Ghosts are more likely to be found in older buildings. Older buildings tend to have a “history”.

Why do ghosts exist? It could be a lingering spirit that did not want to move on, or in many cases a tragic or violent event somehow triggered and event where the spirit is stuck. No one really knows for sure.

Ghosts come in many forms spirits, entities, plasmas, poltergeists, malevolent entities, shadow people, orbs, and mist just to name a few and are sometimes captures on film or digital cameras. Many hauntings are residual in nature as if a recorder is playing over and over and there is no interaction between the observer or the ghost. If there is interactions you know have an intelligent haunting.

In some cases during ghost hunting an EVP is captured or recorded onto a cassette tape or digital recorder. An EVP is Electronic Voice Phenomenon. These are considered to be voices from the other side and sometimes appear to be interacting or residual.

How do you know that a place may be haunted? There are many signs. Here are just a few tips that a haunting may be in progress.

• Doors slamming or chairs or furniture moving.
• Objects move or disappear to show up somewhere or personal items are very common.
• Phantom odors or sweet or putrid odors with no obvious or natural cause.
• Objects moving out of the corner of your eye or dark shadows, mists or orbs.
• Feeling of being watched or followed.
• Unexplained cold spots where there are no drafts.
• Pets acting strange such as your dog watching an activity in a room or barking into the dark.
• Whispering or your name called out and your dog notices when no one else is around.
• Footsteps or knocking especially at specific or random times.
• Feeling of being touched or pushed.
• Devices or lights randomly come on or turn off with no explanation.
• Batteries drain quickly on camcorders or voice recorders. Spirits sometimes need energy to manifest.

Many other strange events could occur but that is a list of the more common ones that ghost hunters will be investigating.

So if you interested in getting involved in ghost hunting or paranormal investigations and would like to find out more please click on: Ghost Hunting Guide DIY Ghost Hunters And HauntingsSimilar Posts:

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Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you might be interested in ghost hunting. A ghost hunt involves investigation of an area for paranormal activity. This can be done through looking for ghost sightings as well as through using paranormal investigation equipment to detect something inexplicable.

Not only do ghost hunts look for ghosts but in some cases they study the historical information that surrounds an area. Going on a guided ghost hunting tour could feed a history buff’s appetite for information about an area. Very often the areas with the highest numbers of ghost sightings or paranormal activity reports are areas with a rich history of tragedy or death so areas that are sights of murders or catastrophes are often targeted by ghost hunting aficionados.

Some ghost hunters believe that just about every building with a history has the potential to be haunted if you do something to rouse the spirits that lurk within it. Some believe that some may be dormant and some may be more active. Believe it or not, this is becoming a rather popular industry. There are now television shows dedicated to paranormal investigations as well as tour companies that arrange for guided tours with paranormal investigation equipment and even filming.

Whether you are a believer of the paranormal or are a skeptic, you might be interested in taking part in a ghost hunt in a particular area. Not all hunt participants will report something being seen or experienced but part of the fun is in the exploration.

If you want to know if ghost hunting is something you might explore, check out footage online of past ghost hunts. Many people will post videos and articles about their experiences. You can also find professionally guided ghost hunts and companies that do this often have websites that are dedicated to education and promotion of upcoming events.

Whether you are a believer or a skeptic or willing to keep an open mind for entertainment’s sake, it’s a good idea to do some research about an area before embarking on a paranormal investigation as well as to arrange to go with a group of friends rather than on your own.

Compass Paranormal are group specialists in the area of UK paranormal events and ghost hunts. Check out their site for information about upcoming events and tips for getting the most out of ghost hunting.Similar Posts:

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Many years ago in University as part of an anthropology course I attended a “ghost” tour of our downtown area. There were many old buildings that had associated ghost stories that I had never heard of and I have lived here my whole life. If there are lots of ghost stories in my small town you can bet there are a few ghost hunting groups and books written about those ghosts.

If you want to start ghost hunting look to join a local group. You can find them via the Internet, a local College or University or even at your local Library. I bet you will be surprised how many there are. Research them each out carefully and even attend a couple meetings to find which one is right for you.

