Milwaukee Area Paranormal Investigations
"Follow me into the shadows..."
Despite the fact that many sites state over and over again the common Do's and Don'ts of paranormal investigating/ ghost hunting, I feel it necessary and important to include those lists here as well. The paranormal community as a whole has received ALOT of negative publicity over the recent months due to two separate incidents of trespassing each resulting in devastating fires. I am sure I have forgotten a few things in the do's and don'ts list, and will add to both lists as I remember more.
August 2006
A group of teenagers in Peru, Maine have admitted to accidentally starting a fire while hunting for ghosts inside of a former wood mill. The flames destroyed a one-story brick building that had been used to store recyclable materials. There were no injuries involved. Thinking that something paranormal may be inside, the six teens admitted to entering the darkened building. One of them reported seeing a spark and smelling smoke after attempting to turn on the lights of a front-end loader in the building.
September 2006
A fire that damaged a 78-year-old mansion in Alabama was started from candles used by people who were trying to communicate with the dead, officials said. In the Alabama mansion, police found graffiti in the attic along with partly burned candles that indicated a seance had occurred. The fire burned for several hours before the local fire department could bring it under control. A local witness who is into the paranormal said they knew the mansion was frequented by people who went there to attempt to commune with the purported "ghost of Malbis."
DO'S
Keep a clear head. This means no alcohol consumption or use of any controlled substances (prescription or otherwise).
Be open-minded. If you think there are no ghosts, then obviously for you there won't be. Skeptics bring negative energy that could compromise an investigation.
Research. Always make sure you try to find some information on the place you are investigating. The history of a place, be it a town or a single home, can shed some light on why a place may be having paranormal activity.
Remove the camera strap or wear it around your neck. It's amazing how many times camera straps have been mistaken for ghostly photos. In keeping with that theme, make sure long hair is pulled back, and all fingers are away from the camera lens.
Make sure all of your equipment is in perfect working condition. Dust and dirt buildup can cause problems. It saves you money overall to maintain clean equipment.
Bring a flashlight.
Bring extra batteries. You never know when that flashlight, camera, recorder, scanner, (you see where I'm going) is going to run out of juice.
Bring along a notebook so you can write down observations. It is also a good idea to keep a log of your investigations. I recommend keeping track of moon phases, weather and solar weather.
Always use an unopened roll of film/audio tape when beginning an investigation. Make sure you have a witness observe you as you open the sealed film/tape and insert it into the equipment. This helps disprove the thought that film may have been previously tampered with if positive evidence is captured.
Write down your observations before sharing them. This ensures that your story is not subconsciously altered by what someone else tells you.
In cold weather, hold your breath while taking a photo. I've seen so many photos of "ectoplasm" that was nothing more than breath in cold air.
Talk to the "spirits" and ask for their permission to take their photo. I also try to explain that I'm not there to be disrespectful but that I am trying to understand them to the best of my ability.
If conducting an outside or public investigation, please make sure you know where the nearest bathroom facilities are. Do you really want an indecent exposure ticket from the police???
ALWAYS have a legal form of identification on you at all times.
When investigating an outside local after normal hours, notify the local authorities that you will be there and for what duration. Make sure you provide them with the contact info for the onsite leader AND the individual who has granted you permission to be there so the police can verify this information and not accidentally ticket you for trespassing.
It's not a bad idea to carry a checkbook or credit card for bail just in case there is some confusion with the local authorities and you get arrested.
Always make sure that someone has a cell phone along in case of emergency.
Make sure at least one person in your group knows basic first aid and CPR, and have a first-aid kit handy in one of the vehicles in case of minor accidents.
DON'TS
No smoking. The possibility of smoke being photographed and mistaken for ectoplasm is high. In addition, if you're too busy inhaling tobacco smoke, your nose is dead to any paranormal smells you might encounter.
DO NOT TRESSPASS!!!!!!! Always have permission to conduct an investigation. No permission... no investigation. It's as simple as that.
Don't jump to conclusions. You always want to make sure you consider all possible explanations, natural or otherwise.
Never go alone. Having more than one person ensures that nothing will (hopefully) go unnoticed. It is also good to compare notes on an investigation. And because you have more to fear from the living, there is safety in numbers.
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT carry illegal, unlicensed, or concealed weapons EVER. Know the local weapons statutes for your county and state.
Do not take photos while walking or driving along a dirt road or path. This can lead to photos of dust particles and not orbs.
Do not take photos in rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, or fog. It may also be a good idea to keep track of the pollen count in Spring and Summer and avoid photos when the count is high.
DO NOT be disrespectful in areas such as graveyards or battlefields. No horseplay or loud obnoxious behavior.
No Ouija boards. They ARE NOT a game!!! What you do in your spare time is one thing, but remember that your goal is to find CREDIBLE evidence.
Do not take photographs with the camera pointing directly at the sun. This can create light flares (hexagon shapes) that are sometimes mistaken for orbs.
Don't take photos of reflective surfaces while using your flash. This would include mirrors, glass windows, and even still pools of water.
No horseplay, pranks, or practical jokes during an investigation. Knock yourself out afterwards, but be respectful and courteous while you are working.
Do not tell a witness whose home/business you are investigation that it is 100% haunted without any doubt in your mind. It is one thing to share what (seemingly) positive evidence you have gathered, but until we know more about the weird world that we live in, you shouldn't make statements that you can not back up.
Do not burn down the area you are investigating!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Or yourself or team mates for that matter.)
Investigation Do's & Don'ts
