Seeing a ghost is very rare. Having an experience such as having your shirt pulled, your hair pulled, or being pushed with absolutely no one behind you is EXCITING!! It leaves you wondering for days, even weeks whether or not it actually happened. Your mind is unwilling to allow possibility that it could have to enter your mind. That is rational mind. But, having an experience like that gives you a new sense of world around you. Most people become different. They look at things from a different perspective. In same way that having a child changes your life, having a paranormal experience can completely alter your way of thinking and life. You become more open to world around you. Like a drug addict you want to have one more experience to validate what you experienced before. You discuss your experience with other people and find those that don't shun you. In turn, these new friends also share their experience with you. Talk then changes to other things, whatever that might be, EVP, ghost hunting equipment, dowsing, etc. You become more involved because of one experience and yet, longing to have next.

Ghost hunting opens up so many different avenues for you to alter what you were and to become a "transformed" person. Many have called their transformations "epiphanies" or a calling, liking it to just themselves and not noting that many other people have had same experience. It becomes very personal.

Notice I have not discussed anything having to do with religion. This is NOT a religious experience nor has anything to do with religion of any kind. It should not be confused or intermingled with religion.

Having a paranormal experience is very interesting and exciting and for most, keeps you longing for more. My job as a ghost hunter and paranormal investigator is to teach you that possibility exists that you could have a paranormal experience. You should not be afraid of this possibility as, with over ten years of experience, I have never, EVER come across anything evil or malevolent. There are some ghosts with attitudes but nothing that has ever hurt me or harmed anyone with me. You should view a paranormal experience as something that doesn't happen to just anyone and you should really feel very lucky to have it happen.

In conclusion, I have offered you information regarding paranormal and fact that it exists. It is up to you to decide if you believe it or not. The only real way to decide is if you are fortunate enough to have an experience. Following that, I am confident you will join tens of thousands of people who have had experiences and are now looking for their next one.

We believe......Do you????

A pad and pencil to mark down any unusual events, times, locations and perhaps a map of area you are investigating is a good idea. Again, you are wanting to validate any paranormal activity.

The last thing you may wish to consider is a cassette recorder for recording EVP (electronic voice phenomenon). You can use recorder and "talk" to ghosts and with any amount of luck, you may get them to talk back to you. Ask them questions or just talk to them and see if you get any response in return. Ghosts can be friendly and just suddenly talk to you or they can be grumpy or have an attitude (remember, you could be bothering them too) and say not very nice things. BUT, in over ten years of ghost hunting, I have never come across any evil or malevolent. I am not saying they don't exist, I am merely saying I have never been confronted by one.

In case I haven't emphasized this enough, safety is key. You cannot do enough to make sure that you are safe when ghost hunting. Never put yourself in a position that would harm you, your companion or anyone else. Also, make sure anywhere you go that you have permission. If you don't obtain permission for anywhere you are investigating, you are trespassing. If you are caught you are going to have to explain to authorities why you didn't get permission and possibly face time in jail. It also makes it more difficult if not impossible for any ghost hunters to be able to come behind you and gain permission. Be sure to follow rules.

So having equipment in hand and knowing how to use it, you feel you are ready to begin your first ghost hunt. Decide where you will be going. Make sure you take length of time it takes to get there into consideration. It would be wise to take a trip there and take preliminary pictures during day time. You can use these for comparison if you capture something unusual or interesting on your film. Make a map of area so you know where you will want to walk and also so you don't get lost. Not every place has a fence. Taking a trip to your decided-upon place is also a good idea so you can see what obstacles might be in your way during day. Returning at night gives you an idea of what you will be confronted with.

Take your trip to your decided-upon destination. Take pictures. Take lots of pictures. Talk to ghosts that reside there. You can ask permission to take their picture. Some people do this as they feel it allows them to get pictures. It couldn't hurt and might help. Do same when you are attempting to capture EVP. Be sure that if you take more than a few people that this is not a giggle-fest. You want to be respectful of area and ghosts resting there. You don't want to be playing on any graves or running around if you are in a cemetery. You don't want to be running around anywhere no matter where you are. Try to be quiet, be respectful. Ghosts are people too!!

I hope these hints and techniques help you on your ghost hunts. Remember to be mindful and think. Don't wander aimlessly like you don't know what you are doing. Pay attention. The best thing you can use is your mind.

You can have a great ghost hunt and perhaps get some great pictures if you just take your time and use some common sense. Ghost hunting is fun, pleasurable, interesting and if you read up on history of site you are investigating can give you a good idea of just what took place on ground you are standing on. These are very simple techniques I have given you, use them wisely.

Happy Ghost Hunting!!