Beliefs
Submitted by Mike McDowell
Do YOU believe in ghosts? You would be surprised how often even I am asked this simple question. From uncles to grandmothers, neighbors, friends and little tikes who can barely talk. It seems everyone wants to know what everyone else believes.
When I hear that statement, I can’t help but think of the cartoons I watched as a kid like Casper, the friendly ghost. The adults in the cartoon would be approached by Casper and he would ask them a question or something. The adults would always say “I’m not afraid, I don’t believe in ghosts. Now why don’t you run along ….. hey, you’re a …… gggggggGHHHOOOOST!!!!” And off they ran as fast as they could.
Many of you grew up with the same types of mental conditioning through such movies as ghost busters, or other spoofs on the ghost phenomena. What is it to really believe though? We’re often told as children to forget all of these sorts of nonsense. There is no such thing as the monster under the bed, the shadow in the closet or the dark figures that lurked near your bed at night, making you afraid to leave the safety of your blankets. Maybe you even ran into mom and/or dads room in the middle of the night to tell them that there is something in your room! They might have begrudgingly went with you back to your room to throw on the lights and say “See, nothings here! Go back to sleep!”. How’s that for an “I don’t believe you?”
Was there something there? It sure seemed real enough a few minutes ago didn’t it? In fact we may have believed there was indeed a boogieman ready to pounce on us if we got back up, even after mom or dad had told us there was nothing there! Over time though, this went away didn’t it? Have you ever wondered why? Just our over imagination right? Maybe…. Or maybe there was something more to it.
Perhaps with all this conditioning we experience growing up, we lose sight of the least bit of impractical and improbable notions. We, in our minds, become adults and rational thinkers. If “IT” can’t be logic-a-fied (yes I made up that word), then it must not exist. Let me rephrase, if there is no rational, logical, systematic way for something to exist then by societies own unwritten standards … it CANNOT exist! Right? You’re shaking your head here. How come?
Let me go back a second. Hmmm… I must have made a mistake. We’ll I’m sure some of you believe that I’m correct. There’s the word again. We can’t get away from it can we?
One of the factors we forget about is religion. I’m not saying that all of you were brought up or raised around religion but 75% of the US and Canada consider themselves to be Christians. That’s not even counting other religions who believe in a God of some sort. But what exactly is the foundation of religion?
How can we believe in something we have never seen. How do we know that there is even a God BUT for our … what? That’s right!! BELIEFS!
Now I consider myself to be a Christian, but one who doesn’t get on others for their own different ideologies. I think it’s good that we all form our own beliefs. Now we as Christians trust in our faith that what the bible says is true (lets not open up that for debate gang) and that we must follow our hearts and minds to lead us to the truth, without ANY validation of anything that would be considered solid evidence. How do we know there is an afterlife? What rational evidence do we have?
Similar things can be said of other religions too of course. But we knowingly trust in something, even given a lack of evidence, don’t we?
Ghost Hunting is very much a belief based aspect of the lives of those who chose to do it. There is rarely anything that can be proven to provide the hard hitting evidence of ghosts. Hardcore skeptics will explain everything away as some folly of adults who want to act like children and believe something in which there is no evidence, at least in their minds. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
Those of us who have been ghost hunting for a while can clue you in to an important fact. You have to BELIEVE to experience.
Do you remember what your experience was like as a child at Christmas with believing in Santa Claus? Wasn’t it a magical feeling? Leaving Santa cookies, thinking about flying reindeer and so much more. What created that magic or that feeling? We did of course! Because we believed!
Your own belief and that of those with you somehow helps create clear channel of communication with ghosts too. I can’t explain the why or wherefores but I can vouch for this to be true.
It’s true that God may not have given us all the answers. It seems to me that he simply creates more questions and ponderings on things we don’t understand. But he gave us all the ability to believe in something. He also has shown us that just because you don’t see something doesn’t mean that it can’t exist.
It would be interesting to see the skeptical societies start attacking churches for their “irrational thinking” like they attack ghost hunters. I wonder how this would be accepted.
