Interesting question.
I'll answer it purely from my own experience, beliefs, teachings etc.
Firstly - let me say I don't consider myself a 'ghost-hunter' as such...or maybe I'm just misinterpreting what other people term
'ghost-hunter'.
I don't go around *seeking* them or hunting them out. I'm aware of them in various areas - but what I do I only do when it is asked of me. So
perhaps its not such much ghost
hunting as it is ghost
culling if that makes sense at all. Much like a deer-hunter will consciously
venture into areas with the specific aim of hunting down a deer...whereas a deer-culler will be called into an area for a predetermined goal of
removing them.
The next fly in the ointment is ones definition of 'ghost' or 'spirit' or 'entity' or whatever.
Anyhoo...often I'm approached by friends or family, also its part of my role at work, to go into their homes and cleanse them out...or to provide a
for want of a better way of describing it a *spiritual* assessment/perspetive on what may be troubling the person (I work in Mental Health by the way
- ironic I know
).
For whatever reason that seems to be the calling at present. So what keeps me safe?? Well many things:
1. First and foremost I do not see myself as being *gifted* or any of that palava - and please I mean no offence to those who may consider
themselves *gifted*. Yeah I see, hear, feel, know things...heh, many other people do too so there is nothing special about that...no more so than
someone born with amazing blue eyes or flawless skin.
For me personally that term *gifted* seems to be imbued with some belief (either held by the person themselves, or by other people towards them) of
being in some way privellaged...even, hate to say it,
better than supposedly 'normal people' in some shape or form.
For me personally seeing it in such a way is ego-driven...and ego can be unsafe during such work.
Safety is found in NOT taking on any mantle, title, term or kudos.
The way I see it I am just doing a job...just the same as anyone else does a job. Some people may be good bakers, or speakers, or teachers, or
mechanics or whatever...this is just something I seem to do. And it is done in
servitude to and at the
request of others. So in many
ways I kinda see it as I'm an in NO way *above* anyone...if anything by my service to/for them I am humbling myself to them.
2. My own strong personal belief is anything I may do in regards to these things is not me...its not my power, not my *ability* and so not in
any way my glory to take from it.
For me personally I firmly believe what I may do has been
allowed by a higher power - as cliche as that may sound. Personally I term that
'higher power' God. Thats just my understanding and beliefs around it and this type of work.
So at all times I am conscious that I am merely providing a service...all kudos, all glory, all power, whatever is in NO way mine...but Gods.
Remaining humble in what you do is a point of safety.
3. Be *mandated* for the work ahead. Mandated?? Well...may not be able to adequately describe what I mean by that...but I guess you just KNOW
if you are doing the right thing. You just know that what you are doing is not driven by your own agenda...rather you are there to respond to someones
request for assistance.
So being *mandated* by the person you are assisting can be a point of safety too.
4. Cover yourself - in your own way.
Its like anything really...a Welder will put on safety-googles before sparking up a welder, a roads-person will put on a high-viz safety vest before
stepping out onto the road. Same kinda deal. You *put on* 'protection' before you start the work.
Each person may have their own methods of doing this...and again it can come down to what that person believes in.
My own process tends to go like this:
- I always wear what my people call a 'Taonga' around my neck...its a blessed/charmed pendant made of greenstone. This has been specifically blessed
for my protection...for me its like a bullet-proof vest I wear.
- Whenever dealing with house-cleansing or such work I carry my own 'bag of tricks' along with me. In my lil bag is a bottle of Holy Water for
blessing/cleansing, a Bible that I carry to again reaffirm my connection to what I see as the higher power but it also has this nice knack of being
able to be flicked open to any page and having the *exact* passage or message I may need to read/hear/be conscious of at the time. Also in that bag
are my now deceased Grandmothers rosary beads. She was a very spiritual person...and carrying them around while doing any of that type of work brings
a feeling of safety.
