Did you know that 41% of Americans believe in ghosts, and 43% believe that demons exist? Even more, 1 out of 5 Americans says they’ve seen a ghost or demon.

Whether you’ve had a ghost experience or want to find evidence, ghost hunting can be a fun and exciting way to learn more about the paranormal. Luckily, you don’t need to be a clairvoyant or have experience with ghost hunting to get started. All you need is to learn the basics.

Keep reading this guide to learn everything you need to know about ghost hunting!

Get the Right Equipment

Your first step to hunting for ghosts is getting the right equipment. Remember, you’ll need to be able to record everything that happens during the ghost hunt. You’ll also need to be comfortable and safe while you’re hunting.

Don’t worry if you don’t have fancy equipment at the beginning. Although it can be helpful to have, you don’t need it when you first start searching for paranormal activity.

You’ll want to start with basic equipment, such as:

• Extra batteries
• Flashlight
• Camera
• Audio recorder or EVP recorder
• Pen and paper
• First-aid kit

Once you have the basic equipment together, look at ghost gadgets like a spirit box, an EMF meter, and a night vision camcorder.

Spirit Box

A spirit box will help you communicate with the spiritual world by scanning through AM and FM channels. Ghosts can communicate through these channels, and you can hear them while using the spirit box. You’ll also hear white noise frequently.

EMF Detector

An EMF detector measures the electromagnetic field in a specific area. The presence of ghosts can cause electromagnetic fields to fluctuate since they can manipulate this energy.

Ovilus

You can also look at tools, like the ovilus, which have a database of words. It then checks the temperature and magnetic fields to generate numbers, which link to words a spirit can read out loud.

The ovilus is similar to a spirit box, and you’ve likely seen it on popular ghost-hunting shows.

Wear Comfortable Clothes and Bring a Snack

Comfortable shoes and a light jacket work best, in case it gets chilly. It’s also important not to wear clothes that distract you during an investigation. This includes chunky or noisy accessories and high heels or sandals. 

Wearing perfume or anything with a scent can also be distracting. Remember, your sense of smell is helpful during an investigation, as people often report smells like cigars or perfume when ghosts are present. 

Snacks are also useful to bring. Keep in mind that an investigation can take time, and you’ll need to keep your energy levels up.

Don’t Go Alone

Since ghost hunting occurs primarily at night, taking someone with you is best. They can help you if something goes wrong and serve as an extra pair of eyes to verify any strange occurrences.

Better yet, try to form an investigation team. It’s much more fun to hunt for ghosts with other people with the same interests.

Choose a Location

Do some research on paranormal locations in your area. Once you decide on a site, make sure it’s open to the public. You’ll need to ask for permission to investigate the property if it isn’t. 

Inspect the location during the day to get a good feel for the area. You’ll also need to inspect the areas known to be haunted. Creating a map and marking areas with hazards you might not see at night is a good idea.

Finally, choose a spot where you’ll begin observing when you return for the ghost hunt.

Meditate or Pray

Many people like to say a prayer of protection or meditate before they begin an investigation. This is especially the case if you aren’t sure what type of entity you might encounter.

You can try meditation and envision a circle of protection around yourself before you begin. It’s a great way to protect your spiritual and emotional health before an investigation.

You might also want to cleanse yourself once the investigation is complete by using sage, crystals, plants, or stones. Bring these supplies with you so you can do this before you leave the property.

Get Plenty of Footage

When you first begin, set up a camcorder in locations with multiple ghost sitings. If you have an extra night vision camcorder, take it with you and record where you’re walking.

You never know what you’ll pick up, and seeing a ghost on video will really turn the investigation in a different direction.

Audio Recorder

Also, use your audio recorder whenever you speak out loud or ask the ghost questions. Doing this is essential since you don’t always hear a response with your ears, but you might pick up words or sounds later after you review the audio.

The best way to start communication is to introduce yourself and the people with you. Ask basic questions, such as:

• What’s your name?
• What year is it?
• Is this your home?
• Is it okay that we’re here?

Additionally, you’ll want to state the date, time, location, and all the people present when you begin each audio recording.

Pictures

Make sure to take lots of pictures. Often, pictures can capture things you can’t see with your eyes, like orbs or shadows. Also, when you’re busy with the investigation, there are many things you can miss.

Remember, your phone will work just as well if you don’t have a camcorder or camera. You can also use pen and paper to take notes.

Review the Findings

Give yourself time after the investigation to relax and reset, then review your findings by taking steps like:

• Compare audio and videos
• Review all the images carefully by looking for orbs or anything unusual
• Listen to your audio recordings and make notes of anything strange
• Have someone else review the data after you

It’s also good practice to follow up with other people who have investigated the area. You’ll be able to compare your findings and look for similarities. It might also help you to understand your own data better.

Start Ghost Hunting Today

Now that you know more about ghost hunting, you can start planning your first ghost hunt.

Remember to take things slowly and be patient. Many times, it might take a few investigations for you to experience anything. Do more research to find other types of equipment that might help you during your ghost hunt.

For more lifestyle tips, make sure to check out the rest of our blog today!