Howcast

How to Be a Hot Mess

Howcast — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 04:01:47 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Figure out your size Figure out what your ideal dress size is, then squeeze into clothes that are 2 sizes smaller than that.
Step 2: Dress carefully Wear your bottoms low and your tops high so you’ll always have a muffin top, even if you’re not overweight. Pair ripped pantyhose with hot pants and always wear shoes too high for you to walk in gracefully.
Step 3: Find a hairstyle Find a hairstyle befitting a hot mess. Choices include clip-on extensions that don’t hide the clips very well, a fried perm, a mullet, a reverse mullet, or hair bumped up 3 inches at the crown.
TIP: To be a really hot mess, combine 2 or more of these hairstyles.
Step 4: Wear the right makeup Wear the right makeup: non-waterproof mascara, blue eye shadow, and lip liner darker than your lipstick. No need for foundation thanks to your tan: either lie in a tanning bed until your skin is the texture and color of well-done bacon, or pile on the fake stuff that turns you orange.
Step 5: Drink to excess Drink too much. Lose your lunch in public. Swear you’ll never drink again. Repeat the next day.
Step 6: Put it all together Master any one of these steps and you’ll be a hot mess. Put them all together and a whole new hot mess category will have to be invented for you.
FACT: “Hot mess” is believed to have originated from the image of a steaming dog pile.

You Will Need

Tight clothes
Bad hairstyle
Tacky makeup
Tan
Alcohol

How to Celebrate Mischief Night with Halloween Pranks

Howcast — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:08:07 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Annoy the neighborhood grouch Annoy the neighborhood grouch — you know, the one who turns off all their lights on Halloween to avoid giving out candy — by lavishly decorating their property so they attract hordes of trick-or-treaters.
Step 2: Play invisible string Head to a heavily trafficked walkway with a friend and take up positions opposite each other. Squat down and pretend you’re holding a string between you. Enjoy watching everyone lift their legs dramatically to avoid getting tangled up — in nothing.
TIP: TIP Post “GET YOUR BEST CANDY HERE” signs on nearby trees and signposts, pointing to their house.
Step 3: Send a scary message Write a menacing message on someone’s bathroom mirror with your finger, breathe on it, and then let it dry naturally. The next person to shower will see the message when the mirror fogs up — hopefully eliciting more screams than a horror movie. Happy Mischief Night, and enjoy those Halloween pranks!
Step 4: Perplex people Go to a parking lot and slip a note under people’s windshield wipers that reads: “I’m sorry I hit your car.” Enjoy the show as drivers circle their cars again and again looking for damage.
Step 5: Scare as a scarecrow Dress up in the costume of your choice and sit outside your home like a harmless lawn decoration. When early-bird trick-or-treaters walk up, spring to life and scare the bejesus out of them.
FACT: In some parts of the United States, October 30 is called “Cabbage Night” because throwing rotten heads of cabbage or smearing them on windows was once a common practice.
TIP: Place a carved, hollowed-out pumpkin over your head to help hide your face.

You Will Need

Paper and pen
Halloween decorations
Costume
Partner in crime
Poster paper (optional)
Pumpkin (optional)

How to Be a Supervillain

Howcast — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 04:01:06 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Find a nemesis Find a superhero to despise, and vow to obliterate them. After all, what’s a supervillain without a superhero?
Step 2: Acquire your own powers Acquire superpowers of your own by stealing advanced technology from the government, nurturing your genius intellect, or subjecting yourself to a gene-altering radioactive accident.
Step 3: Name yourself Give yourself a menacing name, ideally one that exemplifies your particular brand of evil or references your tragic past. “Bob” just ain’t gonna cut it.
TIP: 1-word monikers and alliterative names are easy to remember.
Step 4: Develop an evil plan Develop an evil plan for the destruction of your enemy superhero, followed by world domination. Get the details down now — it will come in handy when you repeat the whole dang story to the captured superhero just before you kill them.
Step 5: Set the trap Set a trap for the superhero. Kidnapping a loved one or threatening to reveal their identity is always a good way to get their attention.
Step 6: Have a plan B Once you have the superhero where you want them, have a plan B. Because while you insist on boring them with the details of how you outsmarted them, they’ll no doubt get away.
FACT: An alternate costume created for Spider-Man instead became his archenemy, Venom.

