by Fiona Broome and the Hollow Hill Staff
Reprinted with permission, ©1996-2008

No one can enforce rules upon independent ghost hunters. For that same reason, Hollow Hill cannot assume responsibility (or credit) for what happens during ghost hunts.

Also, remember that the media often portrays ghosts and haunting's as something more dangerous and spectacular than they actually are. In fact, it's usually the small and subtle things which will startle you.
For example, it's not the eerie moaning noises which will raise the hairs on the back of your neck, but the fact that the surroundings are far too quiet.

Never use movies or TV shows as guidelines for your encounters with the paranormal.

Here are our strongest recommendations:

1. Above all, use your common sense.

2. Never go ghost hunting alone. Hunt with at least one companion.

3. Verify location, accessibility, safety, and related issues ahead of time. Check each site during daytime hours to identify parking, paths, and hazards. Carry a working flashlight, even during daytime ghost hunts.

4. Wear suitable clothing, including sturdy footwear. Don't eat a heavy meal immediately before ghost hunting, but don't arrive hungry, either. Do not drink alcohol or use drugs before or during a ghost hunt.

5. Never trespass on private or posted property, without specific permission from the owners or authorities.

6. Leave immediately and cheerfully if the police or owners ask you to, even if the property is not posted. Provide photo ID if the police ask.

7. If you become unreasonably frightened, leave. Always follow your gut instinct if you are prompted to leave.

8. Remember, you have more to fear from the living than from the dead. Haunted sites are often isolated and deserted. That makes these sites attractive to people engaged in illegal activities. Use caution and common sense.

9. As your mother taught you, never speak ill of the dead. Avoid sarcasm and jokes in haunted settings. Sometimes, the spirits "get even."

10. Ghosts do not follow you home. If you are frightened and leave a haunted location, the spirits generally do not go with you and they cannot affect your thoughts.

11. If you are troubled by unwanted thoughts after leaving a haunted location, relax. Eat some comfort food. Watch a happy movie or TV show. Talk it out with a skeptical friend. Spend some time in a church. If the unwanted thoughts persist, see a professional.

12. Ouija boards are not inherently evil. The biggest problem with them is that you don't know who or what is directing the platen, and if the entity is lying. We don't rely upon them during investigations.

13. Never rely upon cellular phones in haunted settings. Often, they won't work. Step across the street and the phone usually resumes power/range.

14. Remember that you are visiting a location that a ghost considers "home." Behave politely as you would in someone else's home.

15. Ghosts do not "possess" people without their consent. If someone or something seems to be taking control, tell it to stop. Think rude thoughts at it, and generally picture yourself as a bigger bully than the spirit is. This does work in most cases. If you--or someone you know--seems "possessed," consult a professional and/or a member of the clergy. It may not be a ghost.

16. Generally, you cannot help a ghost. You can advise them to move on, but don't waste more than about ten minutes discussing this. If you aren't making any progress, it's best to leave that kind of work to a professional. Most ghosts are tied to their earthly locations because they want to change something that happened in the past.

You can't change the past, and most ghosts aren't really interested in anything else. And frankly, some ghosts just like attention. Don't take their ploys seriously.

17. There are no documented cases of someone being seriously physically harmed by a ghost. If you're worried about this, choose a different hobby. Ghost hunting should be fun.

18. It is reasonable to reimburse someone for their time and expenses, if you accompany them on a ghost hunt. However, if someone is charging you money as if they're providing a show, perhaps they are. Caveat emptor.