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From: Stacy 8.4.05

Reverence in Ghosthunting: An Investigator’s Perspective
The ethical side of ghost hunting from an investigator's point of view.

(PRWEB) February 15, 2005 -- “Bathed in moonlight, we approach. Against the backdrop of a starry sky gravestones stand tall - sentinels of the night. A hush befalls our group; a quiet acknowledgement between living and dead -- And again, I silently thank my team for their professionalism and respect.” -- Journal entry, July 2004 Sarah A. Higgins, WNY Paranormal

Beyond the glamour of movies and television, and apart from the novelists and playwrights, you’ll find the real paranormal investigators. We’re a dedicated sort; the type of people who think nothing of driving hundreds of miles to sit in the dark. We accessorize our bodies with cameras, recording devices and other equipment, all in the hopes of obtaining a small amount of useful information. “Why spend hours of your life going through pictures and recordings?” you might ask. It’s the thrill of the hunt. It’s not notoriety we seek, nor is it financial gain. It’s the passion that drives us; the gratification we feel as we help other people to understand the unknown. Each moment spent is considered well worth our time.

One of the greatest responsibilities of an investigator in our field is respect. Respect for the dead, respect for nature, respect for those seeking knowledge, and respect for one’s team members. Each element should be kept in the forefront of one’s mind while researching and investigating.

Those that approach us to set up investigations often present common questions: they want to know what’s in their home; how can they coexist with it; how can they help it cross to the other side? For a small moment in this life, our team becomes an integral part of a family or an individual’s life, as each new investigation brings a story shared, a brief glimpse into the past and new memories made. With each unfolding story, a gift of trust is shared among us. This we must not desecrate.

Another key factor to keep in mind is respect for the dead. Treat entities you are working with, as you would want to be treated in death or in life. Sitting on gravestones or taking something that doesn’t belong to you is both unethical and disrespectful, and mockery or poor treatment of spirits is unacceptable behavior from any investigator. Instead, find a positive way to demonstrate kindness to those departed: initiate a cemetery clean up with your group; try to guide those left to wander the Earth towards the light of the Other Side; be an example to others so that they can do the same.

Finally, have respect for the members of your team. It’s a good idea to check egos at the door and remember that each person plays an important role in the outcome of an investigation. It’s a combination of strengths that help us find the information we seek. Each person is valuable.

Remember the immortal words of Morgan Freeman in the movie Bruce Almighty: “Be the Miracle.” Everything we do, every bit of knowledge we impart to others, every action and subsequent reaction we create, makes a difference in the life of someone else. And that, my friends, is what stirs the passion to continue investigating.

Stories from our members and guests

From: Aimee 8.4.05

During the summer of the 3rd grade I began having a visitor on a regular basis. IT all started one night when I was not feeling well and my mother made me stay upstairs in my room all by myself. I was not at all thrilled with staying in my room all alone--I could hear everyone else in the family watching TV, talking etc.. I could have just as easily have "felt bad" in their company! This was the evening when I first met the old man. He came into my room in an old white cotton night gown. He was very old, wrinkled, crooked but the kindest man I ever knew. He came and sat on the edge of my bed and began patting my leg--just chatting--asking me questions about school, things I liked to do. Just ordinary "Grandpa Stuff" I never felt scared, or even surprised. Well--when I mentioned the next day to my mother about my visitor--she told me I was hallucinating with a high fever. I never again spoke of him to my mother--afraid of being mocked--but my "Old Man" came all the time--sometimes weekly. Always a very comforting visit--I looked forward to seeing him.  I lived in Missouri when he 1st came--he stayed with me in our move to Arizona and again to Florida. Now an adult in the early 80's I came to depend on his comforting visits. While in Florida I met who was to be my future husband- he worked with the local fire dept. One day his dept. volunteered to clean up the local cemetery. I wanted to surprise them and show up with lunch. Oddly enough--when they were giving directions to the cemetery--I knew exactly where it was--without ever being there. I drove right to the gate and felt very at ease there. It was the old side of the cemetery and the group I was bringing lunch to--were on the other side of a fence.
            While waiting for my lunch group to arrive, I saw "my Old Man" approaching me. Never before had I seen him in full dress. He always appeared in his gown in the privacy of my home. It took but a moment to recognize him. He went over and set by a very large dual headstone. I followed. As I approached the stone I noticed a name--Thomas Lincoln Sr.--dated 1805 to 1910. The wifes name was simply Clara who had the date of 1822-1871.
As I approached in total confusion--he had a huge grin and said "Thank you-You did it--I love you." Then he took a seat on the edge of the tombstone and simply faded away. I never saw my "Old Man" again. He never seemed to mind that I addressed him as Grandpa as I grew up. I would like to think I helped him in some way though I do not know how--or even why he was in my life for so long, and over a stretch of several states. Was the name on the stone his? Was Clara his one true love? I may never know. I do know he brought me comfort as a child and as an adult. I think of him all the time and miss our talks.  I would like to think he found whatever he was looking for.
Aimee

From: Stacy found on americanfolklore.net

*Milk bottles*

She was just another poor, bedraggled woman, struggling to feed her family. He saw them all the time, their faces careworn, and blank. The Depression had created hundreds of them. He was one of the lucky ones who still had his grocery and money coming in to feed his family.