You Will Need

Superhero
Superpowers
Menacing name
Evil plan
Trap
Plan B

How to Be a Superhero

Howcast — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 04:03:05 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Power up Develop an amazing ability. Hang out near DNA-altering devices or animals, travel to a planet with a different sun, or have mystical beings imbue you with incredible gifts — whatever turns your regular powers into superpowers!
TIP: If you can’t develop superpowers, develop a super body and carry incredible gadgets.
Step 2: Dress up Wear a form-fitting costume that lets you move with ease and shows off your super assets. Cover your face so you can avoid autograph hounds and lawsuits during off-hours.
TIP: Have distinct public and superhero personae so no one suspects your secret.
Step 3: Battle foes Find super-powered archenemies, criminal masterminds, and unsavory characters to defeat. If a villain is especially tough, join other superheroes and fight together for truth, justice, and headlines.
Step 4: Be flexible Work for a company that monitors news or builds secret weapons to keep up with criminal activity. Keep a flexible schedule or make your own hours so you can race to the rescue before it’s too late!
Step 5: Do unto others Adhere to a strict moral code that keeps you on the side of good. If you find yourself getting corrupted, refer to a tragic moment in your past for guidance.
Step 6: Hide away Build a secret hideout or headquarters to escape the great responsibility that comes with great power; even superheroes need a place to get away.
FACT: In 2010, a copy of Detective Comics No. 27 from May 1939, in which Batman makes his first appearance, sold for $1,075,500.

You Will Need

Superpowers
Costume
Villians
Flexible schedule
Moral code
Secret headquarters
Incredible gadgets (optional)
Super friends (optional)
Tragic past (optional)

How to Be like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Howcast — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 04:02:13 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Be fearless Be fearless: Lisbeth Salander doesn’t take crap from anyone. And she’ll risk her own life to save a friend.
Step 2: Take up kickboxing Take up kickboxing; it’s one of the skills that helps Lisbeth be a badass.
Step 3: Be a computer whiz Lisbeth is a genius hacker, so brush up on your computer skills to be like the girl with the dragon tattoo.
TIP: Avoid Lisbeth’s penchant for disregarding privacy laws.
Step 4: Express yourself Embrace all forms of self-expression. In Lisbeth’s case, that means multiple tattoos, including a dragon tattoo, and multiple piercings — how you present yourself to the world is up to you. The point is to not let society dictate how you should dress or look — or what gender you should sleep with.
Step 5: Be skeptical Have a healthy mistrust of people. Keep up your guard until you know someone is trustworthy.
Step 6: Avenge wrongdoing Forget the motto, “Living well is the best revenge.” For the girl with the dragon tattoo, getting revenge is the best revenge.
FACT: The children’s book character Pippi Longstocking was an inspiration for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo heroine Lisbeth Salander.

You Will Need

Courage
Kickboxing skills
Computer training
Caution
Vengefulness

How to Find & Get Rare Candy

Howcast — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:46:24 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Write a list Write a list of the candies you are looking for so you don’t forget one of your childhood favorites.
Step 2: Search the internet Search the internet for sites that specialize in retro and rare candy. There are several companies that specialize in finding old-time favorites.
Step 3: Visit a candy shop Visit retro-themed candy shops. You can find information about shops in your area on the internet or through friends.
TIP: Call before going if you don’t want to browse the shop’s selection to find what you want.
Step 4: Research the manufacturer Find out the name of the company that manufacturers the candy you’re looking for and get their contact information.
Step 5: Call the manufacturer Call the manufacturer directly. They may be able to supply you with a list of retailers that carry what you want, or you may be able to order directly from them.
Step 6: Make an order Order your sugary treats and get ready to chow down on the snacks that bring back so many happy feelings from your childhood.
FACT: Necco Wafers, which are hard, disk-shaped confections, were carried into battle by Civil War soldiers.

You Will Need

List of candies
Internet access
Telephone

How to Throw a Pumpkin Destruction Party

Howcast — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:16:28 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Decide on a location Decide on a location; any good-size backyard will do. Or consider asking town leaders about organizing a community event at a local park.
Step 2: Invite people Inform guests of the date in advance of Halloween so they keep their pumpkins. Arrange to pick up any from friends who can’t attend.
Step 3: Get WMPDs Gather weapons of mass pumpkin destruction, like hammers and slingshots. If you have an outdoor wall, designate a part of it for pumpkin hurling. Or let people drop pumpkins from a high place, like a balcony or ladder.
: Make sure young children are supervised at all times.
Step 4: Feed your guests Serve snacks and beverages, or have a barbecue. Ask guests to bring their leftover Halloween candy.
Step 5: Collect the pumpkin parts Once all the pumpkins are smashed to smithereens, collect the pieces and toss them into your compost pile, or divvy them up among the guests. No compost? Bury them in your garden. Just be sure there are no stray seeds — unless you want to grow your own pumpkin patch!
FACT: Pumpkins are fruits, not vegetables.

