Investigating the paranormal has increased in popularity over the last decade and one has to ask how much of this is down to increased media interest and an increase of television programmes covering the subject. While in some respects the raised profile and popularity can be beneficial, bringing as it does a new breed of paranormal investigator it also brings it’s own problems mainly due to the misconceptions people have of the work we do. Misconceptions brought on by watching programmes that are for entertainment and that do not truly represent the work of a paranormal investigation team. While many groups out there work at a very high standard they are out numbered by groups that do not fully understand the concept of good investigating practise and this is highlighted by the number of groups we see set up and disappear within just a few months. Through this article Esoteric Investigations will report fully on the reality of paranormal investigating, dispel any myths about it being glamorous or excitement every five minutes and give some pointers on how to make your paranormal team successful now and in the future.
Step One - Setting up your Group
Seems simple enough doesn’t it ? Get together with a group of people who share your interest, buy a few night vision camcorders and away you go. This will work, for a very short time, however without clear guidelines of your aims as a group the chances are you will not progress beyond this point. And, after a few nights in the cold and dark the whole venture will seem much less exciting. So, plan your aims. Where do you want the group to be in say six months time ? Do you want to mix science with mediumship ? Do you want to carry out experiments rather than just film in the dark ? Do you want to build a web-site on which to report your findings and do you know enough about the equipment needed to begin on this path ? Before you even consider your first night as paranormal investigators you need all this aspects of it in place. You need to have done the research, had meetings with your team to find out where their strengths and weaknesses lie and most importantly of all you need to make sure that everyone in the group is working towards the same aims and objectives. Better to find out now if this isn’t going to be what some people want BEFORE you find yourself a few months down the line battling over the direction of the group rather than getting on with the work in hand. One word of warning however…do not go out spending a fortune on the vast choice of “paranormal equipment” out there immediately. Or starters go out with your camcorders and your digital cameras, spend a few investigations in this way as a test period to see if it really is what you want as an individual and as a team. Only when you KNOW the group is going to stick with it do you begin to look into all the other equipment at your disposal.
Step Two - Learn the Trade
So, you’ve set up your group, you’re all happy with the direction it’s going in. you’ve done a few preliminary investigations and now you’re ready to start doing the job properly. First of all lets be aware of the sheer amount of work involved. Forget the idea that this is about turning up at a location, doing a bit of filming waving a few bits of equipment around and then going home and waiting for the next one. Before you can even consider your first serious investigation there is a lot of work to be done. Research the type of equipment you might be using and the theories behind that equipment. We can all wave EMF meters around but do we fully understand the reasons for doing so ? Believers and sceptics have very different views on what EMF reading can mean and, as a successful group you need to evaluate both possibilities at every point. The same goes for the use of infra-red thermometers and all other equipment you may find yourselves using. Look at the work of other groups, compare their working practises, their approach to investigating and reporting and most importantly their success in the field. No-one would suggest you have to be a carbon copy of another group, of course you will put your own slant on things and come up with your own ideas, but there is nothing wrong with getting positive advice and pointers from groups who already have a degree of success in this area of work.
Also spend time learning about supposed types of haunting (there are many more than people think).
Look into supposed types of entity and learn what differentiates each type, learn about theories such as replay and stone tape. Also read up on scientific theories for types of activity that people may encounter. Remember, a successful group looks at evidence from both sides and allows the public to decide what may have rational explanation and what may be paranormal. Don’t go in with the belief that you can change the world and PROVE the paranormal. This will never happen. All you as a group can do in reality is find proof and evidence for yourselves, what the public, the sceptics and the believers choose to take from it will be very much up to them.
Step Three - Legalities and Locations
So, you’ve had a few practise runs, decided this is for you, researched and learnt about aspects of the paranormal and paranormal investigating and got yourself some equipment. Before you go any further you MUST now sort yourselves out Public Liability Insurance ! Most venues will ask for this and even if they don’t it is essential you are covered as a group. The insurance will cover you against any damages that might occur in a location as a result of your actions and will also cover against injuries to members of the public should you take any as guests on one of your investigations. The best insurance company we have come across for this type of cover (and the one we have used for many years) is http://www.events-insurance.co.uk/ if you contact this organisation they will talk you through the process. AND don’t worry, it won’t take ages to explain what you do, over recent years they’ve got used to paranormal groups approaching them !
Now all you have to do is find a venue and go for it ! Ok so it’s not quite that simple. First of all let’s look at the type of venue you are going to look for. There are of course many out there that will be more than easy to get into. These are the venues you will see on most Paranormal web-sites and indeed will have seen on a number of television programmes. Let’s look at the negatives of this approach. First of all cost. As a new group having just spent out on equipment and insurance , funds may be low. What you will discover is that, on the back of their popularity and publicity, many of these places charge vast amounts of money for an overnight visit. Problem two is that there will be no doubt you will have heard, read and watched so much about these locations the power of suggestion becomes too big an issue to be ignored. And, problem three is that in the world of paranormal investigating very few serious investigators and groups will give credence to investigations carried out in such locations. (Due mainly to the issues mentioned in Problem two).
