Introduction to Ghost Hunting
(c)2009 by Fiona Broome, founder of HollowHill.com
Welcome
to the final lesson in our free, four-part course in
basic ghost hunting, created by Fiona Broome, the founder of HollowHill.com
We've
discussed the basics of
ghost hunting.
You've learned how to
find a haunted site near you.
You've
found a couple of people who will go ghost hunting with you.
In
addition, you've visited at least one
haunted location.
Now,
let's talk about what you
can do next.
Before you join or start a
ghost hunting group
Many
people join a ghost hunting
groups. Here are some things to think about.
Establish your likes and
dislikes
There
are several important
things to consider before joining a ghost hunting group or team.
Don’t
assume that you know the group’s
policies, beliefs and practices, just because you know someone in the
group or
you’ve been to a few of their investigations.
These
are some of the points to
ask about.
- Locations
- Spiritual
context of the group
- Investigation
and meeting schedules
- Membership
requirements
Let’s
talk about a few of those.
Locations
What
kinds of haunted sites
interest you the most?
Do you like (or
hate) cemeteries?
Private
residences?
Well-known haunted places?
‘New’
haunted locations that no one else has
investigated?
Ask
what the group prefers to
investigate.
Also ask if there are any
kinds of sites that the group definitely will not
visit, and why.
Spiritual context
A
few groups are open about
their spirituality.
All of the members
might belong to one church, or one religion.
However,
I continue to hear
stories of people who thought
a group was inclusive when they
joined.
Then, they realized that
every
investigation starts with the team holding hands and saying a very
church-specific
prayer or following a particular ritual.
If
all of the members are
passionate about one belief system or view, you need to know this
before you
join.
If your beliefs, practices
and
attitudes are the same (or at least compatible) with the group,
that’s
great.
If not, look for another
group
to join.
Schedule
Find
out when the team usually
schedules investigations and meetings, and whether that will work for
your
schedule and routines.
For
example, do they
usually do research at night or during the day?
Do
they meet on weeknights or weekends?
How
long are meetings?
How long are most
investigations?
Does
the group keep a strict
schedule?
If you value punctuality but
the group is more casual -- or even consistently late -- it may be
difficult to
leave the group without sounding critical.
If
you prefer to keep your own
schedule, will it be a problem if you arrive early and stay late, or
vice
versa?
Requirements
Ask
what’s
expected of group or team members.
For
example, are you required to attend all non-investigation meetings?
How
many investigations must you participate
in, and how often?
Is
there a
training requirement?
Who is teaching
and what are their qualifications?
Must
all team members follow the training advice exactly, or are you free to
use
what works best for you?
Ask
about money.
Dues to cover the
group’s website hosting
(if it’s not supported by advertising or a sponsor) is
reasonable.
Also, if your team carries
liability
insurance -- a good idea if you’re hosting paid events or
doing private
investigations -- the team may need to share that expense.
However,
you should get
everything in writing before you join.
And, if you have any
questions, ask to see the bills or receipts for
group expenses.
(Some groups show
everyone their bookkeeping records during a monthly or quarterly
meeting.)
Personalities
An
assertive or even boisterous
ghost hunter may seem impressive first, but after a few ghost hunts
their
constant comments can become annoying.
This is one of many reasons
to go on several ghost hunts with a group
before agreeing to join.
These
are the most common
issues, but there can be others.
Some
ghost hunters think it's okay to have a beer or two before an
investigation.
Others smoke at the
site.
Some bring their small, fussy
children when they can't find a babysitter.
Some ghost hunters don't
hesitate to bring along skeptical or giggling
date.
So,
before committing to regular
membership in a ghost hunting group, it's wise to spend time with them.
See
what their interests and standards are.
[Also, be watchful for scams and con artists. They're a tiny minority, but
you should know what to look for. See our supplementary report:
Scams and Con Artists.]
What
happens if
you don’t find the kind
of team that you want to join?
In that case, consider
starting your own
group.
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