The Brave Mortal's Guide to Ghost Hunting

by Alex Matsuo

  These are the very basics of safety. Hopefully, this gives you an idea of what to expect on your ghost hunt and what kind of questions you should be asking the venue as well as your group that you're participating with. You definitely don't want to join the ghosts on the property as a fellow spirit, and this is a good place to start.

  Managing Medical Conditions

  If you're a person who is concerned about investigating with a medical condition, fear not! Ghost hunting is very inclusive, and people of all backgrounds participate in it all the time! When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was told that my condition would "attract" evil spirits as well as my presence being an insurance liability. Luckily, I knew that it was all untrue. Paranormal investigators are people with diabetes, people on the spectrum, people with prosthetic limbs, etc. who are out there searching for ghosts every day. But if you're still concerned about your health during your ghost hunt or paranormal investigation, there are a few things you can do.

  First, you should plan to pack 24 hours’ worth of medication for every day that you are gone. If you're doing a short ghost hunt, you should be fine with your regular regiment. If you're out of town doing all sorts of investigations at multiple places, you might want to set an alarm to remind yourself to take your meds. If you're diabetic like I am, the most important thing is making sure the people with you know about your condition, understand what to look for, and know how to help. Be sure that someone responsible knows where your medication is located and how to administer it. I keep glucose tablets, a glucagon kit, and my meter in my pocket (okay, fanny pack) just in case my blood sugar drops. I recommend you keep them with you, and not in a bag you can put down or forget. After all, you will be more distractible and disorganized if your blood sugar drops, and you don’t want to have to hunt for what you need. My team members know to grab my meter to check my sugar and to administer sugar as needed. On the other hand, if my blood sugar is running high, I grab my water and move. I still have to be mindful of what I eat, and I can't grab the nearest sugared soda or candy for snacking. Managing a chronic condition takes a little extra planning and effort on my part, but it definitely doesn't make ghost hunting an impossible endeavor for me.

  If you have special needs for accessibility, be sure to let the venue and the hosting group know so that they can accommodate you. I investigated the USS Hornet with a paraplegic and we all took turns carrying her down the stairs in her chair. We were happy to do it, but of course, you will want to make sure you have a relationship with the person where this will be appropriate. The American Disabilities Act, which was enacted in 1990, only applies for new construction and modifications. Older buildings don’t have to comply unless they decide to remodel.

  In short, most haunted locations should be able to accommodate any sort of disabilities and medical conditions. You will have to do your part as well in being proactive with contacting the facility and staying on top of your medication doses. If it helps, having one person to give you gentle reminders throughout the event helps in bearing the burden of having to do things a little differently.

  Personal Safety

  I am a big stickler when it comes to safety. To me, there is no excuse as to why a haunted location shouldn't be keeping their facilities updated and ensuring that whoever goes in is 100% safe. I do get disturbed when a haunted location negates any sort of care for the sake of keeping things spooky looking. To me, if a place is truly haunted, it doesn't matter whether the place looks amazing or in shambles. The ghosts will still be there no matter what.

  Ghost hunts attract people from all sorts of different backgrounds. This is a wonderful thing as it brings people together from different life experiences and personalities. Yet, there are also times when there may be an individual or two who may make you feel uncomfortable. You can't seem to put your finger on it, but something is off with the person in your party. Maybe it was their tone of voice when they were talking to you, your body language, how they addressed your friend, whichever. I find that I need to listen to my gut in these situations and do my best to avoid that person at all costs. Or, I'll put on my "New York Face,” which has the capability to scare off even the toughest of brutes. It's the face I use when I'm walking around a major city like New York or Los Angeles when I don't want to deal with anyone. It has also been effective in scaring people off. I recommend everyone has that "look" to ward off any unwanted attention. It's a look that says you could kick someone's butt at will just because you feel like it.

  When you find yourself at the center of unwanted attention from a creep individual, and you feel like your personal safety may be at risk, you will want to talk to someone immediately. The last thing you want is to be placed in a group with that individual or find yourself in a position where you're alone with that person. While a lot of ghost hunting companies will background check their employees, they likely won't do the same for their ticket holders. A lot of these ghost hunting events will put dozens of people together in the same space for several hours. Most of the time, you make lifelong friends that you keep in touch with. But if you find yourself with someone who really raises a red flag, you'll want to be on your guard. If that person becomes aggressive, then you will want to remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible. It might mean you leave the location or even call the police. Hopefully, the person in charge of the investigation should be able to help you with this and calling law enforcement should be the last thing to happen. If they are not willing to help, then let them know you will be calling the authorities.