So, what are the best locations to approach ? Obviously at first it is more practical to look into locations in or around the area in which the team is based. Again one of the reasons for this is financial, travelling long distances costs money and puts a huge strain on the finances of the team members. Another reason is one of physical stamina. You will be surprised by how much a paranormal investigation drains even the fittest of people. Your body clock is thrown out of sync and you are often working at the time your energy levels are at their lowest ebb. As you get more experience and your system gets used to investigating you will find the effects lessen, but initially you do not want to be travelling long distances to a location, carrying out an investigation and then already very tired have to drive a long distance to return home. Of course, if you are in a healthy financial position and can afford overnight stays at Bed and Breakfasts or Travelodge’s this does somewhat extend the possibilities. ( if you are going to do this remember to ensure where you are staying will allow you to return and have access to your room at very unusual times of the morning ! )
Once you have decided the areas you are interested in discuss as a team the type of location you would be interested in. Remember, just because a location isn’t advertised as having paranormal activity doesn’t mean you won’t find any. In fact I think we can safely say that the locations that have given us the best results have been those that have not been previously investigated or recognised as having any activity what-so-ever. Look for locations with historical interest or of some age as these can offer more in the way of atmosphere and interest, however, don’t forget that in the world of the paranormal it is believed that what a building is built on is as important as the building itself. Even a new building can present you with evidence and experiences. I would suggest however that most of you would prefer to go for the older buildings that bring with them the environment and atmospheric conditions that make the whole experience more interesting and exciting.
When choosing a location there are other things to consider. Always look at the size of the building and ask yourselves if it is too big for you to attempt to cover in one night. As you start out slightly smaller locations are easier when it comes to organising your investigation. As you gain more experience the larger locations will become an option, remembering that it is better to visit a large location twice than to rush round trying to cover it all in one go, missing out on proper detailed investigation. Hotels and Public Houses often attract paranormal groups and, in all fairness, they often have a lot to offer. But, a word of warning. Due to the nature of the location it is usually the case that groups cannot begin to investigate until after midnight when the bars are closed and the building is empty. This can lead to short investigations and limited evidence. When considering investigating an hotel also bear in mind there will be guests staying on the premises. This can make it difficult to rule out any sounds that may be picked up during the night.
Step Four - Preparing for the Investigation
We will now assume that you have found your location, agreed a start time and end time with the proprietor and arranged where and when the team will meet. So what more do you need to know ? Very little is the easy answer, in fact, the less you know about the location the better as this prevents the power of suggestion being an issue. This does not apply only to groups who use mediumship but to scientific groups as well. Knowing too much history can lead you to focus on certain areas of the location that might not actually bring forth much evidence and can also raise expectations of the type of activity you might encounter. Wait until the night, follow your instincts and see where the investigation takes you. There are however some things you do need to know. Find out from the proprietor if there are any areas you may not have access to (the last thing you want is to be setting off alarms or walking into someone’s bedroom ! ) Check for any health and safety issues and be aware of any areas that might be uneven underfoot and need extra caution. As a team you may decide to bypass these areas as a precaution. The next point may seem rather obvious, but it is something we often forget. Check where the closest parking is to the location. The last thing you need on the night of an investigation is to be driving round for half an hour trying to park your car. And, finally ask for a layout of the building or, if one is not available get a team member to visit the location prior to the investigation and draw one that can be scanned into the computer and sent to the rest of the group.
Having now got an understanding of the building you can begin to organise the night, or, more specifically organise how you will spend your time to the most advantage. Look at the areas and plan how much time you can spend in each place in order that the location be investigated as fully as possible. When doing this however, allow for flexibility ! If you have allocated a certain area half an hour and during that time you have a lot of activity you might wish to stay there a little longer. While a certain amount of planning is good, in paranormal investigating no plan can be followed to the letter.
This is also the time to decide if you are all going to be staying together or splitting into groups. When deciding this take into consideration the experience of the team members, the size of the location and the amount of equipment at your disposal. Also at this time agree as a team who will be performing what tasks during the night, for example, filming, note taking, taking readings and mediumship (if appropriate). By looking at the plan of the building decide where you are going to place a trigger object or any other experiments should you be using them during the investigation and decide who will be setting these experiments up.
It all seems like a lot of work doesn’t it ? And many groups would say most of this could be done on the night of the investigation itself. But remember, this sort of organisation can take an hour or more and, that is an hour out of your investigation time. When you get to a location you want to get the equipment out, set up what needs setting up and get on with the main work of the night as soon as possible ! Also remember, the more effort that is put into this before hand the less stress there will be on the team on the night of the investigation itself !
And finally, EQUIPMENT ! Work out what equipment you need and who is supplying what. It is all too easy to arrive on an investigation and find something has been left behind or that equipment hasn’t been charged up (the downfall of many an investigation). Any good team member will have a check list in their equipment case stating what needs to be in there, what needs to be charged up (camcorders etc) and what batteries need to be checked for any other equipment. Don’t be afraid to be slightly over zealous with this list. You might think writing “note paper and pens” a little too obvious but I am sure I’m not the only member of the Esoteric Team who knows of at least one occasion when teams have forgotten these most obvious of items !
Step Five - The Investigation
So, at last we get to the investigation ! The location is sorted, the plans are made and you all arrive ready and full of enthusiasm ! The equipment is ready and everyone wants to get started, but it is at this point eagerness to get started can lead to things not being done in the most productive way, so take your time and always keep one thing in mind. You are there to collect evidence, evidence that you can present to the public precisely and allowing as little doubt as possible in your findings. Let’s not get too carried away, for some no evidence will ever be enough and however good the quality of your work it will be doubted. But, for those with a healthy approach, the better the evidence the more seriously your work will be taken. Also bare in mind what we said earlier. Much of this is about your own experience and about getting evidence for yourselves on a personal level. The better you collect this evidence the more it will mean to you as individuals and as a team.
