In case you’ve had a chance to go through all our blogs here, we have gone through everything that is known about hauntings, the types of ghosts and spirits, how to protect yourself, and the types of equipment. Now, with all this information, how to conduct a paranormal investigation? In this blog, we will look at all the information that one requires during a paranormal investigation. It is imperative that you go through the previous blogs to understand the terms a tad bit better. And if you belong to a paranormal team, it becomes of the utmost importance.
How to Conduct an Investigation of the Paranormal?
It is very important for a paranormal team to be well-versed with what they are doing. This is not only crucial for a long-lasting impression on the clients but it also gives them a sense of satisfaction and assurance. Therefore, to conduct a paranormal investigation, the first and foremost thing is to assign different roles to different team members. We have already discussed the role of different members in the previous blog so we will not dwell in that any further. However, the leader chooses the different members of the team. They handle equipment, camera, lenses, etc, and participate in paranormal investigation. How many people will participate in an investigation depends upon the place that the team is investigating.
Talking To Clients
Remember, when you meet a client when you need to conduct an investigation, you are meeting a terrified person. This person may or may not have had any prior spirit or ghost experience. But he/she may have started to believe because of the recent occurrences. You are not there to add on to their fear. You are there to reassure them and answer their questions. Induce the habit of hearing. The client has the right to speak out her/his mind. She/he might be depressed, frustrated or angry with the situation. You may not always believe what they have to share but your viewpoint should not be disclosed. Just keep jotting down the information being provided. Once you have some basic information, you can determine whether the case warrants an investigation.
Pre-Investigations
When you conduct an investigation, it makes a lot of sense to do a pre-investigation, if at all possible. It is very important before you perform an actual investigation with your team. A pre-investigation is simply a visit to meet the client and assess the situation. A pre-investigation will help you to:
- Build rapport with your client.
- Conduct the client interview.
- View your location, including any alleged active areas, to conduct an investigation.
- Assess the client to determine the role that psychology/dysfunction may be playing in the alleged activity.
- Determine whether a full investigation is warranted and/or whether you are interested in conducting a full investigation.
- Coach the client on relevant points that will help to ease irrational fears.
Pre-investigations can save you and your team time and hassle because you can determine in advance whether the client’s claims have any merit or whether a full investigation will help.
Helping the Client Before You Conduct an Investigation
Since there will usually be a lag in time between the client’s call and when you can reach out to investigate or pre-investigate, here are a few ideas that will help the client in the meantime:
Have the client log any and all activity
Having the client log paranormal activity before you arrive will aid you when you conduct an investigation. The client should log the date, date, time, area of the home or office, and the current situation or circumstances in which the activity occurred.
Coach the client –
Advise the client on how she or he can minimize paranormal activity by taking her or his power and home back. This is important before you conduct an investigation. Tell her or him to speak out in a loud, clear and firm voice and demand that any entities present leave them all alone immediately. Remember, aggressive spirits are bullies and only understand one language: directness and power. Let the client knows that even though spirits are invisible, she or he is in no danger. Spirits, like bullies, cannot hurt a person without her or his permission.
Inform the client of your accessibility
Let the client know that she or he can call you at any time before you conduct an investigation. Especially if there are any questions or if paranormal activity increases. Reassure them that you will do whatever you can to help. Do not draw premature conclusions for the client as to what might be happening. Experience has shown that just when you think you know what is happening from the phone conversation, it turns out completely different during the investigation. Additionally, do not tell the client anything that is based on your own personal religious beliefs that serve no other purpose than to scare the client. Take in information, help where you can, and then do an investigation to really see what is going on with resolution in mind.
Find Locations
Investigations will usually come as word of mouth or you actively searching for locations. So before, you conduct an investigation, it is vital to find the right location. The very first place you should start is in your own home. After that, you might ask around to secure a suitable location, especially when you are not associated with a team.
