First Things First

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If you are experiencing problems in your home or business please be aware that you should be treated with courtesy and respect.

When it comes to things that go bump in the night there are a several types of organizations that can help from spiritual to research oriented.  These groups may or may not be affiliated with churches, schools or other organizations.  Some may charge, but be aware that many more do not charge.  No matter who you have come out to investigate there are some things you should keep in mind.

This page will explain:

• Your Rights
• Questions to ask yourself and to interview the prospective group
• Your responsibility regarding the investigation and the group that comes out

Your Rights

1. Health consideration:
   1. Many groups may recommend smudging either before their arrival or just prior to their leaving.  If you, family members or pets may have allergies or sensitivities you should express them to the group and do not allow them to smudge.
   2. Another suggesting is use of salt or saltwater. Remember that salt is corrosive and saltwater can slowly turn the metal fixtures on your door or appliances to rust.
   3. Individuals of a group may be smokers, during breaks they should remove themselves from the interior of the property at a minimum. If you are adamant non-smoker and do not want them smoking anywhere on your property this should be expressed during the initial conversation and your wishes should be respected.  If they opt to smoke they should remove themselves to a public property.
2. You have the right to privacy and respect:
   1. Your religious views should be respected for example:
      1. if you are not Native American and feel uncomfortable with smudging it's okay to tell them not too.
      2. If you are not Christian and they suggest repeating the Lord's Prayer it's okay to insist they don't.
   2. Access to your property:
      1. Investigators, ideally, should have access to all areas of property.  However you can deny them access to certain areas if you feel it necessary either for the sake of renter's privacy or your own.
      2. At the most, members may open closet doors. They SHOULD NOT touch your clothes or open dresser, bathroom or kitchen drawers.
      3. While a team member may move items to make room for equipment on dressers or bookshelves, they should not rifle through the items willy-nilly and make disapproving comments.  They should replace the items if they move them.
3. Personal Interaction:
   1. No question should be treated as trivial and all should be answered.
   2. You can limit the number of people who show up for an investigation. Keep in mind severely limiting the number can hamper the investigation, but if you have a small property or are concerned about the number of strange vehicles suddenly showing up...  These concerns should be discussed before the investigation is scheduled.
   3. You should be allowed to stay on site, it is your property.
   4. You should be allowed to follow the investigators around. Keep in mind they have a job to do, it's okay to ask questions but do not disrupt their process unless it upsets or disrespects you.
   5. You have the right to ask them to leave at any point during the investigation, allowing them time to retrieve their equipment.

Questions to Ask

Before you call an investigator or invite someone to do a blessing you should be clear about what you want. So ask yourself the following, because the group you contact should be asking them of you.

1. Do you actually want an investigation or do you want someone to just come out and make contact (i.e. a Psychic or Medium Reading), or bless the place, or perform an exorcism?
   • If you want someone to simply make contact with the ghost, you are looking for Reading. This is different from an investigation and expect that there will be a charge for this.  For some this can be a fine line but make no mistake, there is a difference:
     • At most there will be two people, the Psychic Medium you've contacted and their apprentice or assistance.
     • They may take photos, but only taking photos is not sufficient if you are paying for "an investigation."
   • An investigation will include technical equipment, it may include psychics or mediums to determine what may be causing the events and may attempt to relieve the situation.
   • A blessing or exorcism is a religious practice meant to calm or displace non-coporial entities inhabiting a location.  How this is done depends on that organization contact. But there is little attempt to determine what is causing it, in many cases they assume a demon or dark entity.
     TIP: Contact a group in line with your own religious or spiritual beliefs.  If you Lutheran, why contact the local Catholic Church?  They are not the only ones who can do exorcism despite what you've seen in the movies. If you are afraid of stigmatism from your local community try similar organization in another community and request confidentiality.
2. Do you simply want to understand what is happening to you or do you want it to stop?
   1. Are you OK about keeping your specter?
      1. Some people want to know that they are not crazy. That there is some reason these things are happening. Perhaps discover there is some physical reason for the events.
      2. Alternatively they want to know if the spook on the stairway is a visiting relative or some ghostly stranger.
      3. Another group of people like the notoriety of living in a haunted house.
   2. Do you want it gone?
      1. Some people are being harassed or terrorized.
      2. Others are concerned about spiritual repercussion.

