11 Things Paranormal Enthusiasts Should Do Before They Die

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I don’t remember what sparked the thought now, but the other day I got to wondering about things paranormal enthusiasts should do before they die. I had a few things in mind, but it seemed like a perfect question to pose on Twitter. But would anyone answer? (If you’re on that social network, maybe you’ve experienced the sensation of speaking into the void too.)

Luckily, people saw the tweet and responded. Here are their great answers, along with the suggestions I had in mind.

11. Attend a Seance

I’ll start with this one because it was one I would’ve suggested too. They’re a bit cliché and cheesy, really, but they can also be a bit of good fun.

Just don’t say that to anyone who truly believes in them. They might think you’re not receptive to receiving messages from the Beyond and ban you from participating. (But hopefully not from enjoying a barbecue, if there’s one of those happening at the seance too.)

10. Visit the Villisca Ax Murder House (or equivalent haunted crime scene)

The Lizzie Borden House, Alcatraz —or just about any other haunted jail— all make for eye-opening jaunts. Does it mean you’re guaranteed to have a paranormal experience? No. But there’s something transcendent about visiting a place where history, dark or otherwise, happened. It makes it all the more intriguing when it’s possible the restless spirits who created that history may still roam there.

9. Spend the Night in a Haunted Hotel

I was truly shocked only one person brought this up. (The tweet mentioning it, however, is in included under “Study.”) Still, I figured there’d be repeat tweets suggesting this as something every paranormal enthusiast should do before they die. It was one of the first things I thought of.

Then again, that’s because it’s my favorite thing to do. Much to my husband’s chagrin. Luckily nothing too frightening has ever happened to us in any of the haunted hotels we’ve stayed in. Yet. (And hopefully never will, or that’ll be the end of my days sleeping in spooky stays.)

Although my husband would argue that the chunk it takes out of his wallet always gives him a fright. That’s a legit hazard since I prefer haunted luxury historic hotels.

8. Take a Ghost Tour

This was another one I figured someone would say, but since no one did, I will. Not all ghost tours are created equal. Some involve costumes and dramatics. Well, they almost all involve a dramatic element. It’s important for the tour guide, a.k.a. storyteller, to bring the ghost stories to life. For that, you need a certain degree of flair.

However, some rely on the theatrics more than well-researched history to add spirit to their tour. Either way, it’s a good way to get out, see some neat sights (and sites), and learn more about a specific place or city.

7. Attend a Paracon

I think paracons are a lot like people: they’re all about the same, but they also all have their own unique style. Some are smaller and more intimate, while others go big —both in size and with the celebrities they bring in. They’re not one size fits all, nor are they for everyone.

Like me. I love listing paracons and horror fests, but attending them? Meh.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve met a lot of great people at the ones I’ve gone to, but in the end, I discovered cons really aren’t my bag. Something I’d never known if I hadn’t given some a shot, though.

6. Investigate with Others

I wasn’t sure if anyone would suggest, “Join a paranormal investigation team. Or start one.” But I did sort of expect someone might, so I was a bit surprised when no one did.

Not that you need to join a team to investigate with others. (As we’ll see in our next suggestion.) There are plenty of ghost hunting companies and events where you can get in on the action with others that way. A lot of times you don’t even need to bring your own equipment. They’ll provide it for you.

Investigating is kind of like attending a paracon. You might decide investigating isn’t for you. Perhaps ghost tours, or watching ghost hunting TV shows, are enough. Or you might find out you love it. Again, you never know until you try.

5. Investigate Alone


There are benefits to investigating with others, but Sam raised a great point. What results might you get if you do it alone? As long as you do it safely, that is. In a quest for answers, it’s worth a try. Which segues nicely into to our next suggestion for something every paranormal enthusiast should do before they die.

4. Enjoy experiences, gather your own proof

What did “certain experiences” mean, though? When someone asked for clarification, she kindly provided some in this tweet:

But another side of the same coin involved proof.