So lets begin with base line testing. Many groups spend the first part of the investigation going around the location taking EMF and temperature readings. The importance of this is that it gives an indication of any natural EMF’s or cold spots in the location in order that should a reading seem unusual during an investigation it is immediately possible to evaluate whether or not this is indeed unexplained at that time or whether it is merely something normal for that part of the location. It is obvious that temperatures will change as the night progresses, and one would expect that the temperature would go down. For that reason temperature changes are only really valid if they go up during the night or if the fluctuations are rapid and over many degrees. However, in our opinion base line testing should go beyond this. It takes time (but again the best work always does) but there are many things within a building that need to be checked and noted if necessary. Such things include broken windows (how many people have exclaimed they are feeling a cold blast only to find later they were sitting near a cracked window). Also worth noting are doors that open or close on their own purely down to the way they are hung and places where animals may be present. (this is especially important where parts of the building have holes in the roof where birds could be nesting). Floor boards are also important. In many old buildings the floorboards can extend across the whole room or even into the next room. Someone moving on a floor board at one end of a room can create vibration or even creaks at the other end of the room or even in an adjoining room. As I mentioned previously this all takes time but it can save a lot of wasted investigation and often many red faces later on in the night.
Now we move on to the Trigger Object. This is not essential on an investigation however it does offer another way of collecting possible evidence. First of all what is a trigger object ? In very basic terms it is something placed in an area of a location, set in a certain way and left undisturbed by any team members during the night. It is important of course that the trigger object is placed somewhere where team members will not be investigating, in fact the further away from any team activity the better. And the aim of the trigger object, to prove paranormal activity by some movement of the object while no team members are present. The type of object that is best to use is open to some debate. Some groups still like to place a cross on a piece of paper and draw round it in the hope that during the night the cross will move. Others prefer to use something that would have been relevant to the location in times past. There are many possibilities and your team will find their preferred way of doing this. Such a simple experiment to set up and yet one of the experiments most groups fail to use to it’s best advantage. One of the biggest mistakes groups make is to leave the trigger object with no visual recording equipment focussed on it. This of course means that even if, on returning to the object it is found to have moved there is no recorded evidence of this movement and more importantly no proof that a team member has not in fact returned to the area and moved the object themselves. Of course even if the object is filmed you still have to prove no-one was in the room doing anything that may have caused vibration that could have caused a movement. And, of course if you are lucky enough to capture EVP you need to prove no-one was in the room. So, a basic guide to setting a trigger object is as follows. The person setting up the object should enter the area and begin the set up process while someone films them from the doorway or exit route. The trigger object should be set with a camcorder focussed on it. This camcorder should be facing also in the direction of the doorway, therefore anyone entering the room will be clearly seen on tape. Once the trigger object is set the team member can leave the room with the person filming the set up doing a final sweep of the area with the camcorder to prove no-one is left in the area. For added security motion detectors can also be placed in the doorway in order that anyone attempting to enter the room will set of an alarm. This all sounds very complex, but let’s be honest if you’re going to try to gather serious evidence the hard work and the detail is essential. And, after two or three investigations this becomes second nature anyway and a trigger object can be set up properly within minutes.
And now we move on to the actual vigils. This section will not deal with asking out, what to say or anything of that nature as this is up to the individual teams and team members. The only thing we would say is that RESPECT should be in place at all times. Whether you believe in spirit or not none of really have the definitive answer and therefore it is always worth remembering the “what if” factor. If you are interested in paranormal investigating the chances are there is some element of belief (or wishing to believe) and as such it is important to speak as you would wish to be spoken to. If there is such thing as spirit they are not there to be circus performers or to do party tricks and, surely if we wish them to respond to us we must act in a way that is responsible and respectful. And, it is important you also show respect for the location. For the time you are there you are guests and those guests who behave disrespectfully often spell the end of investigating at the location and take the opportunity off other groups.
So what is important during these vigils. We return again to the main focus of paranormal investigating, collecting evidence of paranormal activity in a professional way that eliminates as much doubt in the evidence as possible. To this end there are a few things that should be born in mind at all times. First of all we look at temptation, that being the temptation to switch on torches and start loud and excited conversation the moment a sound is heard or a light is captured on camcorder. Of course, the minute you do this you are potentially destroying or missing any evidence that follows immediately afterwards. Torches will affect the night vision camcorders making them blur and therefore miss anything visual that may be occurring. And obviously immediate discussion will drown out any possible sounds that may be occurring. It is difficult in the heat of the moment when the adrenalin starts pumping but it is essential that any reactions are kept to a minimum until you are as sure as you can be that the current activity has ended for the moment. This might take some time to get used to. I would suggest that all of us who were to answer honestly would admit that in the early days of investigating our finger was constantly on the torch switch ready to press as soon as something unusual happened. At the end of the day it is all about experience and training the mind to work in a different way.
