The Basics of Paranormal Investigation: Get Started Ghost Hunting

Are you a believer, or a skeptic? Are you out to find proof of what you already know to sway others, or are you searching for answers for yourself? Interested in starting a paranormal investigation on your own? or ready to start a team? This is a good place to start regardless of your ghostly ambition. Here, I will give you all the information you need to get started on your first paranormal investigation like the professionals do it.

If you've ever watched a show or looked into paranormal investigation in any way, you have probably seen reference to a lot of fancy equipment. The various sensors and meters used by researchers can be easily found via the net, but they can also be very expensive . Luckily, you can do some very professional research without shelling out thousands of dollars in equipment. A simple investigation requires no more than a decent camera ,a notebook, a lot of patience, and a place with some reported or suspected activity. The most widely revered cameras in the paranormal photography world at this time are digital cameras with night vision ability, either a still shot digital or video work, but most investigators use these merely to make quick observation photographs and rely more fully on regular film cameras. In this simple investigation you merely watch, wait and take notes. Lots of notes about everything you see hear and feel, and lots and lots of photographs to look over later.

The best places that I have found for ghost hunting have, oddly enough been very public places. The area and shops on River Street in Downtown Savannah GA ,for instance, as well as the Old ruins of Fort Pulaski out on Tybee Island, where I picked up several strange images on camera, and saw a man pacing near the lighthouse only to disappear. I can't say why these places seem to display more paranormal activity, both documented and undocumented, than other places. One reason that I believe ghosts may frequent such places, is simple~ people with bodies like to go there, why wouldn't those without enjoy it as well? It is also possible that the dead might enjoy being in places where there are a lot of people, and coincidentally they blend into crowds.

However, if an investigation this simple is too trivial and dull for your tastes, I will introduce you to a couple of inexpensive alternatives to the higher dollar equipment used by TAPS and other big name ghost hunting societies.

The EMF (electromagnetic field) meter is by far the most well known and widely used (after the camera) piece of ghost hunting equipment. Traditionally, professionals use a very sensitive wide range natural EMF meter, that I have seen range in cost from $75 to $300. While the paranormal community probably wouldn't approve of this idea, it is reasonable to look into the use of a basic EMF meter than can be purchased from Radio Shack. This is not as sensitive, and is said to be less likely, by some to pick up subtle EMF changes. I have experienced contrary findings on this, however as I have seen these things be sensitive enough to pick up the subtle charge of the human body. At a price range of $15- $50, you can play around with these things a bit, and get an idea for yourself. Undoubtedly, your results would likely be better with a more expensive instrument, but it would be a viable way to learn about, if nothing else, the inherent electromagnetic fields that are present around you everyday. One thing you would need to be certain of in purchasing one for this purpose is that it isn't the type that merely detects and alerts at the presence of electro magnetic energy, but gives a reading so that type can be determined, otherwise your haunting documentation might be better used as a blueprint of a homes wiring.

A simple tool, although not often used in this context, is a basic magnetic north navigational compass. You will need a very sensitive and good compass, and this would detect only disturbances that were very strong. UFO hunters find compasses more useful than ghost hunters usually. But this can be a valuable asset to you arsenal that costs very little, so why not take advantage of it? Plus, a compass reliably tells you when something IS happening. Anything that interferes with magnetic north, is hard to deny as an occurrence. The method of using it is simple~ anytime the needle does anything other than remain at due north, something is creating a magnetic field in the direction that it is now pointing.

An open air digital thermometer. These are harder to come by and far more cost prohibitive. You need a thermometer so delicate as to be able to detect the smallest and most rapid changes in air temperatures with little or no adjustment time. Many investigators simply use the buddy method , and by the agreement of more than one person that a specific are is inexplicably warm or cool, use that as an indicator of where to concentrate their efforts.

EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) recorders have gotten a lot of attention lately. Although your basic magnetic tape device has worked for years, there is a lot of hubbub about digital devices being more sensitive. In either case, I find that general consensus states, that the best recordings will be gained over white noise, as opposed to the ambient sounds of a room or area. It is easier to pick out additional sounds over white noise that masks refrigerators kicking on and off or the constant patter of a fish tank , for instance.

Whatever methods you chose to employ, the methodology of a ghost hunt and paranormal investigation follow the same general outline. Listen, wait , watch, and document, document , document! Whenever you feel or see anything out of the ordinary take all the photographs you can, and record all the information you have on the situation, time, impressions you get, area, date , temperatures,weather ,etc. Maybe you will find something wonderful! Happy Hunting!