Abstract

Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) causes increased adverse effects on biological systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EMF on heart tissue by biochemical and histomorphological evaluations in EMF-exposed adult rats. In this study, 28 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used. The rats were divided into two groups: sham group (n = 14) and EMF group (n = 14). Rats in sham group were exposed to same conditions as the EMF group except the exposure to EMF. Rats in EMF group were exposed to a 50-Hz EMF of 3 mT for 4 h/day and 7 days/week for 2 months. After 2 months of exposure, rats were killed; the hearts were excised and evaluated. Determination of oxidative stress parameters was performed spectrophotometrically. To detect apoptotic cells, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry were performed. In EMF-exposed group, levels of lipid peroxidation significantly increased and activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase decreased compared with sham group. The number of TUNEL-positive cells and caspase-3 immunoreactivity increased in EMF-exposed rats compared with sham. Under electron microscopy, there were mitochondrial degeneration, reduction in myofibrils, dilated sarcoplasmic( )reticulum and perinuclear vacuolization in EMF-exposed rats. In conclusion, the results show that the exposure to EMF causes oxidative stress, apoptosis and morphologic damage in myocardium of adult rats. The results of our study indicate that EMF-related changes in rat myocardium could be the result of increased oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to demonstrate whether the exposure to EMF can induce adverse effects on myocardium.

PMID: 22323476 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

For more information please go here.

As the field of Ghost Hunting explodes there are many amateur investigators picking up EMF (Electromagnetic Field) meters and trying to find ghosts. I see not only in TV reality shows the incorrect use of an EMF meter but in real life too. You may ask, “What makes you qualified to write a tutorial on the proper use of an EMF meter?” I am 49 years old and graduated in 1986 with an Electronics Engineering Degree. I have been in the field of electronics and technology ever since my graduation and have obtained several certificates in various aspects of electronics theory and design. I am a certified RF/EMF specialist with a broad spectrum understanding of RF and EM field science.

I first became interested in the paranormal around 1982 and after my education began applying the RF/EM Field science and theory to the paranormal. I have learned quite a bit over the years and here in this tutorial I will share some of that knowledge.

What is EMF?

EMF – [Electromagnetic Field] also known as [Electromagnetic Frequencies]

–Definition

The electromagnetic field is a physical field produced by electrically charged objects. It affects the behavior of charged objects in the vicinity of the field. The electromagnetic field extends indefinitely throughout space and describes the electromagnetic interaction. It is one of the four fundamental forces of nature (the others are gravitation, the weak interaction, and the strong interaction). The field propagates by electromagnetic radiation; in order of increasing energy (decreasing wavelength) electromagnetic radiation comprises: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. The field can be viewed as the combination of an electric field and a magnetic field. The electric field is produced by stationary charges, and the magnetic field by moving charges (currents); these two are often described as the sources of the field. The way in which charges and currents interact with the electromagnetic field is described by Maxwell’s equations and the Lorentz force law. From a classical perspective, the electromagnetic field can be regarded as a smooth, continuous field, propagated in a wavelike manner; whereas, from a quantum mechanical perspective, the field is seen as quantized, being composed of individual photons.  (Wikipedia, 2011)

Man-made EM fields are everywhere, they are created by a plethora of electronic devices available on the market such as but not limited to automobiles, appliances, general electronics, manufacturing, electrical distribution and more. There are also natural sources of EMF that exist such as the earth’s magnetic field, rock formations, deep space radiation, and bio-electric fields from human and animal species and yes, the possibility of ghosts and other paranormal activity.

Side Note: if you are interested in learning more about EMF and its related effects on the human body please click on this “EMF Services” link.

The EMF Meter

Your basic EMF meter comes in two different configurations. Single Axis or Triple Axis also known as a Trifield or 3-Axis. The single axis EMF meter is a very directional meter when it comes to measuring EM fields. This means you have to be pointed at the EM field with the correct orientation of the sensor to get a valid reading. If you are off axis or pointed away from the EM field your readings will be very low or inaccurate and many at times be non-existent.

	The Trifield or 3-axis EMF meter allows you to measure the EM field in 3 dimensions. This means it will detect EM fields from all directions so there is no need to angle the device towards the EM field you are trying to measure. EMF meters of this type are better equipped to read broad types of EM fields and also assist in determining overall levels of EMF exposure.
	The single axis EMF meter is popular with many ghost hunters; it is also used in the RF and electronics industry to measure EM fields for potentially high exposure levels of EMF. Keep in mind the single axis meter is a very directional EMF detector meaning that you have to point the unit directly at the EM source to get an accurate reading.

Most all EMF meters are calibrated for use in the 50Hz or 60Hz bands. Please note that most of these EMF meters in the electric and magnetic field settings are frequency weighted from 30Hz to about 500Hz. This means that a 2mG (milligauss) magnetic field at 60Hz will display a value of about “2″ on the meter, while a 2mG (milligauss) at 120 Hz will read a “4″. These EMF meters typically give a flat response of +/- 20% over 1000Hz and as the EM Field frequency increases the sensitivity decreases. Also keep in mind that most EMF meters on the market are AC type EM detectors. AC stands for Alternating Current and means that the EMF meter is sensitive to changing magnetic fields above 0 Hertz. Static EM fields require a special type of EMF meter which we will discuss later in this article.

Inside an EMF meter are some basic components such as an inductance coil, amplifier and meter or display circuits for reading values measured. The inductor coil when passed through a small changing electromagnetic field of a couple of millivolts will create a small current in the inductor core windings that is then amplified several hundred or thousand times to a few volts. This voltage is then processed sent to the display of the unit for reading. The measurement is read in Gauss or Tesla units and the scale can be adjusted according to the amount of EMF present.

How to use the proper units during measurement

It is important to understand the values and types of measurements you are taking. I see many individuals working with EMF meters calling out numbers such as ’2′, or “I have a 4”. These numbers mean nothing without understanding what scale and unit of measure you are reading at the time. For example, a ’2′ could be 2 milligauss, or 2 micro gauss. You could be measuring in Tesla units and these values could be micro Tesla’s. Most field measurements will be done with the milligauss units. During scientific studies, the micro Tesla unit of measurement will be used. You can convert from micro Tesla to milligauss easily with 1 micro Tesla = 10 milliGauss.

