There are three main issues to consider when choosing protection. They include innately powerful tools, your own spiritual references, and the spirituality of the ghosts.

INNATELY POWERFUL TOOLS

Regardless of your beliefs (or lack of them), a few tools [...]]]> Many ghost hunters carry — and recommend — spiritual protection in dangerous and profoundly haunted settings.

There are three main issues to consider when choosing protection. They include innately powerful tools, your own spiritual references, and the spirituality of the ghosts.

INNATELY POWERFUL TOOLS

Regardless of your beliefs (or lack of them), a few tools have been used successfully by believers, skeptics, and non-believers alike.

GARLIC

The most familiar protection may be garlic. Long associated with vampires and werewolves, garlic is supposed to repel evil spirits and entities.

Generally, people carry a garlic clove in a pocket, or wear it on a string around their necks.

Fresh garlic is usually used. You can buy it in almost any grocery store and some convenience stores, in the produce section.

SALT

According to many traditions, spirits cannot cross a line of salt. Others believe that salt generally repels evil spirits, and the salt can be carried in any container, worn in a small pouch around the neck (or carried in a pocket), or cast in the direction of the problem entity.

There are two main kinds of salt used for this purpose: White salt and black salt.

White salt is the common table salt found in most kitchens. Many people prefer to carry pure sea salt for protection, and some favor kosher salt, but any table salt or cooking salt can be used.

Some ghost hunters — including Hollow Hill researchers — carry blessed or charged salt. This is salt that has been blessed by a religious person, sometimes a priest or other spiritual minister.

The person carrying the salt can also charge it, using personal prayer or rituals over the salt before using it during a ghost investigation.

Or, it may be charged by the full moon. One way to do this is to put sea salt in a clear glass bowl. Place the bowl on a window ledge where it will be in the light of the moon during the three days around the full moon.

Black salt can be one of two kinds of salt. One is edible and the other usually isn’t.

One is a specialized mineral salt, generally mined in India. It is a dark pinkish gray, and tastes somewhat like sulphur. It’s available in ethnic stores and often sold in health food stores; its vegetarian uses include mixing the salt with tofu to mimic egg salad. This form of black salt can be used for protection, but it’s not the one most popular.

The other kind of black salt is the one more commonly used for protection. It is often made with sea salt — the white kind — but mixed with an ingredient to turn it black. Among witches, those ingredients can include ash or powdered charcoal from a fire, scrapings from a cast iron pot, or even black pepper.

Because black salt is often associated with voodoo, some people aren’t comfortable using it for any purpose. However, in voodoo and related traditions, black salt is used as a powerful means to lift or repel curses, and keep away evil spirits.

HOLY WATER

Catholics and non-Catholics alike use holy water as protection from ghosts and evil of all kinds.

Holy water can be purchased in some Catholic stores. However, most people visit the nearest Catholic church. In the church entry or lobby, there is usually some sort of drum or container with a spigot. Church members bring their own bottles to decant the holy water, and leave a couple of dollars as a donation.

Technically, anyone can bless their water to make it ‘holy’. In older Catholic traditions, an individual makes the sign of the cross over the container of water and says, ‘I bless this water in the name of the Father…’, and so on.

In other religious contexts, any blessing prayer or ritual can be used for holy water. Some Pagans also place a clear glass bottle of holy water in the moonlight for three nights, similar to the practice used with salt, described above.

Among non-Christians, Bibles aren’t quite as popular as holy water. However, we’ve met ghost hunters who are Atheists or non-Christians, and they believe implicitly in the power of the Bible as a tool for protection

CHARMS, AMULETS, TOKENS

While many ‘lucky charms’ and protections refer to specific spiritual traditions, some are successful whether the person believes in that religion or tradition, or not.

These include holy medals (St. Michael medals are especially popular), pendants representing a lucky horseshoe, iron nails (may repel faeries more than ghosts), or a lucky rabbit’s foot (not widely used during ghost hunts, due to their association with animal cruelty and death).

There are also ghost hunters who wear ‘lucky socks’ or a similar item of clothing, and firmly believe that they provide protection from evil… or at least bad luck.

Others wear a garment or piece of jewelry that was left outside on the night of February first or second. According to folklore and some Pagan traditions, Brigid (or St. Bridget) blesses these items, making them especially lucky, healing or protective during the coming year.

LIQUOR

Several cultures — including the Irish and some Native American nations — believe that pouring liquor on a grave (or on the ground, in general) is a way to pay respect to the dead. Several Yoruba-based spiritual traditions use this as a way to earn favor with certain spirits, including the dead.

