Guide To Choosing A Good Paranormal Investigative Team

Because there are no real 'ghost hunter training' courses, and people are easily influenced by the media, anyone can become a paranormal investigator and not know a single thing about proper investigative practices!

This is especially hazardous to those who are bothered emotionally by strange things happening around them, as these are the people who seek supposedly knowledgeable investigators for understanding and guidance. Once equipped with false information, a downward spiral of fear and need often follows! (Paranormal gurus are supposed to help relieve their clients of terror and misunderstanding, not elevate it.)

Good investigators are few and far between, but they are out there!

And so, I have composed a general guide of important questions to ask in order to help you find the good ones:

(If you are not 100% sure the team is right for you, keep looking!) 


#1) What are ghosts?

This is probably the most important question you could ask. Anyone who can define the term 'ghost' in less than 5 sentences, or is quick to generalize them as the spirits of the once-living, are NOT the people you want.

No one knows for sure what a ghost really is, nor can we lump them all into one category. While we can detect trends and similarities, every haunting is different.


#2) What equipment do you use?

Video and still cameras, quality audio recorders, and logic are all good answers. EMF detectors (or compasses) are okay, too.

Unacceptable answers include ghost boxes, dowsing rods, phone/tablet apps, Ouija boards, and other questionable methods. If unsure, Google it and use your intelligence.


#3) Could you explain your 'scientific method'?

There are a lot of groups out there who claim to be scientifically based, but aren't. Review their collected information (pretty much everyone has a website), and make sure it is thorough and not biased. The more info, the better. You're looking for solid evidence, theories, and in-depth explanations. If they cannot provide this, they are probably not reliable.

Regardless of your personal beliefs, do not bring in a group of religious or 'spiritual' founding. These people are hardly scientists, and tend to jump to conclusions. Supposed psychics, mediums, etc. are of a different category altogether, and if that's your thing, invite them separately, afterward.


#4) Do you charge for your services?

This is an iffy subject. Most reliable teams do not charge their clients, but do accept donations in order to fund their project. (However, there are always a few exceptions to the rule.)

You see, paranormal investigation is not considered an actual science, but rather, a pseudo-science. There is no 'sure thing'. It's a matter of theorizing and testing/debunking (hence, this is why 'scientific method' is important).

And because there is no 'sure thing', and often clients harbor a lot of emotions about what they're experiencing, it seems wrong to charge for services. A paranormal investigator attempts to help, not 'cure' of 'ailments' as a doctor would. And so, if successful, a client donation is much appreciated, but not necessary.

Also keep in mind that client situations are taken on for research and understanding. An investigation is often considered a learning experience, which is also payment (of knowledge and experience) to the investigator. A 'guru' who does not recognize this probably has an ulterior motive.

Pro Tip: Your Equipment Is Only As Scientific As You Are

Dear self-proclaimed 'ghost hunters',

I will do my best not to turn this post into a rant... 

Do you watch a lot of ghost hunting shows and use them as inspiration to investigate the paranormal yourself? Well, 99% of the time, you should use those shows as a lesson in what NOT to do. 

These shows are about ordinary, ill-educated people who call themselves 'investigators', with all this fancy equipment that supposedly tells them if there's a ghost in the area or not. (Way to set the bar low!) 

Are you aware there is no proof that most of this equipment can actually track a ghost? The most reliable equipment you can bring on an investigation is a video camera, a quality audio recorder, and some common sense. Even EMF detectors aren't a sure thing. 

Ghost boxes, dowsing rods, phone apps, etc. are a crock of shit, and shouldn't even be used in an investigation, ESPECIALLY when it is a case where people are emotionally involved! 

I recently saw a show in which a so-called 'reputable' team used a ghost box in a situation that involved a family that was very afraid of what was happening in their house, and came up with 'evidence' that didn't exist, and THEY HAD NO IDEA OF THE LIES AND EVEN MORE FEAR THEY WERE FEEDING THAT FAMILY! The team had no grasp of what was really happening in that house. That angers me beyond belief! How the hell can someone who is supposed to be a 'professional' do something so heinous and not even know it? 

