Forums · The Darker Side of Ghost Research
'The Darker Side' of Ghost Research
by: Matt Ferrell[/URL]
North Florida Paranormal Research, Inc.
Ghost Tracker Investigations
(March 26th, 2005)
Over the years, Ghost Tracker keeps hearing and receiving more and more E-Mails, phone calls and info from people who seem to be having "not so nice" encounters. This may be because more and more people are getting interested in the ghost research/paranormal field (some being inexperienced and/or just in the wrong place at the wrong time), it may be that the veil between our world and the 'spirit world' is thinning (as many believe), or it may just be that, as ghost research becomes more and more popular, people are feeling it easier to talk about such experiences. Whatever the reason, people do seem to be encountering "The Darker Side" of ghost research more and more.
Of course when hearing peoples' encounters/experiences, we have to take into consideration a possible mental illness of the person, medications taken, as well as maybe the person was just spooking themselves from seeing "The Exorcist" one to many times. Anything that may cause them to 'create' the events just in their mind. You also have to take a step back and look at the situation. If it is a paranormal entity there, and something is tossed in your direction, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are mean or not nice. Maybe they were just trying to get your attention? Or let you know they were there?
If the activity gets harmful though, and the harmful actions keep happening over and over, then it's probably wanting to do more then just let you know it's there. If the people who encounter it seem to be level headed, if no illness/medication is found in the subject to cause their experiences, and even better, if other data is captured to back up that something strange was going on at the time (listen to/read Ghost Tracker's possession case[/URL], or this Exorcism in Russia[/URL]), then we can't just throw these "bad" encounters out the window like they never happened. Many people do this because they don't want to believe it can happen.. so if they totally dismiss it and don't believe in it, then they feel it won't happen to them. But if this activity does in fact occur, then whether you believe in it or not, it will happen.
You can call it evil, call it demonic, or call it just an angry human spirit, but Ghost Tracker stands by the belief that not everything you may encounter while doing this line of work may be nice and welcoming. Just as there are "not so nice" living people, there may also be "not so nice" things in the paranormal realm as well.
Activity wise, Ghost Tracker doesn't do "not so nice" cases.. so we're no where near being an authority for information about this stuff. We're out to research and investigate paranormal activity, but if the safety of our team ever is jeopardized, we pack it up and call it a night. We're not trained for anything that extreme, and the safety of our team always comes first and foremost, rather then capturing evidence.
That's not to say that we pack it up and leave the owners to defend for themselves though. Half of our job as researchers/investigators is to capture data to help prove a haunting or find 'logical' causes for the activity, yes. But the other half is dealing with the owners of the location. We're there to try and provide peace to the owners if needed. We have many contacts of people who deal with the "not so nice" paranormal activity that we can contact when things seem to be getting a bit to much for us.. and if the owners want that help, then we'll do our best to provide it through those contacts.
Even if you try and stay away from the 'bad' cases though, you still may run into something you may not be able to handle (like what happened to us on the "possession case" link above)... so how can you stay safe?
Of course the first thing that comes to mind is, if you're afraid the lion might get you, then don't go in the lion cage. Meaning if you feel you might not be able to handle what you may encounter, then maybe this line of work isn't for you. Many people think this is all fun and games, and they go to supposed haunted locations just for fun, or they get out their Ouija Board to try and 'make contact'.
Although these acts seem innocent in their self, it's like opening the cage door wide open and walking in, not knowing what you may encounter. But even with the right mindset and intentions, you still may encounter something bad when investigating. So, although it won't be 100% foolproof in keeping you safe (as it can happen whether you're investigating or not), it may at least help a good deal if you just try and stay away from intentionally investigating/putting yourself out there (in known haunted/active locations) all together if you feel uneasy or like you can't handle what you may encounter.
Okay, so you've thought about the above, and you really do want to investigate possible paranormal activity, but still want to do your best to stay safe.. so now what?
For something (paranormal/ghost/spirit wise) to effect you, many believe it mainly comes down to either how well you have control of yourself and/or the things you do. "Spontaneous Possession" doesn't usually occur. If something is going to effect you, it's believed that you either are not at your best physically / emotionally / mentally wise, or you may have made some form of bond/connection/invite with the spirit allowing it to effect you without you being able to control it.