All activity needs to be assessed as soon as possible after the event. Not all noises will be paranormal and not all lights will be unexplainable. In fact, unfortunately most of this type of phenomenon will have perfectly rational explanation, but finding those explanations is as important as any other work we do. What we find as an explanation on one investigation might help us evaluate things more quickly on future investigations For people taking notes it is essential all activity is noted, but that it also includes steps taken to find rational explanation and where it is found it too is noted clearly. This not only acts as a reminder should similar phenomenon happen in a future investigation but it also shows a team working professionally and with the ability to be logical. The only time we can call something paranormal is when we have ruled out as much as possible in terms of environmental factors. Groups that do not do this and who claim all audio and visual experiences are paranormal will not have their evidence taken seriously and for any serious paranormal group having your work treated with respect and some degree of credibility is what keeps you striving to work harder and constantly improve your working practises.
In terms of offering credible evidence even the positioning of camcorders becomes a factor. One of the biggest mistakes groups make when filming vigils is the lack of coverage of team members. A loud noise, or spoon flying across the room means nothing if you cannot prove no team member was responsible. Where possible the best solution to this problem is to place a camcorder high up in the room, therefore covering visually all areas of the room and as a result all the team members present. Of course this is not always possible. Room size can be an issue as often in a large room the night vision will not extend far enough to get into all the corners or even extend to the furthest ends of the room. Where this is the case it is up to those filming to ensure that every team member is within the vision of a camcorder at all times. This isn’t to say that the whole group needs to huddle together at all times, but camcorders need to be used wisely. In reference to this point it is also important that team members don’t go off on a little wander of their own. Sitting in a room for an hour or more with not as much as a rattle or tap can become rather frustrating and the temptation to wander into another room or even nip out for a quick cigarette can be great. The minute however a team member is missing from the group and from vision any sounds or physical phenomenon can be questioned as possibly the work of that missing person.
I previously referred to note taking and this is probably a good time to expand on this subject. Taking notes is an essential part of paranormal investigating. The person writing the notes is as important to the investigation as anyone else as it is their reporting on the events that acts as a reference from which a detailed and exact report can be written. It is very important that notes of any activity or reported sightings/sounds are written immediately after the event has occurred. Ones memory cannot always be relied upon and in a very short time the actual order of events or description of an event can become distorted or confused. Waiting until a break or until the end of an investigation to write notes is unlikely to give anything like a true record of the nights activity. (For more on the subject of memory problems on investigations please refer to the “psychology” article in the science section of this web-site)
I briefly mentioned breaks in the last part of this article. Just a brief note on this to say breaks are essential on investigations. Vigils of approximately one hour are ideal with short breaks in between each vigil. This allows team members to have something to eat and drink, to ground themselves and to relax a little. Taking these regular breaks will reduce the effects of tiredness on the team as the night progresses.
Step Six - Post Investigation
Having finished the investigation (and had a good sleep !!) it is important to publish a report of your findings if you are to become recognised as a professional group. It is advisable that the person who took the notes does this as it can often avoid problems reading another’s handwriting or shorthand. Before the report is written however it is important that everyone watches their footage and makes notes of anything unusual found on their tape. There have been instances where EVP has been heard on tape when nothing was heard at the actual time in the investigation so it is vital that people watch and listen to their tapes without taking any shortcuts. It is sometimes tempting to skip bits, especially if on the night there were times when nothing appeared to have happened, but a lot of evidence is lost in this way. Once the tapes have been watched the notes can be added to the full report either as clarification of something that was seen or heard at the time or as follow up notes if things are captured that weren’t seen or heard at the time. One of the most tempting tapes to skip through is the trigger object. Three hours of watching the same thing can become quite laborious. However, even if the trigger object did not appear to move you will still need to listen for unusual sounds or maybe movement around the objects itself.
Verifying information is also essential to the report writing process. If mediums have come up with information it is important to check if the information can be verified either by the proprietor or by looking back at records. This sort of post investigation research is also important for other reasons. Maybe, for example, a lot of activity seemed to centre around a particular part of the location, by studying the history of the building interesting links can be found between events that might have happened and the activity the groups experienced. At the end of the day it all adds to the interest and to the evidence.
Some groups prefer to keep their reports and findings to themselves, however good reporting leads to a good reputation which in turn opens doors to more locations. Plus of course many locations accept paranormal investigations as a form of publicity so will be more apt to accept you if they know the report etc will be made public. There are now many web building sites that are fairly basic, but they are easy to use and do the job adequately. Of course it depends on the team members and their knowledge of computers and web-building. Many groups begin by putting reports and pictures on their site, some however have the knowledge and equipment to put film footage on. As long as the reporting is done in detail and incorporates the things discussed in this article then even just in text form it will be of interest to many people out there. One thing to remember, often the proprietors of locations you visit will be interested in your findings, and will appreciate a copy of the report and any photographs. This can also lead to positive publicity for the group as they often show other people this work. To reiterate on a previous point. Getting yourselves known and respected opens doors to locations that might otherwise be closed to you.
And Finally !!!!
Just a few things to say about paranormal investigating as a whole. It is a lot of work and the actual investigations are only a very small part of it, so, if you are only after the excitement and adrenalin maybe Ghost Walks are more for you. For those who investigate properly more time is spent sitting in the cold and dark with absolutely nothing going on than is spent actually experiencing any activity and this is where many people become disillusioned, however when something unexplained does happened it is well worth the wait. You might come away from some investigations where nothing at all of any note has happened. Don’t let this put you off and don’t be afraid to write a report of the night stating everything you did but also stating nothing came of it. With every investigation you gain experience so even those where nothing occurs will bring positive learning experiences to the team. Also, reporting that nothing of great note happened shows that you are an honest team who present things only as they were. No team experiences vast amounts of activity on every investigation they carry out, despite what certain “entertainment” programmes might suggest.
