Dowsing for Spirits and Ghosts
A good paranormal investigator should consider both scientific and spiritual, or metaphysical, methods to locate and document anomalous activity. Scientific data is important for documenting phenomena because it can offer hard evidence that paranormal activity has occurred, but often a metaphysical method may be employed first in order to guide the investigator to an area where the greatest chance of scientific documentation exists. Two methods of dowsing for spirits and ghosts that an investigator may find useful are the use of a pendulum, and the use of an oak dowel.

Pendulums
The pendulum has been an object of spiritual interest for centuries. A pendulum is essentially any balanced, weighted object suspended from a chain or a string. Pendulums are often made from brass, chrome, lathed wood, coins, or crystals, and suspended from everything from gold chains to simple hemp twine. 

There are several ways to dowse for ghosts with a pendulum. Try hanging the pendulum in a suspected area, from a solid base like a doorway, a window frame, or a tripod. In this fashion the pendulum can act as a ghost detector by alerting you to a ghostly presence with its movement. Another method is to suspend the pendulum in your hand and move slowly through a suspected area, feeling for the pendulum to pull you in a particular direction, and following it. This can be very effective, as the pendulum’s pull will grow stronger as you reach an area of activity.

Oak Dowels
A simple piece of oak can be very effective in locating ghostly activity. The shape of the oak can be a rounded dowel, a rectangular block, or even a wedge shape, as long as you can balance it on your finger. The older your piece of oak is, the better it will likely perform. To use the oak in dowsing for ghosts, extend your index finger, and hold it parallel to your chest, as if pointing to your side. Balance the oak across your finger. A bit of practice may be needed to walk around balancing the oak on your finger without it falling off. As you move slowly through a suspected area the oak will move, and point to the left or right, or even up and down stairs. Follow the oak and as you approach the strongest areas of activity its movements will increase in intensity. At times of heavy activity the oak may even flip, or seemingly jump off of your finger.

Summary
I have found that the pendulum works best in a large general area, and the oak dowel works well in a smaller specific area. I once found a hidden compartment in a banister post by using the oak dowel method. In the interest of good investigative technique, these dowsing methods should be tested thoroughly to determine their usefulness to you as an individual.

[Ron]