When you are documenting your findings, using the proper unit of measure will allow your data to be much more accurate and will be of better assistance to the scientific community.

Types of EMF Meters

There are several types of EMF meters in this class and they are as follows:

• Single & 3-Axis EMF Meter (Frequency Weighted)
• Single & 3-Axis EMF Meter (Flat Frequency, Non Weighted)
• Single & 3-Axis EMF Meter (Extended Range Broadband)

Frequency weighted EMF meters which are like the majority of the EMF meters sold on the market are designed to measure levels of EMF that are absorbed by the human body. This type of EMF meter will not give a true field reading at most frequencies. Even though these EMF meters can measure a large range of EM frequencies such as 30Hz to around 100 KHz accuracy falls off at the higher frequencies.

The human body will absorb these EM fields and depending on the exposure level and frequency will absorb more or less EM field radiation. The body converts these into tiny electrical currents and impulses that can cause strange phenomena to occur. Some of the symptoms of high EM exposure can be headaches, ringing in the ears, buzzing in the head, muscle aches, hallucinations, visual anomalies and more.

Starting with a 60Hz field, effects may be subtle but as the frequency doubles and triples the effects can be increased exponential. Non-Weighted frequency EMF meters are better suited for actual true EM field measurements across the rated frequency range. These type of meters are better used in the laboratory but can be used in tandem with the frequency weighted EMF meter for validation purposes. So, all this talk about frequency weighted & non-frequency weighted. Which are better? They both have their benefits in the measurement of EM fields. FW meters can give you readings which are proportionate to the human exposure level from EM fields while the NFW can give you more linear accuracy over the entire frequency range allowing you to obtain actual EM field levels. The FW meters may be better used in paranormal investigations because they represent the exposure level relative to the human body.

The Extended Range Broadband EMF Meter has an RF sensor that is frequency flat over an extended range from about 100 KHz to about 2.5GHz. Higher priced models will extend this range even further. These meters are basically the same as their counterparts but have an increased range of operation and accuracy. They are generally more expensive and the cost may not be justified in many cases.

The Natural EMF meter differs from the AC EMF meter which has been discussed up to this point. The Natural EMF meter measures static DC or natural EM fields. These fields have no alternating current (fields) and are considered to be 0Hz or static. These types of meters are usually designed to ignore AC fields and can be very useful in paranormal investigations. The natural EMF meter will be sensitive to the fields emitted from space, earth, humans, animals and etc. These very weak DC fields can be measured and recorded during an investigation to help understand the phenomena behind what may be occurring.

Interesting note; I have personally seen significant measurement values occur when a person has walked by or near the natural EM meter. In fact, I have measured occurrences of individuals walking past a room I was in and they were not even present in this room! These measurements were recorded through the wall separating that person from the meter. This can give you an idea of how sensitive these natural EM meters can be.

The average natural EM meter can measure DC or static magnetic fields from 0 to about 100 micro Tesla.

Before we go any further I feel the need to clarify one important fact. EMF meters are not ghost detectors!  I have frequently seen people marketing these meters as ghost detectors which they are not. EMF meters were designed for use by electricians, power companies, the electronics industry and personal exposure studies. Both AC and DC EMF meters will detect a variety of EM fields and validation on this alone is not good practice. All data collected from a paranormal investigation or exposure study should be used in the consideration when placing a label such as “Haunted” on a location or establishment.

Most EMF meters will cover a decent range of frequencies in the EM band especially the lower frequencies in the ELF to LF bands. It is only theory that an entity or spirit can emit an EM field when it is present or trying to communicate or manifest itself. There are very few studies that can produce solid evidence on this subject as to what frequencies or EM field’s levels may be active during a manifestation of an entity. It is at this point a possible link to EMF meters and the spirit world come into play. It is possible that when a spirit or entity tries to manifest or communicate it collects energy from the surrounding area producing an EM field in the process. These EM fields are relatively low compared to other manmade sources, probably in the 10mG to maybe 100mG range. This energy fluctuation creates an electromagnetic field.

In theory, this EM field can be measured using devices such as an EMF meter. But we must be careful to not jump to conclusions and label every reading on the EMF meter from a ghost or spirit. We are surrounded by EM fields everyday and many times the readings we get from an EMF meter are most likely man made. During an investigation your EMF meter should be used to determine any and all manmade causes of EM fields. You should also try and rule out any natural EM fields as well, except maybe your ghost!

EM fields and their effect on the human body

It is a known fact that EMF levels of 30mG or higher can cause biological and hallucinogenic effects on a human subject that is hypersensitive to EM fields. These people can experience headaches, nausea, skin irritations, ringing in the ears, hallucinations, paranoia and more.

Use your EMF meter to help detect hot spots in the house or building where people may spend a considerable amount of time. A better-known term is called a “Fear Cage”, this is usually a small confined area in a basement, crawl space or room corner where the exposure to high levels of EMF may exist. You should look for faulty wires, fuse or breaker boxes, electrical outlets, appliances and so on to help understand what your client may be experiencing. Any of these and more can cause high levels of EMF and create potential problems with human exposure.

We had an investigation where a middle aged woman was experiencing night time apparitions and shadows near her bed. She claimed they only appeared at night and were of different shapes and sizes. They were described as dark or black masses and shadows. During an initial sweep of her bedroom we found a startling high level of EMF around the alarm clock on the night stand near the bed where she slept. The levels were around 300mG, which is ten times what the human exposure limit should be. The measurement extended out for about a 2-3 foot radius and then dropped off dramatically after that. No other potential sources for the shadows were found and upon replacement of the alarm clock by the client, the EMF levels were decreased and the shadows were not seen again. The client also claimed that wild dreams would occur during this period of time also. The dreams were reduced at this time also.

For more detailed information on EM fields and their biological effects please see our “EMF Services” section.

