Investigating with Intention

After recently posting about Ouija boards, I found myself thinking about intention, both in spirit communication and in paranormal investigations. Tools like Ouija boards and tarot cards are often feared or misunderstood, but I do not believe they are inherently dark. What matters is the intention behind how they are used, especially when you are entering a space where paranormal activity or hauntings may already exist.

Prefer to listen? This Field Notes entry is available as an audio recording below.

This week, I found myself reflecting on that idea more deeply. A Ouija board is not inherently evil. A deck of tarot cards is not inherently dark. They are simply tools. What matters is how they are used and the intention that is brought into the experience.

The same applies to paranormal investigations.

When we walk into a location, especially in places like Macon, Georgia, where many historic homes are not heavily investigated, our intention is always grounded in respect. We are not there to provoke. We are not there to force activity or to prove something for the sake of a camera. We already believe there are spirits present. That is not the question for us.

The question is, how do we approach them?

Is there something they want to share?

Is there something they need?

Is there any way we can be of service?

I have found that when we enter a space with that intention, the energy feels different. There is a sense of calm. A sense of openness. It creates the possibility for trust to develop over time. Especially in locations where the spirits may not be familiar with investigators, equipment, or even the idea that someone is trying to communicate with them.

That trust is not immediate. It is something we earn.

And intention plays a significant role in that process.

There is also something that continues to come up in conversations within the paranormal field. The idea that like attracts like. That what you seek, you invite.

If someone approaches an investigation with the intention of capturing something dramatic, proving something, or actively seeking out something dark, that intention can act as a signal. Almost like a beacon.

You find what you are looking for.

And in some cases, it may find you.

I have even been cautioned by others in the field to be mindful of curiosity around darker topics. Not just in investigations, but in what you choose to engage with. The idea being that even attention can create a connection.

Whether or not that is always true is something I continue to reflect on. But the principle behind it remains important.

Intention matters.

Not just in paranormal investigations, but in life.

What we focus on, what we seek, what we open ourselves up to, has a way of shaping what we experience. If we are looking for something negative, we often find it. If we are grounded in something more positive, more open, more respectful, that tends to guide the experience in a very different direction.

For me, that is why intention is not something to take lightly, especially when stepping into a space where the veil feels thinner.

Before we walk into any location, there is an awareness.

A quiet check in.

Why are we here?

What are we bringing into this space?

And are we prepared for what may respond?

Because when you open that door, whether through a tool, a question, or simply your presence, you want to be very clear about what you are inviting in.