Dr. Mark Farley's Personal Blog

I believe if you’re truly trying to “help” the client. You should be focusing on explaining the events they are witnessing. In these situations, proof doesn’t help anyone but you; explanations help the client. Deep down, the practice of debunking only helps the investigator. Because deep down, through this facade of skewed skepticism, they really want to capture the “Holy Grail” of paranormal evidence. Investigations are for explaining; research is for proving.

I am rather strict during the investigation because the last thing I want is a team full of thrill seekers. I want professionals; I want standards; and I want quality. If our field is going to be accepted as a legitimate field of study. These are the three traits I feel every team must strive for.

A haunting is nothing more than an attachment that enables a spirit to interact in our world. Without that ability to interact in our world, we would never know that a site is haunted. In fact, I surmise that paranormal investigations consist of nothing more than investigators collecting evidence of these interactions.

Over the years, I have posted several hundred ghost photos on social media. Every time I do, there always seems to be a self-proclaimed professional photographer commenting that the photo is fake and here’s why, and then other “debunkers or paranormal experts” chime in, agreeing with them. So, in response to this, I don’t post as many ghost photos.

Almost every paranormal investigator has an infrared thermometer in their investigation kit. In my former career as an aircraft mechanic, I used infrared thermometer guns to troubleshoot windshield heat problems, locate blown ducts, troubleshoot anti-ice problems, and various other aircraft systems. It was a very useful tool in certain situations. However, for paranormal investigations, I think they are next to useless.

So, I allow team members to carry their cell phones during investigations. There are just too many advantages to having them.

Most members of the community base their reasoning on the apparition’s color. Because black is the color most associated with evil, most investigators think shadow figures are evil. My answer tends to be unpopular because I don’t subscribe to the widely held belief that the color of the apparition determines its nature.

Now most major cities have a "Hitchhiker Annie" story, and St. Louis is no different. Now, the basic premise of every Hitchhiker Annie story goes something like this. It's usually a dark, rainy, or snowy evening, and a motorist is traveling down a desolate road next to a cemetery. The motorist sees a young woman walking along the side of the road and stops to offer her a ride.

What makes a house haunted? This question is usually asked at some point during every ghost tour.