Happy Investigating !!!
Report copyrighted to Anne Piper 2008
Step One - Setting up your Group
Seems simple enough doesn’t it ? Get together with a group of people who share your interest, buy a few night vision camcorders and away you go. This will work, for a very short time, however without clear guidelines of your aims as a group the chances are you will not progress beyond this point. And, after a few nights in the cold and dark the whole venture will seem much less exciting. So, plan your aims. Where do you want the group to be in say six months time ? Do you want to mix science with mediumship ? Do you want to carry out experiments rather than just film in the dark ? Do you want to build a web-site on which to report your findings and do you know enough about the equipment needed to begin on this path ? Before you even consider your first night as paranormal investigators you need all this aspects of it in place. You need to have done the research, had meetings with your team to find out where their strengths and weaknesses lie and most importantly of all you need to make sure that everyone in the group is working towards the same aims and objectives. Better to find out now if this isn’t going to be what some people want BEFORE you find yourself a few months down the line battling over the direction of the group rather than getting on with the work in hand. One word of warning however…do not go out spending a fortune on the vast choice of “paranormal equipment” out there immediately. Or starters go out with your camcorders and your digital cameras, spend a few investigations in this way as a test period to see if it really is what you want as an individual and as a team. Only when you KNOW the group is going to stick with it do you begin to look into all the other equipment at your disposal.
Step Two - Learn the Trade
So, you’ve set up your group, you’re all happy with the direction it’s going in. you’ve done a few preliminary investigations and now you’re ready to start doing the job properly. First of all lets be aware of the sheer amount of work involved. Forget the idea that this is about turning up at a location, doing a bit of filming waving a few bits of equipment around and then going home and waiting for the next one. Before you can even consider your first serious investigation there is a lot of work to be done. Research the type of equipment you might be using and the theories behind that equipment. We can all wave EMF meters around but do we fully understand the reasons for doing so ? Believers and sceptics have very different views on what EMF reading can mean and, as a successful group you need to evaluate both possibilities at every point. The same goes for the use of infra-red thermometers and all other equipment you may find yourselves using. Look at the work of other groups, compare their working practises, their approach to investigating and reporting and most importantly their success in the field. No-one would suggest you have to be a carbon copy of another group, of course you will put your own slant on things and come up with your own ideas, but there is nothing wrong with getting positive advice and pointers from groups who already have a degree of success in this area of work.
Also spend time learning about supposed types of haunting (there are many more than people think).
Look into supposed types of entity and learn what differentiates each type, learn about theories such as replay and stone tape. Also read up on scientific theories for types of activity that people may encounter. Remember, a successful group looks at evidence from both sides and allows the public to decide what may have rational explanation and what may be paranormal. Don’t go in with the belief that you can change the world and PROVE the paranormal. This will never happen. All you as a group can do in reality is find proof and evidence for yourselves, what the public, the sceptics and the believers choose to take from it will be very much up to them.
Step Three - Legalities and Locations
So, you’ve had a few practise runs, decided this is for you, researched and learnt about aspects of the paranormal and paranormal investigating and got yourself some equipment. Before you go any further you MUST now sort yourselves out Public Liability Insurance ! Most venues will ask for this and even if they don’t it is essential you are covered as a group. The insurance will cover you against any damages that might occur in a location as a result of your actions and will also cover against injuries to members of the public should you take any as guests on one of your investigations. The best insurance company we have come across for this type of cover (and the one we have used for many years) is http://www.events-insurance.co.uk/ if you contact this organisation they will talk you through the process. AND don’t worry, it won’t take ages to explain what you do, over recent years they’ve got used to paranormal groups approaching them !
Now all you have to do is find a venue and go for it ! Ok so it’s not quite that simple. First of all let’s look at the type of venue you are going to look for. There are of course many out there that will be more than easy to get into. These are the venues you will see on most Paranormal web-sites and indeed will have seen on a number of television programmes. Let’s look at the negatives of this approach. First of all cost. As a new group having just spent out on equipment and insurance , funds may be low. What you will discover is that, on the back of their popularity and publicity, many of these places charge vast amounts of money for an overnight visit. Problem two is that there will be no doubt you will have heard, read and watched so much about these locations the power of suggestion becomes too big an issue to be ignored. And, problem three is that in the world of paranormal investigating very few serious investigators and groups will give credence to investigations carried out in such locations. (Due mainly to the issues mentioned in Problem two).
