Ghosts can be found anywhere at any time by anybody. If this is true, why is it so difficult to gather paranormal evidence to prove the existence of ghosts? Ghosts have a tendency to appear when you least expect them and do not adhere to any predictable schedule. It is the job of the paranormal investigator to research past appearances of the spirit energy in order to better determine when future sightings might occur.
Can ghosts really be found everywhere? Well, yes and no. Ghosts can be found at many locations that were the sight of an untimely or tragic death in the past. Many of the haunted locations today can be traced to an individual who passed away before they were ready to go. Their death may have occurred at home, in an accident, at a hospital, or in a war.
Let's look at several different locations where we can begin to look for paranormal energy and begin our ghost research.
Homes
Many homes across the world have been the site of paranormal activity. In most cases there is a historical reason that would suggest why the paranormal activity is taking place. Events such as murder, suicide, fire, or a young person's death often trigger a haunting to occur in the home.
Strangely enough, some homes appear to be haunted that have no tragic past at all. There are even cases where brand new homes become haunted before the homeowner even moves in. This phenomenon can be caused by a home being built on land that was the sight of a tragic death. In other cases, the reason for the haunting remains a mystery.
Cemeteries
Why would a cemetery be haunted? Cemeteries are not usually the site of a tragic death such as murder or suicide, so why ghosts are found in a graveyard can be difficult to determine.
The most common theories to explain paranormal energy in a cemetery are "portals" or "doorways". Portals are a doorway to another dimension that acts as a door between the world of the living and the world of the dead. These doorways are most often found in older cemeteries but can also be found in other locations. These "doorways" could be the explanation for many strange sightings that have occurred over the centuries. Early pioneers often built in locations they believed had spiritual significance, they may have been correct. There is no way to prove that portals exist at all, paranormal investigators can only document their findings and hope to some day find the evidence that would prove the existence of portals.
It is also possible that some spirits like to be close to their physical bodies and therefore haunt the cemetery where they are buried. Many of the homes that people lived in long ago have been torn down or otherwise destroyed since their deaths. It may be that the cemetery and their old bodies are all the spirits have left here on earth.
Graveyards that are neglected, have many unmarked graves, or a history of vandalism are also excellent places to look for paranormal activity. Some ghost researchers believe that if a gravesite is disturbed the spirit can not rest in peace and will haunt the cemetery until the vandalism or disturbance is remedied.
Battlefields
Battlefields are a fantastic place to hunt for ghosts and experience paranormal activity. Many Civil War battlefields in the United States are the site of paranormal phenomena. Places such as Gettysburg, and Antietam are the site of many cases of documented ghost activity. Visitors to these battlefields have seen Civil War soldiers, heard cannon and gunfire, and even smelled gun powder while visiting.
It is easy to understand why these locations that have endured so much death and suffering contain so many cases of paranormal energy. Please respect these sites for what they are, hallowed ground.
Restaurants
Many restaurants which are located in older buildings are very active paranormal sites. Some of these buildings were used for many different purposes during their lifetime. Uses such as hotels, factories, hospitals, churches, and even funeral homes have led to paranormal activity in restaurants. Residual hauntings appear to be the most common type of haunting associated with these locations.