Some examples of not being at your best, and making that bond/connection/invite are:
* If a person is very open (by being tired, sick, drunk, on drugs, having low self esteem, being sensitive to energy or emotions around them and not being able to handle/control it, etc.).. all those things can open a person up. It lowers their guard and their resistances. If something "not so nice" is in the area, it could take advantage of that. Never do investigations if you're not at your best. It could harm your focus on collecting and recording data, and most importantly could cause harm to yourself if something was to take advantage of it.
* If the person and the entity have some form of bond/connection, like an invitation. Something as simple as saying "Can you let me know you're here?" or "Can you make yourself known?" may be asking for more then you can handle.
Many investigators introduce themselves at a location before investigating. They believe that if you introduce yourself to "whoever" may be at a location before you investigate, and let them know why you're there, what you're doing, etc. that you'll get better results while there.. which does seem to hold true in most cases. But there's a strong difference between introducing yourself, and inviting 'whoever' may be there to introduce themselves to you as stated above.
Ouija Boards are another form of invitation. Although the board itself isn't believed to be "bad", it's the actions of inexperienced people using it that can lead to trouble. When using it, it's just like leaving your front door wide open, you never know who may walk in. There's some people who are trained to deal with "contact" like that (usually from years and years of learning), but for the everyday researcher/investigator, it's best to just keep your guard/resistances up and keep that door closed.
If you keep your guard/resistances up, and don't open any doors by making bonds/invites, then for the most part hopefully you will stay safe. Having faith may also help. Everyone has their own beliefs/faiths, but whatever it may be for you, having that faith may change your mindset, help you put your guard up, and just all-in-all make you stronger.
But what if something does happen? Then what?
Ghost Tracker has encountered numerous times what we call Emotional Transference. Although this doesn't seem to be an attack from spirit, it still can be something that the person effected won't easily forget. One second they'll be fine, then all of the sudden it will be like hitting a wall of emotion. They may loose balance, start crying uncontrollability, etc.
Of course (like mentioned before), a mental illness, medications taken, or even just a fear beforehand in general that may have led up to it/caused the person to freak out must be ruled out first.. but after everything is ruled out, one idea as to what it could be (paranormal wise) is, the living person may be picking up on energy in the area (residual energy).. or spirit in the area may be sending (transferring) energy to the person, usually in the form of emotion (possibly as a way of communication). If that transfer of emotion gets to strong though, to where the person affected really can't handle it, then yes.. it very well could become harmful.. both mentally to the person it's happening to and physically to the affected person and others if the event gets too intense/out of control.
From these encounters, we learned that removing the person from the location, getting them to eat/drink something, talking to them, asking them questions, etc. Anything to get their mind thinking differently and off of what ever may be occurring usually helps. Again, like I mentioned earlier, it seems to be a matter of how well the person is in control of their self. Doing these things and changing their mindset to one that they can relate to may help in bringing them back and helping them regain control, whether it be emotional transference, or something worse trying to 'take over'.
Now, if you do encounter something "not so nice", and nothing seems to be working/helping, then try visiting our friend Denice Jones at The L.I.F.E. Foundation[/URL]. L.I.F.E. stands for 'Living In Fear Ends', and Denice has many contacts to people who deal with the "Darker Side" of ghost research who may be able to help.
As written on her website:
-------------------------------------------------
[/URL]
"The L.I.F.E. Foundation is a non-denominational association. Even though we cannot prescribe any religious practices, we will offer the following generic non-sectarian advice listed below. If you have questions beyond what is covered here, please contact us immediately!
1. Don't be Afraid:
Although paranormal events are frightening, the actual number of demonic possessions is infinitesimal. Remember that you are in control of the events that occur in this dimension. Keep your head!
2. Document:
I realize this is time consuming and most people don't want to do it. However, in order for you to get the help you need, you will need some type of documentation. Record in a journal or log: Day - Date - Time and Event! Be sure to include as much detail as possible! Take photographs, use tape recorders, check room temperatures! Investigators will need this information to help decide many factors. Additionally, very rarely will a clergy assist you without documentation.