You may check with the local cemetery as well. Always check with any cemetery or other location to make sure you have permission. Use discretion and good judgement. Obey posted signs, such as ‘no trespassing unless you have permission’. If you plan on investigating your local cemetery, you may want to notify the local police so they know you are there for a good reason. They can also patrol the area if necessary for safety concerns.
Pre-Investigation Checklist
Check your equipment – See if all the equipment is in working condition. Check the battery. Prepare an equipment log. Decide the equipment to be used by each investigator.
Check atmospheric data – Before you leave for the investigation, check for geomagnetic storms, solar flares and the lunar cycle. Make a note for your logs.
Know where you are going – It is a good idea to know where you are going specifically, if possible. If it is local, check it out during daylight. Know what kind of neighborhood you are going to and then use good judgment. Never go alone. Ever! If you were to get hurt, who would help you? Plus, it is always important to have at least two witnesses to any paranormal activity. Always maintain a professional appearance when conducting investigations, i.e., no dirty, sloppy or wrinkled clothing.
Take things you may need – This includes snacks, water, and a first-aid kit to start with.
No alcohol – Do not drink any alcohol 24 hours prior to an investigation.
Keep a positive mindset – You must flush out any negative thoughts before you head for an investigation. A bit of meditation and psychic practices help a lot.
Call the client and reaffirm the appointment. Remember, the reason for the investigation is to:
- Help the client
- Help the spirit(s)
- Find answers
What to Do When You Conduct an Investigation
As mentioned above, reach the investigation site with a neutral mindset. If you are feeling depressed, stay away from the investigation as you might fall prey to a malevolent spirit. Allow yourself a few minutes prior to the investigation to get centered and reaffirm your positive attitude and frame of mind. Some paranormal investigators like to surround themselves with a white light that serves as a protection of sorts. Once you reach, talk to the client to reassure them.
The house being investigated must be shown respect and should by no means be left messy post-investigation. After the location tour, the equipment manager and available team members will begin setting up cameras and equipment after consulting with the psychic members for placement suggestions. Although going when it is dark is not necessary, experience has shown that a dark vigil area can aid in photographing spirit activity. It is thought that it takes a lot of energy for a spirit to manifest and a dark environment will give us an edge on detecting even the faint manifestations.
Perform a baseline test which means survey the room or area for the following:
- EMF readings and sources
- Ambient room temperature
- Droughts and air movement
- Squeaks and creaks from the floor, stairs, doors, etc.
Log all baseline data in your investigation logs Start Investigation. After the base reading is taken, we move to the next step that is communication with the spirits. The first thing is to start with the EVP session by introducing yourself. This can be followed by an EM session or any instrument of your choice. We should always keep continuous shots taken through different cameras besides the regular video recording. Flash should be ignored as much as possible.
After you Conduct an Investigation
After you have conducted a paranormal investigation and you feel that the specific location is clear, you must call for a wrap-up. It is important to not be hasty in telling the client the results. So, do not tell anything until you revise the footage and the recordings. And then only give a conclusive idea of how things look to the client.
My advice to you
Please remember that any physical or emotional discomforts a person experiences can mostly be due to various diseases or emotional conditions he or she is going through. I have seen that majority of cases do not involve paranormal activity of any kind. Paranormal events are extremely rare occurrences. Hence your problems should be first brought to the notice of a qualified medical practitioner. I have often seen that the line between borderline personality disorders or other psychiatric disorders and “spirit possession” is thin. Hence a good paranormal investigator should advise his clients that professional medical care is the first solution or remedy for any physical or emotional discomfort.
Remember, you need to be a sceptic first to develop into a paranormal investigator. You need to rule out every single scientific possibility that is known to mankind to identify anything that is paranormal. Hence travel through the path of modern science, explore and unravel all facts using data and what cannot be explained through science is what we need to explore more through the paranormal arena. Most of your clients may feel desperate due to whatever they are going through. It’s your duty to act responsibly. Guide them through the path of modern science. Refrain from being a doctor or healer. There are qualified medical practitioners out there who can do their job well. Avoid any forms of advice on religious or cultural rituals or for that matter any ritualistic practices.