Do some research on local ghosts and legends. You will need to familiarize yourself with the stories and legends of ghosts in your area. If you live in a small community the internet may not be the best for you but a trip to your local library or university library should have exactly what you are looking for.

Use the internet and read up on ghosts, spirits and the paranormal. You have to learn the techniques ghost hunters use, learn the language they use and learn how to investigate ghost stories.

You will need some basic equipment to get started but it’s nothing that most of us already have in our possession. Take along a flashlight, digital camera, laptop computer and a tape recorder or recording device. Your laptop can do the latter for you. Also bring along a witness so they can back your story up if and when you do have an experience.

Have fun and don’t get discouraged. Not every fisherman catches a fish every time the go out.

Find out more about Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal at Alien Encounter, a forum and community dedicated to UFO Reports, Ghosts and the Paranormal.Similar Posts:

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• Ghost Hunting 101

Seriously though, the subject of having some sort of certificate has come up in some paranormal circles and well it should, but what would that mean and really, how could you set standards and implement it? After a lifetime of interest and a few years of conducting investigations, I have come to the conclusion that there can be no real standards for what we do, unless they are ethical standards.

A skeptic, a medium and a psychic walk into a supposedly haunted house. The psychic says, “This place has a lot of energy.” The medium says, “I can hear the voices from the past.” The skeptic keys his walkie talkie and says, “Turn off the microwave antennae and the radio and lets get down to business.”

I mean seriously, there are probably as many approaches to doing investigations as there are teams doing them. We met with a local writer, well known chap with a newspaper column and all that, and we got along famously. He nodded as we explained our equipment and our code of conduct and praised our professionalism. “But”, he said, “at the end of the day, you really just need to put all that stuff away and trust your gut feelings.” That doesn’t get you any displayable proof.

We’ve all had the investigations where various members of the group say things like the hair on their neck stood up in a certain area, or they felt a coldness pass over them, but unless the measurements are captured somehow what do you have? Some teams are satisfied with reporting their personal experiences at a property and some home and business owners are content with that, but others want ‘proof.’

Pa Paranormal tries to take both routes with their investigations. We use most of the latest scientific gadgetry and handheld cameras to try to capture evidence, and we also go with our gut feelings, but in the end, it’s just our methodology, not a paranormal manifesto. We have a checklist that we take new team members through, so they get some training before they are on investigations, and we never send inexperienced people out on their own. When it all gets down to it, I think that’s all we can do. A certificate or a license might be great, as a concept, but in reality it is reputation that stands the real test of time.

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A ghost is believed to be the spirit or soul of a person who has remained on Earth after death. When a ghost has taken up residence in a location, it is referred to as a haunting. There are two different ways in which a ghost inhabits a location. The most common type of haunting is a residual haunting. A residual haunting is typified by ghostly energy that is static or goes through a number of movements over and over again. It can be likened to watching a movie clip that repeats itself or a record album that has a skip in it, causing the needle to jump back to an earlier point on the album and begin again.

The second classification of haunting is the classic haunting. In a classic haunting the ghost displays intelligence and interacts with the people in the environment. It is not uncommon during a classic haunting for items to be moved around, for lights or electrical appliances to turn on and off, to hear voices our sounds out of nowhere or to be touched, tickled, stroked or even shoved. These ghosts often reflect the personality of an individual, even after their death. With this type of haunting, the aroma of flowers, perfume, cigarette smoke or other scents that are associated with the individual are often detected.

So whether you think you are being haunted by a ghost and want to have a group of trained professionals to come to your home or are interested in investigating all that goes bump in the night, but don’t know where to begin, here’s some information that can help you get started.

It is held that ghosts are electro-magnetic in origin and they create these fields when trying to manifest into this dimension. The energy that is given off by a ghost causes disruptions in the locations magnetic field, thus making it detectable by specialized equipment and psychics alike.

