Ghost hunting tools can be useful in any haunted setting.
Some researchers confirm anomalies using cameras, EVP recorders, digital thermometers, compasses and EMF detectors, etc.
Others focus on psychic readings with Tarot cards or other divinatory tools.
Some people use dowsing rods and pendulums, which some claim are psychic tools, while other point to their scientific support.
But, the question remains:
What tools must every beginner have for ghost hunting?
Here’s our answer: Nothing!
You need no special tools, not even a camera. You also don’t need special training.
Really.
If you’re a beginner or simply curious about ghost hunting, you should be able to show up at a place that’s haunted and sense the ghosts.
The more often you go on ghost hunts, the more sensitive you’ll become to ghosts and the paranormal. It’s that simple.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON A GHOST HUNT
On a successful ghost hunt, you may experience an eerie feeling, a chill, or hair lifting on the back of your arms.
Some people will hear things, which can range from noises that everyone hears–tapping, for example–or strange sounds that the individual hears psychically.
Others will receive strong impressions, or see something flicker, off to one side. Or, they may detect a perfume or an aroma.
Any of the five senses can be involved, or it may be just a ‘sixth sense’ encounter with the other side.
But, you should never feel that you must own or use a particular tool. If your budget won’t even stretch to include a disposable film camera, don’t worry about it. Just go and enjoy the ghost hunt.
GHOST HUNTING IS ABOUT OBSERVING
For 90% of beginners, as well as many researchers with experience, ghost hunting is practically a spectator sport.
You’ll see what others are encountering, and you may (or may not) sense some ‘odd’ things, yourself. That’s all that basic ghost hunting is, really.
When you’re ready to add research tools–and you never have to–go slowly. Experiment.
Borrow others’ equipment for a few minutes on a ghost hunt, and see if it works for you.
Some people never seem to get anything interesting on film. Others produce zero results with EMF detectors.
No two researchers are the same. Don’t invest in equipment unless you’re sure that it’s useful for you.
Others won’t use any divinatory tools, even dowsing rods, because they feel ‘uncomfortable’, or the researchers’ religious beliefs prohibit those practices. Don’t worry that you’re missing out on anything if you avoid the Tarot, etc.
Here at Hollow Hill, we try to inform researchers about what works (and what’s not reliable) in our own research.
But, we try never to pressure ghost hunters into using particular tools–scientific or divinatory–for ghost hunting.
ALL THAT YOU NEED IS AN INTEREST IN GHOSTS
There are no tools and there is no training that you absolutely must have to be a successful ghost hunter.
Sure, courses can help shorten the trial-and-error phase, and point out things that may not occur to you otherwise.
However, we want to make this very clear: You need no tools at all to be a successful ghost hunter.
7 Responses to Basic tools every ghost hunter must have
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Fiona.
I am looking into buying a Electronic Voice Recorder to see if we can get any EVP recordings.
Is there such a device we can buy that if we hear something speaking into it and hear it at the same time. Or do we have to rewind and playback later. If we have to listen later, doesn’t it defeat any purpose asking the spirit questions if we cannot repond to them?
Another question: Once we do get an EVP, does it HAVE to be heard on a computer? My computer is having a problem with the audio program. I cannot hear any music, podcasts, or movieclips. I now, it’s sad.
That would also leave out the “Audacity Audio Editor”.
Thanks.
Rich, you asked about voice recorders for EVP. I don’t know any devices that let you listen at the same time as you’re recording… not so you hear what’s actually recorded, anyway.
In most cases, people don’t hear anything — even through headphones connected to a recording device — when they record EVP. It’s only heard on playback, later.
I think that’s a lot like orbs and other anomalies in photos. We don’t usually see the anomalies that show up in the pictures, later. There may be some indications that it’s a good photo, but — until we look at the picture — we can’t be sure that anything odd is in it.
You’re right that it seems futile to record EVP when you can’t respond to what the ghosts say. If the EVP recording is clear, you might be able to ask a question, wait, play back the recording for the answer, and then ask the next question, etc.
Because I’m a psychic, I can often ask questions and get internal answers. I like to work with other psychic ghost hunters, such as Gavin Cromwell, to confirm or clarify the responses that I perceive. It really helps to have a second opinion, to reduce the influence of our internal filters.
So, I can usually get a good idea of whether anomalies are likely in EVP or photos. But, that’s still no guarantee.
Generally, computers are useful for filtering out external noises such as cars passing or planes overhead. But, in theory, you should be able to listen to the recording “as is” and hear the ghostly voice/s.
I’m interested in using a crystal for locating more “active” rooms. but i can remember if it rotats clockwise or counter clockwise that there is lots of activity and of what type. i can’t remember. does any one know anything about this?
Each person will see a different reaction, and it can vary from time to time. I always recommend checking with two questions, before every use. The first is, “What is the response for ‘yes’?” and the second is, of course, “What’s the response for ‘no’?”
I think that a pendulum is a very personal tool. (I also think that some pendulums work better for some people than others do… rather like Harry Potter choosing his wand.)
Seeing your pendulum’s “mood” before each session is smart. It gets you in communication with it, and I think it acknowledges its power, in a way.
Fiona.
I know this is an old article and I have read it before. But I have found a piece of equipment very useful for serious investigators.
We did a case a while back where too much activity was going on. More than most haunted situations.
First was a painting that fell off the wall. Examining the painting, wall, and nail, I discovered the nail was much to long for any painting. I went to the room and examined the back side off the wall where the painting was hanging and found a hole where the long nail came through. I also noticed the window was opened which I knew was closed earlier that night. Someone entered that window and shoved the nail thro ugh the wall making the painting fall and either forgot or didn’t have time to close the window.
Later that night, The sterio system in the living room started calling my team member’s names in a evil tone. Examining the sterio, it was powered off. We unplugged the sterio. Just a little later, Names and other phrases continued to bleed through the speakers. This was weird. Thinking hard about what was going on, I came up with one conclussion before calling it a ghost. I went out to my car and pulled out my RF/camera bug detector and tested the sterio. Sure enough, There was two small FM bugs in the speakers. The reciever parts. There were many more activity was going on. Come to find out, two teenaged boys of the family was pulling hoaxes on the family and then with us.
If I didn’t think of getting the detector I would have called it a possible spirit activity.
I normally don’t have the dectector in my car, and probably would never thought as it as a paranormal investigating tool. I was just something I played with when I was younger. Now it is part of my kit. You never know. It should be part of any serious investigators kit.
I thought I’d share this piece of equipment with you and your other readers.
Rich
[...] more about this topic, see our Hollow Hill article, Basic tools every ghost hunter must have, at http://hollowhill.com/basic-tools-every-ghost-hunter-must-have/We’ll talk about new, more sophisticated tools — and backups — in a later [...]
What do you think of the para spectrum camcorder made by moditronic and have you used it in the field?