Whether you're a seasoned ghost-hunting group member or a casual investigator who enjoys getting involved around Halloween or special events, there are rules you must follow. Too often, we've heard of ghost-hunting groups that seem to operate without any rules, and the result is almost always chaos, weak evidence, and sometimes even illegal activity and bodily harm.
Every ghost hunting group should have a set of rules by which it operates, and these should be written down, agreed upon, and followed by every member. Yes, these investigations can be fun, but they must also be taken seriously and conducted professionally—especially when the investigation is conducted in someone's home.
Here are some guidelines – 10 commandments – that every paranormal research group should consider and take to heart:
1. You will be informed
Before beginning your investigation, learn everything you can about the location and any reported paranormal activity. Research any books, magazines, and newspaper articles that might discuss the area. If possible, interview eyewitnesses. The more you know about the location, the better you'll be able to conduct your investigation. You'll learn specific areas to investigate, know the right questions to ask, and be better able to understand any evidence you discover.
2. You will be prepared
Being informed is part of the preparation; you should also be prepared physically and technically. Physically, make sure you feel well enough to withstand whatever the examination may require: climbing stairs, exploring abandoned buildings, etc. If you have a cold, you don't want to infect your colleagues or clients.
Make sure your equipment is ready: extra batteries, a clean camera lens, memory cards for cameras and camcorders, tape for voice recorders and camcorders, writing utensils, flashlights, extension cords... you should have a checklist of equipment and supplies. Check it to make sure you have everything and that everything is working as it should.
3. You will not commit any offenses
Just because you have a well-organized group of ghost hunters wearing blue T-shirts doesn't automatically give you permission to enter every abandoned building or cemetery after closing hours (most close after sunset) to conduct research. Even if the building appears abandoned, the property is still someone's property, and entering without permission is illegal.
Always—ALWAYS—obtain permission to investigate a building. Often, you can obtain special permission to investigate a cemetery by contacting the owner if it's privately owned, or from the city or state government if it's a municipal cemetery.
4. You will show respect
A large part of your ghost hunting group's reputation is based on how respectful it is—both to the site and to each client. A property owner or client will feel comfortable if your group's activities are non-destructive, there's no possibility of theft, and you don't make noise or behave in an unfriendly manner.
Treat every client or witness with the utmost respect. Listen patiently and seriously to their reports of their experiences. Each member of your group should bear this in mind when investigating a private home.
Show respect to your team members. Ghost hunting groups—like all groups of people—are rife with tension, personal conflicts, and differences of opinion. Without mutual respect, your group will fall apart.
Someone else who needs your respect is the person being investigated—the ghost or incorporeal entity that might be haunting the location. Some investigators take a confrontational approach, becoming rude and obnoxious while trying to get answers from the ghost. We've seen a lot of this sort of thing on television, and in my opinion, it's done for some "entertainment value." Unfortunately, some ghost hunters replicate what they see on TV, thinking that's the right thing to do. If ghosts are truly people who have passed away, they should be treated with the same respect you would show any living person.
5. You will not act alone
We've heard reports of ghost investigators going it alone and suffering serious harm—or even death. When your ghost hunting group splits up to investigate different areas of a location, they should always divide into groups of at least two. Primarily for safety reasons.
Moreover, evidence gathered by a single person can automatically raise suspicion. To ensure the integrity of any evidence, it must be obtained in the presence of two or more people. Which brings us to...
6. You shall not bear false witness
That is, "Thou shalt not falsify evidence." For those who don't know, bearing false witness means lying. And if you intend to falsify, exaggerate, or otherwise manipulate evidence, why are you researching ghosts? These investigations are about finding the truth about a possible haunting in the best possible way.
Therefore, falsifying or exaggerating observations, fabricating EVP, enhancing photos in Photoshop, or otherwise tampering with evidence and presenting it as authentic is a cardinal sin for a ghost hunter. Why do people do this? Certainly for attention. However, for the research, it is counterproductive, contrary to what the ghost hunting group is all about—and simply wrong.
7. You will be skeptical
For ghost hunters, this can often be difficult because we want to find proof. We want to record Class A EVPs, take an anomalous photo, make contact with the "other side," or otherwise experience a paranormal event. This is what drives us to conduct these investigations. However, we must take a precaution and avoid over-zealousness. Be honest about the evidence: that the EVP could just be the sound of noisy wires in the background; those orbs are probably dust particles; that "appearance" on the video is really just a reflection in the glass door.
Be diligent when attempting to refute the evidence you gather. Find plausible explanations; don't automatically jump to a paranormal explanation. Being skeptical will make any possible authentic evidence even more valuable.
8. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's testimony
In other words, don't steal from other ghost hunting groups. Many groups running websites have discovered that their evidence—EVP, photos, etc.—has been "borrowed" from other groups without attribution. Don't take evidence from other groups (whether from their websites or elsewhere) without permission. And don't claim it as your own.
9. You will know the limits
This is rare, but sometimes ghost investigation can become quite intense. Phenomena may arise that you lack the experience or skills necessary to handle. Know your limitations in what you can handle. It may be necessary to contact or delegate the investigation to a more experienced investigator, especially if physical attacks occur. Again, these are quite rare, but they can happen, and you should have a plan of action.
10. You will always be a professional
This last Commandment transcends and encompasses all the others: Be professional. You want your spirit-hunting group to be trustworthy and respectable, honest and open, ethical, and possess the highest level of unity. Without this, your group will be doomed to failure and will contribute little, if anything, to the search for truth in this field of research.
In many fields, the term "professional" implies that you get paid for what you do. Of course, this rule doesn't apply here. You should approach your actions professionally.
And this leads to the conclusion, or the 11th Commandment: Thou shalt not charge for your research. No group should bill a client for an investigation. Absolutely. Not a penny. In special circumstances, if a client requests your group to travel a long distance to conduct research, the client may offer to cover some of the transportation costs, but this should not be a requirement.
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