Why did I become a ghost hunter?

I got into "ghost hunting" some where around 1997. It wasn't called ghost hunting then, it was more of individual people exploring the unknown and paranormal events.

I have had numerous personal experiences with paranormal occurrences. I don't know why or what caused it or what linked me to these events, I just know they happened. I had several situations where I seen some sort of "ghost". When I was younger, about 8 or 10, I seen this …. black misty, "thing" flow out of my parents bathroom into their room and come across the ceiling toward my room. It was FREAKY!! It looked like some sort of black liquid that spilled out over the doorway, but on the ceiling. Then it began to flow towards my room! I quickly jumped out of bed slammed my door and called out to my parents.

Well, they were not happy because "Little Roger" was not sleeping, but was up "messing around". I guess parents don't believe children because they look at it as an "excuse" to not go to bed, but this happened and I was so mad at them for not believing me. I had situations since then, but nothing as eventful. Then I had my second most memorable event. I was about 18 or 19, I was working for a grocery store during my summer between my 11th grade and 12th grade year. I worked nights night so I slept during the day. I was off that night and my alarm began to sound. I was so groggy and sleepy, but I was about to get up to turn it off when I saw him. This older man, he was short about 5ft 5inches and had a flat top hair cut. He wore brown slacks, a white short sleeve button up, with suspenders and a pocket protector or glass case in the shirt pocket.

Now, I know what your thinking.. that's a hell of a lot of detail in such a short moment. You're absolutely correct too. But that moment was seared into my mind! Cause as he walked across the room to turn it off , he waved at me like "go back to sleep. I'll get it"   I laid back down then jolted up!! Cause I was the ONLY person home!! By the time I got back up, which seemed like seconds was 2 hours!! I frantically searched the house for anyone, but all the doors were still locked.

I kept the incident to myself for YEARS! My parents already thought I was nuts for believing in Bigfoot and the like, I wasn't going to add fuel to the fire! Then about 20 years later, me and my mother were going through old photos, and I came across a picture that made me freeze. I asked my mom, " who is that guy?" She said that's my grandpa, he died when I was a little girl." Then I told her the story, she didn't believe it at first, then said, he always said he would look after me.

So after these two huge incidents in my life I began to question, is it possible people can come back or stay as ghosts? I thought we all faced judgement instantaneously when we died, you go to heaven or hell.. that's it. Thus began my quest! I had always read about ghosts, demon, and spirits. But now I was determined to UNDERSTAND what was going on versus ACCEPTING what was going on.
News flash... I still don't understand completely ! lol Each time I think I find an answer, I find 6 more questions.

But the further I go , the more I learn and do understand. Its more of a continuous adventure or ladder to climb. I don't think we were truly meant to understand the paranormal world. We are just here to coexist with it, and that has become my mission, to help others understand the occurrences in their workplace or home and to help them coexist with these events. Some of which are nothing more than replaying energies. My quest is not over and far from it, but I look forward to the coming adventures this path has set before me!!

Are you a ghost hunter or thrill seeker?

Two  of the  most frequent  questions I get being the founder of a paranormal group is: "How do I join or Can I go with y'all?"  I love when I get these questions. I tell the folks looking to join that we have an application process and that just shocks them. It is like... an application process?? Yes, I need to know who I am taking into a persons home and trusting them to behave. Then when I say we have membership dues... it is crickets! But, the membership dues, help keep away the thrill seekers who are not committed to actual investigations.

There are groups who do not have fees and they are usually a very small group of friends and they don't allow new members. I allow people to join our group, and I train them on how to use the gear and how to investigate. Those dues, go to help pay for promotional items, business cards, flyers, the website, and it helps off set the cost when we as a group ay to investigate some of these big name locations.

Call it as you like, ghost hunting or paranormal investigator, both are serious people looking to investigate the paranormal world. A thrill seeker is just looking to get a scare or looking for something to do fun. Its not a serious venture for them. Well, for us, it is serious and we spend a lot of time researching locations, researching new info, and conducting maintenance on the equipment. Its very time consuming.

