What To Know Before Ghost Hunting At Halloween

The spookiest time of the year is upon us and I am sure there are quite a few individuals interested going ghost hunting! If you have never ghost hunted or investigated the paranormal, you may not know there are a few things you can do to prepare before you head out to that haunted location and even a few things to know while you are there. We would love to share some of our knowledge to help new ghost hunters or investigators (and even share some things for those of you who may have a bit of experience)! Here is a list of things to consider before embarking on a spooky good time! 👻

DO NOT TRESPASS! If you are striking out on your own always get permission from the owner or an authorized representative before stepping foot on the property. Make sure that any 'host' of any events you purchase tickets for or pay money to attend, have the support of the owner or organization!

FIND AN EVENT THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND SAFE WITH A REPUTABLE TEAM!

A great way to learn is to find a team or location that has experienced guides that will make sure you enjoy your ghost hunt safely in a way that helps you expand your knowledge of the paranormal. Beware of events that are crowded, unorganized, and hosted by unsavory individuals.

WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING AND SHOES! Is the event indoors and outdoors? Are there areas to warm up? It may be cold, wet, and dirty with LOADS of walking. Make sure you have all your bases covered so you aren't miserable!

MAP OUT YOUR DESTINATION AND PARKING! Make sure you read all the instructions and information on how to arrive to your destination safely. Remember that sometimes certain locations have tricky parking, make sure you are prepared.

BRING SNACKS AND DRINKS! Some events provide food with your ticket purchase but to be on the safe side bring your own snacks and drinks especially if you have dietary restrictions. Be aware that you may have to leave these items in the car if there is no "break area".

TAKE YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT! Grab a trusty flashlight, point and shoot camera (you can use your phone too), a digital voice recorder, and/ or a video camera. These are the best items to capture your ghost hunt, many times the teams will have other equipment available as well!

PACK A FIRST AID KIT! You can't go wrong with packing up some bandages, ice pack, pain reliever, etc. in the eventuality that someone gets injured!

DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL OR ADMINSTER ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES! Not only is it unsafe in some locations to be under the influence because of disrepair, but it can also make you vulnerable to the more negative aspects of the paranormal. Additionally many events have guidelines in place that you will be removed if you are under the influence or are consuming alcohol or illegal substances.

FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE LOCATION AND EVENT! In most cases the leaders or guides will give you a brief run down of the rules; which can include topics such as smoking or vaping, safety concerns, off limits areas, prohibited equipment or activities, guide/ area assignments, time limits, and more. Pay attention to all of the rules so that you stay safe and so that you have the best experience possible.

RESPECT THE PROPERTY! Make sure you leave the location as you found it or better, do not damage the property or its contents. Do not touch things you have not been given permission to touch and follow all signs that may be around the property.

RESPECT FELLOW GUESTS! Do not disrupt other sessions or ghost hunters by screaming, talking, running, or horsing around. Also remember that others may be just like you or newer, they may not understand or know of the "do's and don'ts" of ghost hunting, so be a friend and take them under your wing or try to understand what they are attempting to accomplish. If you have issues with another attendee, let the leaders or guides know. Take the time as well to loudly announce "FLASH" when you are taking a picture, no one likes to be taken unawares by a rogue flash.

RESPECT THE SPIRITS! Don't provoke the spirits or entities by cussing at them, yelling, name calling, or being rude. Not only do the spirits have feelings but this could lead to some really negative situations. In a lot of cases, they were once just like you!

TAG YOUR AUDIO AND VIDEO! Always start recording and share the date, time, location, area you are in, and who is with you. Each of these may correlate to others activity and be very rewarding information to have. If you have the capability to verbally identify things that are audible or visual, do so clearly so that you capture this on your audio or video. This will make sure you can correctly identify things when you are reviewing your data and you aren't making false claims.

BE SPATIALLY AWARE! Make sure you know your surroundings and how sound and light play off your environment. You can easily scare yourself or accidently think you have captured something you think may be paranormal however it could have easily been explained by being aware of your surroundings. Additionally make sure you know where others are in proximity to you, not knowing they are nearby could potentially contaminate your audio or even equipment responses.

KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT! You may only have a few hours and one night to enjoy ghost hunting! Make sure you understand your equipment and how it works before you arrive. At times you can miss out on important experiences by fiddling with equipment you have never used and do not understand.

DEBUNK WHAT YOU CAN! If you experience something strange, try to see if you can explain it! 99.9% of personal experiences can be explained simply because of fear, stress, and a misinterpretation of natural events. One of the biggest parts of ghost hunting is to make sure you are really experiencing something paranormal!

CALM DOWN! Make sure you don't scream or run when you experience something, not only could you injure yourself but it could also injure or scare others. Try to remain calm and if you ever feel unsafe or sick because of what is happening, exit to a safe area to regroup!

PROTECT YOURSELF! Whether you pray, use crystals, carry a talisman, or develop a spiritual ritual; it is important to make sure that you are spiritually safe. Spirits and entities can attach to you, but with the right preparation, you will come away with just some really awesome experiences. Additionally ghost hunting can result in wearing down your own energy which can exhibit for days to weeks after. Try to do something before and after your event to make sure you are protecting your own energy.

There are many things to consider when going ghost hunting, so make sure you are prepared!

Happy Hunting!

Rebecca Boyer

Co-Founder

Antietam Paranormal Society