Pareodelia

What is it you ask? Pareidolia, also known as matrixing, is a psychological phenomenon where an ambiguous random stimulus is interpreted as meaningful. Examples include seeing shapes in clouds, the man in the moon, Jesus on a grilled cheese, faces in orb photographs, or figures in tree shadows. This doesn't only occur with photos and objects—have you ever listened to a record backwards and thought Paul was dead? We also perceive phrases and words in random sounds.

This phenomenon has happened to the best of us. We capture a photo in a haunted place, and upon reviewing it, we notice it's filled with "faces." I've received numerous photos where individuals assert there are faces and figures, yet no matter how intently I examine them, I can't see it. My personal favorites are photos taken in densely wooded areas where people perceive faces and figures. Despite my efforts, I can never quite see what others are so enthusiastic about, even after they've highlighted the area or figure for me.

So what do you do? Firstly, orb photos are not very reliable evidence of paranormal activity.

Numerous natural occurrences can create false positive orb photos, such as dust, rain, snow, pollen, insects, reflections, and more. While you might believe you’ve captured an impressive image of 100 small faces in orbs, it’s more likely you’ve photographed a lot of dust and perceive faces because your brain tends to find patterns in randomness. Secondly, examine the photo closely: are the faces or figures part of the surrounding landscape and objects (like trees or their

shadows), or do they stand alone and appear separate? Clearly, anything that is distinct from the objects in the photo warrants closer inspection.

Have you ever listened to an EVP that sounds like "blah, blah, blah-blah-blah, blah-blah," and someone else instantly claims it says "What you talkin 'bout Willis?" From that moment, it's impossible to hear anything else in that EVP. Honestly, unless you have a distinct Class A EVP, it's unlikely you can determine what is being said beyond identifying the number of syllables. This is why, unless I have a clear EVP, I never suggest what it might be saying.

So, the next time you browse through your photos, take a moment to truly observe and reflect on what you see before claiming that great-great uncle Seamus is smiling at you from the tree trunk.