Get Ready for Your Next Ghost Investigation

You can get more from every ghost hunt – and ghost hunting event – by preparing ahead of time.

It’s easy. It’s important. And it can make a big difference in your ghost hunting results.

And, nearly all of this research can be done at home – or even during your lunch break – with Internet access.

In my recent article series about haunted Eden Camp and the ghosts of Malton, England, I explained what I look for, with examples from those locations.

But you’re probably not in Malton, England.

So, here’s exactly what I do before every investigation and ghost hunting event, whether the haunted places are near me or across the globe.

They’re just 5 1/2 steps…

First, I look for ghost stories.

(This is a half-step. If I’m investigating a private home, their may be no ghost stories at all.)

If I find some, I check them against history. Do historical events and people match the stories?

A bogus story can diminish the likelihood of the site being haunted, but I won’t dismiss it altogether.

Maybe King Henry VIII or George Washington didn’t spend the night in that haunted castle or home. A similar-looking ghost – a different man in royal robes or a Revolutionary war uniform – might haunt the sites.

Then, I check for ley lines.

I’m looking for nearby haunts and reported anomalies, or places that usually have ghosts.

Those include:

• • Cemeteries and rumored “ancient burial grounds.”
  • Battlefields or where skirmishes occurred.
  • Significant historical monuments.
  • Current or former sites of institutions such as hospitals, orphanages, and prisons.

I want to “connect the dots” with a straight line between the site I’m investigating and at least two other haunted/anomalous/weird locations.

After that, I look for other patterns.

They’re things that connect the investigation site to other, similar haunts.

For example, when I was looking for ghosts in Austin (Texas), I discovered ghosts at nearly every site related to Abner Cook and bricks from haunted Shoal Creek.

So, I look at geography, history, related sites (nearby or in other areas), etc.  (Tip: The more you look, the more you’re likely to find.)

Next, I dig into ancient history. 

In Britain, that’s usually related to the Celts, Vikings, and Romans. In the US and Canada, I research Native American history, and which locations were considered “sacred” or “forbidden.”

The last online (and library) research step involves recent history. 

I’m not just looking for ghost stories. I’m also looking for extraordinary people and events – and related secrets – that can indicate a haunting.

Crime reports and court cases (reported in local newspapers) can provide some of the best insights.

The final step is to ask, “What’s weird?”

That is, what leaps out as different? What location or person or moment in history seems to linger in my mind, as something odd?

In a series of “odd” things – like the Salem Witch Trials – whatever stands out is usually connected to the darkest history of the area. 

I keep notes from those five research sessions: ghost stories, ley lines, other patterns, ancient history, recent history, and “what’s weird?”

Those give me a context – and possibly credible support – for whatever we’ll find during the on-site investigation.

And, with those clues, the investigation can be more focused. We can find the “hot spots” of ghostly phenomena – EVP, cold spots, apparitions, shadow people, and so on – faster than if we’re just… well… working in the dark.

Not sure what to look for, or if you’ve seen a ghost?

This short video explains a little more about apparitions:

Want to See an Apparition? #shorts

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(See more ghost-related videos at my YouTube channel: Ghost Hunting with Fiona Broome.)

Do you have a tip for getting the most from every ghost hunt? Leave a comment below!