| Ghost Investigating Q & A
Be respectful: When conducting investigations, be respectful of the area that you're in. Please don't litter, sit on headstones, deface property, or walk on graves. Also, remember that ghosts and spirits were once people just like you and I, and have feelings just like you and I. Speak to them just as you would if another person were standing in front of you. Treat them the way you'd want people to treat you. Invite them to be in your photos.
Don't go alone: Always have at least one other person with you, especially when you're investigating abandoned or secluded places. Carry a cellphone if you can.
Don't antagonize entities: For your safety please don't dare entities to attack you in any way! Scoffing and daring during an investigation has only proven to lead to unexpected and sometimes dangerous results.
Explore known haunts: Investigate places that you've heard to be haunted or have some paranormal activity. If you don't know of any places, then try starting out at cemeteries, churches, hospitals, morgues, mortuaries, or older buildings. Be careful not to trespass onto private property without permission. Breaking and entering is a crime.
Use equipment: You can use items such as EMF detectors, dowsing rods, thermometers, compasses, etc...to help you find changes in magnetic energy that could indicate the presence of a ghost. Be sure that you rule out the presence of power lines, microwave, television, etc. Some claim that using a strobe light will attract ghosts.
What not to wear? Dress comfortably, and use common sense. High heeled shoes are no good for hiking, nor are they any good if they're noisy as you walk across a floor. Try to avoid wearing bright shiny objects such as large belt buckles and metallic hair ties. These can reflect light, and cause false positives in your photos and video. Use non-metallic hair ties when tying back long hair to keep it out of the photo. Most ghost investigators practice not wearing any cologne or perfume to rule themselves out if any scents are noted during an investigation.
Videotaping Tips
Be sure that you understand how to operate the camcorder. You don't want to have a camcorder that does not record during the investigation. Don't forget to take off the lens cap.
Use fresh tapes and make sure your video heads are clean.
Make sure that the batteries are fully charged and have plenty of spares on hand. It's not unusual for brand new batteries to completely drain in only minutes at haunted locations.
During stationary filming use a tripod, and make sure all the knobs are tight (especially if the camera is not being watched).
If you have the equipment, modify the brightness and contrast (or the video levels) using video editing software. This might increase the ability the see the anomalies on tape.
Ghost Investigating Equipment
When searching for Ghosts, it's essential to be prepared
This is a list of items that can be taken on investigations. Not all are required...feel free to work with what you're able to.
Air Ion Counter: This is an expensive piece of equipment and it is used to measure the amount of positive and negative ions in the area. Ghosts can create a lot of positive ions because they give off high amounts of electromagnetic discharges.
Baby Powder: People have used baby powder to try to get ghostly footsteps or hand prints. If the ghost has a habit of moving an object or pushing it around, you could sprinkle it with baby powder to see if hand prints appear.
Barometer: Ghost investigators have tried using barometers during investigations. Some believe that paranormal activity can affect barometric pressure.
Cameras: Any camera will do, but most paranormal investigators seem to feel that 35mm cameras are less likely to cause false anomalies in photos. 35mm cameras also have the advantage of having a negative, which can also support the possibility of a real ghostly capture on film. Remember to remove any camera straps, to avoid them getting into a photo accidentally. Also be sure to tie back long hair (or better yet, pin it up) to avoid it getting into the shot. Be careful of how you hold your camera to avoid getting your fingertips in the photo.
Color film is fine to use, but some researchers have gotten good results using black and white film and infrared film. Be forewarned however, that infrared film is very sensitive as well as expensive. 400 speed film seems to be the most commonly used for capturing ghosts or spirits on film. Don't forget to take along extra batteries and rolls of film. Make sure that you cover all your battery needs when packing extra batteries, too. Not all equipment uses the same type of battery. A tripod can be very useful to bring along, if you don't mind carrying the extra equipment. A camera mounted on a tripod helps to insure that your camera is as still as possible when taking photos. A timer is better, because you won't even have to chance moving the camera when you press the button to snap the shot.
When you have your film developed, be sure to tell your developer that you want all the shots on the roll returned to you, including the "bad" ones. I've even gone so far as to tell them that it's for paranormal research. But if you're uncomfortable with that, tell them it's for a school photography class project. It works, too.
Candles: A few candles are a good idea to have as backup in case your flashlights and batteries fail. Be sure the candles are of a kind that have a wide base and can be set down so that your hands are free. To be on the safe side, buy waterproof matches or a waterproof container for your matches. Both of these items can be found in Camping or Military Surplus stores.
