Welcome to the world of ghost hunting. This is an ever- growing field and one that has many levels to it. There are those who consider ghost hunting to be a hobby. For many, the idea is to go to haunted places, take pictures, set up tape recorders and hope for the best. There are many “ghost clubs” that enjoy this type of “hunting.” With a little bit of knowledge and some common sense, it is a relatively safe and fun hobby. Sure, there may be an occasional scare or two such as when the ghost you tried to capture on film decides to follow you home. This falls into the category of “you asked for it…” However, rest assured, the spirit will go back on its own.

For many others, ghost hunting is really something more than a hobby. For these people, they want to understand more about life in general and what happens to us when life as we know it ends. It is interesting how many people believe that the key to life can be found with the dead. That idea is not without some merit. After all, if anything can make you a believer in life after death, spotting a ghost will surely do it.

Still others study this field with the thoughts of research in mind. This is a challenging way to approach ghost hunting and it carries with it some difficulty. Attempting to scientifically test and prove haunting phenomena can be extremely frustrating because let us face it: ghosts do not always cooperate with us and our efforts. However, there is much to be learned and if you approach it properly, that is with no set expectations in mind, you will be surprised what you can learn.

The last group are those who work in this field in order to help those who are suffering from the torments of some form of preternatural or supernatural phenomena. It takes a certain type of individual to do this type of work because unlike the other groups listed, this one carries with it some risks. As soon as an investigator accepts a case, (and sometimes before that) he or she has put themselves right into the crosshairs. It is one thing to be followed by a benign spirit that drew your interest in a haunted bed and breakfast establishment; it is something entirely different when you are followed home by an evil spirit who just happens to be angry with you for interfering in its plan. This is a situation that can cause you a few problems. Having the best of intentions does not guarantee you protection. For that reason, the first chapter of this class will discuss some of the risks involved and the need to make sure that you know exactly what you are doing and why you are doing it. This is probably the most important chapter in this course.

In short, ghost hunting can be a fun and rewarding endeavor. Once you have completed this course, you will have a much better understanding of the spirit world and how to interact with that world safely and productively whether you are a hobbyist or a serious investigator. I hope you enjoy the journey.