You Will Need

Pumpkins
Location
Hammers
slingshots
or a wall
Party food
Halloween candy
Composts

How to Win a Costume Contest

Howcast — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:03:44 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Know the categories Know the categories of the costume contest and how it will be judged.
TIP: Find out which costumes won in previous years.
Step 2: Get ideas Brainstorm ideas for your costume. Choose a costume that is appropriate to the contest and choose a character that is familiar to others.
Step 3: Ask for opinions Ask friends and family for their opinions on which costume choice to wear.
Step 4: Set up a budget Set up a budget which includes the costume, make-up, accessories, and jewelry.
Step 5: Get into character Get into character as you get dressed and make your costume come alive.
Step 6: Interact Interact with audience members before the contest and get them to cheer you on.
Step 7: Win the contest Play the part, have fun, and win the contest.
FACT: In 2008, Elvis Presley’s peacock jumpsuit costume was sold at auction for $300,000.

You Will Need

Information
Ideas
Opinions from friends and family
Budget
Costume
Acting skills

How to Conduct a Seance

Howcast — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:05:55 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Set the mood Set the mood by dimming the lights and turning off any electronic devices, like the TV or stereo. Light the candles and set the food offering out on the table.
Step 2: Select the medium Select a person to act as the medium to lead the seance. They should have seance experience or psychic ability. Then decide on the spirit you wish to summon.
TIP: The spirit may be a departed relative or loved one or any deceased person you wish to connect with.
Step 3: Gather round Gather everyone around the table and have them hold hands to form an unbroken connection throughout the ceremony.
Step 4: Chant Chant in unison to summon the spirit of your dearly departed. The exact words are up to you.
Step 5: Wait for response Wait for a response from the spirit. If the medium indicated for the spirit to tap in response, listen for it. Repeat the chant until a response is made clear.
Step 6: Ask questions Ask the spirit questions, and indicate you would like the response of one tap for no and two for yes. The spirit may also speak through the medium, in which case you may ask anything you like.
TIP: End a seance if anyone gets upset or the medium appears out of control. Break the circle of hands, blow out the candles, and turn on the lights.
Step 7: Finish the seance Finish the seance when all questions have been asked, thank the spirit for appearing, and tell them to go in peace. Blow out the candles and turn on the lights.
FACT: Did you know? The word seance comes from the French word for “sit” or “assemble.”

You Will Need

Three candles
A food offering
A round table
A medium
A spirit to summon
Three or more participants

How to Tell Scary Stories

Howcast — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:03:09 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Invent “what-if” scenario Invent a “what-if” scenario that seems impossible to solve and terrifying to face. Describe closed rooms, dark hallways, and sudden obstructions or tests for the hero.
Step 2: Choose characters Choose a protagonist who resembles your audience — someone their age, belongs to the same group, or shares one of their names. Manufacture a spooky or evil villain, alien, or monster who has flaws that the hero can exploit to defeat them.
TIP: Don’t make it so scary that kids are frightened to sleep alone or be in the dark.
Step 3: Try a modern twist Try a modern twist on a classic scary storyline. Use basements instead of caves or limos instead of horses and carriages. Select eerie details that convey the smell, taste, touch, sound, and vision of the story.
Step 4: Let good triumph Maintain a theme of good triumphing over evil and insert lessons throughout about universal values of kindness if you’re telling your story to kids. The hero’s success should come from virtue or strength.
Step 5: Bring story to life Keep the story short, well paced, and dramatic. Tell the story in a whisper, and raise the volume and intensity of your voice as the situation dictates. Act out character parts using different voices.
TIP: Get creative and prepare the story ahead of time with props like sheets, hats, sound effects, and music to bring the story to life.
Step 6: Involve them Involve your audience by asking what they suppose happens next and change direction to insert surprising and frightening reversals.
Step 7: Listen to them Listen in the days after to what they recall of the scary story, which reveals what was effective and what has to be cut, sped up, replaced, or refined. If done right, they will want to hear it over again, and again.
FACT: A quarter of British parents polled in 2009 complained that traditional fairy tales contained politically incorrect references to dwarfs or unnecessarily scary, dark, or outdated elements.