When using an EMF meter such as a Single Axis, Trifield or K-II for assisting in validation of a spiritual haunting you must remember not to rely solely on the device for evidence of a haunting. The EMF meter can be a great tool to assist the investigator once all other manmade and natural causes are ruled out. During an investigation where an EMF meter is being used for gathering evidence of a haunting, the following tips may be helpful:

• Use more than 1 EMF meter when possible. Make sure each of the meters is the same model. Place them in a row or a circle while monitoring their exposure to the EM fields. Many times a spirit or entity that may interact with the device will light up only 1 at a time. This can help confirm that is was not a contamination from a larger external EM field burst.

• If using a single axis EMF meter, remember to angle the meter towards the source you suspect may be emitting an EM field. Usually the meter will have printed on it, the sensor position or location.

• Check your settings before you take measurements, usually milliGauss is a good starting point and move the scale up or down according to your EM field.

• Make note of your scale, you could be measuring milliGauss but if your scale is .001, .01, .1, 1, 10 or 100 this can make a difference in your values recorded if misinterpreted. These values are factors of ten and a good starting point would be .01 or .1 scale. Raise the scale from there if needed.

• When using a Trifield EMF meter, there is no need to angle the meter towards the source but using a single axis meter along with a 3-axis meter can help increase the quality of data collected.

• Check your battery often; a low battery can skew your results.

• Some meters have Magnetic, Electric and RF settings. These should be self explanatory but use your Magnetic setting for most applications in paranormal investigation. The Electric settings can be used to help determine standard house AC electrical problems. The EM field is still read in each mode but it changes the way the meter interprets the information received.

• When doing an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) session, place the meters near but not too close to the audio recorders. Make sure you log any changes in meter response that may correspond to a question asked. This way you can later sync this to any audio and video recordings that were made in the room at that time.

I hope this article has been helpful, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding the article or about EM fields and EMF meters.

EVPs can still be some of the best evidence a paranormal investigator can obtain from a haunted location. Although many captured audio clips can easily be debunked as voices from team members in the room, outdoor contamination, animals sounds, structure noises and so on, there are a handful of valid EVPs which still defy logic and reasonable explanation. These are the EVPs that interest me the most. These EVPs don’t seem to fit anywhere that logic exists. They cannot be explained by voices in the room and even if we apply the logic of the possibility of an investigator causing the EVP, it still does not make sense from a verbal explanation because the reference in the EVP is very much out of character for the investigator(s) in question.

Ruling out stray radio signals, other investigators, random noise, recorder noise, media contamination and so on becomes very easy and trying to apply a logical normal phenomena becomes exponential difficult especially with recordings from devices in non-human isolated areas.

Many of these EVPs in question are true “Class A” EVPs. There is a rating system used for the quality of an EVP and it allows for four classifications which are A, B, C and D. A class (A) EVP will be clear and understood by all individuals listening to it. There will be no argument as to what it says. A class (B) EVP will be clear enough to be understood as a human voice by all individuals listening, but there may be a difference of opinion as to what is being said by these individuals. This type of EVP can easily be miss-labeled and a false meaning can be assigned to the EVP based on miss-interpretation to what is being said. A class (C) EVP will be understood by most as a human voice but no words or phrases will be intelligible. MFPS does not use class (C) EVPs as evidence in a case because they are embedded too far into the white noise or background noise to be usable. We have even found in some cases where contamination sounds can sometimes be interpreted as human voice. Class (C) EVPs should never be used or cataloged in a serious investigation. Last, class (D) EVPs, this classification is useless in EVP research. This is an EVP that is basically unidentifiable noise that stands out among all the background noise. This class is not used by MFPS and many others; although I still see it listed in use from time to time by other groups. There is a Class (G) EVP used by some, the G stands for Garbage! Class (G) EVPs are not recognized by MFPS as a usable classification therefore we will not spend anymore time discussing it.

The Class (A) EVPs, which defy all logic, are interesting because they appear to reference names, surrounding activity, answer questions and even ask questions. An example of this type of EVP occurred when we were investigating the Akron Civic Theater, I was sitting alone in the upper balcony seats in the theater conducting an EVP session. I had just started and was about 5-10 minutes into the session when we recorded a female voice say “What’s your name?” There were no female investigators with me, none anywhere nearby or even on the same floor as me! Later in the evening Jennifer was conducting an EVP session in an area that was known to have high levels of paranormal activity. Jessica and Sandi accompanied her. At one point Jennifer witnessed an EMF spike on the Trifield EM Meter and asks Sandi for a flashlight. We here Sandi talking in the background and then a voice picked up on the recording which states, “Where are you?” Immediately after this voice we hear a much stronger voice state; “Light… Light… Cuts the night”.

During both of these EVPs, Jennifer noted that she felt extremely dizzy.

These recordings are interesting because they appear to happen simultaneously with magnetic and sometimes biological effects such as Jennifer feeling dizzy and the Trifield EM meter spiking. We have recorded this phenomena many times in the past.

The sensations which are sometimes felt as dizziness, weakness, tingling, and agitation are believed to be a symptom of manifestation from an intelligent entity or perhaps a strong residual energy field that is influencing the individual conducting the EVP session. For clarification to the reader; an intelligent entity would be any spirit or ghost that is aware of your presence and can interact with the environment, equipment and the individual conducting the EVP session. A residual anomaly or occurrence is not aware of your presence but can interact with the environment, usually as a phantom image or sound which has characteristics much like a video or voice recording.

These images and sounds can be triggered in the environment by people present, time of day, electrical influences, and thunderstorms to name a few. It is important to remember that residual activity is not a real ghost or spirit, it’s a recorded impression of energy that may have been present in a past tragedy, joyous occasion or negative situation. You can simply think of this as a video tape recorder playing back one of your cherished memories that was recorded sometime in the past. Instead of using magnetic tape, the residual is using minerals such as quartz crystal, limestone and some granite building materials. When these materials are present in the right configuration, and at the right location, it can act very much like the magnetic video tape that recorded your memory.

Residual energy can be imprinted on to a digital recorder. In certain circumstances, it can also be heard with the human ear. Recordings which appear to be residual tend to have a unique characteristic such as sounding very generalized and not usually answering a question. These types of EVPs can show up on the recorders overlapping voices of the investigators present. They can also sound like conversation in the 3rd party, meaning they may appear to be talking to other entities in the area.

