Ghost Hunting 101

Ghost Hunt: going to a place were there have been no sightings of ghosts or spirits, and trying to catch some on film (video and photos), sounds, eyewitness, etc. Cemeteries are the number one place to start, as well as churches, schools, and older buildings.

Ghost Investigation: going to a known haunted place and recording data (video, photos, audio, temperatures), notes, interviews and other evidence to prove or disprove the haunting, and to assist the owners and the spirits in moving on and leaving the place if wanted. The assistance can be either your direct assistance with the owner or putting them in contact with experienced groups or individuals that will try to resolve the situation. Your assistance can be something as simple as educating them on what is going on and their options.

There are numerous types of hauntings, these are the most common:

• Residual hauntings: a playback of a tragic event over and over again. Events, emotions, everything are replayed. This is a form of time-displacement.
  
• Dark energy/demonic hauntings: Usually quite hostile in nature. 9 out of 10 times a protective prayer works. "Where there's one 'bear,' others are lurking nearby."
  
• "Intelligent" or "human" type hauntings: in these manifestations, the entity or entities seem to possess human forms, and are responsive to changes in external conditions such as the activities of the occupants of the household, and the presence of investigators, all of which suggest that they were formerly living, cognitive beings.
  
• Inhuman hauntings (specifically poltergeists): a branch of dark energy hauntings. The word "poltergeist" is German for "rattling ghost." A poltergeist isn't a spirit or a demon, and is more mischievous in nature rather than malevolent. There is almost always a juvenile girl or boy involved, and activity commences suddenly and inexplicably. Episodes are brief, and often involve floating and throwing things.
  

You should always be prepared for whatever may come your way during a ghost investigation. Here's a list of recommended materials to have on an investigation:

• Digital camera - cameras pick up on things that the human eye does not
  
• Voice recorder - for any EVP recordings you may do. Voice recorders pick up on voices and sounds that the human ear does not.
  
• Walkie-talkies - this is mainly useful if you have a larger paranormal group, or if you and your group split up.
  
• 35mm camera
  
• Extra batteries
  
• Flashlights
  
• First aid kit
  
• Notebook and pens
  
• Watch
  
• Compass or EMF - a compass generally works just as well as most EMF readers
  
• Video camera
  
• Cell phone
  
• Thermometer or a thermal detector - thermal detectors are very nice to have, but are pricey
  
• Motion detector - mainly used if you are investigating a building or are staying for a longer amount of time
  

The program Audacity is great for uploading and analyzing EVP recordings. Groups like PRS use this program, too. It's simple to use and doesn't take up much space on your hard drive.

Ghost Weather: the Earth's geomagnetic fields and solar activities/flares seem to affect ghostly activities. When there is a natural disturbance in these fields, it seems to make it easier for spirits to make themselves known in some way. Three days before a full moon and three days after seem to be the best times, and during 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. 2:00-3:00 a.m. is known as Dead Time. You can go here for current solar data. The Psychic Hours are the hours between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. This is the most active times of the day for ghost activity. Maybe its because the Earth is so quiet, with most of its inhabitants in the dream world. This time is also reported with many strange occurrences like something jarring you out of a deep sleep, alien sightings, Out-Of-Body Reports, sleep-walking, etc.

General tips:

• Check out the area in daylight so you are familiar with it's layout. Look for dangerous places and obstacles that you will not be able to see in the dark.
  
• Make sure you are not trespassing. If you are on private property you are risking getting a ticket or arrested in some areas. You can get permission from many owners or caretakers. It's often a good idea to notify the local police that you will be in a grave yard "taking pictures" so they are aware of your presence. If you are asked to leave do so immediately, you will not win this argument and you make other investigators look bad if you make a scene.
  
• Make sure you bring your ID. (drivers license, etc.) so if you are questioned by the police you can prove who you are.
  
• Never go alone. This is just common sense. If you get hurt, who will get help?
  
• The best times are from 9pm to 6am, these are the "ghost hours," but anytime can produce results. Photos have historically been better in the dark but don't let that discourage you from taking them during the day.
  
• Find out all you can about the history of the location. Newspapers, town historians, Internet, and books can be helpful finding folklore or hard facts about the site.
  
• Be sure to very respectful to everyone present, including any spirits. Do not step on graves, commit any type of vandalism (including littering), etc. You will only make them angry, and you never know what may be near that can be hostile. If you happen to do something to make a spirit angry, like stepping on a grave for example, be sure to apologize and let them know that you mean no harm.
  
• It's also a good idea to log and record everything that goes on during an investigation, including interviews of any witnesses, location or even history, etc.
  
• The Tax Assessors Office can give you historical info on many locations you visit.
  
• Do not wear perfume, cologne, or anything else with a very noticeable scent. This is so someone does not mistake the smell for a paranormal occurrence. Spirits often use scents and smells to get our attention.