  Another thing that can happen with ghost hunts is that you will have people dropping in during your investigation. When we investigated the Henry River Mill Village in Hickory, North Caroline, the community is very aware of the historic village and will drive by it to cause a ruckus for visitors. The location actually has a strict rule about not posting about investigations on social media in order to prevent people from driving by to cause chaos or even try to drop in on the investigation. Luckily, the location also hires security in order to ensure a safe environment for everyone. Most groups should have something that will easily identify members of the ghost hunt. I've seen some groups do glow stick wristbands, t-shirts, hats, just some sort of thing to say, "Hey! I'm with this group!" That would be another good question to ask the organizer of your investigation so that they prevent unexpected drop-ins.

  Hopefully, this will be advice that you will never have to use. But if there is someone in the ghost that makes you feel a bit uncomfortable, be sure to listen to those instincts and use self-care. In situations like this, you want to make sure you're safe while you're trying to communicate with the other side.

  Wildlife

  We often only think of the people we might encounter, either dead or alive. But have you considered the local wildlife in the area and how that can affect your paranormal investigation? Wildlife can add an interesting layer to the experience. Everything from hearing footsteps or a rustling in the woods can be complicated by the presence of wildlife. One of my favorite experiences happened at a large historic venue. We were hosting a public investigation, and my team was excited to explore the open structures and expansive wooded area. A lot of life had been lived on the premises, and we had been told we would likely witness quite a bit of paranormal activity.

  After we had checked in, paid our money, and were outside all set up, the security personnel escorting our group told me that the location had been dealing with a wolf problem. Not only that, reports indicated that at least one of the wolves was rabid. As you can probably guess, this paranormal investigator was researching on my smartphone about what to do if you're approached by a rabid wolf. Thankfully, we never saw our furry friend. However, I had to second guess whether the risk was worth it. We adjusted our investigation strategy and didn’t split into two groups as originally planned. Thankfully, the security guard had a gun with him, and he told me what to do if we were approached by a wolf or a pack of wolves -- basically to go int
o the nearest car and stakeout. I saw Cujo, so I wasn't sure if even that was the best way to reach safety. Luckily, we never had to cross that bridge. I did leave it up to the group if they wanted to keep going with this information in mind. I did try to make sure that people stayed in groups since packs of wolves were less likely to approach a group of people. If anyone did wander off, I made sure to say something.

  Locked Doors

  While hearing the word "lockdown" sounds dramatic and trendy, you do want to know if your location does lock up while you're in the building. If they do, you can breathe easier. If they do not lock their doors, then you'll have to keep your valuables in mind when you're traveling. When we went to a haunted location in Tennessee, we spent the night in the place, and it was filthy. That investigation was marked by mold, bugs, and a site that was basically not suitable for humans to be hanging out in. We were also in a really small town. When my investigation buddy and I turned in for the night, we were shocked to see that not only were the doors unlocked, but several were hanging wide open. We struggled a bit to sleep that night because we didn't know if someone was going to come in. I have a weighted paracord on my keychain, so I kept that close to me during the night. Luckily, I never had to use it.

  A lot of haunted locations, like any public attraction, are subject to car break-ins. Crimes like these are usually done by the locals who know that tourists are in town and they might have valuables in their vehicles. I often hear about paranormal teams losing hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in equipment because they left their belongings unsupervised. My team has started to default to sleeping in shifts, even if unintentional. We will do this especially if we know that a location isn’t secure. Your safety and security should be the most important bullet point on your checklist not only for yourself but for the facilitators of your ghost hunting experience. Don’t be shy about asking questions related to your safety before you pay for an event. How your hosts answer safety questions can also give you insight into their level of professionalism.

  Drugs and Alcohol

  This will be brief. Should you consume drugs or alcohol before a ghost hunt?

  No.

  But will drugs and alcohol help you have a more exciting paranormal investigation?

  Also no.

  Story Time: My team hosted a month-long ghost hunting event that was run by another company. A few drunk people made it through under the radar. One of them kept grabbing the EMF meter, waving it in the air, and yelling, “ARE YOU THERE???” What’s interesting is that we did have interactions with a ghost, with tech going off and everything. But whenever our drunk friends entered the room, all communication would cease. Even the ghosts didn’t want to be that sober friend that had to take care of the drunk friend.

  CHAPTER EIGHT:

  hOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

  You don't want someone to attach themselves to you and then hang out with you as you go home. It's never a good idea to bring something home with you. What may seem like something cool at first turns into a nuisance over time. Having a ghost in your home is very much like having a roommate. For me, I only had one roommate that I truly got along with when I was living in San Diego. Other roommates just didn't work out. If you've had roommates before, think of the most obnoxious one you've ever had. Now, add in the fact that you can't see them, but you know they're there. It's not quite as amusing after a month. Keeping the ghosts at bay is key.

  Protection is probably one of the most common questions and concerns I hear from curious onlookers in the community and from outsiders. I think protection covers more than just the spiritual realm, but also physically and legally.