So, what are the best locations to approach ? Obviously at first it is more practical to look into locations in or around the area in which the team is based. Again one of the reasons for this is financial, travelling long distances costs money and puts a huge strain on the finances of the team members. Another reason is one of physical stamina. You will be surprised by how much a paranormal investigation drains even the fittest of people. Your body clock is thrown out of sync and you are often working at the time your energy levels are at their lowest ebb. As you get more experience and your system gets used to investigating you will find the effects lessen, but initially you do not want to be travelling long distances to a location, carrying out an investigation and then already very tired have to drive a long distance to return home. Of course, if you are in a healthy financial position and can afford overnight stays at Bed and Breakfasts or Travelodge’s this does somewhat extend the possibilities. ( if you are going to do this remember to ensure where you are staying will allow you to return and have access to your room at very unusual times of the morning ! )
Once you have decided the areas you are interested in discuss as a team the type of location you would be interested in. Remember, just because a location isn’t advertised as having paranormal activity doesn’t mean you won’t find any. In fact I think we can safely say that the locations that have given us the best results have been those that have not been previously investigated or recognised as having any activity what-so-ever. Look for locations with historical interest or of some age as these can offer more in the way of atmosphere and interest, however, don’t forget that in the world of the paranormal it is believed that what a building is built on is as important as the building itself. Even a new building can present you with evidence and experiences. I would suggest however that most of you would prefer to go for the older buildings that bring with them the environment and atmospheric conditions that make the whole experience more interesting and exciting.
When choosing a location there are other things to consider. Always look at the size of the building and ask yourselves if it is too big for you to attempt to cover in one night. As you start out slightly smaller locations are easier when it comes to organising your investigation. As you gain more experience the larger locations will become an option, remembering that it is better to visit a large location twice than to rush round trying to cover it all in one go, missing out on proper detailed investigation. Hotels and Public Houses often attract paranormal groups and, in all fairness, they often have a lot to offer. But, a word of warning. Due to the nature of the location it is usually the case that groups cannot begin to investigate until after midnight when the bars are closed and the building is empty. This can lead to short investigations and limited evidence. When considering investigating an hotel also bear in mind there will be guests staying on the premises. This can make it difficult to rule out any sounds that may be picked up during the night.
Step Four - Preparing for the Investigation
We will now assume that you have found your location, agreed a start time and end time with the proprietor and arranged where and when the team will meet. So what more do you need to know ? Very little is the easy answer, in fact, the less you know about the location the better as this prevents the power of suggestion being an issue. This does not apply only to groups who use mediumship but to scientific groups as well. Knowing too much history can lead you to focus on certain areas of the location that might not actually bring forth much evidence and can also raise expectations of the type of activity you might encounter. Wait until the night, follow your instincts and see where the investigation takes you. There are however some things you do need to know. Find out from the proprietor if there are any areas you may not have access to (the last thing you want is to be setting off alarms or walking into someone’s bedroom ! ) Check for any health and safety issues and be aware of any areas that might be uneven underfoot and need extra caution. As a team you may decide to bypass these areas as a precaution. The next point may seem rather obvious, but it is something we often forget. Check where the closest parking is to the location. The last thing you need on the night of an investigation is to be driving round for half an hour trying to park your car. And, finally ask for a layout of the building or, if one is not available get a team member to visit the location prior to the investigation and draw one that can be scanned into the computer and sent to the rest of the group.
Having now got an understanding of the building you can begin to organise the night, or, more specifically organise how you will spend your time to the most advantage. Look at the areas and plan how much time you can spend in each place in order that the location be investigated as fully as possible. When doing this however, allow for flexibility ! If you have allocated a certain area half an hour and during that time you have a lot of activity you might wish to stay there a little longer. While a certain amount of planning is good, in paranormal investigating no plan can be followed to the letter.
This is also the time to decide if you are all going to be staying together or splitting into groups. When deciding this take into consideration the experience of the team members, the size of the location and the amount of equipment at your disposal. Also at this time agree as a team who will be performing what tasks during the night, for example, filming, note taking, taking readings and mediumship (if appropriate). By looking at the plan of the building decide where you are going to place a trigger object or any other experiments should you be using them during the investigation and decide who will be setting these experiments up.
It all seems like a lot of work doesn’t it ? And many groups would say most of this could be done on the night of the investigation itself. But remember, this sort of organisation can take an hour or more and, that is an hour out of your investigation time. When you get to a location you want to get the equipment out, set up what needs setting up and get on with the main work of the night as soon as possible ! Also remember, the more effort that is put into this before hand the less stress there will be on the team on the night of the investigation itself !
And finally, EQUIPMENT ! Work out what equipment you need and who is supplying what. It is all too easy to arrive on an investigation and find something has been left behind or that equipment hasn’t been charged up (the downfall of many an investigation). Any good team member will have a check list in their equipment case stating what needs to be in there, what needs to be charged up (camcorders etc) and what batteries need to be checked for any other equipment. Don’t be afraid to be slightly over zealous with this list. You might think writing “note paper and pens” a little too obvious but I am sure I’m not the only member of the Esoteric Team who knows of at least one occasion when teams have forgotten these most obvious of items !
Step Five - The Investigation
So, at last we get to the investigation ! The location is sorted, the plans are made and you all arrive ready and full of enthusiasm ! The equipment is ready and everyone wants to get started, but it is at this point eagerness to get started can lead to things not being done in the most productive way, so take your time and always keep one thing in mind. You are there to collect evidence, evidence that you can present to the public precisely and allowing as little doubt as possible in your findings. Let’s not get too carried away, for some no evidence will ever be enough and however good the quality of your work it will be doubted. But, for those with a healthy approach, the better the evidence the more seriously your work will be taken. Also bare in mind what we said earlier. Much of this is about your own experience and about getting evidence for yourselves on a personal level. The better you collect this evidence the more it will mean to you as individuals and as a team.
