Ghosts From Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal

by Erin Gilbert

  Compass: Compasses were one of the earliest tools used by paranormal investigators to detect spectral entities. The needle on a compass always points north . . . unless there’s spectral activity. When spirits are allegedly nearby, compasses have been known to spin wildly out of control. Of course, there may be mundane explanations for a confused compass, including interference from electromagnetic sources. Still, it can’t hurt to pack one—in case you get lost in the woods investigating a haunting, a compass may just save your life by guiding you to safety. Unless it goes haywire due to paranormal phenomena, of course. Then you’re screwed.

  Dowsing Rod: Dowsing rods—also known as divining rods—have been used for hundreds of years to search for underground water, buried treasure, and practically anything else that can be hidden beneath the Earth, including human remains.

  When the dowsing rod senses the object the user is seeking, it bends toward the ground or otherwise goes batty (much like a compass supposedly does in the presence of a ghost). Although they can be as simple as a branch or pendulum, the dowsing rods most commonly used by ghost hunters are L-shaped metal rods that come in pairs. DIY paranormal investigators often save themselves a few bucks by bending a couple of metal hangers.

  Multiple studies have been commissioned to study the art of dowsing. The results have been disappointing, to say the least. You’d be better off hauling around a metal detector than a dowsing rod. It won’t lead you to any ghosts, but you could wind up with enough spare change to buy yourself some new hangers that aren’t bent to hell.

  EMF Meter: Popularized by TV ghost hunters, these handheld devices (Figure 9.3) detect fluctuations in AC electromagnetic fields. The human body is known to produce low-level electromagnetic radiation in the form of brain waves—about 12 watts, at any given time. Do spectral entities produce similar radiation? Possibly. The problem, however, is that such a low level of radiation is virtually undetectable at short distances by even the most expensive EMF meters. Until the technology improves, you’re more likely to detect a running refrigerator than a supernatural entity.

  Figure 9.3.

  EMF Meter

  Flashlight: Ghost hunting in the dark without a flashlight or some other source of illumination is a foolhardy business. Every member of your team should carry a flashlight along with spare batteries. While we’re on the topic, you do have a team, right? Ghost hunting isn’t the sort of thing you want to be doing by your lonesome, as Abby’s grandma would say. Know what else her grandma would say? Wear a coat, because you’ll catch a cold. Abby would always put up a fight. The common cold is caused by a virus, not by cool temperatures. Her grandma would relent, and Abby would go without a coat to school, and three days later she would have a sore throat and runny nose. This didn’t prove her grandma was right, however. All it proved is that schools are germ factories. What were we talking about? Anyway, take a flashlight.

  Geiger Counter: Hans Holzer said it best: “Don’t take any equipment with you like Geiger counters. It’s all bull.” If your handheld Geiger counter detects ionizing radiation such as alpha or beta particles, you’ve probably got bigger problems than ghosts to deal with. THESE ARE NOT THE IONS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR. This is probably a good time to let you know you shouldn’t be ghost hunting inside nuclear power plants. While spirits do plague them—just like anywhere else—there are much safer places to conduct investigations.

  Gun: Ghost hunter Elliott O’Donnell was known to barge into haunted houses, revolver at the ready. Fortunately, he never seriously injured himself or any homeowners during his investigations. It should go without saying that guns, crossbows, and other weapons would have only a limited impact on ectoplasm, and do nothing to disperse the PKE behind such manifestations. Leave them at home.

  Infrasound Monitoring Equipment: The typical hearing range for the human ear is 20 to 20,000 Hz. While we have difficulty hearing other frequencies, there is plenty of evidence that we can sense them in other ways. “Infrasound” below the lower limits of our hearing capabilities has been known to cause feelings of dread and unpleasantness in test subjects, earning it the nickname “the fear frequency.” Infrasound occurs naturally in the environment (e.g., thunder, wind, the roar of a tiger). One researcher recorded infrasound being issued from an extremely flatulent elephant! (From both ends!) Infrasound may also be generated by furnaces or other appliances in homes, leading some researchers to posit that infrasound contributes to the uneasiness felt by parapercipients at haunted locales. While it’s still speculative, carrying infrasound monitoring equipment could be beneficial, especially in cases where Class I spirits have been reported.

