The allure of the paranormal is a common thread that runs through many of our lives. If
you are reading this blog, there is a good chance you have some curiosity for what goes bump in the night. From the magic of the Ghostbusters franchise, to modern reality ghost
hunting television, many folks find themselves hooked on the prospect of communicating with the afterlife. Nowadays, it is easier than ever before to dip a toe into the mysterious waters of paranormal research unlike ever before.
Personally, I never thought I would end up doing what I do. I never saw myself
investigating firsthand. It seemed like a dream that I would always seem to live vicariously
through Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, Katrina Weidman, and other celebrity ghost hunters by
watching their programs. One day, a friend of mine reached out with an invitation to join a local paranormal team at a museum for a paranormal investigation event. I seriously could not have been more pumped and excited for this prospect! When the night came, I was geeking over the spread of equipment. Mel meters, REM Pods, SLS cameras, digital recorders, spirit boxes, etc. I knew everything on that table from all my favorite shows. It was like a literal dream come true. Before we got to ghost hunting, one of the team members gave a very important lecture on the equipment and how to use it. He
explained how you could get started without breaking the bank. You better believe that he had my full attention! The rest is history, as I went on to embark on my own path to the paranormal. I think what made this event so profound for me was not the night itself, not the fancy equipment, but rather the information I needed to make the step towards something I truly dreamed about. I did not need to spend a million dollars; I did not need much at all. I found this empowering.
Getting started with ghost hunting can be intimidating to say the least. Finding where to
start, what to buy, how to use, and what works best for you, can feel daunting. Research is
important for everyone in this case as every person has unique talents when it comes to
investigating. Some folks might shine with the digital recorder, and others always catch the
clear responses on the spirit box. But are any of these tools necessary to get started? My
answer is “absolutely not”. Don’t get me wrong, equipment is important, but not necessary, to get started. Before making any major investment, I have some budget friendly suggestions for anyone looking to get started with the paranormal. Starting this way can get you in the mode of thinking critically, conducting experimentation, and offering you a way to get some experience under your belt before any long-term investment.
The first thing to do on any investigation is to charge up your cell phone and switch it to
airplane mode. This mode will allow less electromagnetic field interference and prevent any
notifications from distracting you on your investigation. Keep the camera rolling! Whether it be still photography or video, I advise you to capture as much as you can. When taking still photos, try and take a series of three at a time. This way if you see an anomaly manifesting in one photo and it disappears in another, you may have a great collection of evidence to analyze. Pinch and zoom in every shot. This process can sometimes take extra time, but it can often yield incredible results. When it comes to video, you can capture visual anomalies and audio electronic voice phenomena or EVP. I have found some “Class A” quality EVP’s hidden in ordinary videos walking through haunted locations that was better than my digital recorder. Many current phones also have a voice memo application. This is great because it provides the user with a visual graph of spikes in volume.
Knocking is one of the oldest forms of communication with the afterlife. For this
experiment you need to be clear with your expectations. You should explain to the spirit the
rules for your communication. For example, one knock equals ‘no’, two for “yes” etc. For this I would try and keep that video or voice memo rolling. You may look back through evidence and discover soft tapping or other validating evidence.
Most folks own a flashlight, and this seemly ordinary tool can be a valuable item to have
on an investigation. For obvious reasons flashlights can help illuminate a dark space, but they can also be instrumental in communication as well. Unscrewing the cap to the point where the batteries are barely touching their connectors can create a means of communication. By pressing the cap with a small amount of pressure, the light can flicker on an off. This can now be used by spirits to answer yes and no questions. Just like with the knocking, be sure to establish how many flashes for yes or no.
Pendulums are also great tools for spirit communication. They can swing in desired
directions such as left or right to answer questions. If you do not have one, you can easily make one. If you have a chain with a charm, this can act as a makeshift pendulum. Open the chain and allow the charm to slide to the end with the larger side of the clasp. Hold the other end between your fingers. It is critical to hold your hand as steady as possible and allow the charm to swing freely with the questions.
Baby powder is a cheap material that can be used to capture evidence of apparitions.
This item will only set you back a couple of bucks if you do not have any lying around. This
works best in locations that have reports of footsteps. Sprinkle in these areas on the floor and see if you can capture evidence left by your pacing spirit. Clean up can be a bit of a drag, so keep this in mind depending on your location.
Cat ball toys are a cheap favorite among ghost hunters. The type you want are clear
plastic with the light-up center. They act as a light motion sensor on an investigation that the spirit can use to show their presence. These are helpful on any investigation but especially come in handy as trigger objects for child spirits. The cost is attractive ranging from $5 to $20 for a single or multipack. Usually, batteries cannot be replaced on these, so having a couple may come in handy.
And last, but certainly not least, is an Electromagnetic field detector or EMF detector.
EMF is emitted by most electrical outlets, phones, and powered appliances. Map these out
before you begin so as to not confuse electric sources with potential paranormal sources. If
nothing around you can account for a source of electricity and the meter spikes, you might have come into contact with a spirit. This is an essential for any investigator. You can find them as low as $10 and upwards of $100.
Ultimately the most important tool an investigator can have in their toolkit is a positive
mindset. Give yourself credit for your accomplishments whenever you can. Keep records of
your evidence so you can review what did and did not work for you during your investigations. Remember, a good investigator should never be defined by what equipment is used, but rather the evidence captured. For anyone out there who is like me and has ever dreamed to investigate the paranormal, I hope you can find this information as empowering as I did.
Comments