Another incident comes to mind from London England which involved 3 investigators conducting an EVP session in an old castle. One investigator holds a video camera, another holds a digital still camera and the third a voice recorder. During the EVP session the investigator holding the voice recorder picks up 2 fascinating EVPs, the first EVP which states “Who are they?” and the second one stating “I see flashes”. What is interesting about these EVPs is the investigator with the digital still camera was taking pictures at the time the EVPs were captured and the team was walking through an area known to have high levels of paranormal activity. Again, we can see a response in the EVP that directly relates to the situation at the time, a camera flashing and unknown people (The Investigation Team).

Another remarkable case that involved a family in Massillon, Ohio was truly bizarre. During a follow-up investigation, MFPS team members Shawn and Erik were conducting an EVP session in the cellar of this home built around 1902. The home sat atop an old coal-mine, which was active from the mid 1800′s to about 1950. Incidentally this coal-mine had one of the highest death rates out of all the operational Ohio coal-mines of the time. During this EVP session a MiniDV Camera, Digital Voice Recorder, Ambient Temperature Probe, Trifield EMF Meter, KII EMF Meter and a Flashlight (modified to be touch sensitive) were used to document and assist in communication with any entity that might have been present. Prior to this follow-up investigation, research on the home and property suggested that a coal-miner by the name of George might have died in or near the house and was possibly the entity in question. The flashlight was used with great success on the prior investigation in which Shawn and Erik were able to document almost 2 hours of interaction with something turning the flashlight on and off per their request. During the follow-up investigation and prior to the EVP session in the cellar Erik had dropped the flashlight onto a hard concrete floor. When Erik tried to adjust the flashlight sensitivity he discovered that it was not operating correctly. The flashlight would not turn on with most attempts, finally Erik was able to make it work, but operation was marginal at best.

About 20 minutes into their EVP session in the cellar, Shawn and Erik notice a rather large KII EMF spike. Anticipating that George might be present, Erik starts to walk over towards the flashlight on the floor that was surrounded by a Trifield EM Meter, MiniDV Video Recorder and Digital Voice Recorder. As Erik approaches flashlight he states; “OK George, if you are here with us, it’s time to play with the flashlight. Can you turn it on?” Immediately after Erik’s statement we recorded on both the MiniDV and Digital Voice Recorder a clear Class A EVP which said; “It Won’t”. Right after this EVP you can hear Erik tell Shawn that he felt very cold, in fact, Erik felt so cold that when Shawn used the ambient temperature meter he was able to measure an 18-degree drop in temperature within the same EVP area where Erik was standing. Once again we see a response to a situation, ‘flashlight interaction on prior investigation’, ‘defective flashlight that is difficult to activate’, and a ‘voice that responds to a direct question about turning on the flashlight’, “It Won’t”.

Last year, MFPS started a division called “MFPS ParaLabs”, which intends to study paranormal phenomena in a scientific laboratory environment. One of the many experiments ParaLabs will be conducting, is an EVP experiment which is aimed at trying to produce EVPs from various test methods. One of these methods includes a Electro-psychokinesis, or (EPK) experiment, which will study the effect an individual may have on electronic recording devices. This is one theory that we believe may occur, the ability for the human mind to imprint an EVP onto recording media through a Quantum State that may occur at the time of the EVP recording. Other tests would include but are not limited to RF (Radio Frequency), Acoustics, Outside Contamination, Indoor Contamination, General Electronic Induction, LW (Long Wave), MW (Medium Wave), SW (Short Wave) Frequencies, EMF Interference and etc. Hopefully these experiments will help shed some light on Electronic Voice Phenomena.

Some of you may have questioned up to this point why I did not mention a direct link between ghosts, spirits and Electronic Voice Phenomena? Although there is no real proof that EVP recordings are directly connected with ghosts and spirits, there is growing evidence that some EVPs may have this association linked to them. MFPS believes that this could be possible based on the study of hundreds of EVPs over the years. EVP association to Ghosts and Spirits only applies to a small percentage of these EVPs because the vast majorities are explainable or just common contamination.

MFPS gathers between 30 and 80 hours of video, audio, photos and other data during a routine investigation. A large portion of this media is audio in the form of WMA, WAV, MP3 and VOC. During evidence review many audio files are double checked with a blind study. This means that the reviewers, of a single set of media, do not communicate to each other but rather to a 3rd party individual who analyzes the findings. This can be extremely beneficial in validating Class A and Class B EVPs. It also helps to prevent influencing another subject with suggestion about what may have been heard.

Once an EVP is validated it is enhanced with special software that helps remove background noise without destroying the EVP or causing any distortion. It is extremely important to not over process or enhance an EVP too much, this will distort and destroy the EVP and turn your Class A/B into a Class C or worse, a Class D!

During an evidence reveal to our clients, MFPS will present both raw and enhanced EVPs as a comparison. This helps the client understand more of what was recorded and assists them in listening to the EVP. After the investigation is long over, we do not stop experimenting with EVPs and other odd recorded anomalies. We feel there are still discoveries to be made as software and hardware advances and new technologies emerge. All that data can still hold a key to some of these mysterious recordings we call Electronic Voice Phenomena.

Eric Haney
Founder & Lead Investigator
Munroe Falls Paranormal Society

MFPS to assist with new paranormal film!

MFPS has reached an agreement with a midwest film producer to become the official technical consultants in the making of a new paranormal film to be shot on location in Ohio. MFPS will work closely with the actors and director to insure that the terms, concepts, usage of equipment, protocol, procedures and more are accurately portrayed in the making of this film.

Some of the MFPS staff will be cast in the film to add validity and reality to the areas of production needed. The film company will begin shooting the movie in July. As soon as details can be posted we will bring you those updates.

The Munroe Falls Paranormal Society is in the final planning stages to launch a new division called MFPS ParaLabs!