So lets begin with base line testing. Many groups spend the first part of the investigation going around the location taking EMF and temperature readings. The importance of this is that it gives an indication of any natural EMF’s or cold spots in the location in order that should a reading seem unusual during an investigation it is immediately possible to evaluate whether or not this is indeed unexplained at that time or whether it is merely something normal for that part of the location. It is obvious that temperatures will change as the night progresses, and one would expect that the temperature would go down. For that reason temperature changes are only really valid if they go up during the night or if the fluctuations are rapid and over many degrees. However, in our opinion base line testing should go beyond this. It takes time (but again the best work always does) but there are many things within a building that need to be checked and noted if necessary. Such things include broken windows (how many people have exclaimed they are feeling a cold blast only to find later they were sitting near a cracked window). Also worth noting are doors that open or close on their own purely down to the way they are hung and places where animals may be present. (this is especially important where parts of the building have holes in the roof where birds could be nesting). Floor boards are also important. In many old buildings the floorboards can extend across the whole room or even into the next room. Someone moving on a floor board at one end of a room can create vibration or even creaks at the other end of the room or even in an adjoining room. As I mentioned previously this all takes time but it can save a lot of wasted investigation and often many red faces later on in the night.
Now we move on to the Trigger Object. This is not essential on an investigation however it does offer another way of collecting possible evidence. First of all what is a trigger object ? In very basic terms it is something placed in an area of a location, set in a certain way and left undisturbed by any team members during the night. It is important of course that the trigger object is placed somewhere where team members will not be investigating, in fact the further away from any team activity the better. And the aim of the trigger object, to prove paranormal activity by some movement of the object while no team members are present. The type of object that is best to use is open to some debate. Some groups still like to place a cross on a piece of paper and draw round it in the hope that during the night the cross will move. Others prefer to use something that would have been relevant to the location in times past. There are many possibilities and your team will find their preferred way of doing this. Such a simple experiment to set up and yet one of the experiments most groups fail to use to it’s best advantage. One of the biggest mistakes groups make is to leave the trigger object with no visual recording equipment focussed on it. This of course means that even if, on returning to the object it is found to have moved there is no recorded evidence of this movement and more importantly no proof that a team member has not in fact returned to the area and moved the object themselves. Of course even if the object is filmed you still have to prove no-one was in the room doing anything that may have caused vibration that could have caused a movement. And, of course if you are lucky enough to capture EVP you need to prove no-one was in the room. So, a basic guide to setting a trigger object is as follows. The person setting up the object should enter the area and begin the set up process while someone films them from the doorway or exit route. The trigger object should be set with a camcorder focussed on it. This camcorder should be facing also in the direction of the doorway, therefore anyone entering the room will be clearly seen on tape. Once the trigger object is set the team member can leave the room with the person filming the set up doing a final sweep of the area with the camcorder to prove no-one is left in the area. For added security motion detectors can also be placed in the doorway in order that anyone attempting to enter the room will set of an alarm. This all sounds very complex, but let’s be honest if you’re going to try to gather serious evidence the hard work and the detail is essential. And, after two or three investigations this becomes second nature anyway and a trigger object can be set up properly within minutes.
And now we move on to the actual vigils. This section will not deal with asking out, what to say or anything of that nature as this is up to the individual teams and team members. The only thing we would say is that RESPECT should be in place at all times. Whether you believe in spirit or not none of really have the definitive answer and therefore it is always worth remembering the “what if” factor. If you are interested in paranormal investigating the chances are there is some element of belief (or wishing to believe) and as such it is important to speak as you would wish to be spoken to. If there is such thing as spirit they are not there to be circus performers or to do party tricks and, surely if we wish them to respond to us we must act in a way that is responsible and respectful. And, it is important you also show respect for the location. For the time you are there you are guests and those guests who behave disrespectfully often spell the end of investigating at the location and take the opportunity off other groups.
So what is important during these vigils. We return again to the main focus of paranormal investigating, collecting evidence of paranormal activity in a professional way that eliminates as much doubt in the evidence as possible. To this end there are a few things that should be born in mind at all times. First of all we look at temptation, that being the temptation to switch on torches and start loud and excited conversation the moment a sound is heard or a light is captured on camcorder. Of course, the minute you do this you are potentially destroying or missing any evidence that follows immediately afterwards. Torches will affect the night vision camcorders making them blur and therefore miss anything visual that may be occurring. And obviously immediate discussion will drown out any possible sounds that may be occurring. It is difficult in the heat of the moment when the adrenalin starts pumping but it is essential that any reactions are kept to a minimum until you are as sure as you can be that the current activity has ended for the moment. This might take some time to get used to. I would suggest that all of us who were to answer honestly would admit that in the early days of investigating our finger was constantly on the torch switch ready to press as soon as something unusual happened. At the end of the day it is all about experience and training the mind to work in a different way.
All activity needs to be assessed as soon as possible after the event. Not all noises will be paranormal and not all lights will be unexplainable. In fact, unfortunately most of this type of phenomenon will have perfectly rational explanation, but finding those explanations is as important as any other work we do. What we find as an explanation on one investigation might help us evaluate things more quickly on future investigations For people taking notes it is essential all activity is noted, but that it also includes steps taken to find rational explanation and where it is found it too is noted clearly. This not only acts as a reminder should similar phenomenon happen in a future investigation but it also shows a team working professionally and with the ability to be logical. The only time we can call something paranormal is when we have ruled out as much as possible in terms of environmental factors. Groups that do not do this and who claim all audio and visual experiences are paranormal will not have their evidence taken seriously and for any serious paranormal group having your work treated with respect and some degree of credibility is what keeps you striving to work harder and constantly improve your working practises.