3. Act:
If this is a case of a simple haunting - frightening but not ominous - take the initiative yourself! Simply TALK to the spirit, explain nicely that this is now your home, and that it is not welcome. Help guide it to the light and perform your own house blessing by using prayers and meditations from your own religious affiliations. You will be surprised and delighted at the results. Although you may have to do this several times, the spirit will eventually get tired of being asked to leave and will most probably not return.
Get Help:
There are some cases that are resistant to all "home remedies". If you are experiencing bizarre and unusual activity, or an ominous feeling, and if there seems to be just one or two areas that are experiencing heavy activity - then it's time to get help!
Use of an Investigator:
Using an Investigator actually has many benefits. First they can help determine what type of haunting you are experiencing (environmental, active, ghosts or demonic). An experienced investigator will then collect data for you and know where to turn to get spiritual help. Most investigators are aware of the sensitivity of your information and are highly professional in regards to your privacy.
For help in locating an experienced investigator please contact The L.I.F.E. Foundation"
-------------------------------------------------
So visit L.I.F.E[/URL], review the pages contained within, and if you feel you need help, contact them and they will do their best to help out. Another option might be to visit this page[/URL] as well. There are many ideas and theories there that are thought to be able to 'get rid of ghosts'. Although some may seem strange, anything is worth a try when you're at your wits end with it all. Be cautious though. If you do indeed have something "bad" or harmful at the location you're at, it may be best and safer to just contact experienced organizations like L.I.F.E. and their contacts, rather then trying to deal with it yourself.
Even if you don't believe any of the stuff above, that's fine. I too find myself many times going "Pffft, yeah right.. come on!" to many things paranormal. But then I look at what all I've encountered/experienced and the many cases/experiences others have encountered around the world.. and know something has to be up. So even if you don't believe any of what is above, hopefully you'll at least keep the info in the back of your mind.. and stay safe.
Like I mentioned at the start of this article, Ghost Tracker doesn't do cases of this nature, so we are in no way an authority of this stuff. But hopefully the info posted here will be helpful.. and if things do get hectic, know that with the help of organizations like The L.I.F.E. Foundation, you're not alone.
---------------------------------------------------
Taken from and originally posted at:
http://www.ghosttracker.com/articles-thedarkerside.html[/URL]
by: Matt Ferrell[/URL]
North Florida Paranormal Research, Inc.
Ghost Tracker Investigations
(March 26th, 2005)
Over the years, Ghost Tracker keeps hearing and receiving more and more E-Mails, phone calls and info from people who seem to be having "not so nice" encounters. This may be because more and more people are getting interested in the ghost research/paranormal field (some being inexperienced and/or just in the wrong place at the wrong time), it may be that the veil between our world and the 'spirit world' is thinning (as many believe), or it may just be that, as ghost research becomes more and more popular, people are feeling it easier to talk about such experiences. Whatever the reason, people do seem to be encountering "The Darker Side" of ghost research more and more.
Of course when hearing peoples' encounters/experiences, we have to take into consideration a possible mental illness of the person, medications taken, as well as maybe the person was just spooking themselves from seeing "The Exorcist" one to many times. Anything that may cause them to 'create' the events just in their mind. You also have to take a step back and look at the situation. If it is a paranormal entity there, and something is tossed in your direction, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are mean or not nice. Maybe they were just trying to get your attention? Or let you know they were there?
If the activity gets harmful though, and the harmful actions keep happening over and over, then it's probably wanting to do more then just let you know it's there. If the people who encounter it seem to be level headed, if no illness/medication is found in the subject to cause their experiences, and even better, if other data is captured to back up that something strange was going on at the time (listen to/read Ghost Tracker's possession case[/URL], or this Exorcism in Russia[/URL]), then we can't just throw these "bad" encounters out the window like they never happened. Many people do this because they don't want to believe it can happen.. so if they totally dismiss it and don't believe in it, then they feel it won't happen to them. But if this activity does in fact occur, then whether you believe in it or not, it will happen.
You can call it evil, call it demonic, or call it just an angry human spirit, but Ghost Tracker stands by the belief that not everything you may encounter while doing this line of work may be nice and welcoming. Just as there are "not so nice" living people, there may also be "not so nice" things in the paranormal realm as well.
