The modern form of ghost hunting has everything to do with the equipment that you use. Over the years technology has been adapted to allow the intrepid ghost hunter to interact with the environment in hopes that some proof could be obtained for the existence of life after death. In the past such methods such as dowsing rods, which are still used today, and even flour on the floor were used to show that a ghost was present. Today with the advent of certain technologies and the adaptation of them the guess work has been reduced and the measurement of ghosts has been increased. Unfortunately, like any other science the equipment is only as good as the user but with continued use sometime in the future some solid and tangible piece of evidence may prove once and for all that ghosts do exist.
I figured I would begin my ghost hunt series with the equipment needed and a brief overview of why they are used. Mind you none of this information has proved 100% successful but in time through technology and its implementation through trial and error we will succeed. Every ghost hunting kit should include some basic materials that anyone can pick up at the corner market. Notepads and sketch books with different colored marking pens to notate anything odd, paranormal, or to sketch the layout of a room for later reference are a must. I have even gone so far as to make specialized hunting forms such as room grids and ghost hunt logs to record specific occurrences so there is no question as to what I am writing down and looking for. The only reason we are out and doing all of this is to observe, record, and analyze. Doing it right makes everything that much easier to analyze. A tape measure, flashlight, extra batteries, chalk (to mark areas of interest); string, and even walkie talkies should also be present. With these basics a kit will be complete.
One paranormal occurrence that can be recorded is EVP. To record these on a ghost hunt you will need at least a cassette recorder with fresh unopened cassette tapes. I carry a shoebox recorder to limit the amount of internal noise recorded on the tape; I also have a back-up mini recorder to leave in specific locations or to carry around. Aside from cassette tapes I also use a digital voice activated recorder. These come in handy since there is no internal noise and you can compare to your hard copy cassette for later analysis. Digital and cassette recorders each have their perks but I believe that one by itself cannot get as much information as both together.
Video is also important to record visual anomalies. The best camera to have is one that has night vision capability so that any night hunts you may be on there is no question as to what is recorded and allows for optimal night visibility. Still shots can be obtained by digital camera which allows for greater range of image capturing and also for shear amount of pictures that can be taken. The drawback is that there is no hard copy like a picture negative to show that the image was not tampered with. So I also recommend having a 35mm camera or better yet a Polaroid on hand to show that there was something there on sight and not later digitally added.
The EMF meter or electromagnetic field meter has been adapted for use of picking up and disturbance in the EMF fields of any given area. They come in handy so you can pinpoint the possible location of a spirit to allow for the taking of video and still shots and even recording of temperature with a digital infrared thermometer to compile a grouping of multiple readings for better results. A low tech method of showing disturbances in an area is a simple compass which will spin out of control when an EMF disturbance is near.
I mentioned Flour and even string before and these can be used as low tech ways to make sure that there is no other presence in a given area while recording certain things. For instance with flour on the floor you can see that a cat entered your area if one did so that audio recording s will be excluded in that given area. This insures that no reading is read incorrectly. The modern method is infrared motion detectors which you can place all around an area to secure a certain location from intrusion.
This is just a broad range of equipment that you can use but in any situation use the materials and equipment that you know how to use and that you feel comfortable with. If you do that your ghost hunt can only be informative and hopefully you can capture a ghost for the entire world to see. In the future I will also break down specific ways to use and analyze all the equipment that I have listed here to make everything that much easier for you when you do attempt your first ghost hunt.
The Basic Ghost Hunting Kit:
- Notebook/Sketchpad
- Colored marking pens
- Extra Batteries
- Tape Measure
- String
- Chalk
- 35mm Camera and extra film
- Cassette Recorder and extra cassette tapes
- Compass
Advanced Equipment
- Digital Camera
- Polaroid Camera
- Digital Audio Recorder
- Digital Infrared Thermometer
- Video Camera w/ Night Shot and Extra Tapes
- EMF Meter
- Infrared Motion Detectors
Misc. Equipment
- Dowsing Rods
- Flour
- Walkie Talkies
- External Microphone
- First Aid Kit