So for the thrill seeker, I say wait till Halloween. There will be numerous locations holding "ghost hunts" and "haunted houses" to explore. You can even schedule and pay for your OWN paranormal experience at some of these locations. ***Spoiler Alert, IT IS EXPENSIVE*** Most of the paranormal investigation groups are serious investigators, looking to help others with their situation or documenting evidence of paranormal activity.

So please, if you are just looking for the thrill, wait... some of these teams host "hunts" during the Halloween season. You can get your scare on that way. But they then return to the seriousness of the business afterwards. If you want a scare that bad, JOIN a team, pay the dues and LEARN about the paranormal. Its not that bad of a deal and the dues aren't usually that bad. they can be any where from $25 to $100 a month. It just depends of the group.

Stay safe and pursue your dreams, contact teams and ask questions!! Not all teams are closed to new members!

What makes a good paranormal investigator?

There are almost as many theories on this as there are groups out there investigating. It is all about the perception. By that I mean, it is what you perceive as a good investigator. Is it the type of equipment they use or the amount of equipment or what really?

For me, a good investigator has to have integrity. It is that simple.

If you have a team out there fabricating "evidence" or exaggerating their claims for notoriety, that isn't integrity. If they are bullying other teams and purposely trying to discount them or their findings, that is not integrity.

The integrity I am talking about is being honest with themselves and others. Be honest about what kind of group they are. What kind of an investigator they are. Are you out there trying to find real evidence to establish proof of the paranormal? Are you out there trying to get ratings on your social media site? Are you trying to validate the claims that there may be something in some ones home? Or are you the investigator that is out there trying to help those who are afraid to turn the lights off at night. The investigator that is going to look for all rational answers first before saying the house is haunted?

Do you have the integrity to say... we didn't find anything in here or to say we cant catch anything in your location?

For me, and this is my view only, a "good investigator" is in it for the "client". They are there to honestly help the home owner answer some rather disturbing questions. To help put at ease, the fears the home owner has and to be honest about them.

One of the first things I make clear is, " I do not have a magic vacuum cleaner that can suck the ghosts out of your house, I don't attempt to cleanse the house nor am I an exorcist"

I am simply there to see if I can find a rational and mechanical reason for their experiences. If I cant, then I look for paranormal answers. Theni try to help the owner understand what is occurring in the home and how to proceed.

A good paranormal investigator doesn't always get the ghost, but they definitely get the home owners trust!

Why is there no real unity in the paranormal community?

I have been a paranormal investigator for over 15 years now. I have ran across some of the nicest people and some of the rudest people in the field. I am still confused as to why people in this community are NOT helping each other. I understand NO ONE wants to give up the details on a location and have it "taken" from them. But How can it be taken if it isn't yours to begins with??

I was extremely happy to be asked to help create an "alliance" for Texas paranormal teams. I am eagerly waiting to see how this pans out, not only for my team, but for all teams in Texas.

Sadly, I have seen everyone jockeying to be the next Ghost Adventures or Ghost Hunters tv show. If that's what you want.. more power to you and I wish you all the success. Do not go stepping on others or looking down upon them as if they are inferior because they are not on TV. I have turned down 2 offers. Not because the "money wasn't right" but because its not who I am or what I have envisioned for our group.

Our group has a philosophy, " you do not have to be alone!" By that statement, my intent is to help those who truly need the help. We are a FREE service!! I mean.. I'm doing this to honestly help folks understand what is going on in their homes. While their are other who do it to get more subscriptions on YouTube or Instagram or help launch what they feel is a TV career.

I do it to help the person understand what is happening in the location. and for FREE.

But like I said, there are those who would bash other teams and say they are not "REAL INVESTIGATORS" because they don't or do use (fill in the blank) item.

There is no real academy for this type of endeavor. There are no REAL EXPERTS. Just people who have more experience in investigating and more experience in the field of "ghost hunting".

Its truly sad when like minded people can not join together and resolve their differences for the betterment of such a small community. I guess it boils down to just one word.

COMPETITION.

That is the true adversary of paranormal investigations and ghost hunting groups, Everyone is too busy trying to be better than, or have better evidence or better gear.... How about having a better relationship with fellow investigators and teams. I would LOVE to create a coalition or some sort of alliance that agrees to collaborate with each other instead of competing with each other...

Hopefully that day is coming soon. Until then...

You don't have to be alone!