by Alex Matsuo
What it all comes down to is that you don't want to lose yourself in this world. Sometimes, it may happen just by accident, and it may take a bit to get out. You will make sacrifices so that you can make that ghost hunt, create content, or spending just an extra hour going through data. Be mindful of your sacrifices and who may be affected by them. For example, if you're sacrificing time with your kids or elderly members of your family, then perhaps that is crossing the line. If you are in need of a break from daily life and ghost hunting is your escape, then that is different. That is setting boundaries and establishing your balance between your regular life and the paranormal.
I only say this because, in the event that something in the paranormal field doesn't work out, you're not feeling bitter or resentful towards the field. I know we are all adults and we make choices. I hope that by sharing my own experience in this with you, you can avoid the same mistakes I made.
Embracing a Community
In ghost hunting, you are also entering the paranormal community. There are people from all over the spectrum of thoughts and beliefs. Finding "your people" may be a challenge, but if you want to join a team or start your own, having a circle you can trust is critical. It doesn't hurt to background check people as well so that you know you're not at risk for theft, harassment, etc. This is important especially if you do residential cases, and you don't want to put yourself in the position of dealing with team members who stole from a client.
Story Time: As someone who is running a team, writing books, and hosting radio shows and podcasts, I found myself spending about four to six hours per day working on something in the paranormal in addition to working two jobs, trying to live my daily life, take care of my cats, and be effective in my relationships. Unsurprisingly, I came to a place where I wasn't happy anymore. I initially blamed the paranormal field. I became very negative and took my frustrations out on other people. Once I realized I wasn't happy, I took a break. I started taking the month of January off every year. This was time to reflect, rest, and just be a "normal" person for 31 days. I found that by doing this in January, I would start each year off very strong and on a high note. By the time my break or my "sabbatical" was over, I was ready to jump back into the field. Don't feel like you have to work all the time in order to become a successful paranormal investigator. If you're stretching yourself too thin, you won't be able to live to your potential not only in the paranormal but also in real life.
CHAPTER eighteen:
The inclusiveness of ghost hunting
One of the most beautiful things about the paranormal field is that it is inclusive. Regardless of your background, your beliefs, and where you are in your life, ghost hunting will welcome you with open arms. While the paranormal field has some work to do in creating a true community, I have to say that it is one of the most diverse communities out there. I almost think of the paranormal community as one big family and all the good and bad that comes with that -- we fight, we get along, we come together when we're needed the most. Of course, in any community, a few bad apples can spoil the fun, especially if you interact with them early in your experience. I will say, some of the antics from the "bad apples" of the community have also brought a lot of people together. It also goes to show that those who are not serious about paranormal research and are only there for attention will quickly make themselves known, as it all turns into a competition with them really fast. I want to emphasize that this negative group is a small portion of the community. When it's actually happening, it feels like the world revolves around the drama. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Everyone comes together in the end and we're all better people because of it.
Education in the Paranormal Field
I've found that the paranormal field has a lot of diversity when it comes to education. You'll find people with high school diplomas working with those who have a Ph.D. in fields like medicine, psychology, and more. I find it fascinating because educational accomplishments, or lack thereof, aren't held over people's heads as a tool to win debates and arguments. In fact, in my own interaction with those with higher degrees than myself, I find that we can all learn from each other still. Getting a degree, especially a terminal degree is a huge accomplishment and I often find myself fortunate to be able to interact with some of the most brilliant minds in the paranormal field because of this.
I think what also made the TV show, "Ghost Hunters," so popular was because these were blue-collar men who managed to become heroes in a sense. You didn't have to have a doctorate in science or make tons of money to get into this field.
I also recognize one of Ben Radford's concerns with ghost hunting is that you don't seem to need any experience, training, or knowledge. For example, you wouldn't let someone mess with chemical interactions blindly if that person didn't have some sort of degree or certificate. Should the same be said for ghost hunting? Doubtful. I'm not a fan of gatekeeping, meaning that only select people should be able to access something. This happens often in the world of various fandoms, so it has left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I think what makes this activity so appealing and accessible to multitudes of people is that nearly everyone has had *that* weird experience that they couldn't explain. There are many who feel as though they have psychic abilities or something that makes them more sensitive to the paranormal. With television making ghost hunting so popular, everyone wants to be a part of that experience somehow.
Gender and the Paranormal
Now, the paranormal entertainment industry is a different story, as they have a story to sell and ratings to maintain. At the time that this book was written, talent in paranormal shows heavily leans on the male side. Meaning, that you will mainly see men on these shows. There are a few television shows that will showcase a female lead, which is excellent. But I've also found a common pattern in these shows where women are often the sidekicks, the mediums, basically playing a supporting role for a male star. It is my hope that as the entertainment industry changes, we will see more female-driven paranormal shows.