  Ion Detector: If our theory of spectral materialization is correct, an excess of ions (positive or negative, depending upon ethereal polarization) should be detectable when ghosts manifest. Ions are molecules that have gained or lost electrons (Figure 9.4). They are odorless and harmless. High-density ion concentrations occur in the environment without spectral particle agitation, so it is important to rule out natural explanations (such as thunderstorms) if excess ions are detected. Ion detectors are pricey, but worth the investment.

  Figure 9.4.

  Ionization of air, according to Spectral Field Theory:

  By pulling electrons from surrounding atoms, negatively charged eco-matter causes an excess of positive ions in the air (left). Positively charged spectral eco-matter loses electrons to surrounding atoms, causing an excess of negative ions (right).

  Abby, created in MS Paint

  Motion Detector: Wireless motion sensors should be set up in rooms where ghosts may materialize. While Class I ghosts won’t trigger a motion detector, physical manifestations (Class II or higher) might. They’re cheaper than setting up video cameras, which will save you a lot of money since the typical haunted house has an average of thirteen rooms. Motion detectors can also alert you if a raccoon tries poking its snout around your investigation.

  Night-Vision Goggles: Flashlights are nice for illuminating low-light conditions, but night-vision goggles are a thousand times better. They’re also about a thousand times as expensive.

  Notebook: Paper is one of mankind’s oldest technologies, having been invented almost 2,000 years ago in China. Despite its age, paper remains one of the most important pieces of the ghost hunter’s tool kit. Everything that happens during the course of a metaphysical examination must be recorded in meticulous detail, from paranormal phenomena to parapercipient interviews. Never leave home without a notebook and an ample supply of writing instruments.

  Thermometer: If a thermographic camera is out of your price range, a simple indoor/outdoor thermometer can be used to record ambient temperature changes. As we’ve already pointed out, some researchers believe sudden shifts in temperature, much like changes in electromagnetic and magnetic fields, are associated with paranormal activity. Because many natural reasons exist for these fluctuations, we’re skeptical. Now, if you can use a rectal thermometer to take a ghost’s temperature, that would be proof. Of what, we’re not sure. But proof nonetheless.

  Toilet Paper: Not technically paratechnology, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. And while we’re at it, don’t forget to pack an extra pair of underwear.

  Walkie-Talkies: Handheld two-way radio transceivers—or “walkie-talkies”—are an essential tool for all ghost hunters. Since paranormal investigators should always conduct on-site investigations in teams of two or more, you need a way to stay in constant contact with one another. While two-way radios aren’t your only option, they’re the best one on the market. Cellular phones are large, bulky, and work poorly indoors; pagers are for drug dealers and philosophy majors. As a bonus, you never know when your two-way radio receiver will suddenly pick up spectral interference (i.e., radio voice phenomena).

  Watch: Stylish. Versatile. Indispensable, as you’ll need to note the exact time of paranormal occurrences in your notebook. And, if you get one like Erin’s, it has a calculator built
right into it! Then you can do calculations on the fly. Like calculating how much to leave as a tip at Denny’s after a long night of ghost hunting.

  The Ghostbusters’ Arsenal: An Update

  by Jillian Holtzmann

  Paratechnology has come a long way since the nineties. While you can still find would-be ghost hunters bumbling around in the dark with bent coat hangers—it’s as easy as flipping on your TV and tuning in to whatever channel is desperate enough these days to air Ghost Jumpers—real parapsychologists have progressed beyond such toys. And for that, we have Drs. Yates and Gilbert to thank.