You Will Need

“What-if” scenario
Protagonist
Modern twists
Details
Values
Pacing
Drama
Acting skills
Twists
Listening skills
Props (optional)

How to Conduct a Paranormal Investigation

Howcast — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:30:58 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Think logically Think logically about the situation. If you heard a crash in the basement, could it be the cat? Is your house settling? Did your water heater just take a giant gulp? If you can’t seen to find a logical answer for the activity, begin your investigation.
Step 2: Research Research the activity, as well as the area where the activity is taking place.
TIP: Your local library will most likely have some great historical information about your house, who has lived there, the lot, and the area of the town where you live.
Step 3: Conduct interviews Conduct interviews with potential witnesses, previous house residents, neighbors, and local historians. Be careful not to lead the interview subject into saying what you want them to say.
Step 4: Gather your equipment Gather the equipment you will need to conduct an investigation. You will need a camera, a video camera, an electromagnetic field, or EMF detector, an audio recording device, and flashlights.
TIP: Make sure you are familiar with the equipment and know its capabilities. Digital cameras may create orbs or an audio recorder could producing popping and hissing noises, invalidating your evidence. If you know this in advance, it will save you time.
Step 5: Conduct a walk-through Conduct a walk-through prior to the actual investigation. Get everyone together to walk through the environment and talk about what they see. Make sure everyone is comfortable and ready for the actual investigation.
Step 6: Prepare for the investigation Prepare for the investigation on the date planned. Get all of your equipment together and gather everyone together.
Step 7: Record everything Record everything during your investigation: meter readings, curtains blowing, investigator reactions, shadows, equipment malfunctions — everything. It’s hard to prove something without cold, hard evidence.
Step 8: Respect your subjects Respect the paranormal. If you believe this is a ghost or spirit of some kind, it’s best to be respectful.
Step 9: Compile the evidence Compile the evidence after the investigation and try to use it to come to a solid conclusion about the event. Keeping the evidence organized is crucial to a successful investigation. If you’re prepared, cautious, organized and respectful, chances are you’ll get to the bottom of things!
FACT: Since 1536 the ghost of the infamous Queen of England and second wife of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, has been spotted 30,000 times in 120 locations, gaining her the title of most sighted ghost.

You Will Need

Witnesses
Camera
Video camera
EMF detector
Audio recording device
Flashlights
Local library (optional)

How to Detect Paranormal Activity

Howcast — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:01:26 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Check the appliances Check whether your appliances frequently turn off and on. This goes for your lights and television, too. It’s thought that paranormal energy can drain the energy when it passes an electrical source.
Step 2: Watch for strange occurrences Watch out for unexplained occurrences in your home: items being moved from one spot to another, doors opening and closing, or strange noises and voices. These are all signs that you may have an uninvited visitor.
Step 3: Test your theory Sprinkle baby powder on a baking sheet and place it in the area where you suspect paranormal activity is taking place. Leave it alone, and check back to see if there are changes in the powder.
Step 4: Measure electromagnetic activity Use a compass to detect electromagnetic activity. Hold it near the paranormal occurrence. If the compass points a direction other than north, you may have found your haunter.
TIP: If you want to get fancy, pick up a professional electromagnet activity detector, called an EMF detector.
Step 5: Listen to the ghost Listen to the paranormal activity by placing potato chip bags around the house, or suspending a bell to a string and hanging it near the activity. Wind chimes will also do the trick.
TIP: You can also use a tape recorder to tape both the activity and its response to the detection device. It will help you prove your case later.
Step 6: Ask the dog Pay close attention to areas of your home your pet focuses on. Household pets are thought to be an excellent source of paranormal detection. No matter which method you use, if you find paranormal activity, you’ll have an answer for those mysterious occurrences.
FACT: W. Campbell is credited with taking the first spirit photo in 1860. His intention was to simply take a photo of an empty chair, but upon development, he found a ghostly image of a small boy in the photo.

You Will Need

Electrical appliances
Baby powder
Baking sheet
Compass
Potato chip bags
Bell
String
Wind chimes
Pet
EMF detector (optional)
Tape recorder (optional)

How to See Ghosts

Howcast — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:31:07 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Find a ghost-hunting group Find a local group of people interested in paranormal research.
Step 2: Research Research locations that are likely to be haunted. Talk to friends or family members who have had paranormal experiences in their homes. Investigate places in your community that are known for being haunted.
Step 3: Talk to the police Talk to the police and ask them about places that have gotten complaints about strange activity.
Step 4: Use camcorders Use camcorders with night vision or infrared technology to record paranormal activity.
TIP: Invest in a thermal imaging camera to spot cold and dark spots in the nighttime.
Step 5: Be safe Travel in groups and stick together. Avoid unfamiliar, questionable neighborhoods.
Step 6: Obey the law Obey the law and don’t trespass. Spotting a ghost can be a memorable experience, but it isn’t worth jail time.
FACT: According to a 2007 poll, one in three Americans believes in ghosts.

