Paranormal Pursuits: Dustin Pari talks ghost hunting and positivity

The last time I was with ghost hunter Dustin Pari, we were sitting in the attic at the Lizzie Borden house in Fall River. All the lights were out, sans Pari’s computer screen and the device he held in his hands to help spirit voices come through. After some garbled sounds poured out of the speaker on the box, a loud voice rang through, yelling, “I’M A DEMON.” As the rest of the paranormal enthusiasts in the group gasped, Dustin rolled his eyes, sighed and said, “No you’re not, stop playing around. They do that sometimes…” That’s the kind of guy Pari is, he keeps his cool, he inspires those around him, and just happens to work with ghosts every now and then.

Pari came to be interested in the paranormal when he was a child and saw a “shadow figure,” a large shadowy mass in the shape of a person. He began researching paranormal New England stories and legends and eventually became a paranormal researcher. As his interest grew, he began watching “Ghost Hunters,” where the RI-based The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) got its start. He immediately felt drawn to it, and after a few emails and meetings made it onto the show. A local boy through and through (Dustin grew up in PVD and works in Warwick and Attleboro, Mass), he’s mostly known now as that spiky-haired guy from “Ghost Hunters” and “Ghost Hunters International.” With these shows Pari traveled all over the United States and 23 countries in search of the paranormal. The scariest thing that ever happened to him? “There was a time at Castle Houska over in Europe that was rather strange. I found myself alone in the top floor of the castle with a dark shadow staring me down from the far corner. It lingered motionless for 10 or 15 minutes before darting across the back wall of the room and through the window.”

After working on both shows for the better part of a decade, Pari returned to his day job, but when it comes to the local ghost scene, he still knows where it’s at: “There are some groups here in li’l Rhody that help homeowners, some that hold event investigations, and some that do a good mix of the two. Places like the old Slater Mill and such are usually specifically active and accessible, especially this time of year.”

He also has great advice for all of you paranormal enthusiasts out there: “If you want to get into this little hobby, please know that it can be very challenging and enlightening. It’s best to do your research. Read, read, read! Be sure to seek out multiple sources and cross reference to eliminate nonsense. Keep it honest. Keep it simple. Keep it fun. If you lose the passion, move along — same as with anything or anyone else.” He also reminds everyone, “…the spirit world is a very real place. Don’t believe everyone and everything you see on TV, and don’t allow obvious nonsense to discredit what you know in your bones to be true.”

Pari still does work in the paranormal, traveling to give lectures and appear at paranormal conventions. This fall he’ll travel across New England (and other parts of the country) speaking about the spirits, as well as the history of Halloween. He also has written five books and works as a motivational speaker, appearing at schools and other organizations to try to spread a message of positivity. He has his own YouTube channel where he hosts a show called, “Hey, Got a Minute?” where he posts 2- to 3-minute videos about a variety of topics, all meant to bring a smile to your face. Season two of the show is set to drop in January. And continuing his message of positivity, he’s a huge advocate for suicide awareness — he raised more than $6,000 this year for the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk in Boston.

Overall, Pari just wants to remind people to be positive, which I half suspect is from his experiences with the spirit realm, but have come to believe is just who Pari is. As we ended our interview I asked if he anything he wanted people to know, and he said, “It’s okay that the world can be a mess. It’s okay for you to make mistakes. It’s okay to feel like you’re falling apart. Just know that you’re not alone. Things get better. Keep your eyes on the horizon and just try to go forward in love and kindness a little more each day. You’ll get there. We all will. And I’m here to help.”

For more information, including Dustin Pari’s speaking schedule, go to dustinpari.com.