ParaStudy - Home of the Minnesota Paranormal Study Group

Is ghost hunting dangerous? Absolutely. But so is driving a car and going to work. Virtually all activities in life carry some sort of risk; it is up to you to make informed choices about what you are willing to participate in. So what are the occupational hazards of paranormal investigation? It's more than you would think, I guarantee.

1) Intragroup Conflict - This is number one on my list to watch out for. Yes, I and many others recommend that if you are new to this field, that you hook up with an organization in your area. But beware as not all are created alike, and many "open" groups do not screen their members carefully. See also Fruitcake Factor. The problems you may run into include cliques, gossip, snide remarks, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, etc. Basically, the same stuff you can find in any organization.

I guess what gets me is that I have met individuals you were supposedly mediums/psychics and so forth that have all this sensitivity towards the dead and can usher them into the light blah blah blah, but ironically sometimes they have an astonishing lack of maturity.

2) Physical Hazards - I have yet to hear of someone getting slimed or seriously hurt by a ghost. But investigations necessitate a lot of bumbling around in the dark, and it's easy to trip while wandering around in an unfamiliar space while looking through your Sony D-8. Fear can also be a big problem as it induces panic and poor decision making. Many get hurt by running when they get scared, and even without that, accidents do happen. So never hunt alone and keep a first aid kit and cell phone handy.

It is also a good idea to make an honest evaluation of your physical condition and take steps to prevent problems down the line. Is your blood pressure high or are you out of shape? Investigating can be more demanding than you think; climbing up several flights of stairs, carrying equipment, running like hell from an apparition, etc. Don't be a candidate for pulled muscles, hernias or even a heart attack if you actually do see something. Take medication if you need it, eat right and exercise.

3) Ostracism by Family/Friends - A lot of people come from a religious background which frowns on investigating the paranormal. From the other end of the spectrum, the business/science world doesn't always look so favorably on it either. Should you casually mention to your boss or elderly aunt that you hang out in cemeteries late at night? Think carefully, because once the cat is out of the bag, that's it. Ditto for going on TV and appearing in the media.

4) Extramarital Affairs - You may be shocked by this one, but in my experience it's one of the most overlooked risks in hunting. When I was the member of a large group, I had more married women hit on me than ever before in my life. I talked to Troy Taylor about this and he confirmed my suspicions - that it is a common issue. Why? Are ghost hunters just so incredibly sexy?

Well, yes. And many people who join a group tend to be married and want to get out of the house. (and/or away from the spouse) There can be an artificial intimacy created by the sense of danger and teamwork . Of course for some people, this issue may not be seen as a disadvantage, though I think mixing infidelity and the paranormal is a bad mojo.

5) Negative Spiritual Influence - Some of the places and people that you meet have an unhealthy energy about them, and it can contaminate you. Be wary of these dark things and monitor yourself. It is not unusual for investigators to experience mysterious physical symptoms and mood swings. On one occasion while investigating a cemetery with an unusual energy signature, I got a really pounding headache which is not like me. I have heard of other hunters coming back from an investigation and feeling "beat up" and fatigued for days afterwards. Others get nausea, vertigo and a range of other difficulties. I discuss this in more detail under Spiritual Safety.

6) Obsessiveness with the Dead - It is very easy to get caught up in ghost hunting to such an extent that you spend a lot of time, money and energy involved in this field. But then important responsibilities and relationships can get ignored and sacrificed unknowingly. Don't get blindsided by this one. Take a break and spend time with living people in the sunlight.

7) Intergroup Conflict - Many of the ghost groups out there have friendly people that are willing to talk to you and help you along. But sad to say, other groups have individuals with insecurities and ego problems and they hate to see anyone potentially outdo them. A few join these groups because they are sad and pathetic beings that desperately want attention.

Remember the movie Twister with the rival storm chasers? I though it was silly at the time, but I have had my historical expert make a comment that stuck with me. Any time you are dealing in a field that has scant opportunities for fame and money, then the people involved can tend to get more petty and crude by direct proportion, as there is a perception of scarcity.

So don't be too surprised by seeing flames on message boards, groups getting badmouthed to potential clients and ideas/research getting stolen. While I am disappointed by such immaturity and dishonesty, I believe in not returning evil for evil as it is a waste of energy and spreads negativity.

8) The Fruitcake Factor - You meet a lot of really good, interesting people in this field. But there is the occasional loon that always seems to come out of the woodwork if you make yourself too accessible. Social leeches that do nothing but talk and suck the life right out of you, fill your head full of crap or just amaze you with their bizarre behavior. Learn to make the sign of the cross with your hands and back away without making eye contact.

9) The BS Factor - A lot of places that are reputed to be haunted really aren't. Lots of people like to talk about their paranormal experiences, or better yet, relate "friend of a friend" stories. Stay polite but skeptical and keep in mind the old Latin question: "Who benefits?" When the group I was with at the time investigated Manresa Castle, we were all hoping for a good scare. We tromped up and down taking pictures, wowing people with our equipment, and looking forward to meeting a spirit. It was supposedly haunted by the ghost of a young Jesuit priest who hung himself.

Later, we were set up with the manager of the hotel and interviewing him on camera. We asked him about his experiences and what he thought was going on. He came flat out and told us that the Jesuit priest was concocted by a former employee (the bartender) in order to appease cusotmers who wondered about the strange noises they heard at night. (it was an old building with multiple floors, all creaky) And it just so happened that the "haunted" room in was the most expensive one in the place.

