Ghost Hunting Information
The purpose of ghost-hunting is to try to prove the existence of an afterlife. Modern ghost hunting makes use of technology, such as video and sound recording equipment, to attempt to communicate with the dead. The practice has its roots in the spiritualism movement of the nineteenth century, made popular by people such as the writer Arthur Conan Doyle and the poet W.B. Yeats. Ghost hunts are usually conducted by paranormal research groups and take place in allegedly haunted locations.
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Features
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Ghost hunting parties are usually made up of four to eight people who work as a team to collect evidence of paranormal activity. They usually research the allegedly haunted location beforehand. According to the The American Ghost Hunters Society, investigators come from diverse backgrounds, from plumbers to TV stars. Paranormal investigation groups make use of equipment such as digital thermometers, hand-held video cameras, infrared and night-vision cameras and digital audio recorders. These devices are later analyzed in the hope of detecting ghostly voices or apparitions such as orbs, which are balls of light believed to be the spirits of dead people or animals. Seances are sometimes held, and many paranormal groups have resident mediums.
Locations
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Any location reputed to be haunted is eligible for a paranormal investigation. Traditionally, historic mansions have been a favorite, but ghost hunts can also take place in pubs, hotels, factories, modern housing developments, abandoned warehouses or forests. Reputedly haunted places include the Pickens County Courthouse in Alabama, the Crescent Hotel in Arkansas and Alcatraz, the former island prison in California.
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Television
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Television shows such as "Medium," "Ghost-Hunters in the U.S." and "The UK's Most Haunted" have increased interest in the paranormal. "Ghost-Hunters," which airs on the Syfy channel, averaged 2.6 million viewers in the first half of season six, broadcast in 2010, according to TV Guide, making it the top-rated cable network in its time slot. "Ghost-Hunters" and "Most Haunted," which airs on the Living TV channel, follow the same format: Investigative teams spend the night in supposedly haunted locations and try to find evidence using scientific equipment. The teams sometimes favor locations once connected with the famous and infamous. "Ghost-Hunters" investigated the former home of novelist Edith Wharton, and "Most Haunted" has gone in quest of notables including William Shakespeare and the highwayman Dick Turpin.
Considerations
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If conducting a do-it-yourself investigation, there are some sensible rules that ghost hunters would be wise to follow. Don't go to a remote place in search of ghosts alone. It's a good idea to go with friends and always tell someone where you are going. A cell phone and warm clothing are essential, as even indoor locations can get chilly late at night. Always ask permission from the owner when researching a haunted location. Approach the investigation respectfully. Whether you believe or not, assuring a potential ghost that you mean it no harm can't hurt. Be ready to lose some sleep. Bear in mind that paranormal investigations tend to continue throughout the night. Confined to the haunted pub or Gothic mansion until daybreak, the ghost hunter may find herself longing for her bed.
History
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Ghost hunting has its roots in the nineteenth century with the birth of the spiritualism movement. In an era of scientific discovery and subsequent religious uncertainty, people wanted evidence of the existence of an afterlife. This evidence apparently materialized in Hydesville, New York, in 1848, when a family claimed that they were being haunted by the ghost of a murdered peddler. The Fox family's two teenage daughters became instant celebrities after they claimed to hear strange rapping noises at night. Communicating with the spirit using taps and knocks and automatic writing, the girls were in big demand. Modern spiritualism was born. Others followed their example, and seances were conducted in dark rooms with participants seated around a table. Margaret Fox later confessed that the spirit raps were a hoax.
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References
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