I often see matrixing on these forums. Many of you are probably asking
yourself what is matrixing? I came across a fantastic article written
by Grant from TAPS that discusses matrixing and I found it to be very
informative. I am also quite lazy and would never have written this out
myself so I am glad that I stumbled on it to share with the people of
this forum.

I have seen many threads where people see images in things such as
burning fires, the smoke coming out of the world trade center bombings, and
areas that are heavily forested. These are some examples of matrixing.
Read below for Grant's take on matrixing..........

I love receiving tons of pictures of potential paranormal evidence
every day in my email. The willingness of everyone to share what they have
found is astonishing, and I am honored that they trust TAPS to offer an
honest, objective analysis of their evidence.

In analyzing the evidence that is presented to us, we scrutinize every
possibility before calling it possible evidence. In so doing, I have
found that there is one major mistake made by both amateur and
experienced paranormal investigators alike. I receive multiple promises of
demonic faces, full apparitions, faces galore, only to open the email
attachment and find a serious case of matrixing.

Matrixing is a term we use here at TAPS to describe the human mind's
natural tendency to find familiar shapes in complex shapes or colors. In
other words finding a face in the shapes and shadows of a collection of
objects.

Ever sit back on the grass as a child and watch the clouds roll through
the sky, pointing out the shapes of rabbits or dragons? How about the
man in the moon? There isn't really the face of a man on the moon. It
is the complex pattern of craters and ravines that causes our mind to
form a face. This is matrixing.

Matrixing can be deceiving but if it were not for this ability we
wouldn't be able to recognize each other. In fact it is due to the effects
of matrixing that we are able to recognize varying types of fonts. If
our minds weren't able to distinguish the subtle nuances of each letter
then, we would only be able to read one font. Unfortunately, it is also
matrixing which causes people to see skulls and faces in tree branches,
mirrors, shiny furniture, cluttered closets, etc.

So, Matrixing exists and is a big problem in the paranormal
investigation field. What, then, can we do about it? Here are a few ways to
identify it and eliminate it before someone else does, and ends up ruining
your credibility.

- First, look at the type of photograph you are analyzing. Pictures of
trees, fields, cluttered up closets, mirrors and glass are a few of the
prime candidates for matrixing issues. They include very complex
shapes and patterns and, therefore, a high potential for the mind to
construct a face or body out of something that isn't there.

- Second, look at the potential face or figure. If it is truly
paranormal then, the face or figure would be made up of its own material, not
the material that is comprising the picture. Let me explain; if the
picture is of a forest, and your mind tells you that there is a face in it.
Look to see if the face is made up of the branches and leaves from the
trees in the picture, or if the face is separated from them and a
completely separate material from the trees.

- Third, once you have eliminated the top two issues, look at the face
or figure as a real face or figure. Look at the proportions of the
face. Are they "cartoony" and disproportionate or are they realistic? I
have art training and can easily determine if a face has realistic
proportions or not. If you do not have this training, you can go to any art
supply store and pick up a book that explains these proportions.

Once you have taken the above steps, you may have something worth
looking at. Now you just have to determine if the picture is of a real
entity or if it was faked. But that is another article that will be coming
up later.

So, don't succumb to the rising trend of matrixing an entity out of
every picture that is taken. Take the time to scrutinize your own evidence
before someone else does and comes to the conclusion that you've just
got an over-active imagination. Please, consider matrixing before you
present evidence to the world and help us all gain more respect for the
field of paranormal investigation.

Rock on,