Estes Method Description & Evidence

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Although this method is referred to as the Estes Method, it's been around much longer than most folks realize. Sensory deprivation has been practiced for ages, even in the act of communicating with the dead. 

Estes Method typically involves wearing a blindfold and covering your ears with isolation headgear that is plugged into a device which creates white noise in order to commune with the spirits. The name came from Karl Pfeiffer, Connor Randall, and Michelle Tate who were searching for a new and different way to communicate with the other side. They brainstormed this technique at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, in 2016.

So, how does it work? 

At the minimum, you will need:

*Two people with one set of sound isolating headphones, which cover your ears

*One device that creates white noise (we use an Spirit Box (SB7))

*A blindfold which fits tight against your eyes ultimately letting no light in. 

We do not recommend using earbuds since too much sound can filter through. 

On person (called the receiver) dons the blindfold and the headphones to listen to the white noise scan (either forward or backward) for words, phrases, or sounds to blurt out when she hears them. The other person (called the operator) asks questions. It is as simple as that. The person with the blindfold and headphones CANNOT hear the other person asking the questions. The whole point of the experiment is to try and gain unbiased answers. Honestly, it is amazing how well this can work. 

While you can use what you have, we recommend the following equipment:

*SB7 Spirit Box-use preferably the latest model. This model is much louder, which helps rule out fraud by the receiver hearing the questions. If you're unfamiliar with what a Spirit Box is, it's a device which uses a frequency sweeper with different millisecond speeds. When it sweeps (either forward or backward), you'll hear words and phrases that are believed to be controlled by or spoken by a spirit. But, just remember, not every word is spoken by a spirit. You are using a radio to scan. You can be picking up random words from radio stations. Use your best judgement and relax. This experiment is great fun. 

*A pair of stereo isolation headphones. Lisa uses Vic Firth S1H1 (you can also use the S1H2 model). Lisa's headphones were $75 and purchased from a Guitar Works store. The reason that you want isolation headphones is that they block external noise up to 25 decibels, ruling out unintentionally hearing the operator's questions. Anything less than 20 decibels of sound isolation won't work for this experiment to be done correctly. Also, be wary of using noise cancelling headphones. Noise cancelling headphones work by playing a tone that deafens outside sounds. You don't want your headphones to accidentally mute a voice from the other side that might be whispering through your feed. 

*A tight, fit blindfold.

So, that's it in a nutshell. 

Now, Lisa and Nicole have been working with several people tweaking the Estes Method in their own way. Here's what they do...

They worked with one group where they had three people receiving (blindfolded and plugged into three separate boxes using three separate sets of headphones) and two people asking questions. The results were amazing. On separate occasions, they ended up with receivers having conversations between themselves with no help from the operators beyond the first few questions. Also, the conversations were relevant to the locations and initial questions from the operators. 

Lisa and Nicole have also worked in pairs where two people are receivers and each receiver has her own operator asking her questions. This adaptation also has had amazing results for them. As a matter of fact, using multiples seems to work better for their group than just the single Estes Method. 

When Lisa and Nicole have two receivers and two operators, they call it the double blind. When they have three receivers and two operators they call it the triple double.

We invite you to try this with your own group. If you have a person or persons who normally obtain great audio evidence, start with them in the receiver position, just to get yourself acclimated and comfortable. We suggest that when you are just beginning to try and not have the same person receiving for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. Your receiver could end up with a headache from all that static. Feel free to pull yourself out of the session at any time if you are feeling extremely uncomfortable.