Direct vs. Non-direct Contact/Communication

The big dispute, as some have called it.  Direct contact is usually referred as someone using themselves as a tool to make a direct contact or link with an entity/spirit/paranormal energy.  This involves a very good understanding of how to communicate, how to close off communications, & how to protect oneself.  Typically tools such as Ouija boards, Séance Agents, certain forms of Tarot, & some regular Agents fall into this category as they require an operator (someone to communicate through).  There are those who believe that this form of contact can be not only bad but also very dangerous.  Using a tool that invokes/provokes a spirit/entity/energy to use oneself opens a portal that may not be easily closed.  This is not to say that all people believe it bad. 

There are some who have researched & protected themselves in many ways towards the use & understanding of these tools.  They have trained or been trained properly to communicate through these tools using themselves as a portal & know how/when to stop.  There are many recorded cases where amateurs who have used these tools & were not knowledgeable enough about them have been hurt, abused, or even died.  Some groups believe that this is an evil way of trying to gain a scientific approach (where there are no scientific means available) in contacting/provoking the paranormal world.

Non-direct or Indirect contact is kind of the opposite.  Typically these tools are things such as disclosed Agents, Recorders (audio/video), Dowsing Rods, etc.  These are items that allow someone to record or contact the paranormal world without becoming part of the tool.  In the case of disclosed agents, whether they can hear, see, or speak with entities, spirits, or energies, they do not during an investigation.  They typically record all the information seen, heard, or felt & then relay that information back to the investigating group.  This keeps them from influencing others or incorporating themselves into a haunt or paranormal situation outside the scope of scientifically investigating.  Much like how audio/video recorders record the information to be reviewed, a disclosed Agent does the same with notes (written or mental) outside of the investigation or during a review.  Tools, such as Dowsing Rods & simple Tarot Cards designs, are designed to channel, seek, & find paranormal activity or energy, but they do not directly involve the person using them as an agent.

Note: It is the view of most Paranormal Investigators, that forms of direct connect are not permissible during an investigation. That is not to say that we do not acknowledge their uses or capabilities, only that we feel these forms of contact can lead to: a greater misunderstanding/confusion or a potentially bad scenario for the investigation, investigators, or others who may be present.