Activity wise, Ghost Tracker doesn't do "not so nice" cases.. so we're no where near being an authority for information about this stuff. We're out to research and investigate paranormal activity, but if the safety of our team ever is jeopardized, we pack it up and call it a night. We're not trained for anything that extreme, and the safety of our team always comes first and foremost, rather then capturing evidence.
That's not to say that we pack it up and leave the owners to defend for themselves though. Half of our job as researchers/investigators is to capture data to help prove a haunting or find 'logical' causes for the activity, yes. But the other half is dealing with the owners of the location. We're there to try and provide peace to the owners if needed. We have many contacts of people who deal with the "not so nice" paranormal activity that we can contact when things seem to be getting a bit to much for us.. and if the owners want that help, then we'll do our best to provide it through those contacts.
Even if you try and stay away from the 'bad' cases though, you still may run into something you may not be able to handle (like what happened to us on the "possession case" link above)... so how can you stay safe?
Of course the first thing that comes to mind is, if you're afraid the lion might get you, then don't go in the lion cage. Meaning if you feel you might not be able to handle what you may encounter, then maybe this line of work isn't for you. Many people think this is all fun and games, and they go to supposed haunted locations just for fun, or they get out their Ouija Board to try and 'make contact'.
Although these acts seem innocent in their self, it's like opening the cage door wide open and walking in, not knowing what you may encounter. But even with the right mindset and intentions, you still may encounter something bad when investigating. So, although it won't be 100% foolproof in keeping you safe (as it can happen whether you're investigating or not), it may at least help a good deal if you just try and stay away from intentionally investigating/putting yourself out there (in known haunted/active locations) all together if you feel uneasy or like you can't handle what you may encounter.
Okay, so you've thought about the above, and you really do want to investigate possible paranormal activity, but still want to do your best to stay safe.. so now what?
For something (paranormal/ghost/spirit wise) to effect you, many believe it mainly comes down to either how well you have control of yourself and/or the things you do. "Spontaneous Possession" doesn't usually occur. If something is going to effect you, it's believed that you either are not at your best physically / emotionally / mentally wise, or you may have made some form of bond/connection/invite with the spirit allowing it to effect you without you being able to control it.
Some examples of not being at your best, and making that bond/connection/invite are:
* If a person is very open (by being tired, sick, drunk, on drugs, having low self esteem, being sensitive to energy or emotions around them and not being able to handle/control it, etc.).. all those things can open a person up. It lowers their guard and their resistances. If something "not so nice" is in the area, it could take advantage of that. Never do investigations if you're not at your best. It could harm your focus on collecting and recording data, and most importantly could cause harm to yourself if something was to take advantage of it.
* If the person and the entity have some form of bond/connection, like an invitation. Something as simple as saying "Can you let me know you're here?" or "Can you make yourself known?" may be asking for more then you can handle.
Many investigators introduce themselves at a location before investigating. They believe that if you introduce yourself to "whoever" may be at a location before you investigate, and let them know why you're there, what you're doing, etc. that you'll get better results while there.. which does seem to hold true in most cases. But there's a strong difference between introducing yourself, and inviting 'whoever' may be there to introduce themselves to you as stated above.
Ouija Boards are another form of invitation. Although the board itself isn't believed to be "bad", it's the actions of inexperienced people using it that can lead to trouble. When using it, it's just like leaving your front door wide open, you never know who may walk in. There's some people who are trained to deal with "contact" like that (usually from years and years of learning), but for the everyday researcher/investigator, it's best to just keep your guard/resistances up and keep that door closed.
If you keep your guard/resistances up, and don't open any doors by making bonds/invites, then for the most part hopefully you will stay safe. Having faith may also help. Everyone has their own beliefs/faiths, but whatever it may be for you, having that faith may change your mindset, help you put your guard up, and just all-in-all make you stronger.
But what if something does happen? Then what?
Ghost Tracker has encountered numerous times what we call Emotional Transference. Although this doesn't seem to be an attack from spirit, it still can be something that the person effected won't easily forget. One second they'll be fine, then all of the sudden it will be like hitting a wall of emotion. They may loose balance, start crying uncontrollability, etc.