This is a terrible thing, and I can't even begin to imagine how often this happens... No wonder people are so afraid all the time! 

EDUCATE YOURSELF! No amount of equipment can help you if you don't know what you're doing. You should use a scientific method in your way of thinking, and then, use equipment and evidence collected to back your theories. Never ever preach what you do not understand! 

I am both appalled and disgusted by what many so-called 'investigators' do, and not even knowing that they are hurting people rather than helping them. 

I encourage everyone seeking help to do their homework, and look for someone they can rely on to actually be both scientific and truthful. Unfortunately, good investigators are few and far between, but there are good ones out there! Ask questions and do not be afraid to turn a team down if you're not 100% sure. [Guide To Choosing A Good Paranormal Team] 

And to those I just described above, SHAME ON YOU! And don't quit your day job. 

Investigation: Kings Park Psychiatric Center - Kings Park, NY

It took me a while to analyze the footage from Kings Park Psychiatric Center- months! With all the background noise, EVPs were much more difficult to pick out. But as I expected, they are there. And some other things happened...



Result:
 The Kings Park asylum is most definitely haunted, and by many ghosts. Having been open 111 years, and had over 9,000 inmates at one time, it's no surprise.


Further reading:
Guide To Choosing A Good Paranormal Investigative Team

Basic Investigation Tools

Here is a list of tools the amateur ghost hunter may want to take on investigations. It is not all-inclusive, but these are the basics:

• cameras (with IR preferably) 
• digital audio recorders 
• external microphones 
• spare batteries/AC adapters 
• spare memory cards 
• all necessary cables 
• tripods 
• EMF detector/compass 
• flashlights 
• walkie-talkies 
• journal and pens/pencils 
• multi-tool 
• first aid kit 

**Take a checklist. Make sure you have everything you need beforehand, and be sure to leave the location with all of your equipment. 

Use a Compass as an EMF Detector

You don't need to spend a lot of money on fancy ghost hunting equipment.

For instance, you can use a compass as an EMF detector. Compasses are cheap, but do make sure you get a quality compass that will work if off-balance or shaken.

EMF levels pull the compass needle away from magnetic true north. If it deviates more than 30 degrees, that usually indicates a "hot spot". In other words, when a ghost is near, the needle spins and can't find north.

Note: Do make sure to rule out the possibility of an electrical source, and know which direction north is. Also, learn to use the compass in a location that is not haunted first, and avoid power lines (both overhead and underground).

You may even want to consider getting a digital compass to work in conjunction with the traditional version, because digital detection is not the same as traditional magnetic.

Civil War Prison Camp - Elmira, NY

Today I did a solo investigation at the Civil War prison camp in Elmira, NY (Hellmira), which is rumored to be haunted by the Confederate soldiers who died there. Armed with only my camera (too much noise for EVP, and the live electrical wiring underground will cause false EMF readings), I walked around the area where the soldiers with polio and other serious illnesses were sent to die.

I took several photos while I was there, and recorded video. I did have some personal experiences- a gut feeling that occurs in the same place every time I visit, seeing things in my peripherals, and my camera stopped recording for no apparent reason. However, I did not gather any solid evidence, and this is not enough to work with.

Results:
Inconclusive. Further investigation necessary.

Further Reading:
Guide To Choosing A Good Paranormal Investigative Team

Kings Park Psychiatric Center - Long Island, NY (Pt2)

More photos from Kings Park Psychiatric Center! 

In my first post, I wrote about my experience and shared a couple orb photos. And after reviewing everything again, I found more.. 

**I ruled out a lot of "orb" photos as insects. These were different.

I took the following photos as I was walking the dark path through the grounds at night. I threw many out under the assumption I caught the reflection of insects or dust particles, but these two shots caught my eye. In the first, I captured an orb. (*Note the position of the piece of trash in these photos.)

