Introduction...
Ghosts are everywhere. Every town has its buildings, houses, and cemeteries
about which locals whisper and which school children hurry past when walking
by. Ghost legends are powerful—they’re one of the few events today that still
survive mainly by oral tradition. The tales of ghost encounters get retold, and
soon certain locations get a “haunted” reputation. But those stories started somewhere.
There is basis in fact behind every legend. And in many locations, people
still experience the unexplained—they may tell one or two others about their experiences,
and soon word of those encounters spreads and adds fuel to the supernatural
fire that burns a haunted location into the collective memory of a region’s
folklore—almost as if the ghosts and spirits demand to be remembered and
acknowledged.
Many people are afraid of ghosts, but fear comes from a simple lack of understanding
something. Other people actually go looking for ghosts. These people
have many labels: ghost hunter, paranormal investigator, ghost buster, or supernatural
researcher. These are people who delve into the unexplained because
they are seeking their own answers, and they’re driven to help others who may be
trying to cope with supernatural phenomena in their own homes.
Some paranormal investigators take a very technical approach—believing that
if some form of spirit energy is manifesting itself to the point of moving a physical
object, causing a cold spot, or even materializing in some way, then equipment
should be able to measure and record the change in the environment. Digital
thermometers, electromagnetic field (EMF) detectors, video and still cameras,
and audio-recording equipment are all poised to capture a ghost in action. Other
investigators take more of an esoteric approach, preferring channeling tools such
as a talking board (better known by the brand name, Ouija board), a pendulum,
dowsing rods, or a psychic person who can act as the go-between for the spirit
world to establish contact and prove (or disprove) if a location is truly haunted.
All of these investigators, whether in an organized group or solo, are seeking
answers, and it’s a noble pursuit.
When studying the ghosts surrounding old buildings, battlefields, and other
ancient locales, we’re not only experiencing hands-on spirituality, but hands-on
history as well. Even the legends themselves have something to teach us about
our own past, and certainly about our future beyond the grave...
For people who are experiencing a haunting, it’s difficult to know where to
turn to for help. Those who are religiously affiliated may turn to their clergy who,
hopefully, will take the situation seriously and get involved. But many others may
feel embarrassed about openly discussing their unexplained phenomena for fear
that they will be ridiculed. The concern is both understandable and valid. Even
though every year millions of people have a brush with what they perceive to be
the supernatural, open discussions still aren’t happening in every office building
and coffee shop.
This is where the paranormal investigators come in. They’re ready to listen,
and, in many cases, they have heard similar stories from others. Sharing the story
itself can be part of the healing and understanding of the event. And the investigators
can quite often offer validation of what you’re experiencing.
The good news is that things are changing in our modern society. Though our
technology and understanding of the universe around us increases every day, there
is a growing trend in accepting at least the possibility of ghosts and hauntings. The
evidence is all around us. When that evidence becomes proof is up to each individual
to decide.
