Important Do's and Don't's when Investigating the Paranormal

Do's and Don'ts

of Paranormal Investigating

Investigation Safety Guidelines

Investigating the paranormal can be a fun and exciting experience. On the other hand it can also be dangerous if caution is not taken. Everyone conducting an investigation especially, in areas where there is little or no lighting should use the proper safety techniques. If these rules are practiced it won’t always prevent accidents from happening but it will cut them down to at least a minimum. Being safe is the number one rule when going out for a night of paranormal research and in this article I will break down the steps that should be taken to insure that it is.

1. The first and most important rule is to stick together. Always have at least one other person with you at all times. Besides the fact that it will add credibility to your findings by having a witness with you, in case of an injury, someone will be with you to go get help or perform first aid. Walkie Talkies are becoming standard gear for the common investigator so that contact with the rest of the group stays constant and help can get to sections of the group faster. They can be purchased fairly cheap and they are a great tool to have in case the group wants to split up at any point.

2. A flashlight is good tool when you know you will be investigating in the dark. They are a necessity for cemetery and other outdoor investigations that are held at night, or for investigations that are taking place in a dark home or building. Make sure to also have extras on hand in case your flashlights and equipment batteries go dead you can make a quick change.

3. Go with your instinct. A lot of people either tend to ignore what their brain is telling them, or decide to stay and see what happens next. This is how a lot of groups end up hurt or in trouble. If during an investigation you feel threatened or like you are being “closed in on”, leave immediately. Respect for what we are investigating should be the highest thing on everyone’s list of do’s and don’ts. If you are feeling threatened then more than likely, you are being threatened and should apologize for the intrusion as you are leaving.

4. First Aid kits are very useful for any minor cuts or scratches that you may get. At least one person in the group should have a well stocked first aid kit that includes (minimum) band aides, gauze pads both small and a few large, antiseptic (spray or gel), tweezers, any medication a group member could need ASAP, a piece or two of high sugar hard candy, a small pair of scissors, an ace bandage, and an emergency bottle or pouch of water. (First Aid kits can be purchased or assembled very inexpensively; there is never an excuse for not having one.)

5. Alcohol and drugs should never be used prior to or during an investigation because they can impair both your judgment and vision. You don’t need any unnecessary distractions and its best to have a clear mind so your focus can be on the investigation. This will severely hurt the credibility of your collected evidence and it can open you up to low-level energies. These low-level beings will use your distracted mind against you for their own personal gain. Even smoking should be put aside until after the investigation because it can create false positives with videos and photos. A good rule of thumb is to establish a non-smoking perimeter around the investigation site. If it is an overnight, or extended investigation, smoking should only be allowed outside of that perimeter.

6. Always obey the laws of the state or country you are in. If you don’t know them, or aren’t sure, contact the local law enforcement. Dawn to dusk rules that are applied to most cemeteries are for a reason, and you can get arrested for breaking them. As a safety concern, going into any place after dark can be hazardous if you did not walk the grounds during the day. It is a good idea to pan out night investigations in the light of day to mark any holes or dangers.

7. Ouija Boards should not be used as a tool for spirit communication. You never know who or what you are communicating with and that could be very dangerous. They are not, and should never, be considered a toy. This also opens you up to low-level energies because you are giving them the opportunity to use your own energy for contact with the other side. It can leave you drained and even feeling sick and you’ll need all of the energy you can get to stay tuned into the task at hand.

8. One thing that a lot of us do, even though it doesn’t always work, is to ask the spirit(s) to please stay where they are as we are leaving a site. Anyone who has been investigating long enough can tell you that tag along spirits are quite common. Most only hang around for a few days or weeks, but some may decide that your place is more fun than where they were and stay indefinitely. Even if it doesn’t work, it is always a good idea to at least ask them to stay where you are investigating for your safety and theirs. Also, never remove any item from an investigation site, no matter how unimportant it may seem, because a spirit could be attached to that object. The author once picked up a pocket knife that someone had dropped in the driveway of a cemetery and now it seems that there is a spirit or spirits that has taken up residence in our home. The entity doesn’t perform any activity with malicious intent, so we have allowed it to stay. You may not welcome such a visitor in your home, however, and all spirits may not be so friendly. We just got lucky, really.

There are lots of ways to be safe when researching the unknown. These are just a few ways to keep you in good health and out of harms way. If you follow these simple rules investigations will turn out to be more productive. Just remember; if being safe means missing out on some evidence then it’s worth it. Your safety is in your own hands.

Other Useful Tips

These tips may not be safety related, but they help to ensure the integrity and credibility of the evidence you collect.

1) Don't jump to conclusions. You always want to make sure you consider all possible explanations, natural or otherwise.

2) Be open-minded. If you think there are no ghosts, then obviously for you there won't be. Skeptics bring negative energy that could compromise an investigation.

3) Research. Always make sure you try to find some information on the place you are investigating. The history of a place, be it a town or a single home, can shed some light on why a place may be having paranormal activity.

4) Either remove the camera strap or wear it around your neck. It's amazing how many times camera straps have been mistaken for ghostly photos. In keeping with that theme, make sure long hair is pulled back, and all fingers are away from the camera lens.

5) Make sure all of your equipment is in perfect working condition. Dust and dirt buildup can cause problems. It saves you money overall to maintain clean equipment.

6) Bring along a notebook so you can write down observations. It is also a good idea to keep a log of your investigations. I recommend keeping track of moon phases, weather and solar weather.

7) Write down your observations before sharing them. This ensures that your story is not subconsciously altered by what someone else tells you.

8) In cold weather, hold your breath while taking a photo. I've seen so many photos of "ectoplasm" that was nothing more than breath in cold air.

9) Do not take photos while walking or driving along a dirt road or path. This can lead to photos of dust particles and not orbs.

10) Do not take photos in rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, or fog. It may also be a good idea to keep track of the pollen count in spring and summer and avoid photos when the count is high.

11) Remember you are out there to record paranormal activity and to have fun. But DO NOT be disrespectful in areas such as graveyards or battlefields. No horseplay or loud obnoxious behavior.

12) Talk to the spirits and ask for their permission to take their photo. I also try an explain that I'm not there to be disrespectful but that I am trying to understand them.

13) Do not take photographs with the camera pointing directly at the sun. This can create "sun dogs" (hexagon shapes) that are sometimes mistaken for orbs.

14) Don't take photos of reflective surfaces. This would include mirrors, glass windows, and even still pools of water.

15) Cellular phones should be turned off during an investigation. They may make sounds that could easily be labeled as paranormal on audio recordings. The beep functions on cameras and voice recorders should be turned off as well.

Written by Charles Crow, Director of Investigations @ Northeast Arkansas Paranormal Society