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An Investigation Explanation by Troy Taylor
Here is a wonderful, fact filled explanation of how a paranormal investigation works in a clients home.
Introduction:
Troy Taylor is the author of more than 40 books on all things
paranormal—most notably haunted houses. He's also the founder of the
American Ghost Society, a network of ghost hunters who collect stories
of sightings and hauntings, then use investigative techniques and
equipment to track down evidence of the supernatural. Here he explains
how you can find the right ghost buster to rid your old house of its
specters and spirits.
In my line of work, I often deal with people who have (or
claim to have) ghosts in their houses. Inevitably, most of them ask me
what they should do about it. Should they move out? Should they talk to
the specters, or just ignore them? But the most common question I get
is whether or not they should contact a ghost hunter to come to their
houses and investigate.
First let me say that over the years I have been involved in
ghost research, the vast majority of the cases I've investigated have
had perfectly natural explanations. That is not to say that some
haven't puzzled me, or left me feeling the house in question was indeed
haunted.
Even if you're house is not haunted, it's easy to get caught up
in the idea that it is, thinking every bump and creak you hear is
something ghostly. And it's not long before your family picks up on
your fears, and begins hearing the "unexplainable" sounds and seeing
the resident "ghost."
As witness to a series of what could be considered ghostly
events, you must first determine whether or not those events are
natural or supernatural. In order to do this, try to relax and be a
good observer. Even if you're scared by what you've seen or heard, it's
important that you first give the occurrences some rational thought.
Are those "phantom footsteps" you heard simply the house settling, or
the floorboards creaking? Was that "cold chill" merely a draft? Was
that "ghost" you saw out of the corner of your eye nothing more than a
trick of the light?
Who You Gonna Call?
Once you've ruled out natural causes, you
have a choice of what to do next. You can either learn to live with the
novelty of a ghost in your house, or get in touch with a legitimate
ghost researcher to help you understand what's going on. This is not as
easy as it sounds, as there are hundreds of them out there, with a
varying degree of credibility. To get you started, here is some
information that will help you choose the right one for the job.
Check out the investigator's Web sites and use them to
determine whether or not they are the kind of people you would be
comfortable having in your home. Remember, that site is their method of
advertising. If it's questionable, the ghost hunters are likely to be
as well. After all, anyone can launch a Web site, but the quality of
the material on it speaks volumes about who's behind it.
Avoid ghost hunters who dabble in magic, the occult, or
offer "magical cleansings" of homes. None of these things should be
part of a legitimate investigation. If there is any mention of them on
the Web site, move on.
Legitimate ghost hunters will not charge for their services.
If you are asked to pay for an investigation, look for something else.
Only services that produce concrete, tangible results are worthy of
payment, and paranormal research is too unpredictable for that. That
said, if the ghost researcher is expected to travel (especially
overnight) to reach your home, you should offer reimbursement for his
or her expenses.
Check qualifications. Once you've found an investigator
you're comfortable with, ask him how long he's been involved in
paranormal research, and about his past investigations—especially those
involving private residences. If he claims to be some sort of "doctor,"
ask what kind of doctor he is. Find out if he's affiliated with a
research group or a national organization, such as the American Ghost
Society. Being affiliated with a group with a good reputation can help
you make a better decision about allowing him into your home. You can
also call the organization and request additional information.
The Investigation
After ruling out natural explanations, the
researcher might decide that an investigation of your house is
warranted. Prepare to be invaded! Research teams can be made up of five
to six individuals. And investigations can be very invasive. There will
be photographs taken of the house, and hundreds of feet of video shot.
They will ask you dozens of questions—many of which will seem
unconnected, and perhaps even embarrassing. They will ask you to
describe the events that occurred, and your statement will be recorded.
But bear with them. These questions have a purpose, and the
investigators will be working to try to legitimize your story, and
determine if the reported activity is real.
Here are some things that you should be aware of when it comes to legitimate paranormal investigations:
Investigators should arrive at your home with healthy skepticism and an open mind to all possibilities. Good ones remain non-committal until they've had a chance to gather all the evidence.
Make sure the investigators know how to use their equipment. If there is anything you don't understand, ask them to explain. If they can't, you may have a problem.
Reporters or other members of the media should never accompany investigators without your permission.
The investigators are duty-bound to keep all aspects of your case
confidential, unless they have your permission to disclose anything.
Make sure everyone who experienced anything unusual in your house is present
on the night of the investigation. And don't let friends and relatives
over who simply want to watch the proceedings. They can be distracting
to you and the investigators.
It's important to remember that if you start feeling
uncomfortable with what is going on at any point in the investigation,
you have the absolute right to call it off. The investigators are
guests in your home. They should be given the respect that such a title
signifies, but they must respect your feelings and fears as well.
Proper Ghost Removal
If it turns out there are natural
explanations for your haunting, ask the investigators to explain them
in detail—and don't be offended. You've asked them to give you an
honest opinion, so you have to be prepared to accept it—whatever it is.
If natural explanations cannot be found, and it's determined that there
is indeed a presence in your house, the investigators will likely
suggest you get in touch with a family minister so he or she can come
to the house and to pray for the soul of the spirit that is present.
This is not an "exorcism," but simply an attempt to get the ghost to
leave in peace.
If a willing minister is not available, the ghost hunter
should be able to suggest another person capable of getting rid of
ghosts—either a professional medium, psychic, or someone who is
sensitive to spirits. This person should be someone the ghost hunter
has worked with before, or who was referred through a legitimate
source.
If the medium detects that a spirit is present, he will try to
convince it to move on. How effective is this? It's hard to say.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. I often get calls from
people asking for this service, but in my years in the paranormal
field, I have found very few people trustworthy enough for this
assignment. They are out there though, and your investigator should do
all they can to get you in touch with them.
Let me assure you, though, that ghosts are not present to hurt
anyone and in almost every case, a family can peacefully coincide with
a spirit. Obviously though, not everyone wants that and some even
insist that the ghost itself would be better off passing on to wherever
we go at the time of death. In this case, the ghost hunter should be
proactive in helping you with your wishes.
This Old House Ghost-Busting Solutions
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Article compliments of: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1551218-3,00.html