We as ghost hunters believe because we find clues. We find what we consider evidence. We experience sightings, noises, voices, cold spots, photos and thousands of usual and unexplainable stories of paranormal activity and more! Some people are even are visited by deceased relatives after they have passed, as if to say their goodbyes, or to be there for us as they are needed. Were these “ghosts” or “spirits” really there after all? If we choose not to believe it, would it have affected our experience? Maybe… maybe not. But even if we did experience something, we can chose to disbelieve it can’t we?
Spiritual Layering
Submitted by Mike Weides
As ghost hunters go, the more experience the better, right? Learning all the time thru new events and being smart enough to know that we don’t know everything about our trade is key. The years that I’ve been pursuing this hobby have been very enlightening. Though very much a scientific researcher and practitioner in the ways of ghost hunting, it has been through my relationships with sensitives and spiritualists that I came up with today’s topic.
Anyone ever hear of “Spiritual Layering”? No? Me neither, but I had to apply a name to something all ghost hunters have experienced over time. I give credit to my friends with the 3rd eye for helping me realize just how prevalent “Spiritual Layering” is in our hunts and investigations.
Those of you investigators who have made multiple trips to a residence or investigation site…usually do so because of your success at gaining evidence of haunting. Photos, voice recordings or physical contact makes you want to return in hopes of recreating your success. Your research and your scientific findings quite often determine the identity of your ghost, and you work to re-establish contact or gain another piece of evidence.
But how do you explain it when you come across new spirits at the same site? Not just different ghosts….but from a different time in history than that of the ghost you are trying to establish contact with?
Let me establish this scenario of which we have all certainly been party to, but may not appreciate the significance.
You are called to a home, built in a subdivision in the 1950’s. The owner reports to you various paranormal activities and requests that you (as a ghost hunter) come to the home and try to make sense of the strange goings on.
Your library research, newspaper articles, and interviews with affected parties turns up information on some very traumatic and deadly events that occurred at the site of the home, as it was being built. You proceed to the home in an attempt to gather evidence thru scientific means, and are successful at it.
Returning again to the site on a future date…lets say the anniversary date of the traumatic event, you are successful again in your efforts with some great EVP and photos. But, your new and exciting evidence is so different from your first visit that it has you wondering. Back to the library to research deeper into the history of the home.
With very little effort, you find that the location of the subdivision was once a family farm. One hundred acres that was home to an extended family for 150 years prior to the subdivision being built. Three generations lived on the farm and perhaps 30 or more individuals lived there, and many died and were buried there in the family plot.
Lets now take our research even further back in time…Two hundred years ago, on the site of this house and neighborhood, on the site of this family farm of 150 years, lived a small band of Indians native to this region. This was their territory for unknown number of years and generations before being forced elsewhere by anglo expansion or maybe they negotiated the 100 acres to the farmer.
Although the knowledge that our lands have been inhabited before us is not new, this knowledge and awareness should not escape paranormal investigations when ghost hunting. It is very important to acknowledge this “Spiritual Layering” for two important reasons.
1st…The results of your investigation will be derived from a broader base of possibilities. How you view the investigation site will be from a deeper perspective than what appears on the surface. If a ghost does not adhere to the physical laws of time and space….why would you limit your investigation within these same parameters?
Secondly….thru awareness of “Spiritual Layering”, a good investigator will become better. Doing diligent and thorough research of your investigation site and its principles is wholly underrated. One doesn’t experience the thrill of a good EVP or photo by sitting in the library looking at Platt Books. But one will better himself as an investigator and lend more credibility to his evidence by backing it with documented research….
The Open-Minded Skeptic
Submitted by Kris Baker
Sounds oxymoron doesn’t it? Is it possible to be open to new ideas and possibilities, yet you do not believe, or you question other’s conclusions? What role does this play when it comes to ghost tracking?
The best piece of advice that I can pass on to you is let the evidence guide you. You should enter any hunt or investigation with an open-mind but do not be so open minded that you accept everything that happens as paranormal. A lot of times there is a very logical explanation for reported paranormal activity. We, as paranormal researchers, need to be able to eliminate all of those natural explanations before determining that something is in fact paranormal in nature.
