Where does paranormal investigations stop and occult practices begin?

I am sitting here watching another paranormal show on the Travel channel. This couple is recounting their survival of their paranormal experience. There was a lot going on according to the couple so they contacted a "paranormal investigator".

The first thing that got my attention was.. he was using a phone application to assist him in "talking to the dead". RED FLAG #1. Its a phone app, its made for entertainment, NOT investigative practices. These apps work by using your phones internal GPS, then it researches the internet for commonalities. Then the artificial intelligence program begins to generate words or phrases that would be recognizable to the location.

This is a computer program designed to give words or phrases related to the location, NOT from a spirit. So this man then tells them he captured an EVP that he thought was telling him that the spirit could and can use the female owners energy.

Well after a while the activity got more frequent and more aggressive to the couple. Even to the point of reportedly being possessed and talking in a strange voice. They contacted the "paranormal investigator" again.

He came into the home and "searched" for "spirit portals". According to the man, these were doors or windows that spirits could use to enter and leave our world and return to its world. I started to doubt that the man was an investigator but more of an occultist. I was RIGHT!. So he begins to address the "spirit portals" and said there were 18 portals in the home and that since the apartment was vacant for so long the spirits energy had claimed the apartment and " that wasn't good".

So he goes on to describe how he "closed" the portals. He said he took some torn fabric with light shining through it and then ( Well I am not condoning this behavior so I am not going to give the exact description)  completed the task in order to bind the spirit in the other world/realm.

This is the performance of occult practices. Once you start to perform seances, cleansings, summonings, anything other than the gathering of evidence, you have crossed the line. You are no longer an investigator. You have become a practitioner of these "arts".  You have effectively stepped through the "portal" of the realms. This in not ghost hunting or paranormal investigations. This is  whatever you wish to call it, witchcraft, magic, or occultism. You have taken the role of "medium" or a guide between the realms. You are shutting the doors. You are the focal point of this spirit now and the focus of its anger or.... hatred.

Once you become active in the occult practices, you stop being an objective investigator. You are looking for proof. Not beliefs. As an investigator you are looking for photographic evidence of spirits or ghosts. You are trying to capture it on audio, video and in pictures.

These "occult paranormal investigators" are dangerous*. I do not and will not conduct an investigation like this or similar to this. I have allowed individuals who claim to have abilities accompany us to investigations and allowed them to attempt to communicate with the spirits. But this is when the investigation is OVER.

I personally do not like when TV portrays this as paranormal investigations. This is 1930's occultism. Plain and simple.


******* This is my own personal opinion based on life experiences. I in no shape or form am calling these people liars, fakes or frauds. I am just saying that based upon my own outlook on what a paranormal investigator is and should be, this is not paranormal investigations, but occult practices*********

Am I wrong or am I right?

Here I am, torn between being supportive of other paranormal teams and wanting to separate myself from teams that I feel are not authentic and sincere. I watch and follow a lot of paranormal teams on social media. Some are down to Earth, rational folks who are genuinely looking for answers. While there are those out there riding the current wave of popularity in paranormal investigations and looking to create a name for themselves. Even if that name and reputation is bad.

So how do I promote unity in the paranormal field, when there are teams that do not portray the traits that are desirable? Please, do not get this wrong. I feel everyone should follow their dreams, even if that means you want to be the next television personality out there chasing and over reacting to noises in the dark.

But what about those tried and true teams and individuals that are busting their butts doing research and studying the field looking for answers. How do you give credence to one group but not the other? What standards do you apply? The brand name of their gear? The amount of gear they have or the types of gear they have?

Neither, it has nothing to do with gear, its about integrity and heart. Are they in this for the right reasons? Do they conduct themselves with honesty and present their findings honestly. Do they fabricate or exaggerate their findings? If they do... this is not a group to emulate or to duplicate. This is the dilemma which we fall into with unity in the field of paranormal research.

If you "out" a group for being fake or overly dramatic, then you become a "hater". if you allow these groups into your circle you dilute your resolve and your reputation. Thus, enabling them to continue to ruin the integrity of paranormal investigations as a whole. Do you become an isolationist in behavior? Do you refuse to associate with other groups and just be "Facebook friends"?

These are the questions many investigative founders and team members are faced with today. the hashtag #Paraunity is used to inspire teams to work together and to help bring the field together. But some use it as a mockery and hide behind its meaning to further their fraud.

I guess for me, I will stand by teams that I deem fit for association and I will still say #Paraunity when commenting on certain posts. If we strengthen our resolve and strengthen our position on and against some of the "frauds" or "drama queens" We will strengthen the respect that those outside our community has for us. It will give credence to our purpose and our cause. I guess it should read #Paraintegrity.

But as I asked before, Am I wrong for feeling this way,  or am I right??