The How to's of Ghost HuntingDo you have an interest in ghost hunting, but have no idea how to go about getting started? We have some information that may be of use to you, and some links for anything we don't cover here. We hope you find them useful. Just a short note before I begin. We have had several cases of folks contacting us to ask for a price to come investigate their homes, to which we replied there was no cost involved. They had both contacted a group who had told them it would cost $100 for them to come out. This is exactly the kind of behavior that we think is detrimental to Ghost Hunters in general; this is when people begin to wonder what our real motives are. Please try to keep in mind that in order for this field of study to evolve we must all take our roles very seriously, and we must always remember the others who will be judged by our own actions. Thank you for indulging me, I'll put away the soapbox now. *smile* First: Never go on a ghost hunt alone. We aren't saying that ghost hunting is dangerous, we're just saying be prepared. You never know when you might have an accident, and you will definitely want someone along if the worst were to happen. And both of you should be carrying ID at all times, just in case you get questioned and need to prove your identity. It is suggested that you notify the local police department if you plan to be in a cemetery during the night hours, so they will be aware of your activities. Once again, make sure you are not trespassing! If you are asked to leave, don't argue the point. All ghost hunters are judged by our group behavior; you don't want to hurt anyone's chances of future evidence collection in any area. Second: Gather your ghost hunting equipment. There are many different types of equipment you can use, but that doesn't mean you have to have every single item out there. When we started ghost hunting, all we had was a 35mm camera, a digital camera and two micro-cassette recorders. The list of recommended equipment can be found all over the web, but we used Shadowland's Ghost Hunting 101 to help get us started. Third: Decide on a hunt site. Always, always ask permission to investigate an area. Face it, you sure don't want to be arrested for trespassing. If it is a public place, you may ask if you could come at a time when they are not normally open so you can gather evidence undisturbed. Do your research before you go, i.e. learn about the site's history. You can visit your local library and look at microfiche newspapers, contact your historical society, talk to local townsfolk, and of course check it out on the web. You should also take the time to visit the area during the day, so you will be familiar with the terrain and/or layout when you arrive for your hunt. Fourth: Choose your date carefully. Paranormal activity heightens at certain times, mainly within 72 hours before and after either a full moon or new moon. You can check out dates on most calendars that have the lunar cycle, or online. Since spirit energy is magnetic in nature, another good time to ghost hunt is during peak geomagnetic fields and solar storms. You can check these fields out at NOAA anytime. The theory behind this is that spirits can draw from the charged atmosphere to enhance the level of activity. Also, activity is usually heightened during solstices and equinoxes as well, though there is no scientific reasoning to support this. Fifth: The hunt. Once you arrive, take a moment to say a prayer of some sort (no matter your religion, its solely for protection). During your investigation, frequently ask for permission from the entities present to take their picture or capture their voice on tape. It's respectful, and it's our experience that you get better evidence too. When you are ready to leave, say another quick prayer that the entities present will remain there. Some people think this is unnecessary, but we'd rather not take the chance. Lastly: The Analysis. This is the most tedious part of investigation. You must search every single photo, every single recording (both audio and video) for evidence. While we are on the subject of photos, anytime you take your film to be developed make sure you write on the package "Develop all photos". Considering some of your best shots may look like something the photo developer may consider to be an error while shooting the picture, you need to be able to see them all for yourself. When you find something, especially on your 35mm film, have it analysed to make sure it's not a developing error or camera malfunction. If you want to know the step-by-step processes involved in a ghost hunt, we'll refer you again to Shadowland's Ghost Hunting 101. It is an awesome page, and has detailed information for beginners. It's how we got our start! If you have questions, we will try to help if we can. Just contact us. We hope this has been helpful to you! We wish you luck on your journeys!
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