Cell Phone: Don't leave home without it. You don't want to be way out in the middle of nowhere in some cemetery when an emergency happens and not be able to call for help. Make sure that someone in your group has a cellphone. If it's not possible to have a cellphone, then please try to find investigations that aren't out in the middle of nowhere for your own safety. And if you are going out to the boonies, make sure that someone at home knows where you'll be. And if you can, make sure that there's at least one other cellphone in your group in case one fails for some reason.
Compass: Some investigators will use a compass, because a compass can be affected by electromagnetic energy, indicating the presence of a ghost.
EMF Detector: EMF detectors are widely used by Paranormal Investigators. They're normally used to check for leaks in microwave ovens, but it was discovered that they seem to be able to pick up the fields generated by ghosts. There are various types of EMF detectors, and they vary in price.
Extra Batteries: Don't forget them.
Flashlights: It's a good idea to pack several flashlights. Not only do batteries fail, but so do bulbs. It's nice to have a spare for a friend, too. It's also a good idea to clip your keys to your belt loop, or put a flashing light on your keys. You don't want to lose your keys out in a dark cemetery!
First Aid Kit: Take along a first aid kit in case someone get injured on the investigation.. Cemeteries, fields and abandoned buildings can be hazardous in the dark!
Headsets or Walkie-Talkies: These can provide you with a way to stay in touch with other investigators in your group. Headsets have the advantage of keeping your hands free to do other things, like take photos.
Map: Always a good idea, especially if you're in unfamiliar territory.
Motion Detectors: Usually used in tandem with cameras, they pick up any kind of movement in a room, triggering the camera to snap a shot.
Night Vision Scopes: These scopes seem to be able to pick up ghosts in an infrared field, similar to infrared film. Some investigators swear by them.
Notebook and pen: Use these to record information about your investigation. It's a good idea to have such information as location, who was present, date, time, and weather conditions. It's also a good idea to have them along to write down events as they happen, instead of trying to recall them later on.
Tape Recorder: A tape recorder can be used for recording EVP, or Electronic Voice Phenomena. Here are some tips for getting a good recording:
1: Set the recorder in a quiet area away from windows. If set by a window, they will pick up any sounds coming from outside (cars, people, etc), even if the window is closed.
2: Use a recorder that has an external or plug-in microphone. An internal or built-in microphone will record the whirring sound that the gears of the recorder makes. Try to buy a small one, not a bulky, heavy one. Carry extra tapes, and only use brand new, unopened tapes. Never reuse tapes.
3: When you first start recording, say the date, time, and place that the recorder is located. Say this in a normal speaking voice, so that your voice is easily identified on the tape. After that, try not to speak when in the vicinity of the recorder, or better yet, go elsewhere while it records an empty room. Ghosts are oftentimes difficult to hear on tape, as they usually make faint sounds.
4: If you must speak around a tape recorder while it's running, do so in normal voices. Ghosts usually speak very softly, and if you're whispering, it will be hard to tell if it's you or a ghost.
5: When reviewing your tape, play it back at home in a quiet room. You may have to turn the volume up, but I would recommend that you listen to it once at a lower volume, in case there is something sudden and loud on the tape. Our ears don't always hear ghosts on investigations, and tape recorders can catch some surprising things. You may need to replay an softer voice repeatedly, until you can figure out what it's saying. Ghosts don't have vocal cords, so they can't speak as clearly as we do.
Thermal Scanner: This measures temperature changes in a specific area. Ghosts need to absorb energy that's around them in order to materialize, and there will be temperature changes as a result of this. These areas are usually colder than the surrounding area, and referred to as "cold spots", although there are rarer cases of "hot spots" as well. A Thermal Imaging scope is usually used along with the scanner, and it will allow you to see the exact shape of any temperature anomaly.
Watch: Great for keeping track of time as well as for documenting what time events occur.
Windchimes: Some researchers recommend using small metallic windchimes in an investigation, especially where breezes are felt. Photos can be snapped when the windchime alerts the investigators.
Ziplock Baggies: These can be used to collect evidence. It's not very often that you find physical evidence but sometimes you get lucky. Ziplock baggies are recommended because they will seal tight, insuring against any leakage.
| | Ghost Hunting & Weather
We get a lot of questions regarding whether full moons, thunderstorms, solar flares, etc. make the surrounding area more conducive to experiencing a ghostly apparition, and whether we should seek out these conditions when going to a haunted place to experience the phenomenon. As one might expect, the answer seems to be a resounding Yes!
