Ghost hunting is anarchy. There are no rules, regulations or enforceable laws regarding the paranormal. Paranormal investigative teams may have rules and guidelines, but ghost hunting is an outlaw activity with no established oversight (And, it should stay that way).
Ghosts, spirits and demons are not as presented on television. In fact, they aren’t as easily found or dangerous as they are presented to be. Despite that, “Ghost Hunting” can be risky as buildings are often in poor shape, closed to the public (Putting investigators who don’t get permission, at risk of arrest) and a demonic presence, or doing something ignorant, like running through a dark due to fear, can be dangerous.
Listed below are some things those into paranormal research and investigation can do, in order to remain safe, have fun and collect evidence:
1. Refrain from losing it when you have a paranormal experience. Use common sense and instill confidence in those around you.
2. Do not investigate or perform exorcisms alone, as it puts you at risk, physically and spiritually.
3. Use common sense (See item number 1) and have a first aid kit with you, along with working flashlights and extra batteries. Perform your ghost hunts in daytime and nighttime, as there is no reason to do it solely at night, although ghosts, being energy, are more photogenic at night. Make sure someone knows where you are going, even if you leave a note on the table, because you have no family or friends in the area.
4. Dress for the weather, the potential weather and changes in the weather. If you are going into a building that could have spiders and snakes, do not wear open toed shoes.
5. Do not trespass or break other laws. Never give the police a reason to arrest you. Don’t talk to cops or other authorities. If they cannot arrest you, they will talk to you until you talk yourself into jail. If you are asked to leave the property by the owner or police, do yourself a favor and go.
6. Fear the living, not the paranormal. You may encounter the homeless, meth cooks and other nefarious people, at night, in abandoned buildings and cemeteries. You have no reason to fear the paranormal and every reason to fear the living. No ghost has ever stabbed me…. people, on the other hand have stabbed me, assaulted me and tried to kill. Do not trust the living.
7. Ghosts cannot impact your thoughts. Ghosts do not follow you home. Dark entities may impact you but are also highly unlikely to be discovered. Paranormal investigations are not television shows, you are not likely to be possessed or have an attachment. No drama.
8. If unwanted thoughts enter your head after leaving a location, talk to a friend, teammate or clergy. Keeping things to yourself can allow these thoughts to take root, grow and cloud your judgement. Odds are, you will not experience an attachment, but your mind may dwell on something that upset you on a deeper level, one you are not aware of.
9. While Ouija Boards are not a tool of the devil, they can be used to open doorways to spirits and a spiritual realm that you are not prepared to deal with. I do not use Ouija Boards, do not allow them on our investigations (as they taint evidence of hauntings at the location because you are inviting spirits into the area that were not already there) and have not used them since I was in my early teens, as they act as a gateway to spirits and places I do not want to invite into my world.
10. Do not rely on cellphones to communicate at investigation sites. Signals drop, may be non-existent and cellphones are unreliable inside buildings, in remote locations, walkie talkies are better, as the signal in consistent.
11. Always be polite to ghosts and spirits. You are in their home; they are not in yours (Unless you live in a haunted location like I do). I am polite to the ghosts in my house, except when I must tell them to knock off a certain behavior.
12. Never invite a ghost or spirit into your body. Do not tell things they can enter your body, use your body or anything similar, as you are inviting trouble. If you or a team member think or believe a possession has occurred, seek clergy or medical help immediately, as it may not be a possession, it could be a mental health issue.
13. Ghosts are where they are because they are tied to that location. You can tell them that they can leave, but you cannot help ghosts. As a paranormal investigator your role is to document evidence, not be a counselor to the spirit world.
14. Ghosts cannot hurt people, demons can. However, most ghost hunters are human (I hope), as such, ghost hunters can trip, lose their balance, fall, cut themselves and have other injuries, while wandering about in the dark, in unmaintained buildings and cemeteries. Be careful out there.
15. Beware of charlatans who charge for ghost hunts. If people are promising you a show in exchange for money, it is possible, even probable that it is all show. My team does not charge for investigations and I suggest you don’t either. The crew of Ghost Hunters (T.A.P.S.) are more credible than the crew of Ghost Adventures, at least to me. Why? T.A.P.S. does not charge to do investigations, does not pay to investigate locations, while the Ghost Adventures crew have admitted on camera, that they pay to go to locations. How much showmanship is present when you have shelled out cash to go to a location? I don’t know because I don’t pay or get paid to do what I do.
It is imperative that paranormal investigators do one more thing while doing the serious and dangerous work of ghost hunting, have fun. Having fun is a lost art in society. People take themselves and others too seriously. Relax. To quote the Joker, “Why so serious?” And, never fake anything. You came into this field with your credibility and only you can ensure that you will have it when you leave.
Bill Turner – Leader, The Apparition Mission
Twitter @ApprtionMission
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