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Sanford Florida Ghost Walk with R.I.P. in historic Sanford.

 People wonder why in holy heck I choose to spend my time ghost hunting. I have gotten everything from "it's silly" to "it's evil." I can't explain why I have always been a sucker for a good ghost story. There are complex reasons. For this post, I will just say" it's fun."

   A ghost tends to be an impression of something that is no longer there... like seeing Edgar Allen Poe's ghost on a certain night at a certain time. Yet, ghost is often used to describe lump spirit and ghost activity together in one bite. A spirit would be something that is still active, not just an impression-so a home being haunted by an active ghost that seems to respond would fit the bill.

   While I use the term"ghost hunt" the more proper term would be"paranormal investigation." I am looking for spirit activity and odd things to happen, but "Ghost Hunt" implies that maybe I am disrespecting a location or venue, or possible spirit. Not "hunting" anything, just peeking.

   Paranormal investigation is a thrill for me. I am not the type to go on a coaster, or do thrilling activities-but I know plenty of people who would rather jump out of a plane than be creeped out by the paranormal. Different strokes,right?

   Although my reports back from investigations may be cheeky, precautions must be made. The big danger in paranormal investigation can be the elements, possible running into seedy LIVING people(after all, many haunts can be parks and public locations.), literally tripping or falling,etc. Yet also, it is noted to not play around with this stuff. I don't go out and do it alone, I try to make sure I have experiences people with me, and I follow my gut. Many paranormal investigators will not continue to investigate around  any dark spirits/activity and reach out to higher help.(Such as a Priest) Yes, there is much common sense and gut intuition that must be used in this activity like anything else.

     Paranormal Investigation tends to be looking into haunted locations, rather than looking for people who have"crossed over." A person who has "crossed over" most likely is the majority...going to the light,proper respect taken for them,etc. Investigation is mainly for spirits or energies that are "stuck" here or refuse to leave. If people notice them, it's a good sign there is some sort of activity. Since things are rarely one size fits all, I am sure *if* there is a chance of an afterlife, there are loopholes and exceptions to every rule...speaking in terms of getting to the place deemed"the afterlife." I pretty much get lost going anywhere myself!

    I speak in vague terms to present this as a Universal thing, not just tied to one faith or process of thought. The truth is, if we are still living we do not know the answers for sure. It's a faith thing. 

   It's not about simply getting kicks at the expense of a spirit, most investigators believe strongly in helping a spirit to" cross over" by prayer or a variety of methods. It's also a gift to us, to constantly wonder about the something more out there. It's a comfort to know at least you have a chance of being an orb.

  To a skeptic who does not believe in life after death, they can logically find ways to explain activity. Or it can create more questions. I know I took my husband on an investigation, who believes in the afterlife but is not a "ghost buff" and he admitted he saw and experienced many things that could not be explained.

      Is a ghost hunter trying to prove anything? Not really so. I mean, we could have the most clear piece of evidence and many would think it was still a hoax. It's not even the expectation of finding all life's answers. It is about asking questions.

  Knowledge continues to grow and who knows WHAT science will know about energy in the future. Until then, some of us blaze the trails of being curious in this matter. One of the greatest gifts in paranormal investigation is connecting with other LIVING people and sharing the time honored tradition of 'the ghost story." It gives history and the places we frequent a shining new light.

    So when I mention I will gladly stay in a haunted hotel, you may think it's a bit nutty. I understand how someone could think it was quite odd. Don't worry, I am used to it. Raised eyebrows are common. Just know, when you are scared at 3am in the morning, you will be texting me. I will gladly help. I will leave you with these tidbits.=)

• Much of the activity I experienced prior to active research happened to be in Churches, and places of worship.
• I have investigated in Key West, parts of Florida,Colorado, and Savannah,GA.
  
• It was activity in my own childhood home that led me to first get interested in this stuff.
  

Why am I interested in the paranormal? It goes back a long time. When I was a kid, my Mom always played Art Bell's Coast 2 Coast AM Radio Show. I remember the very first X-Files I watched on my black and white television, how it amazed me and sucked me into a world so very hopeful. As a kid who grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries, and literally wanting to be Nancy Drew-I have always found hope in asking questions. In the unusual that dots each of our lives.




It is because in my belief in a Creator and life after death that I ask such questions. Why are we here? What did we come here for? Does everyone make it to the same place upon dying? What journey is there after this?




Our lives are very small doses of time in this world, even a hundred years must click by. I have already live a quarter of a century, and in someways, it feels like no time at all. So my studies of the paranormal have been a venture in the gift of life, and the lessons we learn here. Life can be hard, and there is so many reasons for that. We must be preparing for something.




Joyfully I admit I don't have many answers. Am I really seeking answers? Sometimes just have more questions is an answer. Just like how every X-File used to end with more of a question or twist than a wrapped up ending. Asking questions gives us something to hope for and be excited about.




I think some of the greatest gifts to humanity is the ability to simply ask questions. If we didn't , we still would think the Earth was flat. Asking questions seems to be a very peaceful way of getting to know one another, a way to practice peace.




May you ask questions to whatever in life you have a passion for. The world needs passionate people,