Of course (like mentioned before), a mental illness, medications taken, or even just a fear beforehand in general that may have led up to it/caused the person to freak out must be ruled out first.. but after everything is ruled out, one idea as to what it could be (paranormal wise) is, the living person may be picking up on energy in the area (residual energy).. or spirit in the area may be sending (transferring) energy to the person, usually in the form of emotion (possibly as a way of communication). If that transfer of emotion gets to strong though, to where the person affected really can't handle it, then yes.. it very well could become harmful.. both mentally to the person it's happening to and physically to the affected person and others if the event gets too intense/out of control.
From these encounters, we learned that removing the person from the location, getting them to eat/drink something, talking to them, asking them questions, etc. Anything to get their mind thinking differently and off of what ever may be occurring usually helps. Again, like I mentioned earlier, it seems to be a matter of how well the person is in control of their self. Doing these things and changing their mindset to one that they can relate to may help in bringing them back and helping them regain control, whether it be emotional transference, or something worse trying to 'take over'.
Now, if you do encounter something "not so nice", and nothing seems to be working/helping, then try visiting our friend Denice Jones at The L.I.F.E. Foundation[/URL]. L.I.F.E. stands for 'Living In Fear Ends', and Denice has many contacts to people who deal with the "Darker Side" of ghost research who may be able to help.
As written on her website:
-------------------------------------------------
[/URL]"The L.I.F.E. Foundation is a non-denominational association. Even though we cannot prescribe any religious practices, we will offer the following generic non-sectarian advice listed below. If you have questions beyond what is covered here, please contact us immediately!
1. Don't be Afraid:
Although paranormal events are frightening, the actual number of demonic possessions is infinitesimal. Remember that you are in control of the events that occur in this dimension. Keep your head!
2. Document:
I realize this is time consuming and most people don't want to do it. However, in order for you to get the help you need, you will need some type of documentation. Record in a journal or log: Day - Date - Time and Event! Be sure to include as much detail as possible! Take photographs, use tape recorders, check room temperatures! Investigators will need this information to help decide many factors. Additionally, very rarely will a clergy assist you without documentation.
3. Act:
If this is a case of a simple haunting - frightening but not ominous - take the initiative yourself! Simply TALK to the spirit, explain nicely that this is now your home, and that it is not welcome. Help guide it to the light and perform your own house blessing by using prayers and meditations from your own religious affiliations. You will be surprised and delighted at the results. Although you may have to do this several times, the spirit will eventually get tired of being asked to leave and will most probably not return.
Get Help:
There are some cases that are resistant to all "home remedies". If you are experiencing bizarre and unusual activity, or an ominous feeling, and if there seems to be just one or two areas that are experiencing heavy activity - then it's time to get help!
Use of an Investigator:
Using an Investigator actually has many benefits. First they can help determine what type of haunting you are experiencing (environmental, active, ghosts or demonic). An experienced investigator will then collect data for you and know where to turn to get spiritual help. Most investigators are aware of the sensitivity of your information and are highly professional in regards to your privacy.
For help in locating an experienced investigator please contact The L.I.F.E. Foundation"
-------------------------------------------------
So visit L.I.F.E[/URL], review the pages contained within, and if you feel you need help, contact them and they will do their best to help out. Another option might be to visit this page[/URL] as well. There are many ideas and theories there that are thought to be able to 'get rid of ghosts'. Although some may seem strange, anything is worth a try when you're at your wits end with it all. Be cautious though. If you do indeed have something "bad" or harmful at the location you're at, it may be best and safer to just contact experienced organizations like L.I.F.E. and their contacts, rather then trying to deal with it yourself.
Even if you don't believe any of the stuff above, that's fine. I too find myself many times going "Pffft, yeah right.. come on!" to many things paranormal. But then I look at what all I've encountered/experienced and the many cases/experiences others have encountered around the world.. and know something has to be up. So even if you don't believe any of what is above, hopefully you'll at least keep the info in the back of your mind.. and stay safe.
Like I mentioned at the start of this article, Ghost Tracker doesn't do cases of this nature, so we are in no way an authority of this stuff. But hopefully the info posted here will be helpful.. and if things do get hectic, know that with the help of organizations like The L.I.F.E. Foundation, you're not alone.
---------------------------------------------------
Taken from and originally posted at:
http://www.ghosttracker.com/articles-thedarkerside.html[/URL]