If an investigator has established some rapport with a helpful spirit in a haunted setting, he or she may offer a gift of liquor (poured onto the ground, outdoors or in the building’s unfinished basement). After a brief time during which the spirit enjoys the gift, the investigator asks for the spirit’s help and protection during the research that follows.

These are just a few items that are used by a variety of ghost hunters, regardless of their cultural, ethnic or spiritual contexts.

In another article, we’ll discuss spiritual protection in the context of your personal religious beliefs (if you have them), as well as the importance of the ghosts’ religious beliefs.

Several other professional ghost hunters have been speaking about the safety–and dangers–of Ouija boards. We’d like to reply, and raise a few [...]]]> When we talk to groups–especially to people who aren’t ghost hunters–we hear more questions about Ouija boards than any other subject. Ouija boards have always been an interesting (and sometimes volatile) subject.

Several other professional ghost hunters have been speaking about the safety–and dangers–of Ouija boards. We’d like to reply, and raise a few questions of our own.

Claim: If you use a Ouija board, you’re asking for trouble.

Some professionals report that, when they’re called to investigate a serious haunting, they almost always discover that the homeowner had used a Ouija board. Therefore, they warn against Ouija boards.

We’d respectfully suggest that this is putting the cart before the horse.

If a haunting is severe enough to attract the attention of a professional ghost investigator or team, the homeowner has probably tried many other ways to deal with the problem… including local ghost hunters, folk remedies and Ouija boards.

In other words, the trouble was already there. The Ouija board is more often a symptom of a desperate situation, rather than its cause.

Claim: Psychics can be ghost hunters, but they shouldn’t conduct seances, etc.

Rather than outright disagree, we’d rather suggest that this is a semantic difference. Then again, maybe we’re too picky… or even misguided.

The problem is rarely the seance, table tipping, Ouija board, automatic writing, or other divinatory method. Researchers should be wary of beliefs and attitudes rather than the tools and practices.

For many psychics, the tools–including Ouija boards, Tarot cards, and so on–are only slightly different than EMF meters and EVP recorders. (However, we readily agree that there’s a big difference in the science of them.)

As long as you remain personally detached from the tools, the risks are generally minimal.

On the other hand, if anyone views the tools–even a voice recorder used for EVP–as “opening the door” to the unknown, the process becomes more invasive.

That’s where you may find psychological and parapsychological risks.

Don’t open spiritual doors

In general, we believe that investigators should avoid making any investigation personal.

Don’t open any doors–mental or physical–for entities to “speak through.” If the spirits want to communicate with you, it should be on the same terms as the living. We make it as easy as possible for them to speak to us through EVP, photos, and other measurable means.

Establish firm boundaries and know your limits

There are many shades of gray between scientific, external tools such as EMF meters and the very personal, psychic connection that many feel with Ouija boards and some other divinatory tools.

Some people induce the trance state to use a pendulum, Tarot cards, or a Ouija board. By definition, the trance state makes you vulnerable to suggestions outside yourself… and that includes messages and even commands from the spirit world.

The trance state should not be attempted by novice investigators, especially in haunted settings.

Many professional ghost hunters are professionally trained in the field of hypnosis. Follow their recommendations. They know when you’re vulnerable, and how to keep the paranormal in perspective.

Some people also add personal, spiritual meaning to certain divinatory tools. For example, a ghost hunter may consider the Ryder Tarot deck safe but the Crowley “Thoth” deck dangerous.

Likewise, dowsing rods may seem safe because they can be used to detect water, oil, or natural gas. However, a Ouija board appears dangerous because its only purpose is to communicate with–or on behalf of–spirits.

We advise against Ouija boards as a research tool, but not because they’re dangerous. We discuss that in another article, Ouija boards and ghost hunting.

Do Ouija boards work? Who do they actually contact? Do they permanently open a door to entities that don’t belong here, and could be dangerous?

We’re not sure.

But, we don’t believe that Ouija boards are dangerous. The risks begin when people use them as doorways to a realm that they don’t fully understand and aren’t able to close, if the experience becomes unpleasant.

We do not believe in ‘demons’ as most people think of them in a Christian context. We [...]]]> Ouija boards are a controversial topic, and not just among ghost hunters. Many people ask us about Ouija boards, and if we believe in them. Others warn us about demons and divination tools such as the Ouija.

We do not believe in ‘demons’ as most people think of them in a Christian context. We generally think the jinn concept is more accurate. If someone is having problems with demons, we refer him or her to John Zaffis. He’s the very best in the demonology field.

However, ‘demons’ (by any name) aren’t the reason we don’t rely on a Ouija board during investigations.

We eschew Ouijas during investigations because the spirits can lie, and–with a Ouija–it’s difficult to sort the truth from very clever lies. It’s also difficult to tell if someone is consciously or unconsciously pushing the platen/indicator.