She came one day to his shop, carrying two empty milk bottles, and wordlessly placed them on the counter in front of him. He took the empties and replaced them with full bottles, saying: "Ten cents, please."

She did not reply. She just took the bottles and left the shop. He might have gone after her to demand his money, or called the police, but he did neither. Her need was in her face, and he always felt a little guilty at being one of the lucky ones with money and a job. She was probably one of the migrant workers, he decided.

She was back the next day with two empty milk bottles. He replaced them will full bottles and watched as she hurried out the door. She looked so worried that he wondered if she had a job at all. If she came back, he would offer her a part-time position cleaning the store.

She came again the next morning, and exchanged her empty bottles for full without saying a word. He tried to talk to her, to ask if she wanted a job, but she practically ran from the store with the milk. Her urgency worried him. He followed, wondering what he could do to help.

To his surprise, she headed away from the migrant camp outside of town. She went instead to the graveyard by the river. As he watched, she hurried up to a stone marker and then disappeared into the ground. He rubbed his eyes, not believing his eyes. Then he heard the muffled cry of a baby. It was coming from the ground underneath the stone marker where the woman had disappeared!

He ran back to the store and phoned the police. Within minutes, the graveyard was swarming with people, and the workers started digging up the grave. When the casket was opened, the store owner saw the woman who had visited his store lying dead within it. In her arms, she held a small baby and two full milk bottles. The baby was still alive.

americanfolklore.net

Personal Experiences that anyone might have had themselves, and would like to share with others. These can range from interesting, to questioning, and even frightening!

From: Aimee 8.3.05

I just wanted to share the story that began my quest for the paranormal.
It all started with my youngest daughter--Kayla. Being my 3rd child--I thought I had experienced every kind of behavior a child could throw your way--NOT!
From the onset of the pregnancy--Kayla was different. She never stopped moving and I would go for up to two weeks with NO SLEEP! From the moment she was born--and through her 6th month of arriving--Kayla did not sleep more than 10 minutes at a time. From day one Kayla responded as if you were not the only one around. Always looking and suddenly smiling and laughing when no one was near. All of which could be easily explained away--Gas, etc.. When Kayla was learning to walk, you could catch her holding her hand up as if she was holding someone's hand--no one visible to us of course. Sometimes she would walk right into walls doing it, and when she couldn't go further,she would cry and reach out to the wall to be picked up. From very earlly on--Kayla had a variety of what we always called "imaginary friends." As she got older(2-3yrs) we were going through photo albums and she quickly pointed out my husband's father and said "PAP"--my father in law died before I had met my husband and even I did not know he was called PAP by all his children and grandchildren. She still carries around a picture of PAP to this day--it seems she finds great comfort in having him around(not just his picture)! At one point we were over at my mother in laws house--who loved and listened to Kayla chatter about her Pap. This particular day there was a different chair in the living room which I had never seen before--as I went to sit in it--Kayla ran over and blocked me from sitting and said--NO!! That is Pap's chair. Well--Her grandmother left the room with tears in her eyes--when I went to check on her she told me it WAS Pap's favorite chair--and the fact that Kayla knew--just confirmed even further what we all knew. She truly has met and knows her grandfather "Pap". I believe he knew her even before I held her in my arms the 1st time.
            My daughter has and continues to be my greatest connection to what we call the Paranormal.  We have had Kayla tested and her IQ at 6yrs of age was over 300. She continues to draw in a picture diary of all her "friends"--and though when young would get very frustrated when we could not see or hear what she was--she seems content to know we now understand little bit more.

By Stacy G. 12.5.05

I want to take a minute and discuss coincidences because so much of the paranormal is or can be dismissed as such. Heres my example:
Last night we were hiking up a mountain to get to some reputedly haunted indian ruins. It was about 7pm so it was dark outside. The hike up was slow because ontop of it being almost pitch black outside the path was all rocks,gravel and loose dirt and half the trail was right along side the mountain so if you fell at that point you would likely fall right down the side and tumble to the bottom which would be BAD!
When we decided to head back at one point, about half way down, I felt my backpack being tugged. I only had about 5 seconds to think about if I should turn around and look, before I fell. I dont remember slipping on anything, i just remember falling, landing on my knee and tumbling acouple times. Thankfully we were on a wide part of the path at the moment so I didnt fall off the side.Torn jeans, bruised up and a few layers of skin on my knee shorter, I was going to make it back down the mountain just fine without a helicopter rescue. As we stood up and turned to leave we saw the most beautiful shooting star I had ever seen.
Now on the one hand it was a tedious trail, you needed to take every step cautiously. It could be just a coincidence that I was thinking to myself immediatly before the fall that I thought I felt someone or something tug on my bag.
On the other hand, we were hiking in reputedly haunted Indian ruins! If you are a believer in the paranormal it seems to me that this would have been a prime location for a paranormal occurance. There is a good argument for both sides. These types of paranormal/coincidences will always be open to interpretation because there is really no way to prove it one way or the other.