Everyone else was floored - I was mildly amused. Especially when I went to the attic and saw the noose left there by the History Channel team who put it in for a dramatic recreation. But it was featured on TV, how could the building not be haunted? Think about it. Does a camera crew want to go out and find nothing? Does a non-haunting sell a program? The media is just as guilty as anyone of playing up a spooky house in order to keep people glued to the tube.

10) Poor Leadership - There are few things more annoying than having a clueless leader. Poorly managed groups can waste time and resources, ultimately frustrating the members and causing unnecessary conflict. But no one is perfect and giving people a chance is the kind thing to do. Have a space where constructive feedback is welcome (not generally in front of the public) and be open to changes in policy if it helps the group as a whole.

11) Direct Assault - This is one of the most rare of hazards, but it has been reported by hunters in the field. The most you usually hear of is someone getting pushed. But there exists a video of a hunter sticking their head into and attic and nearly getting strangled by electrical wire. Never hunt alone and keep a good first aid kit and cell phone nearby.

12) Upsetting property owners and getting sued or arrested - This is a pretty obvious one. Remember that you are a guest on someone else's property - get permission and be nice. I have heard of members trying to pull down boards from walled off sections of a building and trespassing. Try to err in the opposite direction and have impeccable manners. Send a thank you card for letting you visit or even give a small gift certificate at a local coffee shop.

13) Boredom -This can be the biggest killer of any group. If people get bored, they will find other things to do with their weekends. Boredom may also encourage people to be more reckless with the investigation, so watch out. True, on many investigations nothing will happen which is the law of averages, but try to screen your cases as best you can. Interview the witnesses carefully and evaluate if it is worth your trouble. Doing a quick preliminary with a limited number of members can save time down the road and prevent frustration.

But despite your best efforts, dull vigils do happen. Take the opportunity to learn something new while you are there, talk to the property owners and so forth, but do it without compromising your research. Try to have alternate plans to do something fun afterwards, and most important: Hunt with people you like. That way it is time well spent. :)

14) Not saying "No" when you should - It's tough when your best friend, neighbor, etc. wants to go on a real live ghost hunt with you. In some cases, you may be able to accommodate them. But in others, if you don't say "No" soon enough, you can end up with a nightmare. Once, at a paranormal convention that I attended, I had an employee come up to me and relate how the hotel (that the convention was being held in) was haunted. I was rather skeptical, but asked if he could show me the area.

It looked like an ordinary wing of a hotel, but the feelings I got were quite extraordinary. I literally felt my stomach getting pulled downward and there was an energy that was very odd. I went back and told the group that I was with that it seemed legit and we planned for a SPECTRE setup along with camera gear. This was in the early afternoon. By the time (10 PM) the investigation came up, a gang of approximately FIFTEEN people were wanting to tag along, including someone's pre-teen child.

I was not as amused in this case, though I understand how situations like this can happen. At any rate, soon thereafter I parted ways with this group so as to avoid farces like this one. I felt with a smaller group, it would be easier to keep boundaries drawn.

But even then, there can be problems with property owners. All too often, especially with residential investigations, you schedule a night to come by, and when you arrive you find that they invited the whole damn neighborhood over to meet the "Ghostbusters." It is their property and they can do as they wish, but it's YOUR time, so nicely ask them to refrain from having extras over unless they were witnesses to the phenomena.

Sometimes, they may know a friend who is also a medium/psychic/sensitive or whatever that wants to come over and have a s�ance. Fine. But they can do it another time when your team isn't there. It can be difficult to run an investigation when there is a wild card in the mix. Furthermore, while I respect the "soft" side of the paranormal, I find that some who claim to have psychic powers can also have a real ego about it. Beware of the conflict this can engender, especially if there is more than one.

Now I am offering these suggestions on the premise that you wish to have the best possible data and a smooth hunt. However, if socializing and meeting new people is more your thing, then by all means encourage everyone to join in. Maybe you just don't want to hurt anyone's feelings as asking people to not be present can offend some. But don't say I didn't warn you.

15) Lack of diplomacy with the property owners - While it may seem that I've already covered or at least alluded to this in previous paragraphs, I feel this deserves special attention. Bottom line, you need to be damn careful what you say to the public, especially in someone's residence. A lot of times, people believe their place is haunted by their dear Uncle Sal and by golly, that's what they want to hear from you as well. But you find no evidence to support that, so what do you do? I would say, well, I'm not finding anything on my instruments but I can't refute that Sal is here in some way.

What if you suspect poltergeist activity, and you think it centers around the 13 year old daughter? Well, maybe you're right. But if you word things wrong, they may get the idea that she is "to blame" and that may make things much worse. Family systems can be very dysfunctional, to an extent that they may take your "diagnosis" and pervert or twist it way beyond anything you meant. Which leads me to another subject...

16) Uncovering things you didn't want to - What if on an investigation of a residence it becomes somewhat obvious that child abuse is going on? Or an affair? I can't make this call for you, though I think it is best to stay away from these kinds of situations.

17) Crimped or Ruined Investigations - Even the best laid plans can go awry. Both of the marine ship investigations I went on happened to be on weekend nights and in both instances we were right next to the "party vessel" where young yuppies got drunk and played loud music. Nothing really bad happened except the noise was an extra distraction. Outdoor vigils can be scrubbed due to weather conditions. Just bear in mind things can and do happen, so try to keep Plan B waiting in the wings.