Independently, we’ve had convincing experiences with Ouija boards and believe they can relay helpful messages. However, people are vulnerable when they think they’re talking to a loved one, or a lofty “spirit guide.” It’s too easy for a prankster (human or spirit) to have fun at the expense of a beginner.

In addition, we’ve seen researchers actually lose locational advantages by relying on divinatory tools during ghost hunts. It’s like using a cellphone to talk to someone who’s standing in front of you.

That said, some psychics and mediums work best–or can only work–with tools such as pendulums, Tarot cards, Ouija boards, rune stones, dowsing rods, and so on. If they have extensive experience with these tools, we generally don’t object to their use during ghost hunts.

However, please note that we’ve said extensive experience. For more about this, see our article, Are Ouija boards dangerous?

Also, remember that we use divinatory tools as guides, and sometimes to confirm or clarify impressions. We never rely upon them as primary research tools.

Table tipping is a fairly simple means of communicating with spirits, too. We’d never use this as our primary means of research, but it can be a useful (or even fun) way to make contact with spirits.

Divinatory tools can also be useful for ‘warm up’ exercises, as described in our article, Psychic Preparations for a Ghost Hunt.

Our chief researcher, Fiona Broome, uses the Tarot for a three-card spread after each ghost hunt, to confirm or clarify what she perceived during the investigation. During the investigation, she usually receives impressions from the spirits directly. (For more information about this, see Using Tarot cards to contact ghosts.)

From our experience, Ouija boards are not reliable tools for beginners to use during ghost research.

However, if an investigator has years of experience with a Ouija board or other divinatory tools, we don’t forbid them on ghost hunts. We just ask less experienced investigators not to use Ouija boards during our ghost hunts.

In general, ghosts and spirits can’t take over a person without his/her permission. Even misguided ghosts aren’t that powerful. Really.

We’re not talking about demons or malicious spirits. That’s another topic. But, it’s very rare to encounter a demon or malicious spirit, anyway.

When someone [...]]]> Psychics and mediums sometimes ask us about spiritual protection.

In general, ghosts and spirits can’t take over a person without his/her permission. Even misguided ghosts aren’t that powerful. Really.

We’re not talking about demons or malicious spirits. That’s another topic. But, it’s very rare to encounter a demon or malicious spirit, anyway.

When someone is dealing with a demon or possessions, we refer them to John Zaffis.

However, there are times when a medium–or someone developing his or her psychic gifts–feels an unwanted presence in her field of energy, or even in her mind. (We’ll use the feminine pronoun in this article, but this advice is for men and women alike.)

When ghost hunting or opening yourself to communications from the other side, it’s important to know where your boundaries are… and when they’ve been crossed.

Start by recognizing how you feel without the influence of others, including spirits.

Start your day with a reality check

When you wake up each morning, pause before getting out of bed and do a reality check. I mean that literally:

Check your emotions. Are you cheerful or grumpy? Calm or anxious?See how you feel, physically… healthy, allergies, etc. Do you feel energized, or is it especially difficult to get out of bed today?

‘Pave the road’ for the day. That is, visualize how your day is likely to go, and how you’ll feel as you accomplish items (specific items) that you intend to complete.

During the day, pause regularly to see if you’ve accepted energy or emotions from people or the environment around you.

During a ghost hunt, pause regularly to see if you’ve been gradually accepting impressions from spirits. It’s best to notice this before it becomes a problem.

If you’re feeling imposed upon by spirits, re-center yourself using your morning feelings and emotions as your reference point. Remember how you felt then, and do your best to re-experience those feelings.

Creative visualizations

Some psychics use creative visualizations to protect their personal space. Here’s one way to do that.

1. Imagine a room in the psychic space where spirits contact you.
2. Create a visual sense of boundaries… physical walls with windows and a door. Imagine your perfect room in your perfect house, with perfect views out windows on at least three sides of the room.
3. Make this very clear and very specific. Write it down, if that helps. Or, use a photo from a decorating magazine, or a place where you’ve lived or visited.
4. Decide that you are the only person who can enter the room through the door. Perhaps its similar to a door in Star Trek, and only responds to your voice. The door always works; you can always leave the room and return to your own world easily and immediately.
5. As a psychic, imagine that you’re opening only ONE of those windows (with a screen) to talk with the spirits. If, at any point, you want to close the window, you can. Or, you can turn your back on that window, and look out at least two other windows with happier views.Spirits cannot enter this room, but only communicate through the window. Make the screen electrically charged, if that helps. Imagine a line of salt along the window ledge, since–in folklore–ghosts generally can’t cross salt.