This division will be overseen by Debbie, Eric and Anthony which will conduct paranormal experiments in a laboratory setting with real test subjects, scientific equipment, environmental settings, calibration data, log data, full video, audio, data logging and more. There will be scientists, engineers, meteorologists, psychologists and more working on these experiments which will then be publicized to a website when compiled and complete. More information will be released soon!

Symbols are used as a sort of shorthand to convey particular meanings. In and of itself, a symbol is fundamentally meaningless, and it is only the understanding we bring to it that actually gives it any definition. Any given symbol may have many meanings and so in order to choose the most accurate interpretation for it, one needs to understand the context in which the symbol was created. Context is vitally important as the definitions of symbols vary across time, geography, and culture.

Consider, for example, a simple sign; two lines of equal length, intersecting perpendicularly at each other’s center point. This is known a ‘Greek Cross’, and it is used in Greek Orthodox Christianity and,  in fact,  in early Christianity to represent the cross of Christ’s crucifixion. However, make the same sign in red and it becomes the Red Cross which symbolizes emergency medical care. Place numbers on either side of it, and it becomes a mathematical symbol meaning ‘addition’. Place it within a circle, and it takes on further connotations as a solar emblem, or a Native American Medicine Wheel, or the sign of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Or, as another example, consider the case of the Latin cross. The Latin cross is today considered the most recognizable and common symbol of Christianity. The Latin cross is the symbol of the crucifixion of Christ. Modern media outlets frequently show an inverted Latin Cross as a symbol meaning the rejection of Christianity. It is frequently portrayed as a common Satanic symbol, which mocks the Christian faith. However, in another context, the inverted Latin cross is known as ‘The Cross of St. Peter” and represents the martyrdom of St. Peter, as told by Origen of Alexandria. Peter, it is said, requested to be crucified upside down, as he felt he was not worthy to die n the same way as Christ. Consequently, The Cross of St. Peter is regarded as a symbol of humility and unworthiness in comparison to Christ. The inverted Latin cross is sometimes used to indicate the Papacy, as the successor to St. Peter as the Bishop of Rome. To add to the confusion however, the Crucifix, a Latin cross with a depiction of Christ suffering upon it, cannot be hung upside down as it is seen as disrespectful of Christ.

This demonstrates that even when it comes to symbols whose meanings are ‘commonly’ regarded as having straightforward definitions, in reality are often much more complex. This underlines the need to identify the context of a given symbol. Blanket statements about the meaning of a symbol, without regard to the purposes of its creators or the cultural definitions of the emblem, are almost never accurate.

An extremely apt example of this can be found in the symbol known as the pentacle, or pentagram.

This is an ancient symbol, consisting of 5 lines connecting end to end to create a five pointed star. Geometrically, this symbol is significant because it represents a mathematical concept known as ‘The Golden Ratio’. The Golden Ratio is defined as a ratio where a line can be divided into two segments, where the length of both segments is the same when compared to the first segment of the line, when the first is compared to the second. In other words:

(A+B) is the same proportional length of A alone, as A is to the length of B.

Another way of visualizing it is through what is known as the Fibronacci sequence. In the Fibronacci sequence, each number is added to the one in front of it, to produce a sequence that goes like this:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144…

The Fibronacci sequence can be recognized in the natural world when used as a ratio and compared to the measurements of a variety of naturally occurring forms. Examples can be found in seashells, flowers, pinecones, and even whirlpools. Consequently we are accustomed to seeing the ratio and we are aesthetically drawn to it.

The Golden Ratio is commonly found in several geometric figures and was recognized as early as the Greek mathematician Pythagoras. He and his followers used the Pentagram as a symbol identifying themselves as members of the Pythagorean School. The pentagram was variously referred to as ‘Hygeia’ or ‘Health’, and another variant was known as the Pentalpha. The Pentalpha consisted of 5 overlapping capital Alphas, forming a pentagram. In this form, it represented ‘Truth’.

The Pentagram, with its pentagon interior, represented, according to Pherecydes of Syros in his book Pentamychos, a mystical emblem of an ordered cosmos. The recesses in the symbol were considered more important than the points of the star, and represented certain ‘chambers’ in which primordial chaos was sealed away before an ordered cosmos could appear. In this way it represents the Universe and creation itself.

The Greeks were certainly not the first to recognize the symbol of the pentagram, and they certainly were not the last. Archaeologically speaking, the pentagram has appeared in ancient Babylon, where, according to symbologist and Sumerian historian Rene Labat, the symbol probably had some directional and astronomical meanings to them. The inverted pentagram was found on seals in the city of Jerusalem for a time, surrounded by the letters YRSLM in Hebrew. The Pentagram has a long history of Christian associations as well. According to scholars, the pentagram was used to represent the five senses, and each point was assigned a letter S A L V S.

Additionally, because the sign could be drawn with a single stroke of the pen, it was said to represent the Alpha and Omega, or Christ himself.

It was used, according to some scholars, to represent the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the magi west to find the birth of Jesus. In this form it meant divine incarnation, salvation, and the Holy Spirit descending to Earth. In some icons of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the inverted  pentagram is used to indicate the Mount of Transfiguration, where Christ spoke with Elijah and Moses, and was elevated above them as the Son of God. The inverted Pentagram appears next to the Chi Rho sign of Christ on the seal of Constantine the Great. Constantine was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, and he legalized the practice of the religion in the Roman Empire. Scholars indicate that the pentagram was a lesser used Christian symbol in this time. The Pentagram was sometimes used by Greek Christians in lieu of a cross when beginning inscriptions.

In the medieval era, it was said to represent the 5 Wounds of Christ, and in the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the symbol is used on the shield of the hero, to remind him of the Five knightly virtues (noble generosity, fellowship, purity, courtesy, and compassion) and the 5 Joys Mary had of Christ (typically The Annunciation, The Nativity, The Resurrection, the Ascension, and the Assumption). It is also mentioned in this context as representing the five wounds of Christ, the 5 senses and the five fingers of the hand. Popularly, the symbol was used as a sign of protection, and was thought to ward off both Witches and devils. It was used as such from the middle ages into the 20th century. It was sometimes found carved above doors and windows, or on cribs, to protect the infant from harm. It was frequently mistakenly called the Seal of Solomon when it was used like this, in reference to the tales that King Solomon could rebuke and command demons. It is worth noting that the ‘inverted’pentagram, with two points up, is more often seen than the single point up during this time.

