The word paranormal comes
from the words "para" meaning beyond, and
normal. So the term paranormal really means
something that is beyond the normal scope of
science or being beyond a scientific
explanation.
According to the Journal of
Parapsychology, the term paranormal describes
"any phenomenon that
in one or more respects
exceeds the limits of what is deemed physically
possible according to current scientific
assumptions."
Ghosts generate strong
electro-magnetic fields. These fields cause
disruptions in the magnetic field of a location
which makes it detectable by both specialized
equipment and psychics. Ghost hunters use many
different types of equipment to detect an
paranormal phenomena.
A 35mm or digital
camera is probably the easiest and least
expensive way to begin. Pictures, whether
digital or recorded on film have the ability to
capture paranormal activity that is usually
invisible to the naked eye.
In addition to a
camera, it's important to have a flashlight
since most paranormal investigations will be in
dark places like cemeteries, basements, attics,
or old buildings. Also, most investigations
occur between 9pm and 6am when it's dark.
This is believed to be
the best time to record paranormal activity.
Along with the flashlight you'll need extra
batteries, since batteries will sometimes
mysteriously lost all their charge during
paranormal investigations, literally leaving you
in the dark.
Once you have these
basic items, you're ready to start exploring the
world of paranormal investigation. Some
important things to remember are: never go on an
investigation alone, and be respectful of the of
the people, places and situations you encounter.
The first step in an
investigation is selecting the place you're
going to investigate. Once you choose a
location, be sure to get permission to access
the property to ensure you won't get into any
trouble for trespassing. It's also very
important to do some research on the location
before you go out and physically investigate it.
You can go to the
library and look up old newspapers, visit the
local historical society to find out about the
history of the place and if anything strange has
happened there, and of course talk with the
owner of the property.
Once you get all your
data collected you have to analyze it. Every
picture, video, audio recording is reviewed to
look for any sign of a haunting. When doing your
analysis, be sure to be skeptical. Make sure you
rule out any explainable causes for anything odd
that may show up.
Check for mirrors,
shadows, light sources or anything else that may
cause something weird to be seen or heard in
your collected data. Most of the time, the
things you initially detected during your
investigation will have real world explanations
as opposed to supernatural ones.
It's important to make
sure your evidence will stand up to any scrutiny
by eliminating any other explanations. This will
give your data more credibility.
Once you complete your
analysis, you need to present your findings
property owner. At this point you would
recommend whether the owner needs to seek
additional help, such a having the property
blessed or if there is really nothing that needs
to be or even can be done. Sometimes just having
someone investigate the place and find nothing
can help ease the mind of the person
experiencing the haunting.
