A primary investigation is purely to establish if there is or is not a haunting taking place. Primary investigations are done free of charge.
Qualifications to perform a primary investigation:
Must have at least 1 year of reaping experience
Must be fully-trained in ghost equipment (EMF detectors, thermal/infrared cameras, laptops and accompanying programs, walkies/hand-transceivers, asbestos/dust masks, spectronets, FDUs, recording devices such as digital cameras, recorders and audio recorders, motion detectors, digital thermometers) and all investigation procedures
Must be up-to-date with all vaccinations and immunizations
Must be of general good health (no broken bones, fractures, sprains, debilitating illness, etc.)
Research to be done before and during a primary investigation:
What is this property like? How large is it? Is it recently renovated, is it falling apart; what is the surrounding area like, could one be exposed to asbestos or lead dust here; what environmental hazards are there?
Is the property currently owned and/or occupied? If so, will the owner grant an investigation?
Is the property un-owned? If so, what is the possible severity of haunting? Does it necessitate trespassing?
Is the area next to power lines? Is the area next to running water, mines, deposits in the ground, or anything else of natural or man-made significance?
What is the history of this property? What cultures and languages have been present?
What possible hauntings are being reported?
What kind of equipment should be brought?
How many people should be brought? (Min. 2)
During a primary investigation:
Try to establish a “base of operations” to house equipment and act as a rendez-vous point. Establish bases in the safest locations possible, as far from incidents of possible paranormal activity as possible, but still accessible from the rest of the property.
Interview potential haunting victims, if possible. Find who was involved, what happened, when did it happen, where did it happen.
Perform a once-over walkthrough of the site: note places where events occurred; note possible non-paranormal causes, such as shifting temperatures and air pressures to cause doors to move, or cold-spots; use EMF detectors to find possible sources of EMF fields caused by electrical wiring; note heavy machinery or openings to rooms with heavy machinery to find possible sources of infrasound, known to create physiological and psychological reactions in humans. Note possible sources of radon, ammonia, and/or other health hazards.
Note any possible victims and possible psychological states of said victims during possible paranormal events. Could victims be potential psychics?
Take audio and visual recordings, and EVP sessions, both during the day, and at night. Use provocation, trigger objects, etc..
Deliberate over evidence. If evidence seems inconclusive, consider a psychic.
Remember: Safety is of utmost priority. Dangers do not only come from the paranormal. Be wary of environmental hazards, as well as dangers from living people as well. Not every haunting victim is innocent, nor every property in Beaver Cleaver’s neighborhood.
If a primary investigation yields evidence to a real haunting, a secondary investigation may be called. Secondary investigations are not mandatory, if the client so wishes. Secondary investigations are far more thorough, in hopes of finding what exactly is haunting the property, be it thoughtform, ghost, or poltergeist, if a primary investigation was not conclusive enough. Secondary investigations are not strictly routine, due to the distinction between each case, and number of ghosts involved. (See “Phasmatisms” handbook for differences in hauntings.)
If Paranormal Activity Has Been Validated:
The Institute offers several different responses for a valid haunting. Each incur different fees, and payment plans are negotiable. To be part of a Haunt Response team—the team that handles a haunting (which may very well be the same investigative team)—one must have the following qualifications:
Must be a valid investigator (see: “Qualifications to perform a primary investigation)
Must be qualified in ghost removal technology (spectronets, FDUs, infrared goggles, etc.)
If thoughtforms are suspected, investigators may suggest a cleansing, in which heavy, negative energy is removed from the property via rite of exorcism. Exorcisms may be performed by anyone of strong enough faith, though it is recommended that only trained professionals attempt it. In fact, anyone performing an exorcism involved with the Institute must be specifically trained and licensed to do so. Untrained personnel caught performing an exorcism may be receive discipline up to and including employment termination—assuming said person survives performing the exorcism. Investigators may recommend an exorcist from the Institute, but clients are also given recommendations for other prominent exorcists. Cleansings are charged, but payment plans may be arranged as per the individual financial circumstances. Certain thoughtforms may only be reduced in frequency or power, and may persist after cleansings. In some cases, burning of the property may be the only way to be rid of a thoughtform, depending on type of thoughtform.
