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 BEFORE WE START...... DO YOU REALY WANT TO PARANORMALY INVESTIGATE?? There's a big difference between the Paranormal Investigation we do as a group, and what most people see on the T.V!! - Remember T.V companies make programmes primarily for entertainment and the funds they have to hire places go well beyond what most Paranormal Groups and Individuals can realistically afford!! We'd love to spend our weekends in mansions, halls or similar, but this isn't the case! Most Investigations take place outside, in whatever weather it happens to be, and for most of the time nothing may happen at all! There's also lots of 'behind the scenes' work involved and lots of contacting places that may (if you're very lucky!) allow you to Investigate - most don't! You also need to be fairly dedicated to all aspects of the Paranormal, not just the 'ghost hunting' side - as a group we try and cater for a variety of members interests and expect everyone to get involved to some degree. If you only want to go on 'ghost hunting' events then there are LOTS of companies throughout the U.K that hold paranormal events, and joining a group probably isn't the best thing for you. However, if you are still interested, read on..... HOW TO INVESTIGATE..... PARANORMAL INVESTIGATING 1 Before you Begin There are many Paranormal Investigation Groups throughout the UK. If you lack your own equipment, or the experience, then joining an established group may be the quickest way of starting out. An established Paranormal Group may also have access to places that you, as an Individual, may not. If you are thinking of joining a group then it may be wise to join more than one, or meet a few different people to find a group you feel comfortable with. The downside of joining a pre-established group is that you will have no control over the other members you work with! – As with anything, there may be people you don’t like, or they may have a different belief to you, also trust is a big issue – these will be people you don’t know to begin with – and although most Paranormal Investigators are honest and reliable in their accounts, not all are! Interest in the Paranormal has grown enormously over the past few years, and unfortunately so have the numbers of Paranormal ‘Investigators’. You will find that ‘rouge’ investigators have caused trouble in some places, and by this association, places allowing individual Investigations are few and far between. Also this ‘growth industry’ has lead to many places charging well over the odds for allowing Investigators through the door! However, with some perseverance, and with an open mind, the average Paranormal Investigator, either personally, or as part of a group, can find Investigations in the unlikeliest of places! 2 Finding a venue As mentioned, joining an established group can often give you access to places of Investigation otherwise difficult to get in to. However, if you do not want to join a group, or would like to Investigate a place yourself, then there are a few things to remember that can help: - Ask those people you know already. – You may find that people are reluctant to talk about their own experiences in their house, place of work, etc.. have a conversation about the Paranormal and see what happens!
- Venues do not necessarily mean buildings! – Woods, lanes, streets ruins, churchyards, scenes of battle, etc, etc are often places of Paranormal interest…. read up on local history and you’ll find many places to investigate. Over the centuries, places change, or historic events are forgotten, but quite often Paranormal activities remain long after!
- Persevere! – There may be a building you would like to investigate, and it may not be easy to obtain admission immediately. The best course of action is to ask! – Get to know the owner or proprietor if possible, write a letter explaining your interest, and follow it up with a personal visit, or brief phonecall. – Do not push it! – Leave your details, and tell them that if they are ever interested, they know where to find you! Do your research beforehand, then include any relevant information you’ve found out, most people love to know the history of their own house or business, and it looks as though you have a real interest in what you are doing. –Above all, At ALL times, be polite and professional – you are asking people who do not know you to let you into their private abodes, how would you like to be approached in such circumstances? – Who would YOU let in to YOUR home??
- Always obtain the landowners permission before any investigation begins. Even a field has an owner in most cases! People may not be happy if you suddenly turn up on their land for no apparent reason..Always see if you can find the owner, and, again, follow the correct procedure in asking them.
- Start small! – Unless you join a group, it’s wise to start small and build up in terms of experience and equipment. Half hour in a place, with a camera and your own senses can qualify as an ‘Investigation’ of sorts. No doubt over time you will want to build on this, but it’s a good place to start, and needs very little in terms of time, experience or equiptment.
3 The Investigation Once you have found a venue, there are a few Important things to remember during an Investigation. - Not all investigations have to happen during the night! – While it is true that most Paranormal activity is recorded during the night, it is quite often the case that ‘evidence’ can still be found during the day.
- Keep records, where possible. – Try to record as much as possible in written or voice recorded form. Including things like times, place, people with you. Things can be easily forgotten during the course of an investigation. If you record as much as possible during the investigation then it is much easier to compare and investigate results afterwards.
- Be prepared – write out a timeline of where and how you want to investigate the place before you go. You do not want to turn up and not know where to begin, or run out of time before you’ve done everything you want to.
- Stay in areas designated to you. – Do not wander off on your own, or into places you have not been given access to.