Because the presence of a ghost can be detected by specific types of equipment, a ghost hunter can become well equipped with a number of affordable pieces of equipment, many of which you may already own. From basic to advanced, there are many different types of equipment you can use to detect an otherworldly presence. For someone thinking about participating in an investigation, this doesn’t mean you have to own every piece of equipment in order to perform a reliable investigation. It does mean that you should at least possess a basic set of tools to use.

Basic Equipment

35mm or Digital Camera – For a beginner, having a camera is probably the easiest and least expensive way to begin. Pictures, whether digital or recorded on film can capture paranormal activity, activity that is often invisible to the naked eye. This is especially true in the case of documenting the presence of orbs and ectoplasm.

Notebook & Pen or Pencil - Simple as this may be, it is always a good idea to have something to record any notes, findings or experiences you may have during an investigation.

Flashlight - Many times an investigation will take you to a dark or foreboding location such as a cemetery, old warehouse, abandoned building or other place that is dark or without electricity. In these instances you will need to have a portable light source.

Extra Batteries – Depending on the paranormal activity of a location, batteries oftentimes will mysteriously and unexpectedly lose their charge leaving you in the dark. Regardless of the type of equipment you use, make sure you bring extra batteries along to replenish depleted ones.

Intermediate Equipment

EMF Detector – The Electromagnetic Field Detector is probably one of the most important pieces of equipment to own if you are serious about doing an investigation. In addition to detecting the energy fields of ghosts, it is a key tool to use when taking baseline readings of a site. A baseline reading is a preliminary evaluation of a location, where investigators identify any existing or man made electromagnetic fields such as those created by power lines or electrical appliances.

Digital Video Camera – Video cameras can be a useful investigation tool. Unlike still cameras, a video camera will document any activity in its entirety including the length of time the phenomena occurs, the surrounding conditions, as well as the phenomena itself. A tripod to rest the video camera on is also helpful, especially if it is going to be left in a stationary position to record the activity in a specific location.

Tape Recorder with an External Microphone – There is no better way to capture EVP’s (electronic voice phenomena) than through the use of a tape recorder. Whether using a traditional tape recorder with high quality tapes or a digital recorder, an external microphone should always be used. A detached mic will eliminate the sounds of internal gears and turning wheels that can contaminate your recording.

Advanced Equipment

Motion Detectors – Motion detectors can be used to sense the movement of unseen forces. Many need to be plugged in to an outlet, but battery operated ones are also available. Before you go out and buy one, decide which type will best support you investigatory needs.

Thermal Scanner – A thermal scanner or non-contact thermometer can be used to detect rapid temperature changes. A change of ten degrees or more from the ambient temperature (the temperature of the surrounding area) can indicate an ethereal presence.

Psychics – As An Investigative Tool

In addition to tools such as cameras, meters and gauges that are used by ghost hunters, many groups also utilize the services of trained psychics as a means of gathering information about a site. This is the role I play when working with ghost hunting groups.

Finding a true psychic to work with can be a real asset to the quality of your investigation. They can play an invaluable role in supporting the efforts of any paranormal investigation. Like a good piece of equipment, a psychic can help to detect anomalies as well as provide additional insights into the nature of activity encountered.

If your group decides to include the use of a psychic as part of the investigation team, there are a few items that should be considered. To maximize the objectivity of the investigation, it is critical that the psychic go into a location “cold”. This means that they do not know the details of the location or of any activity that may have been encountered by other members or the property owner. Telling the psychic the history of a property can cause the individual to become “contaminated”, which can make it difficult for them to differentiate what they perceive from what they have been told.

Conducting An Investigation

With at least a basic kit of equipment in hand, you are now ready to explore the world of paranormal phenomena. Before you begin, there are a few ground rules to consider. First, never go on an investigation alone, in addition to personal safety, you never know what may happen. Next, consider the fact that ghost hunting groups are often judged by their behavior and professionalism – so always try to be respectful of the people, places and situations you may encounter.