You do not have to settle for the first group you find.  There are a lot of groups out there willing to come out and assist you with your problem.  They can be found on the internet, in local phone books, at churches, temples or synagogues; some groups hold meetings or teach classes at local libraries or area metaphysical stores.

However you find them you should be able to interview them, just as you would check out plumber, moving company or baby sitter.  Below are some suggestions, you do not have to ask them all but some of them, at least, should give you feel for whether you can be comfortable with them.

1. How long have you been investigating paranormal phenomena?
2. How many investigations have you done?
3. How many members are in your team?
4. Do you charge or request donations?
   1. How much?  By the hour or by the investigation?  Are there additional charges if you need to return?
   2. If I'm paying you what guarantee do you have that you will resolve my problem or find evidence of a haunting?
   3. What about disputing charges after the investigation is complete?
5. How likely are you to make things worse?
   1. Will you come back as often I need or want?
6. How long will the investigation take?
7. What type of equipment do you use? (Then ask them questions about their equipment. Simple answer are acceptable, if you want detailed answers ask if they teach classes.)
   1. Can you explain what an EVP is?
   2. What is an EMF Detector and why is it used?
   3. What are Orbs?
   4. What are Dowsing Rods?
8. How do you do conduct your investigations?
   1. Do you use technical equipment exclusively?
   2. Do you use psychics or mediums?
   3. Do you perform any rituals on site?
9. Will you just tell me my property is haunted and leave or will you be able to provide me assistance in making it stop?
   1. If you don't charge and determine my property is haunted will you end up referring me to someone who does?
10. What are your religious or spiritual beliefs?
11. Are you or will you bring a Demonologist?
    1. What are their religious beliefs?
    2. Where did they get their training?
    3. Do they have a title?  If so, how did he acquire the title, is there some official schooling necessary?
    4. What is their role in the process?
    5. How often do they find demons? (Remember "experts tend to find what they experts are experts in.")

Your Responsibility

Yes, you do have some responsibility to the investigators or blessing group that comes.

1. Primarily you need to provide them a safe environment, or alert them if there are concerns about physical safety or inconvenience.  This is more important on properties undergoing renovation or restoration or old homes with "rickety" staircases or if you live "in the bad part of town."  If there is construction:
• Make sure that carpet tack boards are placed in such that no one will step on them, or better yet removed.
• Flammable and toxic materials are secured.
• Unsafe areas are roped off.
2. It is not necessary to provide refreshments. No group should require you to provide food and refreshments. They may not be getting paid, but they are professionals and should take care of this themselves.
• If you do opt to provide them, keep it light. Store bought sandwich, fruit and vegetables trays, chips. It's not necessary to cook a full meal.
• If you do not opt to provide food, allow the investigators time during the investigations that run more then six hours or cross over meal time to eat and provide them space on site or clarify before scheduling they'll be expected to eat elsewhere.
3. Many investigators are volunteers who have full time jobs, family and friends, and other hobbies.
   • As a result investigations will be held on the weekends.  If you prefer a week day investigation you may have to continue your search.
   • You may have allot of questions. Allow them time to respond to your messages, this may take more then a day, but response should still be timely.
4. Do not expect that you will be allowed to become a member of the investigative team.  Once your problem has been resolved, you may get brave and decide that you want to do this.  It's okay to ask, but do not take it personally if you are turned down.  A good group size is six to ten at the most and they may be full of.  Some groups offer "associate" memberships. But that is a whole other conversation.

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