The mathematical properties of the pentagram, noted by the Pythagoreans, and man later cultures, continued to influence artwork and architecture for centuries.

It is thought that the floor plans of several Gothic Cathedrals were actually designed according to the aesthetics of the Golden Ratio, and by plotting various points on the floor plans, perfect pentagrams can be discovered.

More overtly, many churches incorporated pentagrams into their outward designs.

The Beautiful north facing rose window of the Cathedral at Amiens, in France, features a large inverted pentagram.

The Marktkirche in Hannover Germany has a prominent inverted pentagram on the side of its clock tower.

The Church of All Saints at Kilham, Humberside, Yorkshire, England displays these on columns that support the Norman doorway of the place.

The aesthetics of the Golden Ratio, and the pentagram became of prime interest to artists during the Renaissance, and they began to incorporate the ratio into their artwork. The relation of the Golden Ratio and the Pentacle in particular to the human body is first seen in the 1551 book Heiroglyphica, by Valeriano Bolzani, largely considered one of the first and most influential dictionaries of symbols ever produced.

In it he displayed a picture of Christ superimposed over a pentagram. This depiction of the pentagram recalls that shown in Henry Cornelius Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy, first published in 1531.

Agrippa shows a man superimposed over a pentagram, surrounded by astronomical symbols. In describing the symbol himself, he states:

Geometricall Figures also arising from numbers, are conceived to be of no less power. Of these first of all, a Circle doth answer to Unity, and the number ten; for Unity is the Center, and circumference of all things; and the number ten being heaped together retuens into a Unity from whence it had its beginning, being the end, and complements of all numbers. A circle is called an infinite line in which there is no Terminus a quo, nor Terminus ad quem, whose beginning and end is in every point, whence also a circular motion is called infinite, not according to time, but according to place; hence a circular being the largest and perfectest of all is judged to be the most fit for bindings and conjurations; Whence they who adjure evil spirits, are wont to environ themselves about with a circle. A Pentangle also, as with the vertue of the number five hath a very great command over evil spirits, so by its lineature, by which it hath within five obtuse angles, and without five acutes, five double triangles by which it is surrounded. The interior pentangle containes in it great mysteries, which also is so to be enquired after, and understood; of the other figures, viz. triangle, quadrangle, sexangle, septangle, octangle, and the rest, of which many, as they are made of many and divers insections [intersections], obtain divres significations and vertues according to the divers manner of draeing, and proportions of lines, and numbers.

To Agrippa, the pentagram was a sign of man as a microcosm of the Universe. It represented the four elements in balance, and derived its power from the number 5. In writing of the number 5 and its virtues, he notes:

Also this number hath great power in expiations: For in holy things it drives away Divels [devils]. In naturall things, it expels poysons [poisons]. It is also called the number of fortunateness, and favour, and it is the Seale of the Holy Ghost, and a bond that binds all things, and the number of the cross, yea eminent with the principall wounds of Christ, whereof he vouchsafed to keep the scars in his glorifyed body. The heathen Philosophers did dedicate it as sacred to Mercury, esteeming the vertue of it to be so much more excellent then the number four, by how much a living thing is more excellent then a thing without life. For in this number the Father Noah found favour with God, and was preserved in the floud [flood] of waters. In the vertue of this number Abraham, being an hundred years old, begat a Son of Sarah, being ninety years old, and a barren Woman, and past child bearing, and grew up to be a great people. Hence in time of grace the name of divine omnipotency is called upon with five letters. For in time of nature the name of God was called upon with three letters. éãù Sadai: in time of the Law, the ineffable name of God was expressed with four letters äåäé insteed of which the Hebrews express éðãà Adonai: in time of grace the ineffable name of God was with five letters äåùäé Ihesu, which is called upon with no less mysterie then that of three letters åùé.

The pentagram is also discussed in the works of Paracelsus. In an English translation of his Archidoxes of Magic in 1655 entitled ‘Of the Supreme Mysteries of Nature’, Paracelsus describes it:

There is another which excelleth the former in power and virtue, and this hath three Hooks cutting one another through by a cross, and are so delineated, that by their mutual intersection they include six spaces, and outwardly five angles, wherein are written five syllables of the supream name of God; to wit, Tetragrammaton, also according to their true order.

And then goes on to decribe its great powers:

I would gladly knowe, where and in what place in all the Books of the Nigromancers may be found any other, wherein there is made the like against malignant Spirits, Devils, & Inchantments of the Magitians, by all the deceits and devices of the Sorcerers. For they do deliver him that is already inchanted either in his minde or understanding, so that he is forced or compelled to act against his own natural will or nature; or if he suffer any loss or hurt in his body, by the administration of these, made in their just and due time and hour, and being taken in his mouth with a Wafer, Pancake, ot such-like thing, in four and twenty hours he shall be free from the Inchantment.

And later still he notes, regarding the pentagram and the hexagram:

Truly those which we have spoken of, are the true Pentacles to be had and used against all unclean Spirits, which they do all fear, even they which wander in the Elements.

As intriguing as it is to see where pentagrams are found, it is also interesting to note where the pentagram is NOT found. The pentagram seldom makes any appearances in the medieval and renaissance era grimoires of magic that were popular during the time. In the few cases they appear, they are used exclusively as protective devices, frequently surrounded with one of the Hebrew names for God (either the Tetragrammaton or the Pentagrammaton, depending on the number of letters used.). One such example of this is found in perhaps the most famous book of magic that came out of the 14^th and 15^th centuries, called The Key of Solomon. The pentagram is described in detail within the book Ars Goetia in the Lesser Key as ‘The Pentagram of Solomon’ and it is specified as being a protective symbol, saying:

THIS is the Form of Pentagram of Solomon, the figure whereof is to be made in Sol or Luna (Gold or Silver), and worn upon thy breast; having the Seal of the Spirit required on the other side thereof. It is to preserve thee from danger, and to command the Spirits by.

