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| So you want to be a Paranormal Investigator.. |
Actually anyone who is interested in discovering if there is an afterlife/ghosts can be a paranormal investigator..
Tip #1 Do not pay for some course to become a 'certified paranormal investigator', there is no such thing. Sure, you may get some nice shiny certificate someone made up specially for you and your dough. (Keep it, I have a bridge somewhere with your name all over it pal.) * Now, I need to add, there are some ghosthunting 101 classes out there, not courses, that go through the equipment that is normally used and you actually ghosthunt a location. I can see paying for something like that. It shouldn't run to far from $20.00.*
To be a paranormal investigator, you need to have an open mind, patience, a sense of humor, sense of adventure, patience and a strong heart. (It is not a typo, you sit around alot waiting for 'something' to happen.)
Tip #2 You do not have to be a part of a group, although going to places alone isn't a very wise thing to do. (I know as I type this, friends of mine are rolling their eyes at me..) Groups have a tendency to be all talk and no action, politics plays a heavy role as well. If you can sort out a good group near you, then by all means jump in. If not, there are usually a few tours that you can check out on your own.
Let's say you and others are going out to do an investigation on a local cemetery that is said to be haunted...
Go to the library or do research on the cemetery on the internet and find out as much as you can on the history, is a family cemetery, city, rural.. and some back ground on some of the folks there.
Then go during the daytime and check out the area, are there houses nearby (someone may call the coppers on ya if they see someone prowling around at night and you don't want to disturb anyone with camera flashes and flashlights). Also, you want to look around the cemetery, is there any reflective street sign nearby that may 'glow in the dark' if hit with a camera flash? Are there woods, newly dug graves, or any well pronounced sink holes? Ditches? ponds, lakes, streams? It is always good to check, before breaking an ankle in the dark, in a cemetery in the middle of the night. Also, check to see if there is any posted times for the cemetery. It is illegal to wander a cemetery at night, if there are posted times, and yes the coppers will come and seek you out.
Some items that you may want to take with you on your investigation:
a cellphone - charged and on vibrate. Do not need the latest hit going off during a taping session, and in case of an emergency.
ass load of batteries - for all of your equipment, nothing sucks worse than being all ready to roll and everything and I mean everything is dead. *Plus ghosts do require energy to manifest, these can include your equipment.*
2 flashlights - There is a method to my madness, and unless you have had to energy sucked out your flashlight during an investigation you would not mock me. *The wind up flashlights rock, no batteries.
plastic trash bag - for your created litter and for any trash found in and around the place you are investigating. *Always leave the place better than you found it.*
wallet/ID and cash - Always good to have ID on your person and if the coppers come around they will ask for it.
tennis shoes or hiking bootsand extra socks - depending on where this cemetery is located, could be wet with dew, rain, mushy...it sucks to sit around all night with wet socks, ewwww.
notebook and pen/pencil - take notes on name of cemetery, times, any odd occurances, traffic, people noises, weather, readings, ect..
cameras digital or film If using digital, charge it and have a fresh picture cartridge in it. If film, fresh film, use 400 - 800 speed.
DO NOT DELETE PHOTOS WHILE YOUR ARE OUT AND ABOUT, wait until you get them home, downloaded on your computer and look them over on a bigger screen. You might miss something you couldn't see on the camera's screen.
EMF meter - It is not necessary that you have this, but it is a very cool item. They range from cheap to expensive, the cheaper is the less information/readings, but work just as well. They read the Electromagnetic Frequencies in the surrounding area of the meter, depending on the type of meter it reads different distances. Let's say you take this to the cemetery, where there is no electrical source what so ever, unless you are next to a power grid or telephone pole... and the sucker goes off in front of you. If you are a good and wise paranormal investigator you or someone else will take as many pictures as you possibly can and will maybe need to change your shorts later. Or if you are an amatuer you will run to find your mommy and still need to change your shorts...
video camera with tripod - again, if you don't have it, don't sweat it. If you do, it needs to have night vision/shot to record at night. Don't forget to charge this as well and have plenty of discs handy.
bug spray - Try to get the non-stinky kind, although not getting your life's blood sucked out by tiny vampires is the priority, expecially with West Nile virus and such...sometimes when spirits are around they can give off odors, cigar smoke, or perfume - maybe even a little bog gas.. So it is important that you don't over power with stench. *this goes for perfume/cologne as well*.
snacks and bottled water - cheese crackers, popcorn, quiet munchies to get you through, pace yourself with the water!! *see below*.
Go to the bathroom before you go - if nature calls, hopefully on vibrate, if you were good and wise and scouted out the area before there may be nearby facilities (that is usually doubtful) use them or rough it behind a shrub.
