Paranormal Investigations - part 1

This article is from the www.examiner.com


May 19, 9:10 AM by Kathie Kessler


So, you think you might have paranormal activity in your home either that or you're losing your grip on reality. You put something down in one place and when you come back, its gone. Everyone in the house swears they didn't move it. Several days go by, and there it is, either right where you left it (even though you looked there a thousand times) or it's found someplace totally bizarre. If this happens once, you blow it off. But, if it happens over and over again, you start to question your sanity. Most of the calls or inquiries I get, start out with “You might think I'm crazy but.....”


Maybe all the kitchen cupboard doors are standing open when you wake up, maybe you hear footsteps when you know that no one else home. Odd smells, catching shadows out of the corner of your eye and cold spots where there are no drafts or reason for them, are all possible signs of paranormal activity.


Not long ago, paranormal research was not something one talked about, it was a sort of fringe science. With the onset of shows like “Ghost Hunters” the paranormal has been brought out into the open. People now know that there are people they can turn to if things are going bump in the night. But these shows are still just that, TV shows. What can you expect when you call in a paranormal group?


First of all, investigations are done free of charge. If ANYONE tries to charge you to investigate or claims they can rid your house of the ghost for a fee, run the other way. Legitimate, reputable groups do not charge for their services. Most paranormal groups do not claim they can get rid of anything. They are there to find proof that activity is going on and hopefully find a reason for it, be it normal or paranormal. If they find something and you want the spirit or entity gone, they can usually give you some tips on cleansing your home, or suggest a house blessing depending on your spiritual beliefs.


Some groups work with psychics or mediums, others do not. This would a good thing to ask them. Other good questions to ask would be:

• How long the group has been “in business”
• How many cases a year do they do
• How many members are in the group and how many will be coming to your location
• What type of equipment will they be using
• How long will the investigation will last

You will probably be asked to sign some type of document giving the group permission to investigate, as well as whether or not you wish it to remain confidential. A permission to investigate form is especially necessary when investigating businesses. People tend to call the police if they see people poking around a business with flashlights after hours.


This way the group has a signed document with a contact number if such a situation arises. As for the confidentiality, groups like to share findings with other groups or on their websites, but they DO NOT have to give any information as to where the evidence or haunting was. They can just label it “Private Residence in Marathon County” or “Business in Portage County”. The reason we like to share information is to get feedback from others in the field as well as show potential clients what kind of evidence we've obtained.


In my next article I will go over what you can expect to happen during an investigation along with descriptions of the types of equipment used.


RELATED POSTS: Coming next month.