- Check the place in daylight, if possible, for Health and Safety purposes. During an Investigation, work in pairs, not only to validate any experiences, but also to ensure personal safety – it is not advisable to undertake any form of Paranormal Investigation on your own, regardless of where or when it is.
- Trust your instincts! – If you feel uncomfortable in a place, or with another person, then stop the Investigation immediately. Get out safely, and find another member of the team to stay with – People can underestimate how physically and mentally draining Paranormal Investigating can be. Always have a ‘control room’ or similar where people who do not want to participate, can go to at anytime.
- If investigating outside, meet up with other investigators in a Public place first, - do not go into places, such as fields, on your own. Meeting up somewhere is safer, and always make sure that you get there, and back safely, especially if investigating in the night or early hours of the morning, again, preferably travelling in pairs, or as a group.
- Trust the people you are with! – A good group should not allow anyone under the age of 18 to participate in Investigations, nor should any children be in the area of the Investigation at ANY time. Nor should anyone in the group be under the Influence of alcohol or drugs.
Supplies are crucial, not just in terms of equipment, but in terms of health and safety. The following is a brief list of things to take (including equipment) – you can take as many as you have access to. - Notebooks and writing utensils.
- Flashlights (wind up ones are good if batteries drain quickly)
- Spare batteries.
- Watch.
- Compass.
- EMF Meter (Electromagnetic field meter)
- Still Camera (Digital, Film or Instant)
- Video camera.
- Tape Recorder (Digital or tape) – and spare tapes.
- MP3 player (for voice recording) – suitable for making verbal notes while walking round.
- Infrared meter (for temperature)
- Dowsing Rods
- Walkie-talkies (for larger areas)
- Mobile Phones
- Powder (such as talc) and Black plastic (such as a bin liner)
- Night-vision scope
- Trigger object
- First Aid kit
- Beverages and Snacks
Make sure that the clothes you wear are comfortable and warm, and that you have plenty of pockets to keep everything in! If you are doing an inside Investigation, with access to electricity then things like extension leads, laptops, multiple cameras, etc.. can be set up and used. It is also wise on the Pre-Investigation tests to use a pipe and electricity meter (the sort used by workmen) to detect pipes and electricity sources hidden in walls. – This can help rule out any interference on equipment by ‘unseen’ forces. PRE-INVESTIGATION ‘TESTS’ If possible, prior to any investigation, ‘baseline’ tests should be carried out in the area. – Things such as taking the temperature of rooms, checking for hidden electricity fields, making sure there are no hazards, and checking things like floorboards, heating and lighting fixtures and fittings – a problem with the heating banging can be attributed wrongly to something ‘Paranormal’ in the middle of the night! 4 Things to Remember - ALWAYS obtain the permission of the landowner or proprietor of an area before you begin an investigation.
- If Investigating outside, it is wise to inform the local police of your intentions before you begin – you may be reported by an unwary member of the Public!
- If investigation in your own group, in private residences, you may need Public Liability Insurance or similar.
- Be PROFESSIONAL at all times. When investigating peoples homes, etc.. be punctual, polite and prepared.
- Be RESPECTFUL at all times. Have respect for people, the environment you are working in, and especially the ‘spirits’ that may inhabit the area. If you believe in ‘ghosts’ than you should realise that they are the spirits of what were real, living, people. Do NOT antagonise, patronise, or use abusive language to ‘provoke’ a reaction from them. – Personally I would NEVER participate in a group that used such methods.
- Protect yourself – work in pairs, or in a group at all times. It is not unheard of for groups investigating outside to fall victim to theft! – You are often carrying lots of electrical equipment – don’t advertise outside of your group where you are going exactly, or when you are doing so. (worth remembering if you have something like a Website which is easily accessible to the General Public).
- Protect yourself – Mentally and Physically. As mentioned, the ‘Paranormal’ realm can be draining. You can find yourself experiencing all sorts of mental and physical things, so prepare yourself in whatever way you feel comfortable with. Meditation before, invoking a protective spirit, wearing a cross – whatever suits you – don’t feel silly if you need to do this – your wellbeing is extremely important.
- If you have members of the Public with you (such as a homeowner) – prepare them beforehand. Explain what will be happening, what you hope to find, etc. Follow procedure as you would do with yourself – no-one under 18, no alcohol or drugs, etc.. and if they feel uncomfortable, want to stop, etc..then respect their wishes and do so.
- Ask the owner, or proprietor to remove anything fragile or of value before an investigation begins.
- Leave the area as you found it, - commonsense really!!
FURTHER READING: GHOSTHUNTING by JOSHUA P. WARREN The best book we have found on the subject of ghosthunting! AND REMEMBER!!! If you should find anything during the course of your Investigation(s) - please let us know! |
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