“The Scientific Ghosthunter” by Christopher Tillman
(c) 1998, revised 1999, 2002, 2024
Cities of the Dead… Granite Gardens…
Across the World Wide Web, we see gallery after gallery of cemetery mists, vapors, orbs, and vortices. Maybe once in a while we will be fascinated by the photo of a half- or full-bodied apparition gliding amongst the rows of cold, granite tombstones. Local cemeteries are the best, possible starting point for the novice ghosthunter. They’re easily accessible and, despite the erratic nature of paranormal activity, there’s always a fair chance of capturing an anomalous photo or two. Cemeteries are also good for experimenting with new detection equipment.
Almost every ghosthunter begins his or her research career with midnight travels to local cemeteries in search of paranormal phenomena. And, it’s easy to see why:
A.) Every town has at least one cemetery within the city limits.
B.) Most are easily accessible, e.g., no fences, night watchman, etc.
C.) If there’s one place on Earth where a ghosthunter is sure to find a ghost, it’s in a cemetery, right?
Cemeteries witness some of the deepest levels of sorrow known to mankind. Mourners travel from the four corners of the city to bury their dead and pray for their safe passage to the next life. The bodies of the deceased are laid to rest and a monument is erected in their honor. The pain and grief of loss doesn’t end there, though. Even after time has healed the bereaved’s emotional distress and they have come to terms with their loved one’s passing, regular visits to the gravesite can still resurrect feelings of sadness as the memories of yesteryear slip through their mind.
As ghosthunters, cemeteries afford us with easy access to the world of the supernatural. It is believed by many that the souls of the dead, or earthbound spirits, continue to linger on, unable or refusing to accept the fact that they have died. Also, some might have died so suddenly they may not even realize they have passed on.
A new proposal, not yet a fully developed theory, has been brought to light in recent years which centers around the concept of “portals,” or dimensional doorways that may exist in a cemetery and provide a means of travel from this world to the next, and vice versa. Very little has been written concerning this hypothesis in a public setting beyond simple postulation. I know of only two, somewhat prominent researchers who have discussed the possibilities of portals, but until something more concrete is discovered, or publicly released, the notion of portals is still untested and unproven.
From personal experience and the experiences of others, cemetery phenomena is erratic but, if any phenomena is going to manifest, many believe it will occur between the hours of 11pm and 6am, with peak activity between midnight and 3am – the hours of what most researchers call “psychic sleep.” It is theorized that these are the hours in which much of the city’s population is deep in the dream state. In a Jungian sense, their minds are open and collectively responsive to psychic vibration. Metaphysically speaking, the collective unconsciousness strengthens and allows for manifestations of paranormal energy to take place.
On more scientific footing, nighttime investigations are best because of the atmospheric and geomagnetic fluctuations that happen at night. Granted, such fluctuations take place throughout the entire day regardless of the time, but it is believed that these nighttime fluctuations are more important because of the heightened presence of the lunar cycle; the cooling of the atmosphere; electromagnetic energy travels easier/farther at night, etc. The week of the full moon appears to be the most active during any haunting, according to an overwhelming number of researchers, though I have personally noticed no difference. Many say it’s because the moon exerts quite an influence on the earth from the tides to the geomagnetic fields that surround the planet. The moon also affects us emotionally and mentally. Sure, these aren’t the best reasons as to why a nighttime investigation is best, but until more data is uncovered concerning the paranormal, these are the only reasons that have thus far been offered. Besides, they say the results speak for themselves.
Now, it’s probably important to talk a little about the non-paranormal aspects of cemeteries…
Let’s begin by pointing out that, in this day and age, cemetery groundskeepers and management officials are not very comfortable with letting someone walk the grounds after dark. Especially if that someone is snapping photos, hauling around boxes of electronic equipment, and looking for ghosts. The death of a loved one is a seriously emotional event and people naturally do not want to hear of some “kook” walking around their family plot looking for phantoms. Plus, once photographic evidence turns up that suggests something out of the ordinary is going on amongst the rows of tombstones, it attracts all kinds of curiosity-seekers. Heck, often times all it takes is an unproven, but sufficiently hair-raising legend to inspire thrill-seekers to visit the cemetery grounds. Just place yourself in the shoes of the person who owns or manages the cemetery’s daily operations for a moment. Would you really want a bunch of people roaming around your cemetery at night? Even if they had an entire wall papered with Ph.D.s, the answer would still be “no.” Remember, cemeteries are a business and thanks to the moronic activities of a few, officials are rightly concerned about vandalism, defacement, and other issues. Thus, many cemeteries do not want the type of publicity that can follow a paranormal investigation. And, also remember, many cemeteries are not public or city property. (And, even public property – like parks – officially close at sundown.)
It’s not impossible, though, to get permission to investigate a cemetery. It just takes a little finesse. I’ve found that the best time to ask for permission is in the spring and early summer months. There’s nice weather and the Halloween season is far enough out of mind that it’s usually not even an issue. But, the closer you get to October, the more likely you are to hear a “no” when you go to ask for permission. And, what do you do when you are declined? Is there a way around this obstacle? Yes, there is.
Old and very small cemeteries usually have no barrier to entrance, making them very enticing to explorers. Most cemeteries, especially newer ones, are fenced in or have some type of low, stone boundary about waist-high. Often, these boundaries are built more for decorative purposes and not so much for security. In many cases, these boundaries do not obscure the cemetery grounds from view either. So, if permission to enter the cemetery grounds after dark is denied, you can simply stand at the front gates and snap your photos. Walk the perimeter of the cemetery and take as many snapshots as you desire. For large cemeteries, a telephoto lens can work nicely. Granted, this method is less than optimal as the camera’s flash won’t penetrate the grounds very deeply, but it’s a better alternative than getting caught sneaking in. Most meters and detectors, too, will also be useless, but non-contact, infrared thermometers may still pick up anomalous temperature variances. Recording Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) may also be possible. Perhaps a curious entity will walk the perimeter alongside you…
Paranormal phenomena that is held within the boundaries of a cemetery usually manifest in one of the following three ways:
A.) Spectral photography
B.) Electronic voice phenomena
C.) Apparitions, cold spots, physical contact, etc.
Capturing paranormal energy on film seems to be fairly commonplace based on the plethora of images floating around the World Wide Web. Whether or not these orbs and mists are genuine evidence of cemetery hauntings is another matter. At the very least, a lot of researchers are coming home from cemetery excursions with a lot of strange images.
Secondly, we have Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) where a spirit’s voice is recorded on video or audio. I have never had the good fortune of finding EVP hidden anywhere on my recordings from a cemetery (yet), but it appears that others have.
Lastly, we come to apparitions and physical contact. It is my opinion that these are the rarest forms of phenomena to be encountered on cemetery outings. Yes, there are cemeteries that seem to be overflowing with apparition manifestations, like Union Cemetery in Connecticut, but for the most part, they aren’t an everyday occurrence. Despite what they represent, cemeteries don’t seem to be good sources for repeating phenomena. The same can be said for the manifestation of roving cold spots and actual physical contact. The amounts of energy that seem to be required to produce these types of haunting phenomena just do not seem to be present within a cemetery, especially the newer ones.
In closing, on your expeditions to local cemeteries, whether they are old or new, always bear in mind that you are on sacred ground. Theologically, the area is consecrated as a holy place. Whether you are religious or not, respect the fact that these tombstones are monuments to people’s lives here on Earth. They were erected by a loving family to glorify a life, not just to mark the location of a body. Always respect that.
