How to Hunt Ghosts: A Practical Guide
Warren, president of a "paranormal research team," is at pains to distance himself from "wackos" and "charlatans"; he insists that paranormal research is a legitimate science (indeed, he says, in its pursuit of the unknown, "all science is a form of paranormal research"). Amidst metaphysical rumination about death, time and the mind-body problem, he comes up with an almost plausible theory of ghosts: they are the remains of our "unique energy bodies" that manifest themselves through "free-floating static electrical charges." This framework helps him validate ghost lore via scientific terms; for example, ghosts are most active after dark when Earth's magnetosphere is least distorted, he says. His practical ghost-hunting advice runs the gamut, from staffing (a 10-person research team is right for the average house) to liability waivers to PR (ghosts may enhance their outlines for photos if asked). Most important is a panoply of high- and not so high-tech gadgets, including audio recorders, night-vision scopes, infrared video cameras, electro-static generators and dowsing rods to capture every trace of the spectral evanescences under investigation. The surveillance apparatus is needed, according to Warren, to provide "objective evidence" that can "rule out conventional phenomena, leaving only anomalous activity." Skeptics will argue that 10 people traipsing around in an old house after dark with both sensitive electronic gear and static-electricity generators are guaranteed to record some kind of anomalous sound, "mist," "orb," erratically fluctuating electromagnetic field or other ghostly tell-tale. In other words: if you use Warren's approach to hunting ghosts, you'll probably find them. B&w; photos.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.