Let’s say that you have been asked to investigate a home where the residents claim that there have been shadows, apparitions, levitations and unusual sounds. You and your team go in one evening, set up your equipment and spend 6 hours in the home. You have tried to recreate the shadows and sounds that have been reported yet all of your efforts fail to do so. You review all of your data from that evening and come up empty handed. Does this mean that the house is not haunted? Does this mean that the people were trying to pull a fast one? No. You know as well as I do that ghosts do not perform on command and will not show up just because that day is the day you chose to conduct the investigation.
How can you tell someone that they are not seeing what they say they saw? You can’t. The only thing you can say is that you were not able to find a logical explanation for the phenomena that they reported and that you were not able to obtain anything scientifically. There is nothing wrong with reassuring the clients that you believe what they told you; however, at this particular time you cannot confirm that the residence is haunted. By doing this you are remaining the open-minded skeptic.
Why Join the Indiana Ghost Trackers?
Submitted by Kris Baker
One question that I am sure that a lot of people have when considering joining a paranormal research group, other then which one, is why does this group stand out from the rest?
Aside from being one of the largest paranormal organizations in the nation, the Indiana Ghost Trackers is one of the few groups who welcome anyone to join, whether it is someone who is curious about the paranormal or a seasoned investigator. This alone makes this organization unique as many are closed to the public and some require that you have experience in paranormal research. IGT does not require any pervious knowledge of the paranormal and are the first to tell you that there are not any experts in the field.
They recognize that there are several theories out there about existence after this life. Not only do they recognize these different theories, they take the time to research them. IGT also offers training classes to their paid members several times throughout the year all over Indiana.
IGT takes a scientific approach to the study of paranormal. They do have several psychics and sensitives in the organization that at times act as a flashlight in the field. With the help of these individuals members have at times been able to capture anomalies via photos, temperature changes, EMF spikes and EVP. By keeping an open mind this organization can combine both the scientific and psychic sides of research and work together toward a common goal. To prove there is life after death.
Putting the ghost hunting aside for just a moment, IGT is proactive within the community by assisting in cleaning up and restoring cemeteries. They also work closely with Historical Societies and assist in raising funds for restoration. The Indiana Ghost Trackers are proud to be a leader in paranormal education. They are available to give presentations about paranormal research free of charge.
The Indiana Ghost Trackers is a group where people can come together to share their experiences and interest in the paranormal. There are currently 11 active chapters of IGT within the state of Indiana with more starting up this year. Each chapter holds a meeting and at least one ghost hunt a month. A benefit of being a member of IGT is that you are not limited to just your chapter. You can visit any of the 11 chapters and attend their ghost hunts.
If you are considering becoming a member of a paranormal research group and are looking for a group that will respect your beliefs and will welcome you like you are family, then the Indiana Ghost Trackers is the organization for you. Just ask any of the 300 + members.
Why Join the Indiana Ghost Trackers?
Submitted by Mike McDowell
There are many paranormal research groups out there today; in fact, there are more groups nowadays than ever. Plus the current TV shows showing ghost hunters doing their thing have made it possible for the public to get a firmer grasp of what it is to be a ghost hunter.
In the past, there were so many misconceptions about what was involved in ghost hunting that some people immediately assumed you were part of some sort of cultist activity by being a ghost hunter. Paranormal research wasn’t nearly as understood as it is today.
The Indiana Ghost Trackers (IGT) were one of the first paranormal research groups in Indiana of their kind. The group, starting with a mere 12 members in July of 2000 quickly grew to enormous proportions. Because of our commitment to professionalism, our willingness to travel and spend a great deal of time working with members on a volunteer basis to help them become ghost trackers, and by educating others about what it takes to be a ghost tracker, our group has grown to over 450 members by March 2006.
The IGT goes beyond what many groups do by allowing many people to join. Other groups often only want a set number of people and no more. They get their 6-12 members and are content to stop there. That’s one way to do it, but working with as many people as we do in IGT leads to a lot of positive change on a constant basis.