In terms of offering credible evidence even the positioning of camcorders becomes a factor. One of the biggest mistakes groups make when filming vigils is the lack of coverage of team members. A loud noise, or spoon flying across the room means nothing if you cannot prove no team member was responsible. Where possible the best solution to this problem is to place a camcorder high up in the room, therefore covering visually all areas of the room and as a result all the team members present. Of course this is not always possible. Room size can be an issue as often in a large room the night vision will not extend far enough to get into all the corners or even extend to the furthest ends of the room. Where this is the case it is up to those filming to ensure that every team member is within the vision of a camcorder at all times. This isn’t to say that the whole group needs to huddle together at all times, but camcorders need to be used wisely. In reference to this point it is also important that team members don’t go off on a little wander of their own. Sitting in a room for an hour or more with not as much as a rattle or tap can become rather frustrating and the temptation to wander into another room or even nip out for a quick cigarette can be great. The minute however a team member is missing from the group and from vision any sounds or physical phenomenon can be questioned as possibly the work of that missing person.
I previously referred to note taking and this is probably a good time to expand on this subject. Taking notes is an essential part of paranormal investigating. The person writing the notes is as important to the investigation as anyone else as it is their reporting on the events that acts as a reference from which a detailed and exact report can be written. It is very important that notes of any activity or reported sightings/sounds are written immediately after the event has occurred. Ones memory cannot always be relied upon and in a very short time the actual order of events or description of an event can become distorted or confused. Waiting until a break or until the end of an investigation to write notes is unlikely to give anything like a true record of the nights activity. (For more on the subject of memory problems on investigations please refer to the “psychology” article in the science section of this web-site)
I briefly mentioned breaks in the last part of this article. Just a brief note on this to say breaks are essential on investigations. Vigils of approximately one hour are ideal with short breaks in between each vigil. This allows team members to have something to eat and drink, to ground themselves and to relax a little. Taking these regular breaks will reduce the effects of tiredness on the team as the night progresses.
Step Six - Post Investigation
Having finished the investigation (and had a good sleep !!) it is important to publish a report of your findings if you are to become recognised as a professional group. It is advisable that the person who took the notes does this as it can often avoid problems reading another’s handwriting or shorthand. Before the report is written however it is important that everyone watches their footage and makes notes of anything unusual found on their tape. There have been instances where EVP has been heard on tape when nothing was heard at the actual time in the investigation so it is vital that people watch and listen to their tapes without taking any shortcuts. It is sometimes tempting to skip bits, especially if on the night there were times when nothing appeared to have happened, but a lot of evidence is lost in this way. Once the tapes have been watched the notes can be added to the full report either as clarification of something that was seen or heard at the time or as follow up notes if things are captured that weren’t seen or heard at the time. One of the most tempting tapes to skip through is the trigger object. Three hours of watching the same thing can become quite laborious. However, even if the trigger object did not appear to move you will still need to listen for unusual sounds or maybe movement around the objects itself.
Verifying information is also essential to the report writing process. If mediums have come up with information it is important to check if the information can be verified either by the proprietor or by looking back at records. This sort of post investigation research is also important for other reasons. Maybe, for example, a lot of activity seemed to centre around a particular part of the location, by studying the history of the building interesting links can be found between events that might have happened and the activity the groups experienced. At the end of the day it all adds to the interest and to the evidence.
Some groups prefer to keep their reports and findings to themselves, however good reporting leads to a good reputation which in turn opens doors to more locations. Plus of course many locations accept paranormal investigations as a form of publicity so will be more apt to accept you if they know the report etc will be made public. There are now many web building sites that are fairly basic, but they are easy to use and do the job adequately. Of course it depends on the team members and their knowledge of computers and web-building. Many groups begin by putting reports and pictures on their site, some however have the knowledge and equipment to put film footage on. As long as the reporting is done in detail and incorporates the things discussed in this article then even just in text form it will be of interest to many people out there. One thing to remember, often the proprietors of locations you visit will be interested in your findings, and will appreciate a copy of the report and any photographs. This can also lead to positive publicity for the group as they often show other people this work. To reiterate on a previous point. Getting yourselves known and respected opens doors to locations that might otherwise be closed to you.
And Finally !!!!
Just a few things to say about paranormal investigating as a whole. It is a lot of work and the actual investigations are only a very small part of it, so, if you are only after the excitement and adrenalin maybe Ghost Walks are more for you. For those who investigate properly more time is spent sitting in the cold and dark with absolutely nothing going on than is spent actually experiencing any activity and this is where many people become disillusioned, however when something unexplained does happened it is well worth the wait. You might come away from some investigations where nothing at all of any note has happened. Don’t let this put you off and don’t be afraid to write a report of the night stating everything you did but also stating nothing came of it. With every investigation you gain experience so even those where nothing occurs will bring positive learning experiences to the team. Also, reporting that nothing of great note happened shows that you are an honest team who present things only as they were. No team experiences vast amounts of activity on every investigation they carry out, despite what certain “entertainment” programmes might suggest.
Happy Investigating !!!
Report copyrighted to Anne Piper 2008