To do an investigation, the first step is to select a location. Locations can include cemeteries, old buildings, historic sites, private homes and businesses. Always get permission to be on a site. This will keep you from getting in trouble for trespassing. Before you begin a formal investigation it is a good idea to do some research on the site. Talk to the owner, check out old newspapers, or contact the local historic society to see if anything happened there in the past. It is also a good idea to evaluate the terrain for potential hazards or/or to identify places where you can setup stationary video cameras, motion detectors or tape recorders.

Most investigations occur after dark, between the hours of 9pm and 6am. These hours are considered the “psychic hours” and are believed to be the best time to record paranormal activity.

When you get to the selected location, walk around to get a feel for it. Next, set up any stationary equipment and take baseline readings of the site. Then let the investigation begin. Take pictures, shoot video, record for EVP and take meter readings. Take them everywhere and anywhere, especially if you feel something or get a reading on another piece of equipment. When you are done walking around a site, turn your stationary equipment on and let it run while you and your group are out of the area.

When you have finished collecting your data, it is time for analysis. Here each picture, video and tape is reviewed for evidence of a haunting. This is probably the most important part of any investigation. As you review your materials, be skeptical. Look for earthly causes of any phenomena. Was someone smoking in the area? Was the room or location dusty? Where there reflective surfaces that could be the cause of the anomaly in your image? It is important to make sure your evidence will stand up to scrutiny by eliminating any other explanations. This will give your data more credibility.

As you pore over your data, what you will find is that not every location you go to will have ghostly activity. You may discover that many of the things you initially detected during your investigation actually have real world explanations as opposed to supernatural ones. What keeps many ghost hunters going is that one-in-five chance that this investigation will be the “real” thing.

When your analysis is done, presenting your finding to the home or property owner or sharing your results with others is often done. Many groups also post the results of their investigations on their group’s website, thus share the outcome of their investigation with the rest of the world.

If you are interested in ghost hunting or think your have a ghost hanging around in your local, there is a plethora of information available on the worldwide web. Here you can find articles about ghost hunting in general, stories of other people’s ghostly encounters, places that sell ghost hunting equipment and even sites hosted by ghost hunting groups in your geographic area.

So if you think you are hearing bumps in the night, don’t be afraid – it just might be a ghost!

© Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer (www.soulhealer.com) 2006. All rights reserved.

Dr. Rita Louise, Ph D is a Naturopathic Physician and the founder of the Institute Of Applied Energetics. It is her unique gift as a medical intuitive that enlivens her work. Let Dr. Rita assist you bringing health, healing and wholeness back into your life. Visit http://www.soulhealer.com or http://www.appliedenergeticsinstitute.com for more information.Similar Posts:

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First, you must make sure that you have all of the equipment you need to conduct a formal investigation. Some of these things include: an EVP recorder, a night vision camcorder, a Temperature Gauge preferably one that has a laser, digital still camera, and walkie talkies just in case you get split up with your group.

Once you have your equipment, you need to conduct research for your first formal investigation. Once you have done this step, it is time to visit the location DURING THE DAY so you can get a feel of the place while things might be calm, and actually do an inspection of the location. If you just start investigating without doing a formal inspection, especially in an abandoned building, you might be seriously injured.

The next step would be to try to find some people who have had experiences at the location. If more than a couple of people have seen, heard, or felt something in the location, chances are you have got yourself a haunted place. Make sure to get all the reports on tape so that while you are looking back at your footage, you may go back to check if anything adds up to what the people you interviewed were saying.

Finally, you will be ready to investigate the location. You always need to have a base set up at every location. Even if you are investigating outdoors, you need to have a place set up in case you get separated from your group at any given time during the investigation. Sometimes, even in open outdoor locations, it may be very hard to find where you are going in the dark. So this is very important.

The most reported evidence caught would be EVP’s. This is because it does not take a ghost as much energy to speak as it does to manifest itself, appearing as an apparition. When you are asking the ghosts questions for the EVP’s, always make sure to leave a 15 to 30 second pause in between your questions. Simply because it does take a lot of energy for ghosts to even try to speak.

When you are taking photos with your digital still camera, you need to know what to look for in orbs. Bugs, dust, snow, rain, and other nature things can very easily be mistaken for orbs. The way to know if it is a real orb is to check the color, shape, and if it has more than one circle to it. If this is the case, you have caught yourself an actual orb!

