Brief remarks on ITC: EVP experimentation
Anabela Cardoso
I believe it might be useful for those readers who wish to try for themselves the wonderful adventure of communication with the next world to be given some details of my personal experience in the field. Nevertheless, I don’t believe that ITC can be directed by manuals as a friend of mine, who himself experiments with ITC, remarked to me the other day. Indeed everything seems to indicate that the laws and rules of our world do not apply to this field of research. Thus to attempt to systematise things would certainly be misleading and perhaps even dangerous. Therefore everything that I write here should be interpreted in the light of what is said above – the details I give are only the results of my personal experience, and I doubt if too much should be extrapolated from them.
ITC seems to start by brief and faint answers, usually monosyllabic, that are commonly called EVP (words recorded on the tape that are not heard during the recording session and that are only apparent when the tape is rewound). Therefore for those who wish to try for contact with the next world through ITC, the EVP method seems to be the place to start.
The experimenter should choose a quiet corner of his or her house and set up the devices there. If there is a small group of friends willing to try the contact together it should be done at the home of whoever has the best conditions. Ideal conditions are in my opinion the following: no noise, tranquillity, environmental peace and a certain intimacy of the room itself. I mean that whenever possible the room should be distant from the main centre of the house where there is agitation and people all the time and even guests. A small room will do.
You will need then a source of noise. In my case I used the white noise of radios almost all the time. Generally the white noise of short wave radios but I also used radios tuned in to AM white noise and the so-called “wide band” (see the description of a wide band radio modification at the end of this article). I had and I still have old valve radios and powerful, sophisticated, modern short wave radios. It is frequently said that old valve radios are important in ITC work. However, Timestream answered my question about the type of radios best suited for ITC by saying that the very powerful, modern ones are best for DRV (direct radio voices), but for EVP it seems that the white noise of any radio is suitable.
The radios (one or several according to one’s own possibilities) should be tuned into a white noise of medium intensity – not too loud or harsh and not too low. The experimentation of EVP can be tried either with one radio only or with several, three or four let’s say. If the reader wishes to use more than one radio producing simultaneously white noise, I think that each radio should be tuned to a different frequency. According to the information received from Timestream, the exact frequencies are not important, though the short wave band is strongly recommended. I have tried recording with other sources of noise, and I have received answers through them – radio emissions in foreign languages for example, running water from the tap, the sound of the wind in the trees, chants, and birds singing in the open air. But in my experience it is white noise originating directly from radios (not the white noise recorded on audiotapes) that gives our communicators the best conditions for the communications. When I once tried the communication by EVP in a hotel room having as background noise a trickle of water running from a tap, my communicators answered my question about the adequacy of the noise by saying “there is not enough noise “. Nevertheless, I have also recorded voices answering questions even without any background noise, although they were much fainter than the ones that came through the white noise.
Recapping on what has just been said – the experimenter or experimenters should install the devices in a small, quiet room. I try to have my recording studios (I have had several, since I move from country to country) facing north. He or she should then supply the source of background noise and ask questions into a tape recorder with the blank tape left running from the beginning to the end of the session. The brand or type of tape recorder or microphone is not relevant. The microphone can be detached or incorporated in the tape recorder as is the case with the small portable tape recorders. Naturally if the experimenter can afford it, he or she will like to have the most sensitive devices. However any devices without distinction are in principle adequate. For convenience at the time of play-back, the tape recorder should have a counter and a speed control mechanism.
I believe that the state of mind of the experimenter is of some importance in the communication. It should be the most tranquil and the least anxious possible. A few minutes of silence before the taping session seem advisable. A few peaceful words or a prayer coming from the heart at the beginning of each session will help the state of mind. I believe that above all it is important to be true and authentic. To be as one is, without trying to disguise feelings or thoughts, and to accept things as they are is the best attitude. Our communicators know many things about us and they are constantly aware of our intentions and goals.
The questions we ask during the taping should naturally avoid materialistic issues and requests for predictions about the future. ITC does not serve as an oracle. Our communicators are people who have lived in our world, who have progressed into the path of Life, and for that reason their consciousness has deepened and expanded. They will surely not appreciate being taken for fortune tellers. I think that it is important to think about them as one thinks of dear friends close to one’s heart who are still alive in this world, i.e. with tenderness, care and respect.
A regular schedule for the experimentation is perhaps advisable, at least at the beginning. However, the experimenter can also try to ask our friends what would be the most convenient time. The experimentation can be tried twice or three times a week, in the transition period between day and night – between 19h00 and 21h00 according to my own experience. The sessions should not be too long. No more than 15 or 20 minutes for the questions. More time and more questions would mean a more difficult and longer listening session. The experimenter should speak to the tape recorder asking various questions – transcendental or technical – about his or her deceased relatives, etc. He or she will use the background noise of choice. My choice, as I have already indicated, is for the white noise produced by radios tuned to short waves. Between each question he or she should allow a lapse of 1 or 2 minutes. When the session is over he or she should thank the other level of existence, with which contact has hopefully been established, and will disconnect the devices.
