Do you hear bumps
in the night? Does your hair stand on end when you walk into a room?
Maybe you feel as if someone is watching you or perhaps you think
you see someone out the corner of your eye, but when you turn to
look no one is there? What you may be encountering in those unsettling
moments is a ghost. So before you go running out of your house screaming,
let’s take a moment to talk about ghostly encounters and those
that investigate this phenomena.
A ghost is believed to be the spirit or soul of a person who has
remained on Earth after death. When a ghost has taken up residence
in a location, it is referred to as a haunting. There are two different
ways in which a ghost inhabits a location. The most common type
of haunting is a residual haunting. A residual haunting is typified
by ghostly energy that is static or goes through a number of movements
over and over again. It can be likened to watching a movie clip
that repeats itself or a record album that has a skip in it, causing
the needle to jump back to an earlier point on the album and begin
again.
The second classification of haunting is the classic haunting. In
a classic haunting the ghost displays intelligence and interacts
with the people in the environment. It is not uncommon during a
classic haunting for items to be moved around, for lights or electrical
appliances to turn on and off, to hear voices our sounds out of
nowhere or to be touched, tickled, stroked or even shoved. These
ghosts often reflect the personality of an individual, even after
their death. With this type of haunting, the aroma of flowers, perfume,
cigarette smoke or other scents that are associated with the individual
are often detected.
So whether you think you are being haunted by a ghost
and want to have a group of trained professionals to come to your
home or are interested in investigating all that goes bump in the
night, but don’t know where to begin, here’s some information
that can help you get started.
It is held that ghosts are electro-magnetic in origin
and they create these fields when trying to manifest into this dimension.
The energy that is given off by a ghost causes disruptions in the
locations magnetic field, thus making it detectable by specialized
equipment and psychics alike.
Because the presence of a ghost can be detected by
specific types of equipment, a ghost hunter can become well equipped
with a number of affordable pieces of equipment, many of which you
may already own. From basic to advanced, there are many different
types of equipment you can use to detect an otherworldly presence.
For someone thinking about participating in an investigation, this
doesn’t mean you have to own every piece of equipment in order
to perform a reliable investigation. It does mean that you should
at least possess a basic set of tools to use.
Basic Equipment
35mm or Digital Camera – For a beginner, having
a camera is probably the easiest and least expensive way to begin.
Pictures, whether digital or recorded on film can capture paranormal
activity, activity that is often invisible to the naked eye. This
is especially true in the case of documenting the presence of orbs
and ectoplasm.
Notebook & Pen or Pencil – Simple as this
may be, it is always a good idea to have something to record any
notes, findings or experiences you may have during an investigation.
Flashlight – Many times an investigation will
take you to a dark or foreboding location such as a cemetery, old
warehouse, abandoned building or other place that is dark or without
electricity. In these instances you will need to have a portable
light source.
Extra Batteries – Depending on the paranormal
activity of a location, batteries oftentimes will mysteriously and
unexpectedly lose their charge leaving you in the dark. Regardless
of the type of equipment you use, make sure you bring extra batteries
along to replenish depleted ones.
Intermediate Equipment
EMF Detector – The Electromagnetic Field Detector
is probably one of the most important pieces of equipment to own
if you are serious about doing an investigation. In addition to
detecting the energy fields of ghosts, it is a key tool to use when
taking baseline readings of a site. A baseline reading is a preliminary
evaluation of a location, where investigators identify any existing
or man made electromagnetic fields such as those created by power
lines or electrical appliances.
Digital Video Camera – Video cameras can be
a useful investigation tool. Unlike still cameras, a video camera
will document any activity in its entirety including the length
of time the phenomena occurs, the surrounding conditions, as well
as the phenomena itself. A tripod to rest the video camera on is
also helpful, especially if it is going to be left in a stationary
position to record the activity in a specific location.
Tape Recorder with an External Microphone –
There is no better way to capture EVP’s (electronic voice
phenomena) than through the use of a tape recorder. Whether using
a traditional tape recorder with high quality tapes or a digital
recorder, an external microphone should always be used. A detached
mic will eliminate the sounds of internal gears and turning wheels
that can contaminate your recording.
Advanced Equipment
Motion Detectors – Motion detectors can be used
to sense the movement of unseen forces. Many need to be plugged
in to an outlet, but battery operated ones are also available. Before
you go out and buy one, decide which type will best support you
investigatory needs.
