Tools of the Trade
Investigation Tours are back!
All our tours are special, but Investigations Tours offer such an exciting experience. I’ve done ghost tours in states across the country and of course have led hundreds (Thousands? That seems impossible, but when I do the math, yes, it is probably thousands…) here in Rhode Island. Every ghost tour has its own energy and unique experience, but investigation tours take it to a whole other level.
There are some tools of the trade we bring with us and permit guests to experience, so let’s take a moment to explore what paranormal detection equipment you can expect to find on our Investigation Tours.
EMF Readers
EMF (Electromagnetic Frequency) Detector are handheld devices that measure the Electromagnetic Frequencies in the atmosphere. In the paranormal research world, a surge in EMF activity can indicate a ghostly presence. On our Investigation Tours, guests will have the opportunity to borrow an EMF Detector for the duration of the tour. We ensure they have fresh batteries.
EMF Detectors (also sometimes called “K2 meters”) can pick up on electricity that is supposed to be there. There is an intersection over which our tour passes that always has EMF spikes. The electric wires are buried below this intersection, so as we cross the street, guests see the surge on their detectors. We are honest and will let you know if there are areas that we can find logical explanations for a surge. However, time and time again we see spikes for which we can find no earthly source and that is when we get excited!
REM Pod
A REM (Radiating Electromagnetic Field) Pod looks like a tall hockey puck with lights and an antenna on top. We bring this device on all Investigation Tours. We place it on a flat surface away from our human crown. The REM Pod monitors the field of electromagnetic energy around it and signals with its lights and a loud tone sound when the field has been disturbed/altered. It senses movement within the field and the lights will also illuminate in the direction of the detected motion/disturbance. Many REM Pods also have temperature gauges to alert you to an increase or decrease in temperature.
Thermal Cameras/Meters
Temperature is an important thing to monitor on an investigation. Sudden drops can indicate a spirit presence. We bring a thermal monitor on Investigation Tours. It has a small screen where one can see images in terms of heat/cold. The shape of a cold being will clearly show up on the screen. From there, we can save the image for later review to better assess if this is evidence of a paranormal presence.
Dowsing Rods
Dowsing Rods are metal rods used to “talk” with the ghosts. They have cylindrical copper handles and brass rods that extend forward and can swing to-and-fro from the handles. You can ask the spirits to cross the rods for a Yes answer, widen the rods to say No, or leave the rods straight if they don’t know or do not wish to respond. I’ll admit, I was very skeptical of these things. Human hands can move very slightly which can move the rods. The wind can pick one up and send it nodding in either direction.
Dowsing Rods are a much older technology than the previously mentioned tools. They’ve been commonly used to find water under the earth’s surface, but also for a ghostly chat or two😊 They’ve rapidly become one of my favorite methods of communication. Many of our older spirits seem to prefer this method of communication. Guests on Investigation Tours will be loaned a pair of Dowsing Rods for use during the excursion. So far, Dowsing Rods have been very popular with our attendees, and many have gone on to purchase a set for themselves! The most challenging part of Dowsing Rods is choosing the questions you wish to ask the ghosts.
Spirit Box
Spirit Boxes sweep through AM or FM radio stations at a rapid rate and allow spirits to speak! Sound impossible? I’ll be honest- I was incredibly skeptical. I believed we would simply get the Patriots’ score or the newest offering by TSwift, but how wrong I was! There is a lot of white noise that emanates from the Spirit Box. It is rather unpleasant to hear, to be honest, as a person who is very sensitive to sound. However, once you adjust and listen in, get ready! The spirits are ready to speak!
We use a recorder in conjunction with the Spirit Box so we can play back the sound, listen closely, and decipher the words. Spirits respond very accurately to questions we ask, offer information on their own, and have even clearly greeted our guests (“Hello, Chloe!”). Our Investigator Deb brings her decades of experience and her finely tuned ears to this process and is able to help guide guests through the use of this tool and to help them learn to listen beyond the static. Our Investigation Tours are kept small to ensure guests can gather closely enough around the Spirit Box to comfortably hear what is being said.
Cat Balls
Yes, that’s what it sounds like. We often bring with us those light-up, motion activated toys you would give your favorite feline friends. We place them on a flat, stable surface where they will not move and then start our investigation. Often, we find that they illuminate in conjunction with the REM Pod or with Spirit Box activity. We are careful to place the cat balls far away from other devices so they are not reacting to very tiny movements we might not notice. They are fun visuals!
Putting It All Together
Investigation Tours offer ana chance to learn how paranormal equipment works. Guests get to try these tools and see them in action. Our Investigation Tours are less focused on the story-telling portion of the ghost tour and much more rooted in paranormal research.
Through the use of multiple devices and techniques, we have gotten to know our spirits on a deeper level and have had enhanced experiences. Often, the tools operate in conjunction with one another, creating reinforcing evidence of paranormal activity. Investigation Tours offer a chance to get front and center with the spirits of our city and to hear directly from the souls of Providence who they once were, what they are doing, and why they remain in our sweet city.
Investigation Tours are offered on a limited monthly basis from May through October. Book your paranormal experience now!
Please note, no ghost tour or paranormal experience can guarantee paranormal activity. If they do, you might want to take a moment to consider HOW the activity is manifested. The ghosts are not on our payroll and choose to interact with us of their own volution. Please join us with an open heart, a curious mind, and a dash of patience.