None of the books used by witch-hunters during the time of the Great Witch-Hunts (roughly 1450-1700) to identify witches and their practices make mention of the pentagram in relation to witches or Satanism. Books such as the Malleus Maleficarum or the Compendium Maleficarum do not mention the sign despite their in-depth descriptions of Witches’ Sabbaths and the worship of the Devil. King James’ Demonologie also does not make mention of it. Neither does it appear in the skeptical works of Reginald Scott or Johann Weyer. Likewise, the dozens of broadsides and chapbooks published during the time, outlining discoveries of witchcraft and sorcery and their trials also never mentioned the pentagram.

In his 1808 play Faust, Goethe continues the Renaissance magic representation of the pentagram as a symbol of protection, but further goes on to suggest that only perfectly drawn pentagrams might be effective.

Mephistopheles: I must confess, my stepping o’er Thy threshold a slight hinderance foth impede; The wizard-foot doth me retain.

Faust: The pentagram they peace doth mar?

To me, thou son of hell, explain, How camest thou in, if this thine exit bar? Could such a spirit aught ensnare?

Mephistopheles: Observe it well, it is not drawn with care, One of the angles, that which points without, Is, as thou seest, not quite closed.

Curiously, the surviving Grimoires attributed to Faust (who was an actual historical figure, living in 16^th Century Germany) do not mention the pentagram at all. Small pentagrams can be seen in the summoning circle found in the Praxis Magica Fausti, published in 1571, however.

Secularly, both the inverted star or pentagram and the upright star are frequently seen, especially in the mid 19^th century. Several American flags used by both the Navy and other key government locations. One such was the ‘Great Star Flag’ of 1837, which consisted of 26 upright stars arranged in the pattern of an inverted pentacle. The badge of the Texas Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies of the Old West often used pentagrams in their badges. Moreover, in 1862, the Medal of Honor was introduced as the highest military honor one could receive, and consisted then, as it does today, of an inverted pentagram suspended from a ribbon.

It is significant that no work, religious, occult, or popular, ascribed anything negative to the pentagram until 1855. In 1855, a French priest and occultist named Alphonse Constant, writing under the name Eliphas Levi, published a pair of books called ‘The Dogma and Ritual of Transcendental Magic’ in which he becomes the first person to assign a negative connotation to the inverted pentagram. He cites no source for this statement, and it comes as something of a surprise to students of the occult up to this point.

Levi writes:

The Pentagram, which in Gnostic schools is called the Blazing Star, is the sign of intellectual omnipotence and autocracy. It is the Star of the Magi; it is the sign of the Word made flesh; and, according to the direction of its points, this absolute magical symbol represents order or confusion, the Divine Lamb of Ormuz and St. John, or the accursed goat of Mendes. It is initiation or profanation;  it is Lucifer or Vesper, the star of morning or evening. It is Mary or Lilith, victory or death, day or night. The Pentagram with two points in the ascendant represents Satan as the goat of the Sabbath; when one point is in the ascendant, it is the sign of the Saviour. The Pentagram is the figure of the human body, having the four limbs and a single point representing the head. A human figure head downwards naturally represents a demon that is, intellectual subversion, disorder or madness.

There seems to be little proof of this in folk traditions and magic. The inverted pentagram continued to be used as a sign of protection almost universally. For example, the inverted pentagram appears in the hex signs of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

It is also worth noting that Levi incorrectly identifies the animal used in the rituals of the city of Mendes with a goat. In fact, in the descriptions of the rituals used by Herodotus specifically mentions that the people of Mendes would NOT sacrifice a goat, and instead would use a ram in their sacrifices. The God of Mendes was known as Banebdjed, or The Ba of Djet, and was depicted as a ram headed man draped in the fleece of a ram.

Levi worked with English occultists, who eventually went on to form what was known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Despite this, Levi’s work was not translated and published in English until 1896. It is curious however that even members of the Golden Dawn do not necessarily agree with the Levi’s claim that the inverted pentagram represents evil. His translator, Arthur Edward Waite, repeated this belief in his own works. However, perhaps the most famous member of the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, explained that he believed the inverted pentagram represented spirit manifesting into the material. In this he echoes the medieval ideas that the symbol represented the Star of Bethlehem, and represented the incarnation of God on earth, through Christ.

The representation of the inverted pentagram as connoting something evil is also denied in the foundations of Wicca. Gerald Gardiner, founder of the modern Wicca movement used pentagrams as symbols to indicate the level of instruction a person had received in the craft. The first degree was a simply pentagram with a single point up, the second degree was an inverted pentagram, and the third degree of initiation was represented as an upward pointed pentagram with a triangle superimposed over the upper-most ray. He did not assign any particular meaning to it, other than to note that the points of the pentagram were a reminder and indicator of the 5 elements; Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Spirit. Gardiner’s interpretation has proved popular not only with Wiccans, but with other neo-pagan religions that have since developed.

In the 1960s, Anton Szandor LaVey founded the ‘Church of Satan’ in the United States, and needed a recognizable symbol to use as a logo. He trademarked the now infamous inverted pentagram superimposed with a goat’s head, surrounded by the Hebrew letters for ‘Leviathan’ as the official logo of the Church of Satan. LaVey used the inversion to represent the suppression of the spiritual in favor of the carnal. At this point, the inverted pentagram was linked with Satan and Satanism in the popular imagination, largely due to the flamboyant and charismatic LaVey’s promotion of his Church during the 1960s and 1970s.

Media outlets, such as television, Hollywood, and record companies, were quick to capitalize on the association with the imagery for their own benefit. The inverted pentagram began to appear in Hollywood horror movies, television programs, and on heavy metal album covers. With each appearance, the connection between the pentagram and Satanism grew.

During the 1980s, there was a wave of hysteria that passed through the United States, called ‘The Satanic Panic’. People began to report ‘repressed memories’ of abuse at the hands of satanic cults that their families were involved in. In the end, once the FBI investigated these reports, it was discovered there was no truth to them. But the belief that there was a massive Satanic Conspiracy throughout the United States was a popular one among conservative and fundamentalist Christians. They began to promote the idea that the pentagram was always a sign of Satan Worship, and used it to ‘prove’ satanic conspiracies in such unlikely places as The US Government, the Freemasons, and even the Mormons.

