Conducting Cemetery Investigations
Cemeteries have in some way become obsolete, few and fewer are investigating them now, why would this be? There are loads of reason most don’t investigate due to certain factors that may hamper the investigation. But to blindly dismiss cemeteries as places of non hauntings is shallow thinking. We understand there may be reasons for a lot of spirits not to roam in a graveyard, but there are always exceptions to the rules… Obviously when conducting an investigation in a cemetery, there are all kinds of elements one must contend with. For example the weather, it could be rainy, frosty, windy, warm and dry, it could snow. These elements could disrupt any investigation, except if there are covered areas, where one could escape the elements. Some cold and freezing conditions could play havoc with the cameras and rain could destroy cameras if the rain enters into the camera…. Of course you don’t investigate in rain or snow this is hard to accomplish and very hard to determine what (if any) phenomena captured.
We at Team Strigoi have a huge passion for cemeteries, we have our beliefs that there maybe spirit activity in cemeteries… maybe not all of them. One of the first places we investigated fully was our local cemetery, while conducting an investigation within the boundary’s one become aware of other factors that one must deal with, there’s wildlife screeching and fighting, trees swaying in the wind… these can produce some chilling sounds, though this also depends on the strength of the wind, reflections of headstones, moonlight causing headstones to cast shadows… which sometimes they look like they’re moving, cats and dogs scuttling about… sometimes they move in front of you and in the dark they look like ghostly black masses, there’s human problems… drunks or teens moving about, there are other things aswell.
To some a cemetery is a frightening place, to others like us it’s a peaceful but can be dangerous and a challenge. Though in all honesty cemeteries are some of the most safest places to be in, as many will avoid walking through one… some brave enough do walk through but their minds are racing at a million miles an hour, when we first started we were on edge for the first few times as we had no idea of what to expect, but its when you walk around on your own, this is where the fun starts… well for some. To really be classed a ghost finder one must conduct vigils on their own, to some it’s a daunting task, but it must be done. To really experience the dark, the silence, the isolation, the different feelings and emotions one gets while doing this, is a very important step in becoming a respected ghost finder. Some ghost finder (if honest enough) will tell you cemeteries frighten them, they feel very nervous walking the grounds… sometimes who can blame them. But as long as you keep in mind that ghosts communicate in frightening ways and ghosts won’t knock you out and steal your mobile phone.
There can be a whole range of phenomena that can be captured, made by different restless souls, the task of viewing footage can be a slow and eye straining exercise, and it’s the same when you’re investigating. Because you have to listen to every sound, your eyes need to adjust to the dark but until it does the eye will play some trick on you. You have to follow up on every sound and every possible sighting, some times it ends up being a possum screeching or a piece of paper fluttering about, but if you don’t follow up, you may be missing out on some wonderful phenomena that may be happening.
When one enters a cemetery don’t walk in with high expectations, you will walk out 99% disappointed. Some go to a place like these and think they will encounter a full apparition or become involved in an encounter that’s going to rock the world… Staying calm is also a hard task to undertake, especially walking by trees and possum screech or climb the tree, even a branch may fall, bird life flying or swooping over you can cause ones heart to race, the chilling sound of wind blowing around headstones, distant voices can waft on the breeze.. Causing ghostly whispers or faint screams.
Reasons some won’t investigate
Having to contend with the natural elements
Casting shadows off headstones can cause eerie effects as if someone moving near them. These can be hard to determine what’s ghostly and what’s not.
Ghosts don’t like to be reminded they are dead and cemeteries are the last place they want to roam.
Wildlife, domestic cats… make cemeteries their play grounds.
Unable to use ultra high tech equipment within the grounds, modern ghost investigators don’t like going back to basics, by using their brains and standard equipment. Especially when modern equipment is easier to use, less brain strain… plus modern ghost finders rely to much on these sorts of equipment, they become naked and lost if not using them.
The possible chance of human interference. Teens running about acting like knobs, unsavoury characters lurk in big cemeteries, couple having sex…yes it does happen, even those just passing through.
The wind can also be a factor to content with, but you can not escape wind. The wind can even effect homes with windows and doors, they bang due to the wind causing people to hear what they think is ghostly banging.
Sometimes a cemetery can be some big, that one will never fully investigate.
Some find it a waste of time and will not investigate, but what about Highgate Cemetery (London) & Picton Cemetery (N.S.W.), these places have a high rate of ghostly activity.
Important Note
Never conduct a séance in a cemetery; this is asking for trouble from the departed and those who run the cemetery. Awakening spirits like this is foolish, down right stupid, disrespectful, dangerous and life threatening. Though conducting a séance in a cemetery is ultra disrespectful, we really can not believe people’s stupidity towards this act in a cemetery.
People forget that spirits can attach them self to people who conduct stupid degrading and childish acts, if you desecrate be prepared for the consequences. These rituals and practices can cause some terrifying retaliation from the spirit world, some of the most frightening and deadly spirits are the ones who are seeking revenge, and boy do they seek it when you mess with their graves
Reason to investigate
In life a person may have had a passion for them.
Grounds keepers have a huge connection to them, spending a fair amount of time to the place; it’s a place they are familiar with.
A persons body buried with out proper burial rights, leaving a spirit to linger near the grave site but unable to rest due to not given last rites.
Awoken spirits conjured up in séances and Ouija boards, satanic worship and witch craft, that still linger due to door not being completely closed, this practice is not good and the spirits that roam become angry for this intrusion.
Murdered victims found in cemetery, their souls will never rest… unfortunately.
Desecration towards headstones cause spirit activity to increase, this and defiling graves are despicable acts. No spirit likes to be woken up like this.
Some artist use places like this for inspiration and begin to have a strong connection with the grounds, a place they felt the accomplished their best work or inspirations from.
Maybe something was buried in the coffin and they keep a close eye on it.
Ghosts know they are dead; some have to wait until they can cross over, and some will remain here until it’s their time to move on.
We believe cemeteries house a whole arrangement of ghosts, Cemeteries have a lot of shadowy areas, silent dark spots to lurk in and watch…. It just seems like a perfect place for spirits to roam or rest. We should never been blasé about conducting an investigation and should never be closed minded to the possibilities.
Happy finding folks.