GHOST HUNT GUIDE TO THE REFORMATORY “ Visitors seeking the paranormal should come to a ghost hunt with open minds and calm nerves.” 1 According to studies, fear is contagious and can upset any spirits that are present. Keeping a clear head and staying open to potential new experiences can help you maintain a calm, receptive demeanor. “ While actively ghost hunting, we recommend [investigators] find an area they feel comfortable 2 in and begin an investigation.” One way to prepare for and establish some comfort with the location you plan to hunt is to do some research about the history. If you know what to expect in the hunt to come, you will be more likely to go in feeling calm and alert. “ Simply stating who you are and what your intentions 3 are could greatly help your experience.” Ghosts, like people, often like to be aware of what’s going on, perhaps especially when a troop of strangers passes through demanding a conversation or photo. Speaking your intentions can also help you, the hunter, to feel more protected when dipping into the unfamiliar world of the supernatural—some even take it a step further and begin a ghost hunt with a short prayer. “ Be respectful of the area that you’re in and with whom you are trying to communicate. Even on the 4 other side, respect goes a long way.” People—even dead people—deserve respect. Going on a ghost tour, beyond visiting a haunted institution, is like visiting someone’s home... albeit someone who has passed on from life to death. Treating the place and those who dwell there with respect will also limit any negative contact. According to Cabrera, there have only been a few “extreme cases” of visitors with scratches from “unruly entities,” and in each of those cases, the spirits were provoked with harsh language or taunting sentences. “ … some of the best evidence experienced here will not be captured, only felt.” Charge your cameras and recorders, bring plenty of extra batteries, and 5 keep your eyes and ears open, but remember, some of what you experience simply cannot be taken with you when you leave. Interacting with the supernatural folk who dwell in the Ohio State Reformatory isn’t really all that different from having a pleasant social interaction with the living. Ready to test Molly’s advice on seeking out the paranormal? Visit www.mrps.org/explore/paranormal-programs/public-ghost-hunts to register for the Ghost Hunt Challenge..