Anyone in the Australian paranormal scene knows Bill and Mandy from Australian Paranormal Society. They are known all over the world. Mandy does quite a lot of work behind the scenes and often does not highlight the things she does because she doesn't want the spotlight. I think it is time everyone knows just how amazing this lady really is! I have known Amanda for a few years. She is fun and kind and amazing at what she does. She has her own views on the paranormal which quite often diiffer from my own, and I use it as an opportunity to learn from her a different way of thinking. She has a lot to offer that people can learn from. Some of the most head scratching experiences have happened when I have investigated with Mandy. I was delighted when she agreed to share her thoughts for this blog. I hope you enjoy it as I know I really enjoyed hearing her thoughts.
Please provide a short bio of who you are and what you do in the paranormal field:
Hello, my name is Amanda Wright-Tabone. I’m a Registered Nurse, paranormal researcher and sensitive. I run the Australian Paranormal Society (APS) with my husband William Tabone and the APS team. We conduct public tours and investigations, as well as many private cases so as to help people that are experiencing the paranormal, in their homes or work places, find answers to their situations.
I also love horror, I have since I was a child. I’ve always wanted to write a book about my life and experiences in the paranormal. There are so many unexplained things that have happened to me throughout my life. I’d love to share.
I’ve had an odd fascination, call it an obsession for Hat Man, shadow people, dark entities etc.... I have actually experienced Hat Man in my home at night many years ago. I was terrified. It was so frightening I thought it was an intruder in my home he/it stayed for a while then just disappeared. The room felt thick and rancid and I felt sick. Bill woke up and started praying and the atmosphere changed almost immediately while he was praying.
I also have a huge fascination for UFOs, shapeshifters, fairies and all types of monsters etc....I could go on forever.
When I was a young girl, I grew up in the country I witnessed, a UFO, it was long like a wheat Silo (huge) not like they have on the movies, it hovered above my parents huge Cyprus trees near their barn. I could hear it’s sound, Voom, Voom, Voom, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing it was hovering then it moved away extremely slow. I’ve experienced many unexplained lights in the sky since that night and many unexplained things have happened to me throughout my life.
How did you get started in the paranormal
Well my first experience, which I believe started me on my path, was when I was about three years old. I saw a man standing above my bed putting his index finger to his lips and said softly shhhhhhhhhh! I could see through this man. I was frozen solid, I couldn’t move. After that moment he was always hanging around me, so I just thought it was different but normal I really didn’t understand what was happening to me.
Later in life I realised the man I was seeing was my grandfather. I found that out by looking at my mother’s wedding album. My heart nearly stopped beating when I saw the man I was seeing in those photo’s, I knew I had a gift but I didn’t really understand it. I really still don’t.
It has continued all my life, seeing spirits, hearing them talk to me. Obviously, I feel that spirit had connected with me to be heard for whatever their reasons were, that they didn’t move on or cross over when bodily death occurred.
I read anything and everything there was on the paranormal (life after death), any book I could get my hands on. As my teen years rolled on I started to meet people like me. Few and far between, but it was happening more and more. I was a witch for many years, I loved doing spells, voodoo and so on (I rarely practice any longer) but still have a great love for the occult.
When I was in primary school I wrote a book called (The Ghost of Christine) I was about 9. My teacher loved it so much she put it in the school library, covering it in contact. I drew the pictures and everything (I wish I still had it) because at that time I was seeing spirits all the time, I was fascinated and curious, but also frightened.
I thought writing stories about my experiences and drawing pictures would help me deal with it better. I had no one to talk to about my experiences when I was a child, some friends, ha ha ha and honestly it wasn’t received very well at all by many of them. Small country town and most of them had small country minds.
So eventually I decided not to discuss things that I saw until I hit my teenage years.
What is it that draws you to the paranormal?
The unknown, everyone wants to know about the unknown. The curiosity. The fascination. The drive to find answers.
I wanted answers.
I still want answers
What was the bigger picture?
What is Death?
What is life?
What’s next?
Why was I seeing what I did and others around me didn’t?