Although people occasionally experience apparitions and entities during the day, most sightings do occur at night for reasons explained in The Nature of Ghosts. It is also believed that apparitions are a form of energy, and that sightings do indeed increase in both strength and clarity under certain atmospheric conditions that are unusually high in electrical or electromagnetic energy.
If you have ever been in a really rocking thunderstorm, you know the awe and power involved in such an event. The very floor shakes with the thunder claps, and you can literally feel (and see) the electrical charge in the atmosphere. No surprise then, that this is a highly conducive time to experience paranormal phenomena. Obviously, there are drawbacks to this plan, because most of us don't want to be standing in the middle of a tree-filled graveyard during a raging thunderstorm, even if we could time it just right. But if you ever find yourself in a position to do some indoor ghost hunting during a good storm, we highly recommend that you try that, because the chances are good that you will achieve at least some semblance of success in thunderstorm conditions.
The theory with thunderstorms is that the entity is able to draw from the electrically charged surroundings to a degree that it couldn't during calm weather, thus becoming more visible or detectable to you. It is also fairly safe to assume that you, as the observer, are also being affected by the charged atmosphere, possibly achieving a higher vibrational frequency and enabling you to come closer to the frequency of the apparition - thus a sighting.
Even if you can't time a ghost hunt to coincide with a thunderstorm, it most definitely wouldn't hurt to drag out the compass, digital camera, and whatever other ghost hunting equipment you have next time you are sitting at home during a strong storm. You may be surprised at the results.......
As far as moon phases and the question of what phases are best and worst for paranormal sightings, the evidence at this time seems to suggest what is probably obvious to most of us - that the full moon is by far the most conducive time to experience ghostly phenomena. There are many theories as to why this is, from the air being more saturated with positive ions, to the slivery color and rays emitted from the full and bright moon, to the added gravitational pull on the earth and on us during a full moon. Scientists scoff at all three of these theories, saying that the effects, whatever they might be, are not strong enough to affect us in any measurable way. That seems a bit too easy, as the full moon has been associated with paranormal and supernatural occurrences since the beginning of time. It could be that a combination of the above or something not even thought of yet is responsible. Yet, there is almost indisputable proof that the full moon is related to an increase in paranormal phenomena.
The new moon is probably the 2nd most conducive for experiencing paranormal phenomena in terms of a monthly timetable. During this time, the moon rises at the same time as the sun and is in the same zodiac sign. Because of this, you can't see the moon, making for some really dark ghost hunting. We have found no theories as to why physically this is a good time to ghost hunt, but it appears time and time again in our reference material so we thought it would be worth a mention here.
Of equal importance, the equinoxes and solstices every year have been through history very conducive to supernatural occurrences. These events are extremely important cosmically and and it is no wonder that they are considered very conducive days in supernatural terms.
The sun is at its lowest point on the Winter Solstice every year. It rises higher into the sky as the days go on, culminating in the Spring Equinox, when it rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west, and everyone on earth has a 12 hour day. After this, it continues on its upward path until the Summer Solstice, when it reaches its highest point in the sky, After this, the sun begins to descend again, and on the Autumnal Equinox, the entire world again sees a 12 hour day with the sun in an exactly east/west orientation. Then back to the Winter Solstice to start the dance over again.
A list for this Year :
2008
VERNAL EQUINOX .....(SPRING) MARCH 20 2008 05:48 GMT
SUMMER SOLSTICE .....(SUMMER) JUNE 20 2008 23:59 GMT
AUTUMNAL EQUINOX..... (FALL) SEPTEMBER 22 2008 15:44 GMT
WINTER SOLSTICE..... (WINTER) DECEMBER 21 2008 12:04 GMT
Of note, the Harvest Moon is an important event in many religions and may be worth a try for those interested in experimenting with ghost hunting and the supernatural. The harvest moon is the nearest full moon to the Autumnal Equinox - either before or after.
The sun is also believed to play an important role in how conducive we are to apparitions and ghostly phenomena due to the electromagnetic and geomagnetic influences of the sun on our planet. Most of us don't realize how often we actually go through a geomagnetic storm caused by solar wind, which, like a lightening storm, is believed to somehow spark paranormal strength. Therefore, any serious ghost hunter will be well aware of the solar conditions at all times. A great source for checking this daily can be found at http://www.spaceweather.com.
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