That’s just one of the reasons IGT has survived as long as it has. A good estimate is that most paranormal groups (60-70%) actually split up or disband within a 2-3 year time period due to functionality issues. IGT has survived by having a diversity of people step forward to help lead.
The Indiana Ghost Trackers are a non-profit group, which means no members are making a profit from the IGT. Money raised by the IGT goes to fund IGT expenses. Some groups strive to make a profit and work to make money off their members in dues, charging for training, and even by charging for ghost investigations.
The IGT trains their members to become paranormal research professionals. This is accomplished through a very extensive amount of training for our members, which is all provided for free as part of their membership in the IGT. Basic investigative techniques are mandatory for any investigator; and to actually do an investigation with the IGT, members must go through these free courses so that all investigators are able to demonstrate the same level of proficiency. The IGT expect no less than for all our investigation team members to become professionals in ghost hunting. Our reputation is everything and the IGT will not endorse non-trained members for investigations. Many of our members are trained and they all take turns doing the hundreds of investigations we do each year.
We also actually ghost hunt! As a group we plan activities in addition to our monthly meetings. We allow members to come out ghost hunting with us to many different kinds of haunted places. We even allow non-members to go on a free hunt before joining. On our hunts, we run experiments, do EVP tests, take photos, film video footage, and so on. But sometimes we even get together as a team and go to the movies or hangout, too! In fact, the IGT is also a great place to make friends and meet like-minded people. There are even a few members who have met through IGT and gotten married. Many wonderful friendships have blossomed as well.
The IGT also get involved with our community. We do cemetery and historical landmark repairs, free public talks and lectures, go to schools and civic groups, and much more to spread the word about what we do and to tell our stories of ghosts and what we have encountered. Plus we provide evidence to the public of what we have discovered.
Our group is a great place for skeptics, hardcore ghost hunters, psychics, and anyone in between to find a home for researching paranormal activity. No matter who you are, you’ll find people like yourself in IGT that you can relate to and find evidence of the paranormal together. You will also be exposed to a refreshing diversity of perspectives so that you can learn more about the paranormal research community. Traveling together and working together gives us many great adventures. Just about no matter what your beliefs are, finding a place to feel comfortable in our organization is a very reasonable expectation.
Of course, the IGT have structure and policies. We strictly enforce a non-alcohol and non-drug policy. Anyone who might be “dulling their senses” beforehand will not be allowed to go ghost hunting with us or participate in an investigation. Some people have left our group for this very reason; unfortunately, some groups actually allow alcohol to be consumed before and during ghost hunts.
One of the things people seem to really like about being a member of the IGT is that we have a well-defined structure. We have a member’s handbook, officers’ handbooks, local chapters that vote in their own officers, regional and state officer positions, and much more. You’ll also find that many of the leaders in IGT come from professional backgrounds and utilize their professional and business skills in helping IGT on a day-to-day basis.
What we ask
The IGT asks those joining to have an open mind yet be rational and skeptical to the paranormal phenomena we encounter. A desire and willingness to learn is essential.
You should also be aware that joining the IGT will require you to put some work into the organization. A few people who think about joining the IGT find committing to a small amount of volunteer work beyond their abilities or more work than they are willing or able to contribute. While this is okay in some cases, the chapters of our organization do not run themselves. It takes both followers AND leaders to enable these chapters to succeed. That doesn’t mean you will have to an unreasonable amount of work, but we do require chapters to carry forth on our organizational mission and to maintain documentation so we can file taxes and remain non-profit.
Some get into the habit of thinking that ghost hunting is the only requirement and ignore what needs to be done. IGT isn’t just entertainment for its members (although it can be quite fun); It’s a serious organization, and we need serious-minded people who are willing to give of their free time to make the IGT bigger and better then ever.
Send email to Mike McDowell at: McDowell.michael1@gmail.com with questions or comments about this web site. This website is Copyrighted © by the Indiana Ghost Trackers (I.G.T.). All contents of these web pages are Copyrighted 2000 – 2030 by the IGT and all contributors. Our name, likeness or pictures may not be used in anyway without consent by the IGT. If you would like to use them please ask.