I cannot say it enough, juice up all batteries before you go
jacket/coat/hoodie/sweater - Even in the summer, in low lying areas they can get right down chilly. Take one just in case, better safe than sorry.
hairclip/tie or hat - if weather is windy, or to just keep hair out of the way of the lens.
umbrella and plastic garbage bag - to protect equipment from the weather, dampness. Remember, rain, fog, mist, dew all can play havoc on delicate equipment. Don't use everything, only have out what you need and keep it dry.
comfortable clothing - you will be sitting, standing, kneeling and roaming around. Layers are the best, so you can strip off what you don't need or add on what you do. Do not wear all black, in fact wear something light in color so in a photo you do not show up as a shade/shadow. Plus, it looks less supicious - think about it. And black is really hot in the summer, and if your sweating, the little flying vampires like it like that.
lawn chairs or foldable seating - you will get tired standing around after while.
digital or tape recorders - for hopefully recording the spirits answers to your questions. Remember to bring plenty of tapes, but also remember, you have to listen to all of this back as well. There are computer downloads - free basic EVP software 'Audocity', EVP maker 2.1 and ghosthunting software for investigations - to store your information and photos on your computer.(the webpages are listed at bottom of page).
No smoking - in and around where you are taking pictures, can show up as false 'blue' ecto mist on film.
digital thermometer - primarily used for indoor use, for taking regular temperature readings and finding 'cold spots', helps in finding fluctuations in temperatures.
dowsing rods - These can be found, again from the cheap to expensive.
You can make your own, take a couple of metal coat hangers and cut them with a wire cutter. They should look like an exaggerated L in size and shape. You hold them in your hands like they were guns, loosely.
Then take them for a spin and concentrate on something, let's say "water" and walk around the house either stating out loud or to yourself "water, water, water" really concentrate and they should cross over a water source. You can place a glass of water on a table, step back and repeat "water, water, water" and walk towards the glass and see if they cross. If they do, take a step back and they should uncross as well...
They should be loose in your hands, do not try to manipulate them with your thumbs or grip really tight. You can do this for anything, there are professional "water witches" that search for water for wells, or even oil. Graves can be located this way as well, you can even tell if a female or male is buried there. You can test this on a grave that you know the sex of the occupant, the rods will point to either the head or feet, for each sex. (I forget which is which - I think the head is the male, seriously, and the feet is female.) Dowsing rods can also be Y shaped branches from trees. Specific ones are said to work better than others, Willow is a common favorite because of its ablility to bend. *There are a small percentage of folks who just cannot use them, try it and if it works try it at a site.*
pendulums - These are usually sold as semi-precious stones and already chained, but you can use any crystal, object, even rings, what ever works for you. You can use a chain or necklace to swing it from. Mine I made from a crystal from a lamp/chandlier and attached an old necklace to it. You need to then get use to how it will answer for you, for me...mine swings in a circle for yes and back and forth for no. This can be used in asking questions to a spirit or any activity in an area, of course they have to be in yes/no questions. *Has also been used over an expecting mother to find out the sex of a baby. (Ask pendulum which way first, maybe circles for boy and swings for girl???) And then wait until the birth to see if you were right.
DO NOT USE OUIJA BOARDS - These are marketed as a game, OUIJA (OUI - yes /French and JA - yes /German) and pronounced as such. (Ever watch the movie The Exorcist, Captain Howdy ring a bell?? Or Witchboard???) Many believe that using the board to speak with spirits opens a portal and ANY spirit/demon, ect..can come through. It is like opening a door to who ever happens to be there. Many tours, places and investigators are against the use of OUIJA boards.
There are all sorts of other stuff you can collect to use, but this is the most commonly used equipment. Don't sink a lot of money into stuff you will only use once.
Here is a list of phrases you may hear often;
Apparitions - rare, things have a tendency to be viewed through our peripheral vision (side vision). But to see a full bodied apparition, that is a paranormal investigators wet dream. Have been caught on film, maybe not seen by person at time when picture was taken and this goes for many things caught on film.
Cold spots - are usually signs of energy/spirit presence, check areas for drafts or breezes. (windows, cracks, doors, vents, ect..this can also be a sign for weather proofing a home and not a ghost.)
Contrails - Are elongated orbs, with a tail. These are orbs in motion.
Ecto Mists - Can be large or small, wisps or fog like, usually white in nature.
(breath and cigarette smoke will show up as a false 'blue' ecto mists on films.)
EVP - Electronic voice phenomenon - collecting noises, voices or sounds on recording tapes or digitally.
Orbs - These are a form of energy/spirit, they are solid in color - mostly white and round.
Now, when taking pictures and you see lots of 'orbs' they are usually, dust, snow, dew, mist, rain, bugs... You are looking for a nice, solid, round orb unless it is contrail (see above). Your cameras flash will reflect off of said particles and create it own orbs, only they will be all over. These are false, if in doubt in an old building or outside, shine a flashlight and look into the beam to see if there is any floaters out there before taking any shots. If walking around in an old building, you and others are stirring up dust and crap that kicks up all over. Wait for it to settle before taking any pictures. Clear or rainbow orbs are rain, yellow tiny orbs with wings -bugs..
Paranormal - means beyond the normal realm of things.
Parapsychology - The study of phenomenon, real or supposed that appears to be unexplainable.
Peripheral vision - This is our 'side vision', seeing things out of the corner of your eyes. This vision is run by rods in the eyeball and they are responsible for night and low light vision and insensitive to colors. So if you are going to see anything, this is usually the way your are going to do it. (most when they see something in their peripheral vision, then turn their head to look at it straight on and it is gone.)