  The Yates-Gilbert Equation, first proposed by Abby and Erin in the original edition of Ghosts from Our Past, laid the foundation for the paratechnological advances of the past two decades. While their theory has yet to achieve consensus from the scientific community, it continues to gain ground amongst forward-thinking physicists. More important, the Yates-Gilbert Equation provided the theoretical blueprints for the PKE-based tools that Abby and I developed during our time together at the Kenneth P. Higgins Institute of Science.

  After we left the school and formed the Ghostbusters, the designs continued to evolve, especially after we were able to test out our equipment on actual ghosts. This cutting-edge paratechnology not only detects spectral particles, but it gives us the option of subduing and trapping ghosts for containment and further study—something Erin and Abby thought all but impossible back when they first wrote Ghosts from Our Past.

  While I’m not able to share every detail about the paratechnology we utilize until the patents are finalized—the Ghostbusters are a commercial enterprise, after all—here’s a quick look at some of the gear you may have seen us hauling around Midtown.

  PKE Meter: PKE meters (Figure 9.5) are high-sensitivity ghost-tracking units used to detect the presence of spectral particles (i.e., psychokinetic energy). These handheld units can also be used to establish the nature of substances and objects believed to be of paranormal origin. PKE meters are equipped with a transducer that converts data into a visually accessible format displayed on the built-in display. Spectral masses appear as pinpoints on a sonar-style graphical interface, allowing for real-time tracking. As the user nears the source of the PKE, the spinning antennae separate and form a V-shape.

  Figure 9.5.

  PKE Meter

  Proton Pack (Mark II): The proton pack (Figure 9.6) generates a beam of positively charged ions (or “proton stream”) to counter ghosts’ negatively charged energy. (In cases of positively charged ectoplasm, polarity can be reversed.) The proton pack is composed of two parts: a backpack housing a portable particle accelerator, and an attached handheld plasma thrower (or “wand”). At lower proton beam strength, the proton stream temporarily subdues ghosts by weakening their ectoplasmic bonds. This allows the user to hold the spectral manifestation in place long enough to deploy a ghost trap. Permanent dispatch of entities is possible at higher settings, although the proton stream’s effects upon spectral energy vary greatly depending upon the ghost’s class. Also, with great power comes great responsibility—I’m talking about property damage and the like. Lower beam current settings are therefore recommended for everyday use.

  Figure 9.6.

  Proton Pack and Wand (Mark II)

  Compared to earlier versions of the proton pack, the Mark II is considerably more compact. Its operation has been streamlined quite a bit: Protons are produced from hydrogen plasma in the ionization chamber and injected by high-voltage electrodes into a miniaturized superconducting proton synchrotron (MSPS). Next, the super-conducting synchrotron (outfitted with liquid helium–cooled magnets) accelerates the protons, which are then fed to the wand via the shielded beam-steering conduit. The Faraday cage attenuates RF noise and provides physical protection to avoid quenches while the cryocooler counteracts helium boil-off from the cryogen reservoir to increase operational time.

  The wand contains its own beam-position monitoring components and active-steering electronics. Although the plasma beam halo can be tuned using the embedded quadrupoles, the plasma discharge from the output beam’s passage through the air causes strong distortion and defocusing. This can make the wand quite unwieldy at times, especially for the novice user. Don’t skip upper-body days at the gym.

  Alas, due to regulatory concerns, I probably shouldn’t mention how the proton pack is powered . . . but let’s just say that the battery has a half-life longer than americium-25. Or equal to americium-25. You know what? Let’s just forget I said anything about americium-25.

  Proton Pack Warnings

  Never point the wand at a living person. Even in jest.

  Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing during operation.

  Keep out of reach of children. Particle accelerators are not toys.

  Do not touch the wand’s nozzle when hot.

  Exercise extreme caution when using indoors. And outdoors.

  Plasma stream convergence is highly, highly discouraged.

  Ghost Trap: The ghost trap (Figure 9.7) has one job, but it’s an important one: It traps paranormal pests long enough to transfer them into the ecto-containment system back at Ghostbusters headquarters.

  Figure 9.7.

