There are many paranormal investigators who strongly believe that their main purpose is to find trapped spirits and help them cross over. I am not one of those people and I often get push back from these individuals when we try to discuss investigation processes. So, I want to take a moment and explain why I don’t make freeing trapped spirits a priority of my investigations?

1. We don’t know anything concrete about the space in which these anomalies reside. We don’t know how they move between spaces, how many spaces exist, or even if there is a space to move-on to. If I don’t know anything about where they are now or where they might go, why should I tell them where to go? 
2. What gives me the authority to tell anyone where to go or what to do with their life and/or afterlife? Perhaps someone is still processing their trauma and unwilling to move on at this point? What if they enjoy the space they are in now? What if they are afraid of what comes next? All of these questions make me more apt to try to talk with whoever is present and give them an opportunity to find their own answer. 
3. We don’t get to tell anyone how to feel about their situation, living or dead. While I do not condone harmful acts, when dealing with angry spirits I want to understand that anger and find alternative ways for anger to be expressed. The same can be said of grief, depression, sadness and so on. I strive to listen, be empathetic, and always curious while doing as little harm as possible in every situation. 
4. I don’t know how time is perceived by these individuals/spirits. Maybe they have been in a location for over a hundred years but they perceive it has only been moments or vice versa. I cannot push my perception of “time to move on” onto someone when I cannot fully comprehend what their time looks like. 
5. What if the spirit has already crossed over but can go wherever they like and just pops into a certain location from time to time? Can you even cross over someone who has already been crossed over? 
6. What if all we are encountering is a residual memory of a person and there is nothing to be moved on? 
7. Maybe they aren’t dead and maybe we are glimpsing the past. In that case, “crossing them over” won’t accomplish anything. 
8. For those who believe in a higher power, I would ask you to consider if it is your responsibility to transition spirits or is this something that is better left to someone with a better understanding of the situation? Perhaps the process is part of the greater plan. 

Ultimately, I believe that our place in this entire situation is to learn and better understand what may or may not happen next. I strongly believe in the power of empathetic listening and conversing in a way that allows people to explore their situation and make their own choices.I cannot decide what is best for anyone but I can let them explore their options. Maybe during the conversation, we both learn something about what it is like to be human and what comes after we die. You don’t have to agree with me, just accept that we have different ways of approaching those we may encounter during an investigation. 

Until next time, Happy Hunting!