How to Meet a Real Ghost
you're doing.
Every member of the group should speak quietly and respectfully, particularly in a cemetery. If someone becomes excessively nervous or frightened, that person should be escorted back to the car, and someone should stay with him or her, until he/she leaves the area.
How will you know if you encounter a ghost? Watch for whatever folklore claims the ghost does. This can be anything from whispering noises, to moans, to glowing lights, to psychic energy... There is no way to present a tidy list of what to expect.
It's what you don't expect, that is usually the ghost.
You can detect ghostly energy with an EMF meter. A compass also reacts to this energy; recently, I saw North "shift" a full 30 degrees as we walked across a haunted New Hampshire cemetery. The compass needle swung the same way, every time we tried it.
Cameras also record ghostly energy as orbs and other oddities, called anomalies. However, you usually won't see the orb (or other anomaly) when you take the photo; it shows up on the print, later.
To take successful ghost photos, check my website for Ghost Photography 101. Mostly, use fast film (at least ISO 400) and don't take pictures until you've spent at least 20 minutes at the location. Avoid pointing your camera towards a light source, or anything that might reflect your flash. Also, always take two photos in a row of the same subject; a normal reflection will appear in both photos, while a ghostly anomaly usually won't.
However, the eeriest encounters are those where you simply know there's something--something very odd--nearby. It could be a whispering sound. Or a strong impression of intense emotions, including fear or rage. Trying to describe a "typical" paranormal encounter is nearly impossible. If you've been near a ghost, and kept a level head to rule out natural explanations, you'll have no doubt about what happened.
(Also, it's okay to be frightened by whatever happens. Discussing ghosts in the cold light of day, it sounds like a lot of fun to explore a haunted site. However, when you're face-to-face with something that defies explanation, most people get cold feet.)
If you've done your homework and you're very observant, you will encounter the paranormal, usually on your first or second visit. If nothing happens by your fourth visit, find another haunted site to visit. Ghosts can be eccentric, manifesting for some people and snubbing others.
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