NOTE: This review documents an instrumental trans-communication (ITC) session conducted at Lockhart…read moreMemorial Park on Saturday, June 15, 2019. If you are unfamiliar with ITC, then please scroll to the bottom of the page for an explanation. The first time I visited Lockhart Memorial Park (see my original review), I covered only the southwestern part of the cemetery, home to plots dating back to the late 19th century. On my return visit yesterday, I focused my attention on the parts I overlooked the first time, specifically the (mostly) newer plots located on the northwestern side. For this investigation, I used two well-respected ITC apps (Spiritus and Necrophonic, both created by my friend Keith Weldon) and a new physical spirit box called SBox. The latter features a ton of ITC bells and whistles, including an extremely fast FM/AM radio sweep, Bluetooth, a line-in feature (ideal for external devices such as Steve Huff's spirit box Portals), and the ability to record sessions via microSD. Although I captured several clear, relevant replies via Spiritus and Necrophonic, the SBox was the clear winner yesterday afternoon, as the replies were longer and easier to comprehend. As always, I began the session by introducing myself, making my intentions clear, and explaining how to use the devices. Shortly after saying, "You might be dead, but you still have a voice," I captured the following reply, which I found amusing: "Are you dead?" I laughed and said, "No, not yet." I definitely felt a connection, but Spiritus and Necrophonic weren't working as well as I'd hoped, so I switched to the SBox and resumed the session. I set the FM sweep to its fastest setting and began receiving validations that a skeptic would have difficulty attributing to random radio chatter or auditory pareidolia. Shortly after asking any spirits present to say their names as I walked near their graves, I heard the name "Joseph." To my immediate right was a grave belonging to Joseph Lowther (1878-1913). The exchange that followed: Me: If that was you, Joseph Lowther, how do you feel about speaking with me today through this device I'm holding? Joseph: It's incredible! Me (astonished): Yes, it is incredible, isn't it?! This is a hacked radio that... Joseph: It's no radio. Me: Yes, sir, it most definitely is a radio, but a special one. It was created specifically to allow us to speak like we're doing right now. Joseph: That's incredible! Joseph's fascination with the device reminded me of a session I did at Sunset Funeral Home in San Antonio. During that session, I captured a conversation (presumably between two spirits) about my "futuristic radio." I asked permission to take a photo of Joseph's grave received his blessing: "Sure!" The overall vibe yesterday was good-natured and jovial, so I began asking lighthearted questions about food, the weather, animals, etc. Kruez Market is literally a stone's throw from the cemetery, so I decided to ask the age-old question, "What's the best barbecue in Lockhart: Kruez, Black's, or Smitty's?" Within seconds, I heard, "Gotta be...the original." Black's often touts itself as "The Original" in its billboards plastered across town, so the spirits of Lockhart Memorial Park apparently know their 'cue. I would disagree with their choice (see my reviews of Kruez Market and Black's), but arguing with a dead person is like...arguing with a dead person. On my way back to the car, I encouraged any spirits present to make themselves known before I left. I captured the name "Deb-o-rah" (every syllable pronounced phonetically) and spotted a grave belonging to Deborah Gorman (1935-2018). I asked Mrs. Gorman if she wished to relay a message to me before she left. The SBox went silent for a few seconds (often a prelude to a long reply), and then I heard, "Give love to Dad...and Jim." The reference to "Dad" coincided with Father's Day weekend, and the name "Jim" might refer to her husband James, whose marker indicates that he's still alive. Relatives of the spirits I contact often stumble upon my reviews and reach out to me privately (a phenomenon I find fascinating), so I hope that someone close to Mrs. Gorman will see this review and find solace in her message. ____________________________________________ Instrumental trans-communication (ITC) refers to the use of physical "spirit boxes" and apps to communicate with spirits. These devices facilitate communication by providing phonetic gibberish (random audio samples, white noise) that spirits can manipulate to form words and sentences. Spirits don't use their own voices; they use whatever audio source the operator provides. ITC is similar to electronic voice phenomena (EVP), but the latter refers to disembodied voices captured from thin air, which even the most seasoned paranormal researchers have difficulty obtaining. ITC typically yields more impressive results, as spirits seem to be more adroit at manipulating raw audio than they are at producing EVP.