As odd as it may sound, I found out about amateur ghost chasers while I was teaching a GED class. One of my students was chatting during a break and told me that on weekends she and her ‘ghost busters’ club would go out and visit local places that were supposed to be haunted. They had a variety of ways to substantiate hauntings and they did tons of research to pick the locations. All I could think was, huh? Really? I mean I’ve always been interested in the paranormal but not in the I want to hunt down ghosties. I mean really, don’t most people avoid ghosts or get rid of them if at all possible?
I know there are professional ghost hunters but that doesn’t mean I think it is a good hobby. I was actually a bit surprised by my reaction because, as I said, I’ve been interested in the paranormal for a long time. Let’s put it this way…I’d read everything in my school library about ghosts and witches etc. by the time I was in third grade. It’s kind of my thing, but to go out and look for ghosts on purpose? That is sooo not for me. What about you? Do you chase ghosts for fun? If so, how did you get started and what has been your most interesting experience?
Photo Credit: Avlxyz
July 1st, 2009 by birdievogel | Posted in Ghosts | Comments (0)
Continued from Ghost Hunting Etiquette: Part One …
Many questions must be asked of the witnesses to determine if the strange activity or experiences are truly those of a ghost. Residual energy haunting can be determined simply by asking the homeowner, tenant or witnesses if the paranormal experience consisted only of feelings and emotional sensations. Residual energy does not manifest physical consciousness, malevolence or aggression.
Physical evaluation and study of the home or area must be conducted to rule out any logical or reasonable reasons for any odd activity. High concentrations of magnetic fluctuations due to ley lines or man-made technology can create false readings on instruments, as well as alter human perception.
In the event of a real haunting, a determination must be made whether actual physical or communicative contact has been made. True ghosts will try to the best of their abilities to make contact of some kind, whether it be by moving items around the area or attempting to address the living while they are in a partially awakened or sleep state.
Apparitions, orbs and audible sounds are all common forms of a ghostly presence trying to make themselves known. Often, they will become frustrated or provoked into more assertive attempts to make their points obvious. By poking, pushing or scratching, they prove they do not wish to be ignored.
It would be wise to obtain information pertaining to the history of the home and its former residents as to better understand what type of activities, negative or positive, may have gone on in the home. Better yet, an honorable and experienced empathic psychic medium can be a very valuable asset to the ghost hunting team. These individuals are specifically tuned into paranormal anomalies and would be able to distinguish what the spirit wants and needs more effectively.
Once the ghost hunter has determined whether or not it is in fact a true haunting, the next step is to attempt to make contact. Almost all ghosts have a message to get across. The messages are often relatively clear. The most common of messages are either “hello,” “help” or “get out,” all of which the ghost hunter or home owner needs to acknowledge and value. If not, the entity will simply continue voicing its displeasure with your presence.
One way to attempt to make contact with the wayward soul is to simply speak to it aloud and then allow them to respond. Since we humans cannot usually hear their response, a tape recorder is the a good way to capture electric voice phenomena or EVP. Due to the high density of our dimension, the living are often unable to audibly distinguish voices or sounds created in another dimension that is less dense. An ordinary cassette recorder is somehow able to let a spirit’s voice manifest. This auditory strategy may support the living and the dead in conversation.
Etiquette is of the most utmost importance when physically and verbally approaching a deceased human being. No matter who officially pays the mortgage and holds the land title, the spirit believes that this is his territory. A ghost hunter, and home owner, must be respectful toward the ghost and their predicament or the investigator is bound to get an adverse reaction or none at all. It’s important to be polite and verbally state your purpose immediately upon approaching the location. Asking the deceased individual’s permission to enter the premises or to take photographs is a great way to show them they are being respected.
One has to anticipate what the ghost may be feeling. They are obviously confused, scared, lonely or defensive. An example of how best to learn to appreciate and anticipate the spirits feelings and reactions is to treat it like a frightened animal. If you approach a confused and terrified cat aggressively and abruptly, what can you expect? Well, obviously the petrified feline will either run away or attempt to hurt you in defense. It’s their natural and instinctive reaction to your assumed invasive presence. An animal has no way of knowing your innocent intentions because they are incapable of understanding or reading your mind.
A ghost isn’t much different; the lines of communication are crossed as it is and they don’t have the full understanding of where they are or what’s happened to them. They’re simply reacting with instinct when wondering why this person with strange instruments is intruding in their home! In saying that, we mustn’t underestimate their intelligence either; we must simply try to understand and gently coax them into submission. Your advance and attitude toward them is the most important aspect of the experience.
Fear is also a factor; if your disposition is that of terror, panic or hysterical behavior, they may feed off of that energy. They can themselves become afraid and unresponsive to your requests. In their realm, they have very little control of their existence. They wander aimlessly and confused through a foggy existence, wondering what to do next.