  Ghost hunting and trying to communicate with the dead can bring about some interesting experiences. As mentioned in the previous chapter, one of the ways that ghosts will try to communicate is by touching you, make you feel their emotions, or even presenting images in your head. Making contact with spirits means that you could create connections, and sometimes those connections will continue even after you're done with the investigation. Most people don't want anything following them home. If you go into an investigation and you don't do anything to ensure that you're protected spiritually, that is admirable. Some may even say brave. (Others would say foolish.)

  Now, most of the time, nothing will happen. While I am a person who doesn't like to take risks, I also don't want to put a ton of energy into something that may not even be there. So, I try to balance safety with convenience. I keep my process very simple in keeping my space clear. I'll share with you some of the tricks I use to keep myself not only protected psychically but also grounded. You will want to do what works for you, and you may have to experiment with different strategies. If this is something that makes you uncomfortable during a ghost hunt, you might want to consider using some psychic protection and build a wall around yourself.

  Before the investigation, I get an idea of what sort of haunting we’re going to be dealing with. I like to get my mind in the “right place” with simple silence and breathing. Preparation for a negative haunting is much different than preparation for a benevolent haunting.

  Visualizations

  What I like to do is to visualize a wall of white light in front of me, and then have that wall fold around me like a sheet. If I'm open to personal communication from a ghost like touching and such, I will tell the entity that they are not allowed to harm me, they cannot attach themselves to me, and they are certainly not allowed to go home with me. This is truly one of those necessary steps in order to avoid becoming attached to you and growing stronger by the day.

  If you can't think of white light, then think of some sort of protective bubble surrounding you. You can set a rule where only good things can come in and negative elements can stay out.

  This can also be a tricky "science" so to speak, as it takes some trial and error to get better at psychic protection. Some people even go overboard and completely prevent themselves from encountering anything paranormal because their walls or bubbles have become so strong. Sometimes, it's so strong that they turned themselves into a block for the rest of their investigation group! If you suspect that this happened, then close your eyes and reassess and restructure your protective element. If you don't believe in psychic protection, then these exercises would be good things to do to keep yourself calm and grounded. I find myself using these exercises often for my personal life, whenever I’m in a situation that creates anxiety.

  Tangible Objects

  If visualizations aren't useful for you, then you can try to use something physical like an amulet. Some people use things like necklaces, jewelry, or some sort of trinket that they can keep close to them for protection. For example, if you're someone who believes in the Christian faith, then maybe wearing a cross or keeping a cross on you makes you feel like you have some protection. Other people use things like crystals or other symbolic objects that they believe have some sort of power to them. It all comes down to faith. Whatever you believe in, you must truly believe that it will work in order for it to be effective. If you're unsure or are questioning your protection, then there's a strong possibility that it might not work as well as you want it to.

  After the Investigation

  One of the last things I will say before I leave a location is reminding the ghosts that they cannot come home with me. This doesn’t have to be said out loud, and it can be done within the mind. I tell them that if they don't want to go back to their home (the haunted location), then find someplace where they are welcome. I remind them that they are not welcome in my home. I will also mention that my mother often checks in on me and clears my living space of anything that may be interruptive. Verbally setting your boundaries and declaring how you want to leave can be a powerful way to keep the ghosts at bay so you can sleep soundly as soon as you get home. I recommend not getting into your car until you’re confident that you’re alone.

  One of the easiest and perhaps my favorite is a visualization exercise after an investigation is e
xtremely simple. I wish I could remember the psychic's name who gave me this tip, but I found this one not only effective but also refreshing. All you need to do is roll down the windows in your car while you're driving. I picture the attachments as a ribbon that is wrapped around me. As the wind blows on my arm, the ribbon unwraps from around my arm and then from around my body and flies off into the distance. I have also heard of people doing something similar while in the shower and designating the attachments as smoke or colored paint that goes down the drain. Given that you might be a little grody after your ghost hunt from the dust and such, taking a post-investigation shower isn't a bad idea at all.

  Something Follows

  One of the biggest concerns I hear about is having a ghost follow you home. It might be the number one question I receive when someone finds out I like to investigate the paranormal. To be honest, I think I've had this happen to me a few times, and I've been lucky enough that most of these entities meant well and just wanted to get an idea of what my life was like at home. Or, at least I hope that's what it was. All of these encounters post-investigation were positive, for the most part.

  Now, sometimes I've had things happen in my home before we take on a residential case, primarily the more negative ones. Several of my mediums have reported dreaming about a location or a case before I even tell them that we have a case to work on.

  But generally, I don't like to have spirits follow me home. I find it disruptive to my environment. Plus, I don't live alone. I have a family that I care about, and I don't want to subject them to any weird supernatural phenomenon that might come home with me. But, these days, I've found that since my mom died, my living space is nearly sterile with the exception of the ghost that haunts my kitchen. That's a long story for another time. If you're curious, this ghost is harmless besides making some noise or pushing things off my kitchen counters.