Over the new week or two I’ll be posting some blurbs and reviews of my new book Investigating Ghosts: The Scientific Search for Spirits. It is currently available as an e-book at Amazon.com and will be available in print in a few weeks (preferably at your local independent bookstore!).
“This is without doubt the most comprehensive book on ghost investigation that I have read. It is written in a lively style that will engage the reader from start to finish. It should be read by everyone with an interest in paranormal claims—and perhaps especially by those ‘paranormal investigation teams’ that grace our TV screens night after night with their sensationalistic and totally unscientific approach to ghost investigation.”
–Prof. Christopher C French, Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of London
You can find more on me and my work with a search for “Benjamin Radford” (not “Ben Radford”) on Vimeo, and please check out my podcast Squaring the Strange!
I am NOT a ghost-hunter, and neither am I found of LSD or escaped from a psychiatric institution (though my critics often pretend i am): During my occult indulgence I wrote an old warning for those of my ‘friends & companions’ who indulged haunted house investigations. Mostly to avoid diseases and accidents, but a copy of it is still available, dunno, if it is helpful to you at all though:
QUOTE:
“Add-In: Ghost hunting & spooky house investigation
Certain “bullet-points” you should know. Real life is not always like Hollywood, did you ever notice?
Spooky houses, much like cairns, places of power and so forth, are 1st and foremost derelict or abandoned buildings or places. This means HIGH risk of dirt, including infections, as rotting wooden stairs or crumbling stones or walls. Fungus, bacteria and rusty nails demand protection and damn fast first aid, if you get hurt by them!
Vermin and insect feces can be dangerous. Protective clothing against scratches, bites and stings is important for your continued existence. And it spoils the thrill and fun for those who crave it, too. Gloves or gauntlets for attempted psychometry!
Dust is an “agent” or “transfer manager”. Dust may transport disease or poison into your nose, mouth and lungs!
Illegal trespassing and burglary are crimes. Even the competition (or the cliché black magicians) can turn the law against you.
Thorough investigation is dual. I mean that mundane world and spiritual should be investigated. Usually, after gathering the permissions and equipment you need, a small team of reliable people may succeed so far, as possible.
Sensing I mentioned. Sensing in safety, what makes you consider such endeavors or outright drug-crazed idiocy necessary may save your life.
Words are cheap! The surefire sign for psychopathic persons (or hostile cults or criminal academics) is their statement that “they have an interest in…”. This is crap! People who care practice their stuff even alone. People who do not even know the basics and are too lazy or too incompetent for such simple spiritual paths hide their real agenda or motives. Hot to get laid is a common truth behind their faked solidarity. It goes often worse from there.
I encountered people spiritually and found some or was found by some for technological (cell phone or Internet) or personal verification, or so it is made to seem. Our mind and intuition can be quite astonishing! Just do not “Blair-Witch-yourself” into the false and ultra-dumb assumption that such would make any esoteric or occult claim or superstition to be a guarantee for magic, healing or similar!” END of QUOTE