You can have a paranormal experience just about anywhere. As long as there’s a ghost (or two), that is. But where is that? They truly could be all around us always trying to interact. Do we have blinders on? Are we limiting ourselves to only exploring the most haunted, scariest places everyone’s talking about because they’ve been featured on TV? And only doing so in the dark during the wee hours of the night?

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And what about “proof”? What is that exactly?

It’s different for all people. For instance, someone recently took exception with something I wrote on “13 Things You Should Never Do During a Paranormal Investigation.” Specifically, that ghosts don’t exist.

They don’t. But he was adamant that all the experiences he’s had prove they do, as does all the evidence captured on all the paranormal shows.

If that proves to you ghosts exist, so be it. However, it doesn’t scientifically prove they do. There is no smoking gun that irrefutably proves their existence. If there was, I wouldn’t have the audacity to write that ghosts don’t exist.

And honestly, if it does happen? That’s going to be a sad day. What would people do if they knew that for certain? How would it affect how they live now? And how might they try to harness spirits for profit, nefarious purposes, or whatever else they can think of?

Right now, it’s entertaining. Thrilling. A mystery and an adventure. And if you encounter something strange and believe it’s proof of the paranormal? Enjoy and cherish it.

3. Study

I cheered —and then immediately made sure I was following— @napoleonspillow after reading this answer to the question about what every paranormal enthusiast should do before they die. Totally on the same page!

The vast majority of paranormal investigators are in it for the thrill or the pursuit of fame. That’s not a bad thing. It’s a truth hardly anyone ever admits, though.

But for anyone really seeking answers, there are a lot of places to look besides allegedly haunted places. Including within. And personally, I don’t think enough people invest enough time understanding themselves before they set out on an investigation.

I’m talking about things like taking vision, perception, and hearing tests. Knowing how religion biases their views. Understanding the physical makeup of a particular haunted place and potential natural causes (toxins or how the building materials/design contribute to generating EMFs) and how that could affect the paranormal phenomenon people report.

And then there’s the equipment. Since no one knows what a “ghost” is made of —or if they’re even real— no one knows exactly what to use to “catch” one. Sure, popular ghost-hunting gadgets abound, but what are they really measuring? How do they actually work? Is it proof of ghost matter or fluctuations in a natural phenomenon that we don’t fully understand?

Spending time studying not only a variety of topics and subject matter, but also your inner realm and workings, and questioning all of it, leads to even more illuminating —and possibly groundbreaking— revelations.

2. Welcome the fungus among us

Okay, I’m not advocating this because it’s illegal in many places, but I couldn’t help but think of Nine Perfect Strangers when I read it. And who knows? Maybe disconnecting our brains from their normal states like this can help us more easily and usefully tap into our third eyes.

1. Figure out how to become a ghost

Besides dying, what ingredients are necessary for becoming a ghost? Why does it happen when some people pass but not others? I think this is something every paranormal enthusiast should contemplate before they die, whether they investigate or not.

Maybe if we understood this, we’d be better able to prove (or not) the existence of ghosts. But if you have any interest in coming back as a ghost, you’ll really want to figure this out.

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Does this about cover it, or is there anything you’d add to the list of things every paranormal investigator should do before they die?

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4 Comments

  1. I’ve done a few of these: stayed at the St. James Hotel in Cimmaron, New Mexico, investigated a “paranormal hotspot” site with another person, and have gone on a ghost tour. Lots still to accomplish, though!

  2. I think these 11 cover it. Like Willow, I’ve done a few of these, but I am not interested in investigating while on ‘shrooms!

  3. Author

    I’ve heard the St. James is not only allegedly haunted but pretty wonderful if it also didn’t have that. Lots of history right?

  4. Author

    LOL!!!! I feel the same way about the ‘shrooms, Priscilla. I thought it was a clever answer so I included it, though. But I often have weird reactions to prescribed drugs. It’s why I’ve never been inclined to take any illegal ones. BUT I have always wondered how my mind would interpret the world on something hallucinogenic. I just never dared put it to the test…

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