Our semi-sort-of-sideways Mission Statement:

Part of the problems that today's paranormal investigators have is in the very nature of our appointments.  We work at night (the majority of the time,) we work in anonymity to protect the very people we work for, and we work in our spare time with little, if any, recompenses. We (paranormal investigators) are hard working individuals, dedicated to the work and discovery of things that are not considered normal (by the public) and not considered prove-able (by the scientific world.) Because of this we remain peers to none but others like ourselves. 

We have day jobs. (It's worth repeating. We have day jobs. ) We are like anyone else with a passion for say, music, art, computers, religion, trains... name your joy. Some of us are married or have significant others (who have incredible patience with our late hours and strange headphone habits, or, in the case of S.P.I.R.I.T. we are lucky enough to have shared passion for this and follow this merry path together) and/or we have children or other responsibilities that we must take care of. We can't quit our day jobs and do our work as we often wish we could. The Para-Pied-Piper does not play for us. (Fortunately for us, eh? Because don't they all fall over a cliff in one of the variations of that myth?)

We are interested in the energy that we encounter. Is it psychic energy? Is it spiritual non-human energy? Is it truly energy from the dead? Or is it frayed wires in the wall? Combinations of these possibilities and more?  This, then, is the true study of what many para-investigators do, and what we try to encompass here at S.P.I.R.I.T.   Since we believe there are many types of explanations for different types of phenomenon, we believe we need to use all the tools we can to try to explain them, and if unsuccessful at that attempt, to try to capture the evidence as best we can until the day comes that explanations are available. 

There are no degrees in this field. We don't care what anyone says,  this research is currently not even considered for funding, grants or other financial opportunities. You will probably never, ever get rich at this in and of itself.  (So, ok, G&J, we feel the self deprecating smiles as you read this) but the fact of the matter is, unless groups around the world get their stuff together and preserve and present it in the most clinical light, in the best manner possible, explore their trials, errors, successes and failures and open this to review to others, this field will sadly only remain leveled in the entertainment fields, or the morbidly curious annals of history.  Yet, that being said, the incredible surge of interest, availability of information and the coverage from shows like SciFi's "Ghost Hunters", or shows like "Spooked", "Dead Famous" and "Haunting Evidence" all bring validity and substance to the field. "Paranormal State", (a show byA& E about our friends at Penn State University who have worked long and hard to bring respectability and exposure to this line of work,) along with the aforementioned shows and others like them, may well bring the dearth of funding or acknowledgement for this field of research to an end. So we plod along, doing what we do, and share the info. It helps us all in this field to uphold the standard and also walk the talk. We at S.P.I.R.I.T. have worked with, conferenced with and in other ways networked with people from the shows mentioned above, and fully support and applaud their work and their efforts and their initiatives. They are rewarded for their talents in writing, public relations, willingness to sacrifice their anonymity and their personal lives for the education of others, their willingness to travel to speaking engagements, and the sacrifices that go along with that.  Their successes are essentially our successes, and maybe, someday, the payoff will be recognition of the field of paranormal research in ways that are not available today.

Many times we hope to save the historical places that are huge resources for us, and if our work helps stop the demolition ball then it is well worth our efforts. Since we believe energy is simply that: energy, we know that destroying (or allowing to go to ruin) a location of activity does not destroy the energy that was there. It may simply cause that energy to relocate elsewhere. Keeping the original location open helps keep the energy and phenomena where we can safely study and keep the research going. We also seek to give validation to the dead, if such a thing exists. Imagine, if you will, that there is intelligence out there trying to be heard, acknowledged or validated, for whatever reasons there may be.  If so, we want to hear it, validate it, and perhaps give peace or some level of understanding.

That all being said: we therefore have zero interest whatsoever in faking evidence, and are not interested in fudging our results. If you got ghost, then fine, we'll tell you. If it is your faulty refrigerator that is making a buzzing noise at midnight, we'll tell you that too. If there's nothing there, nothing at all, we'll let you know.  If you want to find answers to the afterlife? We can simply let you know what we've seen, felt, captured and concluded, and let you take it from there.  In the end, it all boils down to what people need to believe for themselves.  We will not simply try to prove something is 'haunted'. Actually, the process is quite the opposite.  We take what we find and break it down, and document what we've got. Then we tell you what that is. If we cannot explain it or re-create it in natural or scientific ways, then we may decide that there is, indeed something paranormal going on. We will not do 'cleansings' or exorcisms however. If you want or need something like that, we have the connections to get you to the people you need to work with. We are the professionals in research, discovery and collection of evidence or information. We will leave the work (such as an exorcism) that may be indicated by our studies to the people who are well trained to do so and will help you get to that, if that is what you want.  "Ghost Hounds" (the name of a highly recommended group in Georgia) is an apt name. We'll bird dog for you. After that, if you feel you need the big guns, we'll let you know where to find them.

We put our evidence up here for you to hear, see and question or validate.  It's all part of the research. If you have questions, GREAT. Ask us. You want to see five more minutes before or after our clips to satisfy a question for yourself as you review our stuff? FANTASTIC. Shoot us an email, tell us what you think is really going on, and we'll check it out and send you what you want. It's all part of the research.  If we find that someone can successfully question or debunk something we thought was valid evidence? We'll add that to the case research and make that information available for viewing as well. We won't trick you or and we won't ever deceive the public. That only hurts the reputations of people who put their heart and soul into this, and we uphold those efforts of those hard working investigators with every thing we do.  It's one thing to bring recognition to the work (and hey, getting paid for doing THAT is just too cool) but it's another to actually charge someone that you are trying to help, and so we don't. Research institutions need money to keep their places running, so you may see us helping them out with our services, but you won't see us charge them for that. Our services to people who need our investigations are free. Period.  Throw us a Scooby Snack if you want, flip us a fin for gas if you are truly moved to do so, donate equipment, or give our names to philanthropists to help us out, but you don't have to panic and wonder if you can afford us. We're there for you.

We have nothing to sell, we have nothing to hide, and we're poor. Heh. So we have nothing to lose. Our reputations rest with our peers, and not with the majority of the world anyway. We don't want or need the publicity. Yeah, once in a while it's kinda cool. Personally, being known as the 'GhostMom' by the kids in school or being referred to as Venkman brings a smile to our faces. Say what you will, call us strange, but this isn't our first rodeo here. We've been doing this for a while, long before the glitter came and we'll be around long after it fades.  If we can lead by example so that others follow suit?  Uber bonus.

You'll know us by our efforts, our enthusiasm and our seriousness in the field and in the results. Not to mention by our charmingly pale complexions. (So, ok. We don't get a lot of sun in this line of work.)  If you need us, drop us a line. If you want to check out our work, then go for it. Let us know your thoughts.

~Society for Paranormal Investigative Research, Intuition and Technology~