This is because I've found that the paranormal community has a lot of strong women who are running their own teams, leading ghost hunts, creating and running major events, and standing at the forefront of the field. On television, it's a different story. These shows are inundated with male leads who are appealing to the eyes. I did happen across a study in the theatre world at one point that discussed the idea that audiences resonated more with male leads than females.
With the star vehicle in these television shows being mainly male, it's no surprise that paranormal conventions and other events will usually highlight men. I recently studied several events between 2017 and 2018 and realized that there was a heavy bias towards males on multiple event lineups. While I was initially disappointed to see this, I also have noticed a shift in 2019 with more events including women in their lineup. It looks like a balance is on the horizon.
Working with Skeptics
This one can be difficult for many people because we all have that prized piece of evidence that we cherish as our Holy Grail of the paranormal. What is even harder to swallow is when someone comes in and is able to explain the phenomenon that you encountered and declare that it is not paranormal. Interacting with skeptics is important if you want to be active in the community. I learn something new every time I speak with a skeptic and pick their brains on the evidence I collected.
I realize that many of us look at skeptics as scary or intimidating. There are many skeptics that aren't approachable, but there are a special few who make an effort to engage with the paranormal community and have those conversations with believers without judgment. There are countless resources available from the skeptic community, and I highly recommend reading their material and having those conversations so that you can not only be aware of what they're talking about but also building that bridge of mutual respect. Of course, if someone is going to be overly negative in their interaction with you (regardless of whether they're a skeptic or a believer), t
hen don't put yourself in that toxic environment.
Skeptics are a valued part of the paranormal community. I try to interact with them as often as I can because I want to learn their process, how they find their information, and what they have found to be truly stumbling in their work. I believe there is a possibility we can coexist and make progress in the paranormal community at the same time.
Finding Like-Minded People
Decades ago, people didn't dare talk about the paranormal so openly because there was fear of being seen as crazy. This still happens today, but on a much smaller level. The paranormal was strictly for entertainment and not meant to be taken seriously. I believe this is why paranormal television was so popular in the seventies, eighties, and nineties. But you didn't dare talk about this with your friends at a party. Ironically, even churches were skeptical of people who were dealing with spiritual happenings in their home. It was fun and games to read about it or watch it on TV or in a movie theater. When people started dealing with the paranormal in real life, they almost had to go underground to find help. If their experiences ever became public, it meant that friendships were reevaluated, and social status was affected.
When the internet first came about, many were able to hide on message boards under a screen name and find answers to questions they may have had. Folks like the Warrens and Hans Holzer, who made their living from the paranormal, seemed to be successful because they were one of the few voices willing to put a face and a name to their work. Others stuck to their message boards until it was safe to come out. It definitely wasn't like the movie "Ghostbusters" where you had commercials advertising your paranormal services to a massive city like New York.
Today, people are much more open and accepting of the paranormal. It's not hard to find people who are more than willing to share their stories. In fact, many will flock at the chance to be on TV or radio and talk about their experiences. People are coming together in droves to share their experiences with others who will listen. I think social media has really opened the gates for people to start talking to each other. Because of this, people no longer feel so alone, and they can even find resolutions to their problems.
The fact that there are now safe spaces for us to share our experiences and theories gives us an area of expression that I'm so excited to explore.
conclusion
Nobody knows everything, especially in the paranormal.
I've probably said this more than a few times; nobody truly knows everything that is happening in the paranormal world. If someone tries to tell you that they do know everything, don't believe them. Even in "real life," nobody knows everything. There are truly brilliant people around who have much more knowledge than me across the board of all the different parts of the world. I'm thinking smaller when it comes to the paranormal community.
Ghost Hunting in the Future
Ghost hunting, in my opinion, is still in its younger stages. When you compare the paranormal field to other realms of sciences, other areas are centuries ahead. Because of this, there are still multiple possibilities for legitimacy to come into play. Eventually, as the practice becomes more popular and well-known, there are a few steps that should be taken to give the field a little more credibility.
First, I think there needs to be set guidelines and standards when it comes to conducting a paranormal investigation. Given that even ax throwing has a few organizations with rules and regulations that groups can follow, I think ghost hunting can have this same standard. Of course, what we do isn't a sport. But, if we, as a community, can come together and decide on a set of standards, expectations, and rules, and then create an organized group where other teams can join and adhere to these guidelines, then we might be in a better place. Then, clients who are seeking teams to perform residential cases, or even public venues that are made aware, will know that if the "ABC" team is part of the "DEF" organization, then they will know they follow the same standards. I don't think the paranormal community is too far from it. Of course, there is always the concern about money, exploitation, and fame. Truly, I think if someone is willing to helm this and willing to pay with their own money to get it set up and be able to earn the trust of the community in the process, then they will be in a better place to move into this next stage of the paranormal community. If this organization could also streamline standards for ghost tours and public ghost hunts, then we can raise the bar of quality and expectations for the paranormal field and make it even more inclusive and professional to those outside of the community.