A human soul can sometimes be tormented by memories of a terrible past. They may be reliving a painful and traumatic event over and over. So when someone comes into their fragile world, poking and prodding, they may lash out to protect themselves. Or worse yet, they may be the type that feels empowered by the fact that they can manipulate or control a living person again. This is usually when a haunting can become dangerous and terribly frightening.
One of the most important things to remember is that this spirit literally used to be a flesh and blood human being. A being’s personality, as well as your own, will continue into the next realm even though your tangible body does not. These entities, when alive, had families, jobs, memories and emotions. They had loved ones and were loved by others.
Quite distressingly, some of these souls are bound to this limbo for a potentially horrible and tragic reason. Try to have empathy, consideration and compassion for the state that they are in. A good point to remember when beginning your ghost hunting adventure: You’ll catch more flies with honey. So enter their home with respect, gratitude and a polite disposition,and you may end up with a very cooperative spirit, hence some very good photographs.
Danielle Lee
http://thespiritguide.wordpress.com/
(photo credit: grendlx)
April 11th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Ghosts | Comments (0)
The image and perception of a ghost has taken on so many attributes and illusions over the centuries that it is difficult to distinguish the difference as to what is and what isn’t a true haunting. For some,a ghostly image may be that of a glowing translucent figure that ominously floats from one room of a house to the next, apparently searching for something or someone, unaware of their own demise. For others, poltergeists are demonic or evil entities that spend their eternal days and nights thinking of ways to torture, frighten and manipulate the innocent human beings that happened upon unfortunate territories. The notion is foolish to skeptics who think that a phantom could be nothing more than a person covered with a white sheet, moaning and rattling some chains to disturb the naive and imaginative.
There are many misconceptions about ghosts and the afterlife. Many perceived ghostly activities can be explained quite readily by logic or reason. Residual energy is a definite contending culprit when deciding whether or not there is a spirit prevailing in the area. There are also many other explanations that need to be explored before determining whether a house, location or person, for that matter, are haunted.
Ghost hunters are brave, intellectual and pioneering paranormal scientists and explorers; they courageously enter the domain of a suspected paranormal haunting. They explore locations armed with various technical and instrumental elements, such as cameras, thermometers, EMF detectors, voice recorders and more. Although these well-intentioned individuals are honorably seeking the perplexing truths to the existence of the afterlife, some are lacking knowledge and etiquette in a few essential and spiritual areas.
The first and most important step of ghost hunting is diagnosis. Is it or isn’t it a real ghost? What constitutes a real ghost versus imagination or environmental disturbance?
To be Continued …
Danielle Lee
http://thespiritguide.wordpress.com/
(photo credit: grendlx)
April 10th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Ghosts | Comments (0)
Pitter patter of tiny feet running down the hall past the stroke of midnight, the faint giggles or crying in the night. Only you don’t have any children.
The subject of a ghost child strikes sadness and woe in the hearts and souls of all. Picturing anyone passing away is difficult enough, but the untimely death of a child is so much more than some can bear.
When dealing with these unique spirits, special considerations and behaviors are a must. A ghost hunter must take into consideration that this child entity may have no comprehension of what has happened to them. Passing on with a youthful spirituality may leave the child ghost with a misunderstanding of the other side.
As with every being, we are given free will and choice in all that we do, including whether or not we decide to go directly home in the afterlife, or stick around for a while. Children, being blissfully naive and full of light and love, may enjoy the initial sensations of being free and weightless so very much, that they choose to stay right where they are. Also, they are impressed upon from a very early age that they are to go nowhere without their parents permission. With these considerations in mind, it can actually be quite difficult to convince a child to listen to you and go where they belong.
This type of spirit can be particularly difficult to locate, let alone to get them to stay in one place long enough for you to communicate with or get any type of evidence. Children, even ghost children, are naturally tenacious, which can be both good and bad.
Often sprightly and mischievous, they usually find a favorite person living in the household and cling to them. Sometimes they choose another child to be their friend, resulting in the phenomena known as the imaginary friend.
Occasionally they pick a favorite parent, one, like their own parent that they may have been closer to in life.
These situations, though seemingly innocent and harmless, can turn upsetting rather quickly. Ghost children can become very upset if routine is disrupted. If their favorite living person is gone for a day or two, they may become pouty and destructive. When their demands arent met to their standards, they can behave quite immaturely. Hiding items, damaging things and making noise is not uncommon.
One of my clients reported a child ghost often climbing into bed with him late at night and snuggling as a child with their father. When he would turn over to look, of course, there was no one there. This particular ghost was so attached to her father figure, she was would get jealous and upset if anyone else were to spend time with him.
Though rarely violent, it can be a challenge to get these determined and free spirited beings to head towards the light. Speak to them with the tones you would use with a living child. Kind and patient, yet firm and authoritative. They must be told point blank that their parents or loved ones are waiting for them elsewhere. If their parents are still alive, then the communicator must convince the child of the glorious lands awaiting them.
Danielle Lee
http://thespiritguide.wordpress.com/
(photo credit: phoenixation)
April 7th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Ghosts | Comments (0)
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