  Ghost Trap

  Using a ghost trap is as easy as setting a mousetrap, really. First, spectral entities need to be coaxed into range with application of a proton beam. Once activated, the trap’s doors are opened and the PKE “sink” engaged. Leveraging ethereal polarization, the PKE sink attracts spectral disturbances of a given polarization. Once a specter has been pulled into the trap, the shielded containment doors close. The chamber acts as an ethereal resonance cavity, trapping the entity between nodes of standing waves in the spectral field. Traps should ideally be used to house only a single entity at a time. An occupancy indicator lights up, letting the user know if someone—or something—is inside. And if the trap is a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’. Seriously: If it starts bouncing around, don’t touch it. Or kiss it. Looking at you, Erin.

  Jillian Holtzmann is a former associate professor of paranormal studies at the Kenneth P. Higgins Institute of Science. A brilliant nuclear engineer, she was once considered for a position at the European Organization for Nuclear Research. These days, you can find Holtzmann at the Ghostbusters’ headquarters in New York City, where she is Senior Proton Wrangler. Actually, she doesn’t have an official job title—none of the Ghostbusters do. Still, even a made-up title sounds better than just saying she “dicks around with ghostbusting equipment all day.”

  Chapter 10

  Preparing for the Metaphysical Examination

  Choosing a Location

  Now that you have the proper equipment, the next step is finding a haunted location. In some respects, we are on the verge of a golden age of ghost hunting. As the World Wide Web continues to grow, news of paranormal incidents is spreading faster than ever. Unfortunately, as we’ve discussed, parapercipients are just as reticent as ever to let metaphysical examiners into their homes. Maybe more so.

  One way to find agreeable parapercipients is to advertise. The Ghost Club, for instance, boldly announced their intentions in an ad in the Daily Telegraph, expressing their “desire to obtain a house haunted by ghosts, in town or in country, for a limited period.” Subsequent groups, such as the Society for Psychical Research, attempted similar stunts, usually attracting their fair share of pranksters and unstable individuals. So this isn’t the best route, really.

  You may have better results by asking friends or family for referrals (provided they are sympathetic to your beliefs) or keeping an eye out for stories of strange occurrences in the local newspaper. You will obviously need to obtain the homeowner’s approval to investigate the premises. Understandably, many owners of private residences aren’t keen on having a group of ghost hunters camp out overnight, waving strange beeping devices and taking photographs.

  Businesses are equally wary of ghost hunters
—they don’t want anyone disturbing their customers, after all. The good news is many businesses will open themselves up for investigation during off-hours, especially if a troublesome specter is bothering customers and staff. Just be forewarned that if the business advertises itself as haunted, it’s probably already been investigated to death (no pun intended).

  Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly haunted types of locations, from haunted houses to paranormal penitentiaries.

  Commonly Haunted Locations

  Houses: Houses, without a doubt, are the most haunted of all locales. Not only do homes outnumber other structures, but they’re where we spend the bulk of our time—eating, sleeping, and, yes, dying. The older the home, the more likely it is to be haunted, simply by virtue of the greater number of residents who’ve inhabited the structure. When you’re looking for haunted houses, don’t neglect apartment buildings, trailers, and other dwellings. Except for dorms. Dorms are haunted only by hairspray and bad decisions.

  Examples of Haunted Houses: Aldridge Mansion (New York City, New York), Belcourt Castle (Newport, Rhode Island), Lemp Mansion (St. Louis, Missouri), Moore House (Villisca, Iowa), Myrtles Plantation (St. Francisville, Louisiana), The White House (Washington, D.C.), Winchester Mansion (San Jose, California)

  Theaters: Virtually every historic theater or opera house has a resident ghost. These supernatural nuisances cause actors to stumble, lights to flicker, and props to falter during performances. Some people believe that audiences, musicians, and actors release emotional energy during performances, which encourages spectral activity. What’s more likely is that when accidents happen on stage, it’s easier to blame them on a spook rather than anyone involved in the production. Scout theaters with a healthy dose of skepticism.