Thinking about the future of ghost hunting is rather exciting. There will be a wave of new people interested throughout time. Then, there will be a few from that wave who stick around and become the next generation of paranormal investigators.
Speaking of the next generation, we need to start training them. We need to set an example for the new people on how to conduct a ghost hunt, analyze the data, and come up with their own ideas and theories. While television shows are great to generate interest, we need to provide the next steps. Hopefully this book has been helpful in guiding you into the next stage of your paranormal journey.
Popularity of the Field
As the waves of time ebb and flow, so will the popularity of ghost hunting. Whenever there is a wave of new television shows, ghost hunting will be bursting at the seams with everyone wanting to participate. As we know, everything comes to an end. Shows will get canceled, the topic becomes taboo once again, the interest in the field wanes. The ones who are deeply devoted to paranormal research and ghost hunting will continue to do the work, even when the field becomes something you shouldn't talk about. The paranormal field has been through so many changes, and it's going to continue to change. Eventually, all of that really awesome and complex tech I mentioned in this book will be outdated and I'll have to write another edition. And that's okay. If the paranormal field didn't change and evolve, then something would be drastically wrong.
There was a time, especially when the ghost hunting shows were at their popularity, where everyone was starting their own ghost hunting team. The type of team varied depending on whether they started their team to get a TV show, or they were so excited about the field that they wanted to dive in headfirst. If the intention was fame-driven, then that paranormal team eventually fades away. Mainly because once the television appearances dry up, or they never show up in the first place, people will move on to another adventure to achieve their 15 minutes of fame. Those who are there for research, regardless of any sort of fame or attention they receive, tend to last the longest. If you're looking for a paranormal team that is serious, look for a team that has been around for at least five years, if not longer. Look at their track record. I don't mean in terms of how many videos they've uploaded. See if they've written books, kept data on their investigations, made financial investments into their team, and are not afraid to get their hands dirty in research.
Being involved in a paranormal team isn't required to ghost hunt. Some of the best ghost hunters I know are independent and do their own thing. Some also enjoy tag-teaming with other groups. Maintaining a team has a whole other set of rules and liabilities, one that I won't get into in this book. Right now, you might have taken this journey into learning about ghost hunting as a beginner, or you're someone who is trying to learn some different tricks in ghost communication. Now that you have this information, what do you do with it?
Read it again. Take notes. Bookmark the sections that stand out to you the most and put it into practice. Luckily, there are lots of opportunities out there to get on the field and try these methods out for yourself.
Also, don't be afraid of science. It can certainly be intimidating, and luckily there are minds out there who have figured out the kinks of different theories and are willing to share their findings. Folks like Jim Brown of Jim's Destinations are more than happy to sit down with people to talk about EVP and the different ways that audio data can be validated.
Avoiding Charlatans
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sp; Sadly, there are charlatans in the paranormal community that gives its members a bad name. These people will exploit people's emotions, their passing, and their grief for their own monetary gain. As their popularity grows, they will also attract people who also lack a moral compass and will do things like try content victims of mass shootings, celebrities who passed, and other exploitative things for the sake of views. If there is someone who is promoting a video where they are contacting a recently passed celebrity, they are making money off of it from ads and sponsorships.
Be wary of anyone who tries to do residential cases for a price. The majority of people in the paranormal community will do residential cases for the love and personal satisfaction of helping out a fellow human being. The general consensus is that we put our own money and time to make these cases happen. It's normally unacceptable to ask a client for money. For APS, if a client wants to tip us, we recommend that they donate to their favorite nonprofit. If a client doesn't know which organization to donate to, APS has a list that includes shelters for victims of domestic violence, humane societies, and cancer research. In this way, we found another way to give back to the community beyond that residential case.
I don't pretend to understand people who go into this to exploit money. I should also note that I'm not talking about the psychic community in general. However, I do take issue with self-proclaimed psychics who harm others. There was one famous psychic who told the mother of a missing teenager that her daughter was dead. The mother ended up dying broken-hearted years later, all the while the daughter was still alive. What makes this even sadder is that the daughter was actually watching the television interview that day and heard this psychic tell her mother that she was dead. Apparently, she was screaming at the television that she was alive. This breaks my heart.
Final Thoughts
You're not alone in the world of ghost hunting. There is a wonderful community of people who are eager to share their knowledge, as well as learn from each other. Even if you're interested in ghost hunting to talk to ghosts, you end up joining a circle of people who end up connecting on a spiritual level. Should you find yourself in need of advice, there are knowledgeable people who are just an email away. Some may even offer to join you on a future ghost hunt so that they can guide you more efficiently. Definitely take advantage of these opportunities as they come!
