Welcome to our Educational Area

Knowledge is power. The more you know the easier it is to understand the strange things that happen in the world around you.

Glossary

Ghost Hunters and paranormal investigators can seem to have their own language sometimes. We tend to use a lot of technical terms and lingo that sounds a bit bizarre and somewhat confusing. Use our glossary of terms to learn some of the most common terms that we use.

 

I think I have a Ghost. Now What?

You have strange things happening and your not sure what's going on. Could there be a ghost present? Maybe you have tried asking family and friends for advise but they dismiss you and think that your a little crazy. Here are some steps that you can try taking to deal with your suspected haunting.

Ask SSH to investigate for you

If you are looking for some form of validation, either to convince yourself or to show others then you should contact Sparks Spirit Hunters. We will set up an investigation for you. We'll come to your location with our equipment and try to find evidence of the paranormal for you. We'll also attempt to debunk any claims of activity. This often provides some peace of mind for the client. There is never any type of fee for our investigations. We just enjoy the experience. When we are finished and have reviewed our evidence, if we have caught some paranormal activity, then we will give the client copies of what we find.

Not sure that your ready to bring in an investigation team to your site?

1. Try doing some research on your property. This might help give you an idea of who is still hanging around your property. Your local library and courthouse are usually good resources to look into. Don't overlook what is sometimes the best source of all. It's easy, free and it's near by! YOUR NEIGHBORS! Take the time to interview your neighbors and ask them questions about the history of the area you are in. Especially if you have older neighbors. Sometimes they were around when the previous owners of your property were. If they have been in the area for a while then they can tell you about the history of your property. If not they may still know some stories that will help direct your research. Chatty neighbors have been a wealth of information for us when researching a site!

2. Start your own mini investigation. The easiest to operate and most affordable piece of equipment is a voice recorder. You can purchase an affordable recorder at most discount stores for about $30. Don't worry about buying a high end model. Sometimes the cheaper ones work best. Use the recorder to conduct EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) sessions. Start recording and then begin asking questions aloud. Ask simple questions like What is your name? Why are you here? What year is it? Are you male or female? Be sure to pause about 10 seconds after each question to allow time for a response. After you are finished play back your recording to see if you captured any EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) on your recording.

Do you just want the activity to stop and chase away the ghost?

Try to keep in mind that while frightening, making noises and moving things is the only way that a spirit can make itself known. While it scares you, sometimes they just want to let you know that they are there.Try to imagine existing but not being able to interact with the people around you! Probably not to much fun! Remember, they were there before you were. We recommend trying to live together if its possible. That only seems fair. However we realize that this isn't always an option.

That being said, The best way to get that rowdy ghost in line is to simply tell it. Even though it is difficult you have to control your fear and not be afraid. Be loud and forceful and tell your ghost that "This is your house now!" "I Don't want you here!" "It's time for you to leave!" "Get out now!" Make sure it knows that you are the boss. When you do this it's good to gather the entire family together. Everyone joins and creates a united front. This helps muster courage too, when your not alone. Don't be afraid and be forceful!

 

Orbs

Orbs are little balls of light that are captured in photos and videos. They appear white in color usually although they can sometimes appear red or blue. Some people believe that orbs are spirit energy, ghosts that are attempting to manifest themselves. While this is a possibility, most orbs are simply light reflecting off of bugs or dust and moisture particles that are floating in the air. The majority of ghost hunters and paranormal investigators that are actively investigating now dismiss orbs as such anomalies. Not 100% of orbs are dust and moisture. Real orbs do exist. They are balls of energy that manifest and are sometimes able to be photographed. True orbs can also occasionally be seen with the naked eye. However, 99% are simply dust, moisture or bugs. Sparks Spirit Hunters believe that for the most part, orbs are garbage as evidence. Even if you are able to catch an orb on film that is legitimate, there are too many other "normal" explanations of this occurrence that can't be ruled out and therefore this evidence must be discarded. It is a poor practice to offer orbs as evidence of a haunting.

Below are some photos and a video that demonstrate what orbs look like. The orbs in these examples are dust and moisture particles that are floating in the air, reflecting the flash or IR light from the camera. The video is from our DVR system that we were using at a private investigation we preformed in march of 2009.

 

IR Shadow

IR shadowing can trick even experienced ghost hunters into thinking that they have caught an entity on film. An IR shadow occurs when there is an Infra Red light source behind the investigator who is taking a photograph or video in the dark. The IR light is "invisible" to the naked eye so often the investigator is unaware that it is even shining on him or her. The investigator then snaps a picture with a camera that has the ability to capture this "invisible" IR light. The result is a shadow shaped like the investigator where they have blocked out the IR light. It looks just like a Shadow Person!

Examples of IR shadowing