Thermal Scanner – A thermal scanner or non-contact
thermometer can be used to detect rapid temperature changes. A change
of ten degrees or more from the ambient temperature (the temperature
of the surrounding area) can indicate an ethereal presence.
Psychics – As An Investigative Tool
In addition to tools such as cameras, meters and gauges that are
used by ghost hunters, many groups also utilize the services of
trained psychics as a means of gathering information about a site.
This is the role I play when working with ghost hunting groups.
Finding a true psychic to work with can be a real
asset to the quality of your investigation. They can play an invaluable
role in supporting the efforts of any paranormal investigation.
Like a good piece of equipment, a psychic can help to detect anomalies
as well as provide additional insights into the nature of activity
encountered.
If your group decides to include the use of a psychic
as part of the investigation team, there are a few items that should
be considered. To maximize the objectivity of the investigation,
it is critical that the psychic go into a location “cold”.
This means that they do not know the details of the location or
of any activity that may have been encountered by other members
or the property owner. Telling the psychic the history of a property
can cause the individual to become “contaminated”, which
can make it difficult for them to differentiate what they perceive
from what they have been told.
Conducting An Investigation
With at least a basic kit of equipment in hand, you
are now ready to explore the world of paranormal phenomena. Before
you begin, there are a few ground rules to consider. First, never
go on an investigation alone, in addition to personal safety, you
never know what may happen. Next, consider the fact that ghost hunting
groups are often judged by their behavior and professionalism –
so always try to be respectful of the people, places and situations
you may encounter.
To do an investigation, the first step is to select
a location. Locations can include cemeteries, old buildings, historic
sites, private homes and businesses. Always get permission to be
on a site. This will keep you from getting in trouble for trespassing.
Before you begin a formal investigation it is a good idea to do
some research on the site. Talk to the owner, check out old newspapers,
or contact the local historic society to see if anything happened
there in the past. It is also a good idea to evaluate the terrain
for potential hazards or/or to identify places where you can setup
stationary video cameras, motion detectors or tape recorders.
Most investigations occur after dark, between the
hours of 9pm and 6am. These hours are considered the “psychic
hours” and are believed to be the best time to record paranormal
activity.
When you get to the selected location, walk around
to get a feel for it. Next, set up any stationary equipment and
take baseline readings of the site. Then let the investigation begin.
Take pictures, shoot video, record for EVP and take meter readings.
Take them everywhere and anywhere, especially if you feel something
or get a reading on another piece of equipment. When you are done
walking around a site, turn your stationary equipment on and let
it run while you and your group are out of the area.
When you have finished collecting your data, it is
time for analysis. Here each picture, video and tape is reviewed
for evidence of a haunting. This is probably the most important
part of any investigation. As you review your materials, be skeptical.
Look for earthly causes of any phenomena. Was someone smoking in
the area? Was the room or location dusty? Where there reflective
surfaces that could be the cause of the anomaly in your image? It
is important to make sure your evidence will stand up to scrutiny
by eliminating any other explanations. This will give your data
more credibility.
As you pore over your data, what you will find is
that not every location you go to will have ghostly activity. You
may discover that many of the things you initially detected during
your investigation actually have real world explanations as opposed
to supernatural ones. What keeps many ghost hunters going is that
one-in-five chance that this investigation will be the “real”
thing.
When your analysis is done, presenting your finding
to the home or property owner or sharing your results with others
is often done. Many groups also post the results of their investigations
on their group’s website, thus share the outcome of their
investigation with the rest of the world.
If you are interested in ghost hunting or think your
have a ghost hanging around in your local, there is a plethora of
information available on the worldwide web. Here you can find articles
about ghost hunting in general, stories of other people’s
ghostly encounters, places that sell ghost hunting equipment and
even sites hosted by ghost hunting groups in your geographic area.
So if you think you are hearing bumps in the night,
don’t be afraid – it just might be a ghost!
© Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer (www.soulhealer.com)
2006. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Dr. Rita Louise, Ph D is a Naturopathic Physician
and the founder of the Institute Of Applied Energetics. It is her
unique gift as a medical intuitive that enlivens her work. Let Dr.
Rita assist you bringing health, healing and wholeness back into
your life. Visit http://www.soulhealer.com
or http://www.appliedenergeticsinstitute.com
for more information.
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