You Will Need

Membership in a ghost-hunting group
Research
Camcorder
Thermal imaging camera (optional)

How to Tell a Ghost Story

Howcast — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:01:13 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Find a good setting Your story won’t work if you’re shouting over street noise or basking in a bright, sunny day. If you want maximum scare impact, find a spot that’s dark, quiet, and secluded, and pick a time when you won’t be interrupted.
Step 2: Understand the basic structure Whether it’s about a vengeful spirit or a stalking serial killer, ghost story structure is simple. We meet the hero, who has a problem. The hero’s attempts to solve the problem unwittingly upset the bogeyman, who takes a lengthy ironic revenge. The story ends with the bogeyman still out there somewhere, possibly very nearby…
TIP: When you know this basic structure cold, play with it a little to find out what works for you.
Step 3: Make it personal Make it personal. Say the story happened to the friend of someone you know, or fill in the specifics with places and names familiar to your audience. In other words, if you’re in the woods, your story should be set there, too — and the characters should be a lot like your listeners.
TIP: Make your specifics sound familiar and believable, so the listeners can easily imagine the story happening to them.
Step 4: Build suspense Start your story with a quiet, casual attitude. As you work towards the scary climax, ratchet up the suspense by increasing — or decreasing — your speed and volume.
Step 5: Be presentational If you’ve got a flare for the dramatic, now’s the time to break it out. Give each character a different voice and mannerism, and don’t be afraid to use your body.
TIP: Work props into your performance, like shining a flashlight under your chin or flashing a hook hand at just the right moment.
Step 6: Make contact Target someone a little jittery. When your performance hits its scariest peak, make quick physical contact with that person. Watch your audience jump a foot in the air.
FACT: One of the most popular and widespread ghost story themes involves phantom or disappearing hitchhikers.

You Will Need

The right setting
Practice
An active imagination

How to Check Your Kids’ Halloween Candy

Howcast — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:01:21 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Don’t let kids eat until back home Ask your kids not to eat any candy they receive until they get home. Let them take along some candy from home, so they won’t be tempted to dig in.
TIP: Consider alternatives to walking door-to-door—many malls, town halls, businesses, and schools give out Halloween candy so kids don’t have to knock on strangers’ doors.
Step 2: Throw out anything not in original wrapper When your kids get home, immediately throw out anything that isn’t in its original sealed wrapper.
Step 3: Inspect remaining treats Inspect the remaining treats. If you see any tears, puncture holes, or loose wrappers, don’t take chances—just throw them away.
Step 4: Throw out homemade treats Inspect fruit carefully.
TIP: Homemade treats should be thrown out unless you know the person who baked them.
Step 5: X-ray candy or replace If you’re still worried, you can ask your local hospital or care center if they X-ray candy on Halloween night… or go the much easier route: just toss it and replace it with candy you’ve bought yourself!
FACT: Dentists say eating Halloween candy all at once is better for children’s teeth than spacing it out over a long period of time.

You Will Need

A trick-or-treat bag
Some candy
A good eye for detail

How to Get the Most Halloween Candy

Howcast — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:01:22 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Wear a great costume Buy or make a great costume. No one likes to give candy to kids who think they’re too cool to dress up.
Step 2: Hit the streets early Hit the streets early, when everyone is fully stocked. You’ll also be first to the houses where people leave out bowls of candy for you to indulge in “on your honor.”
TIP: Trick-or-treat in small groups. Gangs of children make homeowners worry that they’re going to run out of candy, so they distribute accordingly.
Step 3: Smile Always say “trick or treat” with a smile. Sure it’s cheesy, but it’ll get you candy. Complimenting the homeowner on her decorations helps too.
TIP: If candy matters more to you than your integrity, carry an extra bucket and say it’s for a sick friend or sibling.
Step 4: Empty pail into larger sack Empty your pitiful little pail into a larger sack every few houses. People are more generous if you arrive almost empty-handed. Stash the sack in your bike basket or with your adult chaperone.
TIP: After emptying your bucket, hit up the good candy-givers again by simply slipping on another mask.
Step 5: Be excited Be excited! Tell everyone they’re giving out your favorite candy; that way you won’t seem greedy when you ask for more.
Step 6: Don’t eat as you go Resist the urge to eat as you go. Serious collectors know they can’t cover as much distance with a belly full of sugar.
FACT: Halloween began in the Middle Ages, when beggars collected cakes on All Hallows’ Day in exchange for praying for the dead.

