| The image and perception of a ghost has taken on so | | | | One way to attempt to make contact with the |
| many attributes and illusions over the centuries that it is | | | | wayward soul is to simply speak to it aloud and then |
| difficult to distinguish the difference as to what is and | | | | allow them to respond. Since we humans cannot |
| what isn't a true haunting. | | | | usually hear their response , a tape recorder is the a |
| For some, a ghostly image may be that of a glowing | | | | good way to capture electric voice phenomena or |
| translucent figure that ominously floats from one room | | | | EVP. Due to the high density of our dimension, the living |
| of a house to the next, apparently searching for | | | | are often unable to audibly distinguish voices or sounds |
| something or someone, unaware of their own demise. | | | | created in another dimension that is less dense. An |
| For others, poltergeists are demonic or evil entities that | | | | ordinary cassette recorder is somehow able to |
| spend their eternal days and nights thinking of ways to | | | | archive a spirit's voice to manifest. This auditory |
| torture, frighten and manipulate the innocent human | | | | strategy may support the living and the dead in |
| beings that happened upon unfortunate territories. The | | | | conversation. |
| notion is foolish to skeptics who think that a phantom | | | | Etiquette is of the most utmost importance when |
| could be nothing more than a person covered with a | | | | physically and verbally approaching a deceased human |
| white sheet, moaning and rattling some chains to | | | | being. No matter who officially pays the mortgage and |
| disturb the naive and imaginative.. | | | | holds the land title, the spirit believes that this is their |
| There are many misconceptions about ghosts and the | | | | territory. A ghost hunter, and home owner, must be |
| afterlife. Many perceived ghostly activities can be | | | | respectful towards the ghost and their predicament or |
| explained quite readily by logic or reason. Residual | | | | the investigator is bound to get an adverse reaction or |
| energy is a definite contending culprit when deciding | | | | none at all. It's important to be polite and verbally state |
| whether or not there is a spirit prevailing in the area. | | | | your purpose immediately upon approaching the |
| There are also many other explanations that need to | | | | location. Asking the deceased individual's permission to |
| be explored before determining whether a house, | | | | enter the premises or to take photographs is a great |
| location or person, for that matter, are haunted. | | | | way to show them they are being respected. |
| Ghost hunters are brave, intellectual and pioneering | | | | One has to anticipate what the ghost may be feeling. |
| paranormal scientists and explorers, they courageously | | | | They are obviously confused, scared, lonely or |
| enter the domain of a suspected paranormal haunting. | | | | defensive. An example of how best to learn to |
| They explore locations armed with various technical | | | | appreciate and anticipate the spirits feelings and |
| and instrumental elements, such as cameras, | | | | reactions is that of a frightened animal. If you approach |
| thermometers, EMF detectors, voice recorders and | | | | a confused and terrified cat aggressively and abruptly, |
| more. Although these well-intentioned individuals are | | | | what can you expect? Well, obviously the petrified |
| honorably seeking the perplexing truths to the | | | | feline will either run away or attempt to hurt you in |
| existence of the afterlife, some are lacking knowledge | | | | defense. It's their natural and instinctive reaction to your |
| and etiquette in a few essential and spiritual areas. | | | | assumed invasive presence. An animal has no way of |
| The first and most important step of ghost hunting is | | | | knowing your innocent intentions because they are |
| diagnosis. Is it or isn't it a real ghost? Many questions | | | | incapable of understanding or reading your mind. |
| must be asked of the witnesses to determine if the | | | | A ghost isn't much different, the lines of communication |
| strange activity or experiences are truly those of a | | | | are crossed as it is and they don't have the full |
| ghost. Residual energy haunting can be determined | | | | understanding of where they are or what's happened |
| simply by asking the homeowner, tenant or witnesses | | | | to them. They're simply reacting with instinct when |
| if the paranormal experience consisted only of feelings | | | | wondering why this person with strange instruments is |
| and emotional sensations. Residual energy does not | | | | intruding in their home! |
| manifest physical consciousness, malevolence or | | | | In saying that, we mustn't underestimate their |
| aggression. | | | | intelligence either, we must simply try to understand |
| Physical evaluation and study of the home or area | | | | and gently coax them into submission. Your advance |
| must be conducted to rule out any logical or | | | | and attitude towards them is the most important |
| reasonable reasons for any odd activity. High | | | | aspect of the experience. Fear is also a factor, if your |
| concentrations of magnetic fluctuations due to ley lines | | | | disposition is that of terror, panic or hysterical behavior , |
| or man-made technology can create false readings on | | | | they may feed off of that energy. They can |
| instruments, as well as alter human perception. | | | | themselves become afraid and unresponsive to your |
| In the event a real haunting, a determination must be | | | | requests. |
| made whether actual physical or communicative | | | | In their realm, they have very little control of their |
| contact has been made. True ghosts will try to the | | | | existence. They wander aimlessly and confused |
| best of their abilities to make contact of some kind, | | | | through a foggy existence, wondering what to do next. |
| whether it be by moving items around the area or | | | | A human soul can sometimes be tormented by |
| attempting to address the living while they are in a | | | | memories of a terrible past. They may be reliving a |
| partially awakened or sleep state. Apparitions, orbs and | | | | painful and traumatic event over and over. So when |
| audible sounds are all common forms of a ghostly | | | | someone comes into their fragile world, poking and |
| presence trying to make themselves known. Often, | | | | prodding, they may lash out to protect themselves. Or |
| they will become frustrated or provoked into more | | | | worse yet, they may be the type that feels |
| assertive attempts to make their points obvious. By | | | | empowered by the fact that they can manipulate or |
| poking, pushing or scratching, they prove they do not | | | | control a living person again. This is usually when a |
| wish to be ignored. | | | | haunting can become dangerous and terribly |
| It would be wise to obtain information pertaining to the | | | | frightening. |
| history of the home and it's former residents as to | | | | One of the most important things to remember is that |
| better understand what type of activities, negative or | | | | this literally used to be a flesh and blood human being. |
| positive may have gone on in the home. Better yet, an | | | | A being's personality, as well as your own, will continue |
| honorable and experienced empathic psychic medium | | | | into the next realm even though your tangible body |
| can be a very valuable asset to the ghost hunting | | | | does not. These entities, when alive, had families, jobs, |
| team. These individuals are specifically tuned into | | | | memories and emotions. They had loved ones and |
| paranormal anomalies and would be able to distinguish | | | | were loved by others. Quite distressingly, some of |
| what the spirit wants and needs more effectively. | | | | these souls are bound to this limbo for a potentially |
| Once the ghost hunter has determined whether or not | | | | horrible and tragic reason. Try to have empathy, |
| it is in fact a true haunting, the next step is to attempt | | | | consideration and compassion for the state that they |
| to make contact. Almost all ghosts have a message | | | | are in. |
| to get across. The messages are often relatively clear. | | | | A good point to remember when beginning your ghost |
| The most common of messages are either 'hello' , | | | | hunting adventure, you'll catch more flies with honey. |
| 'help' or 'get out'! All of which the ghost hunter or home | | | | So enter their home with respect, gratitude and a polite |
| owner needs to acknowledge and value. If not, the | | | | disposition and you may end up with a very |
| entity will simply continue voicing it's displeasure with | | | | cooperative spirit, hence some very good photographs. |
| your presence. | | | | |