Michelle Bays recently sat down for an interview with Suite101.com
An Experience Unlike Any Other
Paranormal Investigator and Founder of the Twin Cities Paranormal Society (TCPS) Michelle Bays has had quite a number of unusual experiences in her day. From hearing disembodied voices, to hearing doors slam, from shadows darting to and fro about the room, to having her hair pulled, Bays has had an array of experiences that may actually frighten many individuals.
And Bays is not alone.
After seeing her first full body apparition at the age of eleven Bays began her study into things that could not easily be explained.
"From that point on I read and studied all I could about ghosts and other various subjects of the paranormal to try to understand what it was I saw and why I saw it," Bays said.
Bays then says she began doing her own unofficial investigating eight years ago taking cameras, flashlights, and voice recorders into supposedly haunted places to see what she could capture. In 2006, a year after Bays moved from Virginia to Minnesota however, she realized the need for a paranormal team in the Twin Cities. It was at this point that Bays, along with Lisa, a former co-founder, put together what is now known as TCPS. After starting with over one hundred members the group has finally formed into ten dedicated members who are desperately searching for answers.
Not Exactly What You See On TV
Although shows such as Ghost Hunters or Paranormal State are often interesting Bays admits that most of the time they can be quite over-dramatized.
"A lot of paranormal investigating is truly just sitting around in the dark talking to what may or may not be there. Sometimes you get lucky and catch a few disembodied voices or unexplainable video clips, but most of the time you get nothing," Bays said.
Although the search for the paranormal does not always result in spooky happenings Bays admits that TV shows like Ghost Hunters have opened the door for paranormal investigating to become more accepted.
"I remember when growing up you just didn't talk about things like that with anyone- and if you did most people thought you were crazy," Bays said.
A lot has changed since then however, now Bays says when she mentions she is in a paranormal group people will often relate to her or tell her their own experiences.
"People always have an experience to share, whether their own or a story from someone they know," Bays said.
Joining the Hunt
It takes more than a love and interest in the paranormal to become a ghost hunter although these certainly do help. Bays admits that just being a fan of the television shows featuring paranormal investigators won't cut it. Those interested in being an investigator first have to fill out an application and be interviewed eventually being chosen on their qualifications and what they may bring to the group as a whole. Then, what Bays calls the "newbies" must go through a three to six month probationary period.
"This may seem like a long, drawn out process for just a paranormal team but I only want the best of the best and that includes someone who is professional, respectable, and one with the rest of the team," Bays said.
Safe Hunting
Bays and her team members have a number of rules that they must follow when investigating as well. According to Bays members are not allowed to trespass to research an area, they must always ask permission to enter an area or be asked themselves to do the investigation. Members are also never allowed alone in an area to be able to validate other personal experiences and also to ensure safety in a given area.
TCPS also are safe when it comes to jumping to conclusions.
The team uses their best judgment to both investigate and review evidence of the paranormal. According to Bays TCPS always looks for normal, natural causes first when capturing evidence, anything that they cannot explain afterwards then falls into the paranormal field.
Even though Bays and her team use a variety of precautions before, during, and after an investigation Bays admits that there will always be skeptics when it comes to ghosts.
"Typically it is not until someone sees a ghost or experiences the paranormal on their own will one be willing to entertain thoughts of the afterlife. Seeing truly is believing!" Bays said.
If you need help with the paranormal or want to find out about TCPS visit their website: http://twincitiesparanormalsociety.com/
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