In cases in which a ghost may be present but not intrusive, a ghost may be allowed to stay, under supervision and coaching between the two parties. Reapers may be sent out occasionally to check on ghost and occupant, or settle disputes.
In cases involving ghosts without significant mental illness or malevolence, but considered intrusive or disruptive to a current occupant, a ghost retrieval may take place. Quieter and more personalized per ghost, these do not generally involve nets, but bargaining to convince a ghost to leave the property, and—hopefully—enter the Institute.
In cases involving mentally ill or malevolent ghosts, or poltergeists, a removal may be warranted. These involve specialized capture equipment to remove a ghost from the property, and move them to the Institute for containment, and psychological coaching. These are the most dangerous Haunt Responses, and carry the risk of injury or death.
Some cases may involve multiple actions, such as both cleansings and ghost management, retrievals, and removals. In rare cases, all four options may be needed, and may still not be enough. Many hauntings must be worked on a case-by-case basis.
Encountered Scenarios and F.A.Q.s:
A potential investigation and subsequent Haunt Response lie on private property: to trespass or not?
Consider the facts: is this place privately owned and occupied, or privately owned and abandoned? If the former, no, do not trespass: continue to quietly ask for permission to do a hunt. If the latter, continue to ask for permission from the owner, and let the case go if no permission is granted. Only in cases in which a suspected poltergeist with the ability to not only roam, but harm people, is suspected, then consider unlawful entry. These are extremely rare, and carry significant risks, not only from poltergeists, but also from landowners with a penchant for shotguns.
If someone is hurt on the property?
Immediately call the medic or personnel carrying the med kit. If injury is grave, halt all investigations and Haunt Responses, if possible, and remove injured person(s) from the property.
If someone is hurt, and the team is unable to leave, due to a poltergeist or otherwise?
Perform necessary medical treatment. If injury is severe enough, attempt all possible removals of injured persons from property first. If unable to do so, attempt a removal of the poltergeist as quickly as possible, and remove injured persons as soon as possible afterward.
If someone dies in a Haunt Response?
Cease Haunt Response immediately, if possible. Do not attempt to move the body. If a poltergeist remains a threat to team members, and team members are unable to leave, or leaving might cause harm to others outside of the property by association, is it recommended to capture the poltergeist first, then leave the property, and call appropriate authorities.
If a dead body is found in an investigation or Haunt Response?
If possible, halt investigation, and call proper authorities. If unable to leave the premises, work as quickly as possible to find a way out, then call authorities.
An unrelated disaster strikes the property or area near the property; others may be injured or need help, unrelated to your investigation: to aid or not to aid?
This is a matter of personal obligation, and thus a team may decide for themselves to aid or not. The Institute would recommend remaining out of harm’s way, but there is no punishment for being a good Samaritan.
The property owner has food in their refrigerator and a team member is hungry: to take or not to take?
Please do not take homeowner’s food.
An Institute team is investigating or responding to a haunt at the same location as another unrelated ghost investigation team: should the location be shared, or should teams work out a schedule for each other, or someone back out entirely?
Depending on location, sharing may not be an option. The Institute generally recommends not investigating property at the same time as unaffiliated ghost investigators, but if a location is large enough, sharing the location is possible. Either changing investigation dates or creating a schedule to work around is generally preferred over sharing a location at the same time.
A separate non-spectral event of paranormal activity has occurred: how to handle it?
The Institute prefers not to involve its employees in matters of non-spectral importance. If said paranormal activity is interruptive of the investigation or Haunt Response, then appropriate action may be taken.
The client is involved in illegal activities: is my duty to report such illegal activities?
Please report anything you would report were you their neighbor.
The client is proving not only unstable, but potentially dangerous. Paranormal Activity has been validated.
Safety is the most important factor in such situations. Do not enter or remain on the property if the client seems hostile or aggressive. Report hostilities to the Institute (if aggressive enough, the police first).
Client is harassing employees.
Report harassment to the Institute and remember that employees have no obligations to remain on the property if client is derogatory. The Institute prefers employees remain as long as possible, but harassment will not be tolerated if the employee will not tolerate it.
