Interviews

Thriller Nights founder/lead investigator Karen Owens was interviewed in 2009 by one of our own mediums Rachel Curtis,
for her Facebook group "The Spirit Realm". With Rachel`s permission it is being reproduced here.
(Note: The interview is listed under Karen`s former name before recently becoming Karen Owens)

By kind permission of Karen Samuel.

When did you first become interested in the paranormal and what was your first experience?

I grew up in a very active house. My Grandad died when I was a toddler and he remained in the house in spirit watching over and protecting me.
My first experience was just after he died. Aparently I used to tell my mum about grandad visiting me at night. At first she thought I had been
dreaming until I said to her "I love to see grandad, but I wish he wouldn`t put his cold hand on my arm"!. At that age I knew nothing about spirit but
when my mum told me this some years later I realised I had been having spiritual experiences since grandad died!. I was always interested in spirit and paranormal for as long as I can remember, but I really got properly into it when my soulmate died when I was 19. He took over from grandad
and has been with me ever since and is now my guide. I used to wish I could communicate with him myself and loved to watch all the paranormal shows on TV wishing I could go to the places they investigated. One day I finally got to hear my guide talking to me and he later told me we will be doing exactly that as part of our work. Eventually I started training as a medium and paranormal investigator and now regularly carry out
investigations with my guide and paranormal organisations and teams I belong to.

Your most "spooked" experience?

I don`t really get spooked. I grew up always having spirit around me, so to me it`s more spooky NOT having spiritual experiences!. However there
was one occasion I will never forget. It was in the house I grew up in and was my grandad again. My mum and I were sleeping in my brothers
room whilst my dad was decorating my room, my brothers were in with him. Mum was in the bottom bunk bed and I was in the top one. There was
an odd electrical storm outside, lightning & thunder but no rain. Grandad had always protected me during storms, I wasn`t bothered but it was "just
in case". Anyway we were just settling down for the night when suddenly my mum screamed. I opened my eyes to see a mist in the room which seemed to gather itself into a ball and promptly fly out of the open window!. My mum later told me she screamed because she had seen a pair of
semi transparent legs in front of her eyes, standing beside the bunk beds. If I had been the one to see anything it would have been the top half of
our visitor, but I had seen my grandad many times anyway so it wouldn`t have surprised me like it did mum!. When mum screamed he made a
hasty retreat and the window must have been the easiest and fastest route!

Your favourite location and why?

I love many of the places my guide and I have investigated, it`s hard to choose a favourite. I guess it has to be Margam Castle though,
I always get plenty of interesting results there- and as it`s a very special place to us personally, it has to be top of the list!

Why you enjoy the investigations?

I love working with my guide and for spirit. One of our main roles in our work is soul/spirit rescue, so there`s an added bonus
when we get a rescue out of it too, there is something really satisfying knowing you have helped a lost soul to go home, sometimes
after having spent many many years- possibly hundreds, waiting for the opportunity!.

What advice would you give to budding investigators?

Wear warm clothing and sensible shoes, preferably dark or black so you blend in with the darkness better!. Always carry a good torch
and plenty of spare batteries, spirit drain them very fast and you will go through loads in no time!. Be professional in your conduct,
respect spirit, the venue and surrounding residents at all times... remember you will probably leave the location very late at night or
early morning, don`t disturb local people when leaving, if you are always well behaved you are more likely to be allowed further visits
to the location!. Never "Ghost Bait", (daring, insulting or otherwise behaving inpolitely towards spirit in order to get a response) ...
it`s unprofessional, disrespectful, dangerous and un-neccessary. Be polite to spirit and you will get better response from them and less
likely to be attacked by angry souls!. Always do any vigils or activities with at least two people, obviously safer, but also if anything
happens there will be more than one witness to clarify for each other.

We hope to add interviews with Thriller Nights team members soon so watch this space!