Melissa Martin Ellis - 101 Ways to Find a Ghost: Essential Tools, Tips, and Techniques to Uncover Paranormal Activity

101
Ways
to Final A
GHOST

Essential Tools, Tips, and Techniques
to Uncover Paranormal Activity

MELISSA MARTIN ELLIS

Copyright 2011 by F+W Media, Inc.

All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any
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Contains material adapted and abridged from The Everything Ghost HuntingBook by Melissa Martin Ellis, copyright 2009 by F+W Media, Inc.,
ISBN 10:1-59869-920-2, ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-920-3.

ISBN 10: 1-4405-1224-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-1224-7
eISBN 10: 1-4405-1256-6
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-1256-8
Printed in the United States of America.

10987654321

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Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, ghost hunting can be a totally fascinating experience that blends aspects of spiritualism, adventure, and science. If you are interested in the world of spirits and have asked the age-old question, Does the soul continue after death? you may have what it takes to be a ghost hunter and you are in good company.

A ghost hunter, also known as a paranormal investigator, seeks to collect data concerning paranormal activity in places reported to be haunted. The general goal is to investigate, research, and document evidence of paranormal activity.

If being a ghost hunter interests you (either professionally or as a hobby), youve come to the right place! This book will help you get started.

To become a paranormal investigator or ghost hunter, you must have some great qualities: objectivity, patience, courage, strength of character, and total honesty. However, both believers and nonbelievers must also have the ability to suspend their judgment long enough to gauge all of the facts objectively. Be sure youre emotionally ready to obtain tangible knowledge about the other side should you find evidence to support it. The reverse is also true. Todays ghost hunters know that investigation of paranormal phenomena should be approached seriously, with respect and caution. This is not a parlor game or fun party activity.

The best investigators in the psychic world are those who have actively cultivated patience and reliability. The individual who is calm, mature, and patient brings stability and credibility to the investigation. These qualities are vital when dealing with a panicky client in a state of high anxiety. You should cultivate patience and reliability not only for your own good, but also for the sake of your colleagues and clients. By its very nature, the paranormal field is full of chaotic activity and confusion. You, as the person brought into the situation to resolve the scary issues and answer the difficult questions, must be an absolute rock of stability and confidence. Remember that people who come to you for help may be scared or angry, and they may unconsciously direct their emotions at you; dont take their aggression personally. You might also want to look into methods of physical and mental relaxation and focus, such as yoga or meditative techniques such as concentrative meditation, mindfulness meditation, or breathing meditation. All these can help you learn to manage your emotional state, which can help you in dealing with clients as well as working in stressful situations on-site while investigating.

Keep a skeptical but open mind as you explore the supernatural realm. As scientist Rupert Sheldrake says, Healthy skepticism plays an important part in science, and stimulates research and critical thinking. Healthy skeptics are open-minded and interested in evidence. By contrast, dogmatic skeptics are committed to the belief that paranormal phenomena are impossible, or at least so improbable as to merit no serious attention. Hence any evidence for such phenomena must be illusory.

Your credibility as a paranormal investigator relies on maintaining your objectivity. Critics and skeptics believe that most ghost hunters are unreliable. Ghost hunters are often labeled fantasy-prone personalitiespeople who like to make things up.

Although the skeptics analysis of the facts about ghost hunters may seem a bit skewed, it does underscore the importance of paranormal investigators being totally professional and reliable in the course of their work.

Your standard operating procedure should include keeping scrupulous records and honoring client commitments and confidentiality while looking for normal everyday explanations of phenomena.

What are the must-have pieces of equipment for ghost hunting?

• A flashlight and extra batteries. It is not unusual for a flashlight to go out during an investigation. Some believe paranormal entities cause such devices to stop working. The theory posits that entities try to manifest by drawing energy from their immediate environment and will often drain even brand-new batteries within minutes.
• A first-aid kit. As youre walking around in old buildings in pitch darkness, be prepared to deal with a few scratches, bumps, and scrapes.
• A notebook and pencil or pen. Old-fashioned writing devices are vital for keeping track of observations and sequences of events.
• A watch. Invest in an old-fashioned wind-up watch that doesnt run on batteries. If possible, get one with a second hand.
• A tape recorder. It can be either analog or digital, but it must have an external microphone that can be placed away from the recorder to minimize static and noise.
• A camera. It can be a digital or film camera, but it should have a flash so that you have the option to use it or not. Bring extra camera batteries. (For detailed information on photographic equipment, accessories, and uses, see Chapter 76.)
• An electromagnetic frequency (EMF) meter. This new ghost-hunting tool measures the electromagnetic field in the area. (For detailed information on EMF meters, their use, and where to obtain one, see Chapter 80.)