- Prayer. Before even going to the persons house or anything. I always offer up Prayer. Prayer for coverage, for safety, for assistance and
guidance....but also a prayer of reconcilliation. I apologies for any wrongdoing I may have done...acknowledge and accept my own faults and failings,
my own sin...I ask that my transgressions may not in any way be held against me during this work, so may not indirectly impact upon the effectiveness
of the work. I give thanks - give thanks for the honour and privellage it is to serve others...and to serve that higher power/God.
What type of prayer to use?? Well...that depends again on beliefs, on the occasion and/or work required...really just speak from your heart, with
love, with faith...words themselves aren't overly important as its about the focus of the feeling...its about HOW its said perhaps no so much about
WHAT is said. I do tend to use the Lords Prayer...as thats how I was brought up and what helps me to focus.
- Cover yourself when you get there before you start the work. Pray again. I offer myself up to God, to be a servent, I offer my hands, eyes, ears,
heart, body and mind to Him to do this work...place myself under His governance.
I give praise to God again - reaffirm that the power is His and His alone. That He is the judge, He is the power, He is he love and the light, He
holds the glory and governance here. That I am merely here to serve. Again thats my belief/faith.
I also bless myself with the Holy Water and anyone else who wishes to be involved like those living in the house etc.
- Go for it.
Just follow your nose so to speak. Don't question...just *listen* to your own inner thoughts and feelings. You'll just know what needs to be done,
what specific areas may need specific attention or focus.
While doing the work I am always praying, vocalising and reaffirming the higher power/Gods governance over the area. Yeah at times - when necessary -
I'll do the stereotypical "Leave now, leave in peace" type of talk with whatever is there...as sometimes somethings just need a bit more
*encouragement*.
At all times do it with love. Love for those who you serve...but also love for those whose energies have for whatever reason remained there...or
whatever energies/entities have have taken up residence there. Even if those things have created negativity/illness etc...always do it in love. Love
is an amazingly healing, cleansing, settling and calming energy and space to work it. DO NOT do it for vengence, or retribution for any negativity
that may have come from that presence...for that is a negative energy and can also put you in an unsafe position in the work.
- When I'm done I pray again, again give thanks and praise to God. Again bless myself (and anyone else involved) with Holy Water. Basically its like
'clocking out after your shift is over'.
Another common thing we do is have something to eat afterwards...as for my people food is a way of returning people safely back from any sense of
sacredness.
5. Try not to work alone. I tend to work with my wife - as she is definitely my grounding point, my balance.
I also am lucky enough to be able to work alongside our Cultural Therapist at work. A Cultural Therapist I guess is a nice acceptable term for
'Spiritual Healer' or 'Tohunga' in my peoples language (Google the word Tohunga).
He is a great mentor and teacher for me.
Another thing that keeps me safe is for some reason I'm not a person who 'carries' things - well, normally.
Some people are 'carriers' for want of a better way of describing it. They will pick up and carry emotion, pain, hurt etc.
I may pick it up and know it/see it...but it doesn't affect me...I don't *carry* it as such.
Its only for my closest family/loved ones will I ever seem to *carry* what they may be carrying...and then only very briefly. Perhaps the short-term
carrying is more just to let me experience what they may be feeling and thus let me know I need to go assist them.
So - personally - I guess some safety comes with that...a bit like some people have a higher immunity to flus, colds etc.
Editted to add: Oh - another way of keeping safe is through making an effort to be better, to do better, to treat others better. Trying to live
your life with less negativity, trying to show more love to others.
Discipline comes into it as well on some levels.
Don't get me wrong here...I am far from perfect and pure!
I tend to like a beer or two, I smoke, sometimes the language that comes outa my mouth
would make a sailor blush, I can be a right prick at times...but again its about being conscious of that and making an effort to change those
less-than-clean attributes we all have.
I attend church regularly - not that a Church is the only place to find God, or find your *centre*...I just attend it as I love the people there, love
the fellowship and love the calming/centring/energising feeling I get from attending.
I pray daily...again thats just to say hello to God, like giving a good friend a phonecall for a chat regularly really. Just keeps those communication
lines open...
...anyway...bit of a novel there...but thats just my experience/processes/beliefs....
Peace.
[edit on 2-4-2009 by alien]