I hope this guide has helped you a little bit. Now go out, and be safe!

http://www.explainingtheunexplained.comSimilar Posts:

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Also there is entirely too much talking during TV investigations. I guess it makes it more exciting but it is getting old. If you are going to pick up good EVPs you need to shut up. When asking questions to an entity, there should be only one person in the room, not two. This avoids the confusion for the ghost who is trying to figure out if you are talking to them or the other three people you brought along with you.

I saw another television paranormal program where they were asking questions to the ghost of a 6-year-old child who died in the 1850s. Here is one of their questions: “If you are here can you please speak into this EVP device and indicate that you are present at this location.” That is not how a child talks. First of all there were no EVP devices around in the 1850s. Second, children do not use words and phrases like “indicate” or “present at this location.” If you want to speak with a child ghost you need to kneel down on the floor and speak to them as a child speaks. In the previous example, what should have been done is this:

The correct way to obtain EVPs from a child female ghost is this: Place an EVP recorder inside a doll with the microphone well hidden but located in the head someplace. Then you can tell the child spirit “This doll’s name is Amy, and she wants you to talk to her. She is very lonely. Would you like to talk to Amy?” Then leave the doll in the room and quietly exist the home. If there is a ghost of a little girl in that house then you are going to get some EVPs as the child ghost talks to the doll.

We have watched all of the programs on T.V. covering ghost hunters and paranormal investigations. They all have one thing in common; they do not know what they are doing. For example, one show had two investigators setting up a Tesla Coil. When the coil was activated, their EMF detectors went crazy and they associated it with “spirits”. What they fail to understand is that Tesla coils basically render any kind of electronic instrumentation meaningless. In other words, the meters go haywire.

Other programs show ghost hunters running around with AC EMF meters. These measure one thing, man-made electricity and I’m pretty sure ghosts are not using AC. What these hunters should be using is DC EMF meters.

The amount of time spent on a site is also critical. Most T.V. programs spend just several hours at a location but no more than one night. To obtain useable information you need to spend at least several days on site. Otherwise you are just wasting your time. The public is eventually going to get tired of Orbs and EVPs that only the Ghost Hunters can hear. It is time for Ghost Hunting to evolve to the next level and that is going to happen when people who have been trained in physics or electricity or engineering get involved. TAPS is a group of plumbers. As a result they will never advance beyond analyzing dust particles and squeaky doors. If you are a ghost hunter who has no technical background, go enroll in a basic physics class and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Physicists hate dealing with the paranormal, so ask your questions in pieces. Don’t come out and ask “Do Ghosts Exist?” Rather ask questions like, “what are neutrinos”, or “what is the difference between AC and DC electromagnetic waves? Look at ghost hunting as a physics problem and you will have much greater success.

Biography Eric Martin

Eric Martin is the founder of the Ghost Engineers ( www.GhostEngineers.com ). Eric and his team use engineering and science to get to the truth behind paranormal activity. After Eric’s first experiment in a haunted cemetery using high-powered DC batteries, Eric has been a believer. Using these large power sources a mysterious blue mist formed and hovered above the battery. The mist then moved and hovered above the 2nd battery placed 20 feet away. Ever since that, Eric has been dedicated to using science to find out what Ghosts are made of and how we might build a device to actually see and talk to them.

Eric is currently designing a system to keep the nation’s trains from colliding into each other. The system uses GPS satellites to track the train’s locations. If two trains get too close, a computer instructs the trains to slow down and apply the brakes. Many lives will be saved from this system. He also built and installed the largest rail traffic control system in the United States for the BNSF railroad located in Fort Worth, Texas.

Eric has a B.S. Degree in Applied Mathematics and a B.S. Degree in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently working in Los Angeles, the site of the most recent train collision in which 25 people died on a Metrolink commuter train when it collided with a train from the Union Pacific railroad. You can reach Eric at emartin19@earthlink.netSimilar Posts:

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