Ghosts Among Us - James Van Praagh [61]
Permission
Before working on any property, whether a house or other type of building, get the written permission of the owner, whether that party is an individual, a city, or the homeowners’ association of a condo development. You must have permission to enter the property with the purpose of investigating paranormal activity.
Familiarize yourself with the history of the property, including previous owners, deeds of trust, builders, contractors who may have done additions and improvements, and the current owners. Research any and all records associated with the property. Find out whether there was another structure on the property before the current one. Research public records and newspapers to find out whether any significant incidents have taken place on the property, such as fires, murders, suicides, or other crimes. Remember that most hauntings are associated with past events that happened in a particular place. If possible, consider acquainting yourself with the property by visiting it several times, especially the night before your investigation. It is easier to investigate a place once you know its layout.
Equipment
Some basic equipment is needed for any ghost-hunting scenario. The following list will vary, depending on the sophistication of the organization or group involved.
A watch
A cell phone
A notebook
A thermometer or infrared thermal scanner to measure any environmental changes
A Polaroid camera, a 35mm camera with high-speed film, and a digital camera
A video camera and tripod (you don’t want to hold the video camera all night)
A natural electromagnetic field meter
Digital and audiotape voice recorders (for interviews and Electronic Voice Phenomenon)
A Geiger counter to measurer radiations leaks
Thermal video monitors, which measure small changes in temperature and may show you ghosts on the monitor (very extravagant, but if you want to do it right, why not?)
Audio amplifiers, which some ghost hunters believe enable you to hear EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) better, though in urban areas with a lot of white noise it may be difficult to differentiate what you are hearing (I don’t recommend this equipment)
First-aid kit
Preparation
You must know what you’re looking for. What kind of activity is occurring on the property? If you are searching for a ghost or poltergeist, does it relate to a specific period of the past? Do you want to communicate with a relative or friend of the current owner? Before you begin, make sure you have a checklist to help you keep track of the following preparations:
Never go on a ghost hunt alone. Have at least one other person along to assist you.
Before you enter the property or start any work with the paranormal, always begin with a prayer of protection.
Make sure that all of the equipment you will be using is fully charged and that you have extra fully charged batteries. Remember that ghosts feed on electrical energy.
Set up a central location inside the house for storage of all equipment, batteries, and flashlights.
Always carry a camera and flashlight on you; again, have extra batteries.
Log significant conditions in your notebook, such as the weather or the electrical condition of the room or building.
Allow only those people who are seriously interested in the project to be part of the investigation. Don’t let strangers onto the property.
If you have a large group, split into two so that each group can investigate different areas of the property.
Record any and all activity, including meter abnormalities, strange sounds, spontaneous lights, and anxious or fearful emotional feelings of the group.
Constantly check the equipment