Essentials of Ghost Hunting: Safety & Ethics

Welcome to Essentials of Ghost Hunting! In this series, I'm presenting a full guide with everything you need to know to go on your ghost hunt. Even if you're relatively seasoned, there still may be one or two things in this series that stick out. 

This series will contain:

• This post! Intro to Ghost Hunting--Safety and Ethics
• What's in Your Bag? 
• Documentation Methods & Practices
• Eyewitness Interviews
• Independent Investigation
• Conducting Your Investigation
• Organizing and Examining Notes
• Following Leads
• Concluding the Investigation

This series will update periodically, after posts "for the ghosts" and "for the haunted."

I would love to begin with the ethics of ghost hunting. First, consider the connotations of the phrase, "ghost hunting." The implication is death, or in this case, ceasing to exist. Although it is sometimes framed as helping the deceased move on, this is not what the name suggests. 

However, what are its alternatives? Paranormal investigation, while it may be too wordy to fit in a good post title, is overall a better choice of words. Personally, I tend to prefer paranormal researcher, as an investigation rarely if ever comes to a concrete end.

 These phrases sound more professional, more scientific, and much less reckless than the thought of a ghost hunt. In this situation, the ghosts are not objects of prey, they are objects of curiosity. It is important to acknowledge a ghost, whether intelligent or residual, as something that was once alive. Empathy is crucial in this field. 

Respect for both the living and the dead is necessary long before getting started. There is a particular etiquette that comes with entering someone else's home, living or dead. First, consider the current property owners. Their permission to investigate on the property is required to proceed, unless you have a particular want for jail time. 

Then, once research on the area is complete, you must figure out how to go about the investigation in a respectful manner to the spirits. For example, are the circumstances of the death known? If so, how recent was it? 

If this ghost may have living relatives, they may not appreciate your prying. It must be difficult to think of a loved one in that way, especially if the cause of death was particularly traumatic. 

Either way, it could easily be insulting to suggest that a loved one's spirit is not at rest or has since become a ghost, something to toy with, and kind of circus freak. 

Always approach any possible ghosts with respect, understanding and empathy. Once, they were just like you. and one day, you will be just like them.

This post is pretty short, basically just a precursor for everything else. I'll be back soon with another post!

 

Other posts in this series:

What's in Your Bag?
Documentation Methods & Practices
Eyewitness Interviews
Independent Investigation
Conducting Your Investigation
Organizing and Examining Notes
Following Leads
Concluding the Investigation