If your family has become plagued by a spirit or ghost, or some other paranormal entity that knocks on doors, appears out of thin air, and generally disrupts your ability to live in your home who should you call? The classic line from the film Ghostbusters has become an iconic reference for the field of ghost hunting. And yet it’s a question that is strangely desperate at times in a world where the real life Ghostbusters don’t exist. And yet there is hope, as reporting centers for paranormal activity become more prolific in these increasingly strange times.
First, you should know who not to call. Keep in mind that paranormal phenomena, while accepted by an increasing number of people worldwide, is still a taboo subject in some circles. Think objectively about how different individuals may react as they learn of something strange going on in your home. And think how you might have reacted to the news that someone believed their home to be invaded by forces from beyond our reality if you weren’t already interested or aware of the happenings in your own life. There are several reasons not to broadcast your own paranormal experience when it comes to ghosts. But there’s no reason to experience the phenomenon entirely on your own.
First, people who spend large amounts of time in your home may have noticed something out of the ordinary already. People could have picked up on paranormal activity long ago and thought never to contact you about it. Or perhaps they are simply not sensitive to the mysterious fluctuations that can happen in someone’s home noticeable only by someone who actually lives there. If they are a trusted friend, evaluate whether or not you can be sure they will keep the information to themselves if you’re concerned about the truth of your haunting getting out. And if you aren’t concerned about others knowing about your home’s haunted status, there are several things you may want to do before making the paranormal presence known.
Accumulating witnesses can go a long way toward proving something unusual has taken up residence in your home. By collecting not only evidence, but eyewitness testimony you can add to the number of voices who are believers. And if you have more than one witness independently corroborating your story you can then turn to them to help you decide your next move.
One person you may consider sharing the information with is your spiritual advisor. By letting them into the home to evaluate the situation, these individuals may be able to better assess the level and nature of the haunting. And if they are your spiritual advisor, the advice they give will more likely be in keeping with your own beliefs on handling the situation.
And of course there are also services dedicated to investigating and exorcising homes of their paranormal presence. If you wish to enlist the help of a group of local ghost hunters, however, you may want to do your research first. Be sure they are a trustworthy and professional group – otherwise you may as well just perform the investigation yourself after familiarizing yourself with the practice.