What should a beginner know before their first investigation? It is not as "action packed" as they want you to believe on any tv show. (and .02% of hauntings have anything to do with 'demons'. Also, be sure to go around and get baseline readings, if you are able to, using EMF detector and digital thermometer. • What tools actually matter and which ones are noise? As Destiny said, avoid all phone apps. they are for entertainment only. Digital EVP recorder, cat balls, flashlight, EMF meter are the basics. As you go on, you could start down the rabbit hole of buying equipment - Start with eBay... Ghost Stop is a good place for more expensive equipment. I bought a decent REM pod from Amazon around Christmas time. • What mistakes do new investigators make early? Thinking that they're going to get 'groundbreaking evidence' right away. • How do you protect yourself mentally or emotionally? Grounding is essential. Also create an energetic boundary. You can say "I call in my Angelic team for protection. Surround me with white light. Nothing may enter my energetic field." If you feel "off" in any way, step away from the situation, go outside and get centered again. I also recommend smudging - lighting sage and waft the smoke around you. You don't want anything following you home, believe me. • What’s one thing you wish someone taught you sooner? Can be very long nights, with not much happening. And a LOT of data collecting.... You have to listen VERY carefully to (possibly) hours of digital recordings - I had an investigation a few years ago, we were there from Friday night to early Sunday morning. I was lucky, as I was able to get an EVP, all of 16 seconds of it, after listening to about 30 hours of recordings. And yes, you COULD do it alone, but I would not recommend it. Too many risks involved going into any abandoned place by yourself... Trust your intuition. If something feels wrong, listen.

@Dr. Melissa Partaka Yes. I ALWAYS felt a presence when walking up the stairs. Would hear stomping footsteps, doors opening and closing. Things disappearing, but reappearing again right in the spot I just looked. Also saw a face staring at me from my attic window, and so did the friend I was with... and 3 friends and I saw a full-bodied apparition.

@Dr. Melissa Partaka at times it was scary. But it was pretty much normal.

1. Would you rather hear footsteps behind you or see a shadow figure in the corner of your eye? I have heard footsteps, and have seen shadow figures, out of the corner of my eye, and head-on. 2. Would you rather see spirits clearly or hear them speak? I would rather be able to see them again. they already speak to me. 3. Would you rather hear children laughing or a deep voice whispering your name? um. neither one of these. I heard children laughing once. middle of the night. abandoned cemetery in the middle of nowhere. 4. Would you rather work with skeptics or work with a highly sensitive intuitive? I am a highly sensitive intuitive, so I would rather work with them. I have been on a few teams already, most of which were filled with skeptics.

@Destiny Godden If you need any guidance with this, I am more than available!