After catching a glimpse of the orb on my screen, I immediately snapped another photo. It was gone.

Jackson Sanatorium - Dansville, NY

This is the trip that changed everything for me. 

A photographer friend of mine got some EVPs while exploring the abandoned Jackson Sanatorium in the past, so I figured I'd try my hand at it and came back with some amazing results. 

All I did was explore the building with my camera recording (HD video). Meanwhile, many things happened.. 

Note: 

1) This clear whisper I captured several times has not been edited. This is exactly how I recorded it. 

2) I did not hear the voice until I checked my footage later. Isn't it awesome how it said things, then I repeated? [read more: clairaudience] 

3) At the time it felt very much like someone was giving me a tour, though I was alone. I did not feel frightened, just intrigued and wanting to see more, despite the dangerous condition of the building. 

4) Chris did not hear the BANG! that sounded like a door slamming, and none of the doors in the building were capable of doing so- they were broken and falling off their hinges. When I went to walk toward Chris's voice, it seemed as if I was drawn back toward the sound of the slam, and later led higher up into the building. I saw the roof, with no EVPs, but the view was beautiful. 

5) The voice returned one last time in the basement, when I was looking for my flashlight. We then continued to explore in the dark, looking through curtains, clothing, and old sauna boxes, with a chair inside and a hole for the head. What a find!  

So is Jackson Sanatorium haunted? 
Yes, and it can be considered an intelligent haunting. 

This was most definitely a successful trip, and the one that made me want to keep searching for more. 

What do you think about my experience? 

Like what I was wearing in this video? Check out my style blog for more... 

Further Reading: 

Guide To Choosing A Good Paranormal Investigative Team 

Kings Park Psychiatric Center and Mount Misery Road - Long Island, NY

This trip happened to be a fluke on my part, which added an extra 3 hours each way, and we had to fight crazy NYC traffic…

I must state that when my friend Chris and I went last summer, I was a nonbeliever. Strange things have happened in the past, but I ruled them out as I was delirious from not sleeping.

We did bust a few local rumors about Mount Misery Road. (...or did we?**)
1) That underpass at which your car is supposedly dragged uphill? That's a downhill slope.
2) There was a van full of kids hanging out near a wooded area, obviously there because of the urban legend. As we were about to get out and ask for a quick interview, the local police showed up. (I'm sure the locals called in about the suspicious looking van.) We were asked a few questions, then told to move along. As the cop walked away, his head was fully intact. Obviously not the supposed ghost cop.
3) Mount Misery Road is in a beautiful neighborhood. Not at all creepy.
**As we were driving around, we noticed an older road that is now blocked off and signless. Could that be the old Mt. Misery? Is that why GPS took us into the woods?

 It wasn't a total bust. 

Although the sun was about to set, Kings Park Psychiatric Center was closeby.

 My goal was just to explore the place and get some photos and cool video footage. I got more than that.

 It was an easy drive in, and there was a bar right across the street. Turns out the area around some of the buildings is a historic park, then there are more buildings across the road, fenced in. We were not about to go hopping fences at dusk, so we explored around the park area.

 I was recording most of the time, when I wasn't taking photos. And while I got little with my camera, Chris managed to capture colored orbs around me, which happened to be when I felt a change in energies. My camera, however, did not save the video I recorded at the time this happened, and I could not come up with an answer why. It was working fine, plenty of space on the SD card, and near full batteries.

 Chris also got plenty of photos with white orbs in them, but I am automatically ruling them out due to the bugs and dust and pollen, etc.

These photos are different. They are larger, bright, and colorful.

Is Kings Park Psychiatric Center haunted?
Judging by what we gathered, my camera fail, and personal experiences, I want to say yes. However, there is still the possibility that this could be debunked.

**UPDATE**
More photo evidence here!