So You Want to Be a Ghost Hunter?

Ghosts have been a subject of inquiry since the beginning of civilization, but ghost hunting is a fairly new field that has only existed for a few decades in it's modern form. A lot of credit has to go to Harry Price, a pioneer in the field of paranormal investigation, whose studies of the infamous Borley Rectory In England in the 30'3 and 40's are stuff of paranormal legend. He created a basic guidebook and utilized a number of tools that are still used by investigators today.

In a Gallup poll conduct in 2005, moe than 30% of Americans claimed to believe in ghosts which would account for the current rise in interest and popularity in the invesigation field. This interest has also been peaked by such shows as "Ghost Hunters" and "Most Haunted". There is even a show now where "D"list celebrities go to allegedly haunted locations and investigate but this only adds fuel to the fire of the skeptics who believe that such practices are positiviely insane. People may laugh, but the idea of ghosts is one that, even though cannot be proven by any scientific method, will just not go away. The overwhelming amount of anecdotal, viedo, and photographic evidence should lead us all to believe that anything is possible.

Let's get to the basics of ghost hunting and talk about some of the things you need to know and equipment you should be armed with when starting out. A lot of people think that the investigation itself consists of going to a haunted locale and standing around with a camera hoping to catch something on film. There is a lot more involved than just that. It really helps to get some historical background info on the location to see whether or not it actually is worth investigating. Locations that have been the site of murders, tragedy, and other horrific pasts seem to yield the best results, the thinking being that the spirits who roam these areas are in a permant state of unrest or, in fact, do not even know they have passed. It is also very important to get the proper permission from property or house owners in order to investigate. This is especially important when investigating cemeteries, as there are very specific regulations surrounding these area, and if they are not adhered to, you could find yourself in jail very quickly. Contact owners, the city, and local police to make sure you have all your bases covered.

Equipment - If you are seriously thinking about getting into the paranormal investigation field, then there are a few basic items that you simply must have when starting out.

1. A digital recorder - these are used to record sound in the area you are investigating and this is where you are likely to pick up EVP's (Electronic Voice Phenomena), which are disembodied voices not heard by the naked ear but caught on the recorder. I defy anyone to listen to these recordings and not get goosebumps...very creepy indeed.

2. Digital camera or camcorder that also takes stills, or both - lots of the ghostly evidence that's out there at the moment has been caught on camera or video. If you have nothing else, make sure at the very least you hav one of these items.

3. EMF Meter - an EMF meter records electromagnetic field reading in you area. It is though that ghosts use up a lot of the surrounding energy in order to manifest themselves and a spike in EMF is one of the signs that this is happening. Be warned though, the EMF meter will spike drasticall when brought in the vicinty of an exposed power source, so try and debunk that first before proclaiming that there is a ghost beside you.

4. A flashlight - I've found that the best kind to get is the headband type which leaves you habds free to use all the other equipment. If you can find one that has a night light, all the better.

I believe I have covered all the basics except for one. If you are serious about getting into ghost hunting, then be prepared for a lot of long, boring nights when absolutely nothing happens. And don't get into it thinking you are going to make some money. Almost all legitimate groups do not charge people to investigate, instead they do it to try and collect evidence, pure and simple. Even after the investigation is over, there are still, seemongly endless, hours of tape, recording and photos to go ver before you can come to any clear conclusion. It may seem tedious but when you catch that one amazing EVP or piece of video, it all seems very worthwhile.