1. If the spirit gives you creepy responses ("When will I die?" . . . "Today!") or starts to knock furniture over and toss vases across the room, quickly tell it to go in peace, break the circle of hands, extinguish the candles, and turn on the lights.

2. If, for any reason, things start to get out of control and the medium can't seem to handle it (look for spastic movements - you don't have to wait until green gunk starts spewing from the medium's mouth), have a designated pinch-hitter. Command the participant to quickly tell the spirit to go in peace, break the circle of hands, extinguish the candles, and turn on the lights.

3. After you're done with all your questioning, end the sance by thanking the spirit for its time and telling it to go in peace. If you don't thank the spirit, it may feel miffed by your lack of manners and refuse to come when you try to call it again in the future. And if you don't tell the spirit to go, it might see that as an invitation to stay awhile. Then break the circle, extinguish the candles, and turn on the lights.

4. Record the events of the sance immediately (on paper if you weren't already taping it). Have each participant write down his/her point of view. If you plan on holding sances regularly, a sance log will help you remember all the little details of what occurred during each meeting. The log will serve as proof that you not only managed to talk to a ghost, but several other people were there to witness it.

SoYouWanna know more? Check out our full-length article SYW hold a seance?