“The Scientific Ghosthunter” by Christopher Tillman
(c) 1998, revised 1999, 2002, 2024
Two doors down, an 82 year-old widow passed away in her sleep after an eight month battle with cancer. One block over, there was a robbery gone wrong and a father of four was murdered by home invaders. Rumors of occult practices swirl around the two-story townhouse across the street and, just around the corner, two young lovers fulfilled a suicide pact in a cold, lonely garage.
A variety of incidents spanning decades of life on this planet and all within walking distance.
It may sound morbid and insensitive, but this is what a ghosthunter lives for because we know that these places are now fertile breeding grounds for paranormal phenomena. Of course, nobody in their right mind would ever wish harm to befall anyone, especially not for the purposes of ghosthunting, but such tragedies are an unfortunate element of life, and we are drawn to their epicenter like moths to a flame. It is the emotional highs and lows of the human condition that permeate our quest into the unknown.
Private residences are the best hunting grounds for paranormal activity. Disturbances can take on many forms from dreams and visions to apparitions and full-blown poltergeist events. Television and movies lead many to believe that it is the old, run-down houses on the edge of town which are prone to otherworldly excitement. Or, that the portal to the Afterlife lies somewhere on the grounds of some ancient, gothic cathedral that has been overlooked and forgotten by years of urban sprawl and left to crumble silently. While gloomy locations such as these are not insulated from the antics of the paranormal, they are not the only sites where such activity can manifest. Age and architecture may play a part in haunting phenomena, but they are not the sole indicators of how, when, and why a building falls under the influence of the supernatural.
It is often reported that many homes which are alleged to be haunted change owners over the years and, usually, there are one or two previous owners who disregard such tales and claim no knowledge of any strange happenings during their occupancy. Often, such unimpressed owners are single and, even if married, childless. And, this leads to my opinion of what may be the most important factor in haunting phenomena – human interaction. Or, more to the point, the quality of human interaction. By that I mean, the level and intensity of emotional energy in the house may be the key to determining how and when paranormal activity may erupt. In family environments, there is always a source of emotional energy present and this energy may interact with the dormant, or subdued, paranormal energy already in the house.
The stress that often accompanies marriage and family life is what makes the private residence the first, best place to seek out and explore the paranormal. There is no guarantee that such phenomena will be witnessed, or even documented, each and every time, but the chances are greater that you will encounter some measure of activity in a private residence than anywhere else. Sometimes the energy is constant and sometimes it is intermittent. It all depends on the nature and gradation of interpersonal conflict and dysfunction within the household, if any. But, it is this energy which many believe can fuel a pre-existing paranormal situation that can, over time, grow in intensity. What may begin as roving cold spots, odd sounds, or disembodied voices in empty rooms, basements, and attics could be fueled by emotional energy into more disturbing patterns and manifestations. Parts of the home which were previously untouched by supernatural influences may become the staging grounds for the movement and levitation of objects, the disappearance of valued items, strange patterns of light, and electrical appliances that seem to operate of their own free will. And, these maddening events only serve to heighten existing tensions and stress inside the home. More fuel for the fire.
Just like in any other haunted location, paranormal phenomena can occur at any time and, like most other locations, it’s usually most active during the night hours. In the early evening, household members begin to wind down after a long day of work, school, chores, child-rearing, etc. They read, watch television, or enjoy a hobby, all of which tend to place the individual in a deepened, more relaxed state of consciousness. They focus on the activity at hand and will, depending on their level of interest and concentration, “zone out.” The daily chatter of life clears from their head as their mind becomes fully absorbed. It’s this trance-like state that, I believe, makes a person much more vulnerable to perceiving paranormal phenomena.
A great deal of supernatural activity also appears to occur during the hours of sleep, roughly 11pm to 6am. During sleep, much like during after-dinner relaxation, the mind enters an altered state of consciousness. This altered state deepens during REM sleep, which varies from person to person. The mind is open and responsive to psychic vibrations more so now than at any other part of the day. Manifestations may occur in the form of a dream or in a much more disturbing and physical manner that jars the sleeper awake.
There is no better place I can think of where you can be exposed to the kinds of phenomena found in a private residence. Granted, no one can predict where your next big case will occur, but the chances of it happening in a residential setting are better than average!