The wanting to know what is actually happening, what is going on? Why am I seeing what I am.? Why are some people experiencing the paranormal and others aren’t?
Finding the truth.
So, I went on a search for people like myself who have experienced the paranormal all their lives. Slowly I found them. I connected with others like me. It’s finding the genuine people in this field that is hard.
I questioned why is it that certain individuals experience the paranormal and others don’t? Is it like a mosquito that’s attracted to the taste or smell of a certain blood type? It was always my curiosity. What was it about me/us who see things that others don’t.
Do any members of your family research/investigate the paranormal as well? (Does it run in the family?)
My husband William Tabone and our children are all gifted in sight and we all research life after death. We run the Australian Paranormal Society.
We had another team name years before the APS, we were called the International Ghost Seekers Society.
My father had a paranormal experience in the Kimberly desert in Australia in his thirties seeing a UFO with a few friends hovering above them playing games with them. This story was told to me by my father later in life. So I think it runs in the family.
What is your area of expertise in the paranormal?
I don’t really think anyone has any expertise in this field it’s all about research and finding the truth. We can be professionals but never an expert. Experts don’t exist in the paranormal field. If I hear someone telling me they’re an expert I switch off immediately. I believe there are people with a great deal of experience in this field, but they are not experts.
I am a sensitive I pick up on stories about their (passed ones), death and life. I can communicate with spirit.
Having said that, I do love to use the Geobox it’s an absolute brilliant paranormal tool and have become quite skilled at its use. I also love my dowsing rods in the field and have had great success using them.
What do you believe a ‘ghost’ is? Do you believe in ghosts/spirits?
Great question Sarah. The soul/spirit of a deceased person/animal? That’s a question that still needs a lot more research in this field.
I absolutely believe in the afterlife. Life after death. Death is just stepping between the worlds. Death of the psychical body but eternal life for the soul. I believe there are many different dimensions. Alternate universes and so on. The subject on the afterlife could go on forever and probably honestly will.
What approach do you take in researching/investigating the paranormal? Spiritual, technical, theoretical etc
Always do your research, what you don’t know ask others in the field with more experience. Never be afraid to ask questions, always seek the truth. I try hard to meditate before an investigation especially private case’s, so my mind and body are clear from the toxic rubbish from daily life.
If it’s a private investigation, make sure you ask many questions. Do your base readings through the house. Mental illness and drug abuse are a huge part of people believing they are experiencing the paranormal when in fact there are many, many, other factors to be cautious of, such as the effect of certain moulds, infrasound, high EMF readings, etc, plus many more factors that play a big part in people thinking they are experiencing the paranormal.
I do my own prayers and blessing. I never investigate alone, but I do like my own space to communicate with people who have passed.
Always remember spirits were just like you and me and they still are, just in a different form. Be respectful. You do come across some nasty spirits (bad in life, bad in death) I’ve been bitten, punched, scratched, slapped on the bottom (yeah ha, ha, true story), I’ve told the nasty ones to go away. I usually gold light myself if I’m attacked and unfortunately in this field it does happens a lot to investigators that are experienced and those that are not experienced.
Not all is light in this field.
Where there’s light there’s always dark.
I believe in non-human entities etc...I think it’s rare but I still believe from experiences with clients cases and my own personal experiences in the field.
I also ground myself with a grounding technique I call the tree, imaging roots growing from my feet into the earth finding a huge gold ball deep in the earth and pulling that gold light back up through my feet out the top of my head into the universe.
When did you know that you could communicate with the other side? What did you do about it?
It just honestly happened to me Sarah. I worked it out for myself. I had no one else to talk to in the younger years. I read books, I taught myself. I was frightened and sometimes I still am.
I have also used Ouija Boards, homemade at first.
What is involved in developing your mediumship skills?
Learning. Listening. Meditation. Asking questions. Talk to experienced investigators Mediums etc....
Read everything and anything you can on the subject of Mediumship. Join discussion groups on FB, look for likeminded people to help you learn how to communicate with the deceased. Join groups or circles to help with your skills. Join loads of pages, read and use the Internet. I never had that as a kid. I would have been a far more skilled Medium in my younger years if I’d have had access to the internet and likeminded people.
