Rituals: When should we utilize them on our ghost hunts, and what makes "Seven: The Mystery of Jacques" different than "Dweller"?

On this episode of Paranormal Lens, we touch base on rituals: when, if ever, should they be utilized on our ghost hunts? The conversation uses our recent film "Seven: The Mystery of Jacques" as well as last year's film "Dweller" (winner of Best TV/New Media Feature at the MidWest WeirdFest) to help articulate our points. We discuss what makes "Seven: The Mystery of Jacques" different than some of the past rituals we've been a part of, as well as reveal what "Dweller" got wrong."Seven: The Mystery of Jacques" is now streaming on PARAFlixx: https://paraflixx.vhx.tv/seven-the-mystery-of-jacquesGEMINI SUMMARY: This episode of Paranormal Lens dives into the nuanced topic of rituals in paranormal investigations (0:00). The hosts, Ben, Angela, and Brienna, explore when and if rituals should be used during ghost hunts, differentiating their approach from others in the field. Key discussion points include: The Rarity of Rituals (3:01): The team generally agrees that rituals are rarely needed in typical investigations, estimating that 99.9% of interactions are with human hauntings. Defining "Ritual" (8:45): The hosts discuss the broad definition of a ritual as a ceremony with specific actions and prescribed meanings, noting that even ghost hunting tools like a spirit box could be considered a form of ritual. Human vs. Inhuman Entities (3:37): They debate whether most hauntings are human or if a significant portion could be non-human entities like demons. While Angela suggests a 50/50 split, Ben and Brie lean towards a heavy proportion being human. The Dweller Film and Summoning (10:31): Ben shares insights from their film Dweller, explaining how the ritual depicted became problematic when it shifted from a metaphorical understanding of an entity to an actual summoning. He emphasizes that he does not condone summoning or conjuring entities. The Seven: The Mystery of Jacques Ritual (24:51): The team discusses their new film, Seven: The Mystery of Jacques, and the ritual performed. They clarify that this ritual was for "elevated communication" with an entity already present within a haunted object (Jacques), rather than summoning something new. This distinction is crucial for Ben. Preparation and Intention (32:09): All hosts stress the importance of thorough planning, clear intention, and understanding every aspect of a ritual, rather than performing spontaneous ones. Brie's Perspective and Limits (42:10): Brie, having a religious background, shares her stricter limits, including not using Ouija boards and being wary of actions that "open doors to something we don't fully understand." The episode concludes with the consensus that not every investigation requires a ritual, and such situations are rare, often presenting themselves when appropriate rather than being sought out.