6. Make sure that the room seems real to you. It is your spiritual haven in a “beween-worlds” space. Mentally visit it every morning, and remind yourself of its decor, and how restful and safe it feels.
7. Use this imagery whenever you are preparing to contact (or open to) spirits. Treat it very seriously; this space is as real as you make it. It is

Rely on spiritual protection

Use tried-and-true spiritual protections, including crosses, pentacles, stars of David, holy water, sage smudges, and so on… they work.

So does sea salt; it’s a line that ghosts can’t cross.

(Interestingly, some people report take kelp daily to reduce or prevent anxiety attacks. I use it myself when I’m stressed.)

If you say to a spirit, “I banish you from my presence in the name of [deity],” they usually go away.

But, you need to repeat that regularly until the spirit/s get the point. Like persistent suitors who won’t take no for an answer, some spirits need to be told steadily and firmly that they are not welcomed.

There is nothing to be afraid of

Remember that, if spirits could easily command bodies or take them over, they wouldn’t be ghosts. Also keep in mind that, along with psychic gifts, people are also given psychic protection. It’s mostly a matter of activating it.

Whether you choose a spiritual protection from your religion, or use creative visualization to keep spirits from intruding, there is little to fear.

And, most spirits respond to what you say, out loud. As silly as it may seem, it’s helpful to say, “Leave me alone,” or, “Step back; you’re intruding in my space,” if you need to. Say it loudly and clearly, and be firm.

Most ghosts do not follow anyone home from ghost hunts. If they could leave the location that they’re haunting… well, they’d have left it long ago.

Daily “reality checks” will help you discern how you feel, and more quickly recognize external influences from the spirits.

If you reassert your personal boundaries when the problem is small, it’s relatively easy to keep spirits from intruding where they shouldn’t go.

But, simply being psychic–we believe that most people are psychic–isn’t enough. In fact, there is such [...]]]> Psychic skills and sensitivity can be useful during ghost investigations. That’s our opinion at Hollow Hill, anyway; in the late 1990s, one ghost hunting ‘society’ required members not to include psychics in research. (They’ve since changed their tune.)

But, simply being psychic–we believe that most people are psychic–isn’t enough. In fact, there is such a thing as being ‘too psychic’ on ghost hunts. If you’re picking up energy from other researchers as well as the ghosts, it can feel like a dozen radios are blaring at once.

Here are our tips to enhance your psychic skills for a ghost hunt.

Clear your mind

Before a ghost investigation, take out your planner or a sheet of paper, and jot down anything that you can think of that you need to do. Whether you need to remember that tomorrow is trash day, or if you have a book to return to the library, if that thought keeps swimming around your brain, write it down. Just a few notes may be enough. The point is to reduce or halt the self-talk in your head.

Eat well, but not too much

Before every ghost hunt, eat a light meal. Be sure to include some protein, since it digests more slowly than carbs and will prevent hunger pangs during your research. Never overeat; whether you get heartburn or just a heavy feeling, too much in your stomach can be a distraction. Likewise, avoid spicy foods if your digestion is sensitive.

Skip dessert. Carbohydrates can cause drowsiness or anxiety, and leave you less sharp for the investigation.

Avoid alcohol, too much caffeine, and unnecessary drugs

Alcohol can distort your perceptions more than you realize at the time. Caffeine ‘jitters’ can compound your anxieties during a scary ghost hunt. Unnecessary and/or recreational drugs can also alter your perceptions and impair your psychic abilities.

‘Wash off’ the day’s energy, if that helps

Do you have routines that help you shed the cares and worries of the workday? Some people take a drive with the windows open. Others like a hot shower or bath. For some, the answer is a few minutes in a comfortable chair with classical music playing. Or, you may enjoy a few minutes of a TV show or a DVD that helps you disengage from the day’s activities. If you need an activity that marks the closure of the workday and the start of your own time, be sure to include that, no matter how rushed you are.

Do some psychic warm-up exercises

Immediately before going on a ghost hunt, you may want to do some psychic ‘warm ups’ so that you’re more receptive. While we advise against using Ouija boards during ghost hunts, any divinatory tool can be helpful for some brief exercises to open your psychic centers. (However, if this makes you uncomfortable or conflicts with your religious beliefs, don’t use divinatory tools.)

We especially like to use a Tarot deck with light, simple images. Choose a subject that won’t make you worry, such as a three-card spread (past, present, future) about the weather, or what’s likely to happen on your favorite TV show.

Or, use a pendulum to ask a couple of light, yes/no questions. For example, ask if you’ll need an umbrella tomorrow.

These kinds of exercises can open that ‘third eye’ or however you think of your connection to the unseen world. Keep this short, simple, and light, and you may enjoy better results during your ghost hunts.