The ‘Pentagram Window’ at the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville gained notoriety when it was featured on the television show ‘Paranormal State’. In the show, the Ryan Buell tells the audience that ‘most’ groups that utilize the inverted pentagrams are Satanists and Satan worshipers. This is supposedly corroborated by guest and author Michelle Belanger.

The problem is that not only is this is simply untrue, it was absolutely not true at the time the window was constructed in the late 19^th Century.

Construction on the West Virginia Penitentiary was begun in 1866. It was completed in phases over the next hundred years, with prisoners doing the bulk of the work. The so-called ‘Warden’s Tower was built in the second phase of the construction, and was completed in 1876. The ‘Wheel’ which separated the main entrance, the administrative offices, and the prison proper was installed in 1902, and was one of only 2 in the world at the time. The building would necessarily have had to have been completed by the time this was installed.

The prison is built in the Gothic Revival style. Gothic Revival was intended to convey a sense of conservatism and stern morality, recalling the architecture of Medieval Europe. Architect A.W.N. Pugin, who worked primarily in the Gothic Revival style and is credited with popularizing it in England, considered the Gothic Style to be the product of ‘true Christian’ principles and beliefs. This attitude was typical of architects working in this style, and was a reaction to the more ‘liberal’ Classical and republican styles of architecture that had been popular in the 18^th and early 19^th Century.

The four story administration building housed administrative offices on the third floor, and the warden’s quarters on the 3^rd and 4^th floors. The main stairway to the upper levels is in the center front of the building, directly above the main entrance. The stairwell separates the front wall of the building from the front wall of the warden’s apartments. For a very brief time, the third floor held female prisoners, but this was swiftly changed. The Warden was expected to live on site, and the female prisoners were moved to another building.

The pentagram window is in the fourth floor, directly above the main stairwell. This would allow exterior light shining through the front windows of the building to shine through into the front hall of the Warden’s Apartments. Such a window would have been a necessary part of the lighting of the rooms in an era before electricity. There is some evidence to suggest that the window was covered over at some point. The panes of glass in the window were painted a uniform shade of gray, apparently to help protect the surface of the glass from scratches and dirt while covered. Where Paranormal State implies that it was covered for some sinister reason, such as preventing people from knowing there were Satanists involved, the carelessness with which it was covered, first by paint, and then by wood, suggests that it was simply covered in an attempt to protect it from damage.

The fourth floor stopped being used as the Warden’s quarters in 1951, when a new house was built on a lot adjacent to the prison. The upper floor, where the window could be found, was no longer used as living quarters and became subject to deterioration. Boarding up the window is a reasonable safety precaution, given its location over the main stairway.

The window is divided into frames emulating a leaded glass window, though the ‘cames’ of the glass are in fact, wooden. The entire Window suggest an Italianate design, rather than Gothic Revival, but this is hardly surprising given that this part of the prison was not intended for prisoners, and was meant to be living quarters for the warden and his family. There is an inverted pentagram central to the window, and above it is a second circular pane. I believe this second pane may have held a piece of stained or painted glass, probably with a decorative pattern in it, perhaps even the State Seal. Given the Gothic Revival style of the architecture, the pentacle was probably chosen due to its pleasing aesthetics and possibly secondarily for its perceived Christian meanings. The architects would not have considered it an ‘evil’ symbol, as it simply wasn’t perceived that way at the time of its construction.

While Satanism is extremely unlikely, it is possible that Freemasonry had some influence over the design of the window. The pentagram appears occasionally in Masonic artwork and construction, and is itself the emblem of the Order of the Eastern Star, the women’s arm of the Freemasons, established in 1850. It is known that several early wardens of the Prison were freemasons, as were many of the politicians of the day, so it would not have been out of place for a Masonic sign to appear in the a building in which they were involved. Freemasonry was extremely common for prominent US figures during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. However, the Eastern Star is usually drawn with each point in a distinctive color, and with an additional symbol in each ray. These are said to represent 5 heroines of the Bible, consisting of Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, and Electa. In recent years, the internal pentagon of the emblem has been rotated so that it is no longer a traditional pentagram.

The proportions of the Pentagram in the window are in keeping with the Golden Ratio, and suggest that the main reason for its presence was aesthetic. Its placement in the building is also quite interesting. It faces west, so that the light of the setting sun would cause the window to glow with soft golden light while the sun was setting. That it is found in the west is suggestive of the Star of Bethlehem, which also appeared in the West and guided the Magi to the birth of Christ. Its inverted orientation echoes the medieval symbolism of the Holy Spirit descending to Earth offering salvation for all mankind. This also seems to be a sentiment that would make sense in the context of a prison.

The context of the pentagram window simply does not support the idea that there were Satanists responsible for its construction. Satanism has never been a widespread or popular belief, and it was practically unheard of in 19^th century West Virginia. We cannot assign to this symbol a meaning it did not have when it was created, nor give it a purpose that contradicts the culture that created it. We certainly cannot give it a connotation that did not become popular until a hundred years after it was made.

Viewing symbols without reference to anything other than our modern age inevitably leads to misinterpretations and misunderstanding. Misunderstanding leads to a false view of history, and worse, a distorted picture of the modern age as well. Deliberately perpetuating falsehoods and half-truths is deplorable. Critical thinking and informed, educated speculation is what drives us forward and what provides a firm foundation for developing and bettering ourselves.

Bibliography

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Based on the London edition published in 1651

Anonymous, Praxis Magica Fausti; And or The Magical Elements of Doctor John Faust – Practitioner of Medicine. Manuscript/ 1571

The original manuscript can be found in the Municipal Library of Weimar. Online edition can be found at http://asiya.org/index.php?topic=MagicalAthenaeum

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This edition is a reprint of the 1929 edition.

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This edition is a reprint of the 1928 edition.

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See symbol 306 for the pentacle.

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PDF edition transcribed by Benjamin Rowe, 2001

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Microfilm copy

Sophistes, Apollonios “The Pythagorean Pentacle” http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/PP.html , 1996, revised 1999