Do Ghosts Exist?
The answer to this one is simple, yes. Ghosts and spirits do exist, and although it can not be definitively proven to all of societies standards, it’s hard to deny the amount of experiences we personally have had. Between the feelings, items inexplicably moving from unseen forces, countless EVPs and K2 meter responding directly to questions and commands. It becomes almost impossible not to believe, however you can’t allow that belief to cloud your judgement.
What Are Ghosts or Spirits?
Well firstly, you must understand that ghosts and spirits are actually different types of entities. Although they are often used interchangeably, there is a definite difference. In short, a ghost is someone who used to walk this physical realm but has since passed and is stuck to a certain location, object or person. A spirit can come and go, passing between realms and not all spirits necessarily come from humans. For a more in depth look into the difference between a ghost and a spirit, head on over to this post:
Can Ghosts Interact With the Physical World?
Absolutely they can, however understanding how is much more complicated. Put simply, they can manifest their energy in the same way the wind and weather can. They find ways to increase their power, so their energy can interact with us directly. They can also manipulate many devices using the electromagnetic field around them, causing different items to light up, or spit out words etc. Even though they do not have a physical body, it doesn’t stop their energy from crossing over into our physical realm.
Can Spirits and Ghosts Hurt You?
Yes they can, although not as easily as the movies would have you believe. There are countless reports of people being scratched from seemingly nothing, or feeling choked even though there was nothing anywhere near their throat. However these kinds of experiences are much rarer than you have been led to believe. The majority of spirits and ghosts don’t have the power to be able to physically hurt you.
However spiritual and emotional hurt can be done much simpler if you don’t know how to protect yourself properly. Because they mostly operate on a spiritual level, that makes your spirit more vulnerable. Although if you know how, you can protect yourself from almost any form of harm from the paranormal.
When Ghosts Appear or Make a Noise, is it Their Intention to be Noticed?
The simple answer is just both yes and no. But why is that? Well, just like us still in the physical world, it depends on the ghost or spirit. Some want to be noticed, they want to communicate or get a message across. Others do it on accident, unintentionally let their presence be known by subtle moving doors they have just gone through, or by accidentally being heard speaking on a recorder.
Just like us, all ghosts and spirits are different. So depending on the situation and the spirit or ghost, they may be intentionally being noticed or just accidentally being noticed.
Is it Dangerous to Experience Paranormal Activity?
Of course it can be dangerous, that’s why research is important if you’re doing this regularly. It can be dangerous in the same way that any activity can be dangerous. When you’re walking around, there’s always a chance you’ll trip over something and hurt yourself. Experiencing paranormal activity is no different than any other activity.
It can be dangerous, however with the proper care and training/research you minimize the risk to yourself.
Do You Ever Get Scared During an Investigation? If So, How do You Manage That Fear?
There were times in the beginning I felt scared, but it’s quite easy to manage during an investigation. The trick isn’t not being afraid, the trick is not showing it or acknowledging it. If you show it or mention it, IF there is anything negative there, it will take advantage of that to increase your fear. However, if you’re feeling afraid but not showing or acknowledgin it, then they can’t use that against you. So it’s not about not having fear, it’s about controlling the fear rather than letting it control you.
Once you understand that and realize how easy it actually is to protect yourself spiritually and mentally, the fear kind of just dissappears.
How do You Account for Psychological Factors? Such as the Power of Suggestion?
Put quite simply, you just don’t allow it. If someone says they saw something, document it and try to get evidence of it. If someone says they felt something, document it and try to get evidence. If there’s no evidence to back it up, then it doesn’t go into the report. By only using what you can scientifically prove, you remove that obstacle.
For example: a team member says they heard a voice nearby, but no one else did. When you check the camera or recorder (as you always have at least one of these going at all times for documentation), if there’s an unexplained voice, it could be verification of what the team member said. However, if there’s nothing found on any of your tools to support what was said, then that isn’t put in as evidence.
How do You Handle Cases Involving Vulnerable Individuals Who May be Experiencing Psychological Distress Rather than Paranormal Activity?
It’s not our job do investigate someones mental health, we are not psychologists or counsellors. We are there to investigate the potential paranormal activity. If we get no evidence through any equipment at all, then that’s what we tell them. We let them know that no evidence was gathered to show any signs of paranormal activity. If we feel strongly that they may need psychological help, then we will politely suggest seeing a psychologist or counsellor. But our job is investigating the paranormal, not someones mental health and we are not mental health experts.
How do Your Personal Beliefs (e.g. religiong, spiritual) influence your approach to investigations and interpretation of evidence?
Again, simple answer: it doesn’t. Any professional paranormal investigator is there to document evidence, any potential communication and help both the living and the ones who have passed. It depends on the location and the beliefs of that land and people who own that land or property. You must always show respect to other cultures and traditions when not on your own land. This means while you’re investigating, your beliefs shouldn’t come into play.