Poltergeist - German for "noisy spirit", a poltergeist is rare and is usually destructive with tossing stuff around and can be malicious in nature. Has been known to be brought on by pre-teen presence.
Psychic - A person who has the ablility to communicate with spirits.
A favorite of mine is Laura, a friend who is an angel reader and psychic, she too does some tours with Sherri Brake and teaches classes in the NE Ohio area. *see her website below*
Reciprocal Apparition - This is when a spirit actually communicates with someone in real time, answers back and interacts with someone at the time or on tape.
Residual Haunting - The most common, this is like a time loop. It could be a daily occurance, weekly, yearly, maybe on an anniversary or birthday or day of death... Sudden tragic endings are usually played out this way.. There is usually no communication during this, it is just played out over and over..
Shades or shadows - spirits that are only forms, shadows, seen by peripheral vision (not always, sometimes even seen straight on).
Spirit - The soul. Everything contains energy (chi, prana), everything that is living; plants, animals, from tiny to large. When we die our soul, which does have weight and has been measured, leaves our shell or vessel of a body and moves on. I think some do (to a light, great beyond, Summerland, where ever.) And some do not, either they feel they have unfinished business, anger, depression, tragidy, suicide..usually hang around.
String Energy - Common, lines or curvey lines that appear in photographs. Can look orange, red, or a golden yellow like fire. (This is not to be confused with light exposure streaks on 35 mm film). These often show up in pictures that look to be blurred, but look carefully, see if the people or objects in the photo are blurred as well. If it is just the area with the energy, you have a good picture. It is said that an orb in red or orange coloring shows - strong willpower, short tempered, powerful. Dark yellow can be manipulative and focused.
Supernatural - Unexplained phenomenon, something that occurs that cannot be readily explained by man made devices or naturally.
Supercharged Orb - A colored orb, usually red or orange in color.
Vortex - rare, a tornado...a mass of energy that spins around, creating a vacuum. (Hair or camera straps across a camera lens when the flash goes off, can create a false 'vortex' look. Tie up hair and use the cameras strap or remove it to avoid this during an investigation).
If you are going out with a group, please becareful.
Back in 8/24/2006 there was some high school girls who were hanging around a reported 'haunted house' when the man who lives in the home fired his rifle out of his bedroom window when he heard voices - protecting his family from intruders. One of the girls were hit. This was in Worthington Ohio. Do not wander onto private property, when in doubt stay off.
Also, always try to "de-bunk" your 'visit'...check all possible things that could have made the occurance. And truly decide if you captured a spirit communication/sighting.
ghost tours in and around NE Ohio area
www.hauntedhistory.net owned and operated by my good friend Sherri Brake has awesome trips; have been to Moundsville prison, Gettysburg, Waverly Hill Sanitorium, ect...check it out.
www.meetthespirits.com Lake Erie ghost tours
www.waynesvilleohio.com ghost tours
www.ohioghosthunt.com ghost group
www.massillonghosthunters.com
www.legendtrackers.org Do a lot of investigations at Prospect Place.
www.mansfieldreformatory.com Have over night ghost hunts
ghost tours in and around West Virginia area
www.callwva.com/hauntings lists of ghostly happens in West Virginia
www.hauntedparkersburg.com Susan Sheppard ghost tours
www.wvpentours.com Moundsville prison ghost tours
www.angelreader.com Laura/psychic
www.audacityteam.org (then click on audacity website)
www.stefanbion.de (EVPmaker)
www.rb59.com/ghosth (paranormal software)
I have had some very interesting experiences ghost hunting, I have had my hair tugged, cold breath blown on the back of my neck, I have been pelted with substances (I am in Law Enforcement and was in a prison at the time - don't ask...) and have seen shades/shadows walk and move about, and have seen hands (hands only, no body) in the back of a prison cell (out of the corner of my eye) and to only blink and then have them appear in front of the cell towards me...
Ever since I was young, I have always been fascinated with ghosts, but it was a subject that one doesn't ever really brings up in conversation, now a days everyone has either seen a program or TAPS, Hauntings, Paranormal State, on tv or taken a tour or talks about experiences. It isn't taboo any more.
Just a quick word, there are evil spirits - they were bad/wicked/evil in life and haven't changed. They do push, pull, slap, throw things... This should be remembered, traveling with others is just wise in case something would happen - do not tease, poke or make fun of the spirits just to draw them out. (Becareful what you ask for, you might just get it)
Some cable shows talk mostly about demons, seems that is all they hunt or come across.
I personally have never come across a demon, do not believe most folks have either. I would not really worry about this ever happening. Also with that being said, these are reality tv shows folks and ratings do decided their fate. And they play heavily on the whole religious thang, good versus evil... You decide.
So take things with a grain salt, and little lime and tequila.
Pleasant Screams...
Don't let your wood drift and
Any day above ground is a good day!
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Posted by keiahkairaven on 2009-06-01 12:18:40 | Rating: | Views: 112
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