Now we will deal with the playback
The tape should be rewound to the beginning of the recording session. With great peace of mind and in the most profound silence the experimenter should listen to the recorded tape, stopping, rewinding and listening to the tape for as many times needed to reach a conclusion as to whether or not there are communications. I strongly advise the reader not to listen to the tape immediately after recording it or at the end of a working day. The listening is difficult and requires a great deal of awareness and concentration. Especially at the beginning the answers are normally faint and not clear. Sometimes the contacts are announced, even before the first answers by words, through whispers, cracks, bangs and other anomalous sounds that the experimenter did not hear while recording and which appear recorded on the tape. These are usually the first signs of the contact that will be strengthened through real voices answering the questions. It is very important to listen to the recorded tape with all possible attention. If in doubt, listen several times before concluding.
I have always kept a diary from the beginning of my experimentation with EVP. I write down the date, the hour, the number and identity of people present if any, weather conditions, the phase of the moon, sometimes my state of mind. I always write down any natural noises that occurred during the session – traffic noise, a horn, a dog barking, a door closing, a word that I might inadvertently utter, etc. This is a very useful and important precaution to take. It can avoid at the time of listening to the playback the highly undesirable and misleading mistake of taking for paranormal and for a contact with the next world something which is nothing of the sort and which has a perfectly normal and explainable origin.
In order that ITC can affirm itself as an authentic and objective way of communicating with a different Reality, it is necessary that the testimony and proof supplied by the experimenters be convincing, meaningful, clear and honest above all suspicion. The way of complete truth, no matter how painful it might be (I think of cases of people bereaved by grief who want to listen to dear voices that are not on the tape) is the only one we should follow. ITC has to assert itself with truth and through truth. It has to be open to the investigation and curiosity of all those who do not know it.
That is the way. We cannot aim at the indispensable recognition by orthodox science if the methods and the actions taken by the experimenters are not clear and totally honest. Let us not be indulgent. Let’s be demanding and rigorous. A hint of doubt in ITC created by the work of poor or naive experimentation can jeopardise years of painful and difficult work by efficient and honest experimenters. “This is difficult for both,” said Carlos de Almeida speaking from Timestream Station. Let us also think about the extraordinary work developed by our Friends from another world that enables them to communicate with us. We would also jeopardise their work, their efforts and their immense difficulties, many of which we cannot even guess at. Carlos de Almeida speaking through DRV (direct radio voice) said to me: “This is very, very difficult! Another world!”.
An insensitive or self-indulgent attitude in the evaluation of one’s own ITC results, and an approach lacking rigour and faithfulness when speaking about the results, will jeopardise not only our own work but also the hard work of our Friends in the next world and the work of other experimenters in this world.
Let’s have consideration, love and respect.
Let’s use sound judgement and good sense.
Let’s follow and respect the truth.
That’s the only way for ITC.
Modifying a radio to receive broad band and function as a noise source*
Any radio that receives FM and AM wave bands can be modified to provide audio support for your attempt to receive EVP. It is not necessary that the radio be of good quality. A small portable will do. The modification is simple, and with reasonable care can easily be carried out by the layman.
Before starting work, if the radio is mains powered, it is vital to disconnect the radio from the electricity supply in order to avoid any risk of electric shock. Do not reconnect to the mains supply until all the work is completed and the cover of the radio is correctly back in place.
Step 1. Remove the cover of the radio, usually held in place by small screws.
Step 2. Cut the wire connecting the components board to the aerial. The aerial is then inoperative and can be discarded if you wish.
Step 3. Disconnect the variable capacitor responsible for tuning the radio. (For the layman, the variable capacitor in a modern radio is the small transparent plastic box, measuring approximately one and a half centimetres, which is connected to the other components of the tuning circuits). Cut this connection. As a result, the radio can no longer be tuned to any station, and if turned on would simply emit a continuous noise.
Step 4. To complete the modification, the tuning coil should be disabled. (To assist the layman, the tuning coil is a series of fabric covered windings around a central core). Cut the wires connecting this coil to the component board, severing them as flush with the board as possible.
Step 5. Refit the cover of the radio, making sure that it is securely screwed back in place before you reconnect the set to the mains electricity supply.
The radio is now ready for use, and when turned on will emit a strong hiss of random noise (popularly called “white noise”) in both the FM and the AM bands. This noise can be used on its own in your attempt to receive EVP or can be used in conjunction with any other source of random noise (usually a radio tuned between two stations). Make sure that your modified radio is placed at a safe distance from your microphone (approximately 2 metres). Adjust the volume of the radio appropriately, bearing in mind that for EVP you only require a moderate level of sound comparable to that received during normal listening.
Grateful thanks are given to Carlos Fernández for providing the technical notes on which this description of modifying a radio for broad band reception is based.
*Improved version of the text published in ITC Journal 8, December 2001, p. 16.
