, and is so rich in history.
Then, of course, the restaurants!
As vegetarians, there is one particular restaurant which we loved and went to a few times.
We still miss that place, even now!
But, ultimately, we have established a home here in France.
We cannot say that we really achieved that anywhere else.
Because of that, we are very happy where we are now.
Have you read "The Historian" by Elisabeth Kostova?
If so, what are your thoughts?
I have indeed read The Historian - it is a brilliant book!
Its blend of subjects and style very much suits my tastes.
Admittedly, I read it a few years ago now, but it does stand out in my mind as a very
good read.
For those of you who haven't read it, the plot expertly weaves together fiction and
history, focusing on the folklore surrounding Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler, namely the
inspiration for the modern-day Dracula figure.
The authorship is brilliant.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who, like me, loves literature, history and
the paranormal.
What was your latest experience with the paranormal?
;
Have you ever had an experience that you couldn't explain?
and also,
What's the scariest paranormal experience you've had?
Last September, my husband and I were at DisneyLand Paris.
We were exploring the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, which had recently been reopened
to the public after renovation.
The time was around 8 o'clock, so it was already dark.
The treehouse had been lit up with torch light, which cast an atmospheric orange glow onto
everything.
My husband and I were quite high up, as the treehouse is a complex arrangement of bridges,
decks and cabins set across several levels at different heights.
We approached a small cabin, the inside of which was mostly obscured from our side, because
of a bamboo trellis.
However, there was a window opening on the other side.
As we passed by, we looked through it.
Inside, the cabin was set up as a bedroom, with a chair and a chest of drawers.
In the centre of the small space was a bed.
On top of the quilt were coins - many coins, which had seemingly been throw in through
the window by visitors, similar to how people throw coins into wishing wells.
Amused, I turned to my husband and mindlessly commented: "Why are there coins on the bed?"
At that moment, I felt like I had walked into a great force.
Something shuddered through my body - like I had walked straight through something.
My head was light and my stomach turned.
Then, I realised: I had said those words before.
Not only that, I had seen the bed with the coins before.
I had lived this exact moment before.
This was not merely a queer case of deja vu.
This was something more.
By saying those words, it was like I had broken a spell of sorts.
Realisation rushed over me.
I knew exactly where I had seen this moment play out before.
Around three weeks prior to our trip to DisneyLand, I had had a peculiar dream one night about
a dimly lit cabin, smothered in orange light.
In the centre of the cabin, there had been a bed with coins scattered across the top
of it.
In my dream, I had turned to my husband and said, word for word: "Why are there coins
on the bed?"
After the dream, I had woken up and - amused by its quirkiness - had relayed it to my husband.
In DisneyLand, I asked him if he remembered the dream - he did.
Yet, the most shocking part of the whole experience was that, in the split-second before I said
the words, "Why are there coins on the bed?", I had known that I had said them before.
It was like I could see myself walking into the trap - acting out the role prescribed
to me by the script - and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I had never experienced anything like this before.
And, as meaningless as it all seems, dreaming of coins scattered on a bed and then having
that moment come to pass, it terrified me.
I felt ill, and deeply disturbed.
We climbed down from the treehouse and I took a breather.
Even after that, I still didn't feel right.
I could not shake the dream and the moment from my head.
How was it possible?
Even now, it still chills me.
So disturbed was I, that we returned to the hotel after that.
The happiness of the evening shattered by the feeling that time wasn't quite what
I thought it was.
And, the underlying anxiety that, if I stayed there, something bad would happen.
Since then, nothing else like that has happened - at least not what I can remember.
Between my husband and I, contrary to what you might expect, I am the skeptic when it
comes to the paranormal.
I like to think of myself as the healthy cynic.
I love evidence.
I love records.
I strongly dislike testimony: it is the most unreliable form of evidence.
Yet, this was my testimony.
My experience.
And I know what I saw; I know what I dreamt.
If I hadn't told my husband about the dream at the time, and if he hadn't have remembered
it, then maybe I could write it off as my imagination or misremembering.
But, I had told him, and he did remember.
In most of your videos where people "experiment" with Ouija boards and have bad encounters
with dark energies, spirits or demons, it appears to me that the act of venturing into
these waters tends to open people up to these energies.
Therefore, do you think that researching these topics, watching videos, and exploring the
paranormal may be a doorway to opening oneself up to the paranormal?
I like this question, as it touches on something that I discussed in my previous Q&A - the
potential dangers of spirit communication.
But, this takes it one step further: the idea that curiosity alone could invite paranormal
encounters.
From my own experiences, I have been making videos for the Paranormal Scholar for over
a year and a half now, with my interest in the paranormal stretching back many years
into childhood.
However, I have not really noticed any sort of remarkable increase in paranormal experiences
or encounters.
I would say that I have only really had two paranormal experiences in my life (the first
one I discussed in a previous video, and my dream premonition a few months ago).
At the start of this year, my husband and I started producing videos for this channel
on a weekly basis.
That means researching the paranormal on a near daily basis.
Since that time, nothing paranormal has happened to us.
So, from my experiences, I have nothing to report.
That being said, there are people who I know will disagree with me.
For example, I narrated a paranormal story a few weeks ago which was submitted to us
by someone who experienced increased paranormal activity after becoming obsessed with paranormal
research.
I know this resonates with many others.
It could very well be, therefore, that a greater awareness of the paranormal opens oneself
up to inexplicable forces.
As with the question in regards to spirit communication, I would advise approaching
the paranormal with the correct mindset.
Respect and level-headedness.
Before I end this video, I would like to remind you all that I am still accepting submissions
of your Real Paranormal Stories.
Ghostly encounters ; UFO sightings ; anything paranormal that has happened to you, I would
love to narrate it!
So, if you have a true experience you would like to share, please get in touch either
via email or Facebook.
All links are in the description.
As always, thank you so much for listening.
I hope you enjoyed these answers to your questions.
If there are more questions you would like me to answer, feel free to comment below for
the next episode.
If you missed any of my previous Q&As, why not catch up using the links on screen now.
Remember, the more you know, the more there is to fear!
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