Use a journal always document everything that comes through you. Keep records of all spirit details, feelings, dreams. Don’t discredit yourself or especially your gut feeling.
Be strong. Don’t let people get you down. Find your truth. Don’t listen to negative people in this field. Keep away from Charlatan’s, there are plenty of those in this field. Make sure you are in this field for the love of it, it’s a passion that you need to have in your blood.
Spiritual Protection. Grounding. White/Gold lighting. Keep your space protected.
How do you validate the information you receive?
Many times, if I’m at a location I try and find validation through either other Mediums/paranormal researcher’s, that are investigating with me, EVPs, Geobox, which is similar to a telephone to the other side/dimension, going through record’s if they are available on the historical buildings and land we are investigating. So, for example if I get a last name and date of birth in my head I like to find validation in records. Unfortunately, you can’t always find validation. But, it’s a feeling of knowing they you’ve got it right. It’s always great if someone picks up something similar, but some of us get glimpses that others don’t, it depends on how advanced your skills are in the field and how long you’ve been using those skills.
How did you decide to start Australian Paranormal Society?
As I said above we were another name international Ghost Seekers Society, before a group of likeminded people got together and we decided to form the APS. Shortly after all of those people left except William and myself.
William then registered the name and we made the FB page. Hoping to bring likeminded people together. It worked.
How often do you investigate out in the field?
Not as often as I’d like now due to family commitments. But I do a lot of research and work from home. When I do go out into the field I really get to enjoy using my skills. It’s a rush.
What sort of equipment do you like to use on an investigation?
My own skills feelings and abilities (nothing beats your own abilities and instincts)
Geobox, like I’ve said above which is like a telephone to the other side.
Photography.
Do you have a topic that you like to research?
Shadow people, Hat Man etc. As I said above I had an experience some years ago now.
Do you believe research is an important part of investigating?
Yes. Absolutely. The more you read and research the richer your mind becomes in this field. But, in saying that don’t always believe all you hear and read. Keep your mind open to other possibilities reasons etc, always keep in mind your own perception and feelings also, keep your mind open.
If you retired from the field tomorrow, what legacy would you want to be remembered for? (Achievement, Tours, theory, experiments, attitude etc)
If anyone tells you they’re an expert in this field run! I also think for telling everyone I meet to always look outside the box, experiment, push boundaries.
If you could educate your peers or pass on knowledge, what would it be?
Don’t ever think inside the box. Go and PUSH boundaries, do your thing and do it well and don’t let anyone stand in your way. Experiment. Keeping it old school can sometimes be much better. Research and don’t stop, there is always something new to learn in this field.
The paranormal field can be a ruthless place. Be aware of that. If people start paranormal drama walk away, don’t respond. They aren’t worth your time, energy or space.
Plug yourself! Do you have any websites, Facebook pages - advertise them.
FB pages
Australian Paranormal Society
Haunted, Old and beautiful by Amanda APS
Thanks again!
You’re welcome
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Comments
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Ken 5 years ago
Yea great page agree with so much you've said. From being bought up as a closed book of Catholicism I opened the box and yea learn every day. I am not sure about ouija boards and feel happy to have never been near one. However I know ouija boards have saved lives. Bit like Taro not sure its always linking with the right side of light. Mind you I have been to many Taro readers but I have been lucky to have found two superb readers needing no devices. Yep had a few great UFO experiences. I am not lucky enough to see ghosts but they have connected in most other ways they can. I think I saw my grandfather just once is all when I was a kid. Being a Catholic that was all in the no no area. Once again love the pages that That's Life Have Connected me too. Even this one from this weeks edition. (:
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Christopher Baumgartner 6 years ago
This was a good read. It's nice to have background facts to get to know about people.
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Kruna 6 years ago
Great read. Informative too.
Thanks! -
Bertil Hoberg 6 years ago
Very interesting and very instructive!! I was at the edge of my seat. Thank you kindly for this!!
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Maree Yuill 6 years ago
Brilliant read thanks for sharing Amanda
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Glenys Devine 6 years ago
Great interview, can't wait till the book !