You Will Need

An awesome costume
A small candy bucket
A large durable bag
preferably drawstring
A strong adult or a bicycle with a basket
An extra mask or costume
An extra bucket

How to Fight Off a Vampire

Howcast — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:02:02 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Wear garlic Discourage the undead from wanting to bite you in the first place by wearing garlic around your neck; the pungent bulb is thought to repel vampires because it deters their blood-sucking cousins, mosquitoes.
Step 2: Throw seeds If a vampire is approaching you, spill a bag of millet, seed, or rice in front of it. According to both Eastern European folklore and Chinese mythology, it will be unable to resist counting each and every grain, giving you time to escape.
Step 3: Head for daylight If possible, expose the vampire to the sun; maneuvering it into sunlight is a sure way to finish it off.
Step 4: Toss holy water Toss holy water at it. The challenge here is that you need a lot — a few sprinkles won’t do it.
Step 5: Drive a stake Time to come in for the kill. Take a stake made of ash, oak, or cedar and drive it straight through the vampire’s heart and into something that will pin it — like the wall, the floor, or its coffin.
TIP: In Macedonia, they forego the stake and just drive a nail through the vampire’s navel.
Step 6: Cut off its head Once you have the vampire pinned, take an ax and chop off its head.
TIP: Boil the head in vinegar; that’s they way they finish off the undead in Crete.
Step 7: Incinerate it Once it’s decapitated, make a big fire and toss both the head and body into it. Poke them around until they’re reduced to a pile of ashes.
Step 8: Dispose of the ashes Throw the ashes into some water and rest easy, knowing the undead is undone.
FACT: In modern-day Romania, vampire killing — that is, digging up a dead relative believed to be one of the undead, cutting out their heart, burning it to ashes, and drinking those ashes mixed with water — is illegal but still practiced.

You Will Need

Garlic
A cross
Rice
grain
or seeds
Lots of holy water
A stake made of ash
oak
or cedar
An ax
Matches
Some water
A nail
Some vinegar

How to Get Rid of Ghosts

Howcast — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:01:49 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Talk to it Be confident, firm, and polite, and talk to your ghost. If you can live with it, detail what you’d like it to stop doing. If not, use the same respectful tone of voice to tell it to leave.
TIP: Ask the spirit if it wants something. Ghosts may need to pass on information before they can leave.
Step 2: Smudge your home Smudging is a way of purifying your home with smoke from a bundle of burning dried herbs — usually sage. Fan the smoke so that it touches every surface, including the exterior and any pipes or wires that might feed into or out of your house.
: When burning herbs, don’t bring them too close to flammable surfaces. Hold them over a metal tray, be wary of sparks or embers, and keep a fire extinguisher handy.
Step 3: Clean After smudging, air out your house and give it a thorough cleaning. Pick a sunny day and open all the windows. Wash the walls, clean the drapes, and scour, scrub, and vacuum every nook and cranny.
Step 4: Sweep With a steady rhythm, sweep the entire house with a broom made from natural fibers. Start with the outer areas and work inward, and sweep the entire pile out the front door. Take the broom outside, soak it in water, and allow it to dry before bringing it back into the house — or just burn it.
Step 5: Light candles Light a white candle in each room, and state out loud that the flame will protect and purify your home. Then tell the ghost again that it must leave. Do this in every room.
Step 6: Try hematite If you’ve really got to break out the big guns, try hematite, a rock known for its ability to dispel negative energy and ward off spirits.
Step 7: Take a religious tack If you’re a religious person, try using holy water to bless your home. Stand at each window or doorway, dip your fingers in the holy water, and let it flick off your hand as you make the sign of the cross. In more severe cases, ask a priest or minister for help.
Step 8: Try not to freak out No matter what, paranormal experts advise that you try not to freak out — that only feeds the ghost. Keep your cool, carry out your game plan, and that sucker’s as good as gone.
FACT: Al Capone claimed to be haunted by James Clark, a victim of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929.

You Will Need

Courage and determination
Cleaning supplies
A sage bundle
a fan
and a fire extinguisher
A natural-fiber broom
White candles
Hematite
Holy water
A priest or minister