Living with ghosts
Are you living with ghosts? Most people who’ve lived in older homes, or stayed in a vintage hotel or inn, have encountered a ghost or two.
For many of us, the ghost becomes a companion or–after awhile–seems like a member of the family. The ghost leaves the family alone, and they leave him or her alone. Except for the occasional fleeting glimpse of the ghost, or something slightly odd reminding you that the ghost is there, living with a ghost becomes “normal.”
As long as the ghost isn’t territorial or malicious, or prankish (waking people up at night), you can probably share your home with him or her, comfortably.
At Hollow Hill, we talk out loud to the ghosts. They’ll usually respond favorably to requests that are made in a normal tone of voice, talking to them as if they’re a friend who’s visiting your home and needs to know the “house rules.”
Before doing anything else, talk to your ghosts. You may have to remind them of the rules more than once. But, most spirits respond to polite (but firm) requests.
After awhile, you’ll probably forget that your home is haunted.
If that’s not enough – short-term help for hauntings
Some places are too haunted to live in. The Myrtles Plantation is one of them.
On a recent visit, the only way that I could document The Myrtles’ hauntings without interruptions, was to put my shoes side by side, pointing in opposite directions. (See photo at right)
That successfully paused the manifestations for a few minutes, so that I could jot a few notes about what was happening.
(I have no idea why such a silly folk remedy works, but it does.)
That can solve a short-term problem at an inn or hotel.
But, if you want to continue living in a house that’s “too haunted,” that may not be enough.
Space clearing in haunted houses
For problem cases, we recommend space clearing. It’s a very simple process.
If you’re going to try this on your own, I recommend a book like Space Clearing A-Z : How to Use Feng Shui to Purify and Bless Your Home
I use Lillian Too’s Feng Shui Space Clearing Kit
(You can use Feng Shui tools without believing in the spiritual aspects, the same as you can benefit from yoga as exercise, without practicing an Eastern religion.)
However, in a pinch, you could vacuum (hoover) your entire home. Be sure to vacuum every corner, especially near the ceilings, whether they’re dusty or not. According to space clearing experts, the noise plus the electrical energy seem to banish ghosts.
Likewise, any incense can work, as long as it gets into every corner in every haunted room.
If you’re afraid of ghosts
Generally, ghosts don’t hurt people. Poltergeists can cause mischief. They may throw things at you, or push you when you’re walking. However, there is no real evidence of a ghost killing someone.
However, if you are truly frightened, don’t stay in the house. Visit friends or family, or check in to a local hotel for a couple of days.
(After a few good nights’ sleep, the situation may look much better.)
If none of these remedies help, we recommend John Zaffis, author of “Shadows of the Dark.” He’s had years of experience with frightening hauntings, and he knows how to work with malicious spirits such as demons.
(We get nothing for referring people to John Zaffis. He’s a friend, and we’d trust him if we had problems beyond our expertise.)
Or, if you’ve recently moved into a house that’s too haunted, you may have legal options. See our article, Buying or selling a haunted house – When to see a lawyer.
Tell us about your encounter with a ghost!
If you have lived in a haunted house, or if you’ve encountered a ghost at a restaurant or hotel, or on a ghost tour, we’d like to hear from you. Use our contact link, above.
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I’ve had several encounter with ghosts. I have never told anyone for the fear of being ridiculed. I have told my niece Samantha recently.
My very fist encounter was when I rented a three story home from my aunt (who bought it but never looked at it) She lives in California and the house is in Washington. I just turned 17. After a week after moving in, on a nice summer day I went down to the basement where I had my band equipment set up. There were two rooms I have never been in. there doors were closed and wasn’t that curious yet. anyway, I noticed tiny wet footprints trailing from the outside door to one of the rooms. Now, my curiosity hit it’s peak. Why would a child be in my house. I went to the door and listened through the wood of the door. Nothing. I then quickly swung the door open. I said loudly, “Who’s in here?” With no response, I flicked my lighter looking for a light switch. After locating a switch I found the light had no bulb. The room was pretty small with nothing in it, not even a child. I looked at the concrete floor where I first saw the footprints. They were still visible but evaperating quickly. I checked the outside door and found it was locked from the inside. I have never been outside that door let alone the overgrown back yard.
Evreything was quiet and saw nothing else like that for a couple days. Then when I came home from working as a dishwasher at a caf’e, I noticed my T.V. was on. I checked the house and noone was there, nothing was taken so I didn’t report it to the police. That night while sleeping, I was awoke by the beating on my drums in the basement. As I approched the basement door off the kitchen Someone was definatly beating on my drum set. I quietly opened the door and creaped down the stairs. The stairs were walled so I couldn’t see anything until I got to the bottom and around the corner. Once I reached the bottom step, the drums stopped beating. I looked everywhere and noone was there.
I’ve talked to a few people about the past people that lived in that house. Never about a ghost ar anything like that. Someone told me that the last people that owned the house lost there 7 year old daughter to a drowning in the pool that was in the back yard. and moved out a few months later and sold it years later.
I didn’t even know there was a pool in the back yard. It was so overgrown I didn’t really see anything.
Ok…Now I know there was a ghost of a child named “Katline” in my house. Now when something happened that I didn’t do, I’d tell Katline to knock it off. or something like that. Not everything she did. If beating on the drums wasn’t bothering me I’d just let her have a blast. Or let her watch TV of whatever she changed the channel to.
The ghost never hurt noone or anything. I didn’t see any reason to excerise my home or have a priest bless it. Living alone would be pretty lonely toward the evenings, so I’d talk to her as if she was right there and as a living person. “Katline, how was your day?” I’d tell her about my day. Maybe tell her some corny joke I heard that day.
Anyway, that was my first Ghost encounter.
Rich
i get woke up frequently and see a shape in my room most of the time it is next to me or coming closer to me, sometimes i see it as a white cobweby form in the shape of a being a few other times i have seen what looks like lights and they are over me or coming closer to me, i also see dark figures in fact i had a dark figer staring at me last night, i always wake, now i dont take drugs or drink so it cant be to do with anything like that, now as i see several different sort of shapes etc is it possible that the house is not haunted it is me attracting them, over twenty years ago a medium did tell me that my mother who she didnt know had died had said that i should be trained to be a medium as i have it in me, do you think i might just be mad or am i actually seeing things, i must admit it does scare me as i wake and see things.
Tina, The first thing to do is talk with someone in your town who is a priest or minister. It doesn’t matter if you go to that church (or even believe in it), you must rule out the possibility of something spiritual and dangerous.
I’m hearing far too many reports that sound troubling. I’m not sure what’s going on, but it’s smart to check with a professional and be sure nothing dangerous is in progress.
He or she may refer you to a doctor, to rule out medical issues, too. That’s normal. A lot of this begins with a “process of elimination” approach.
The sooner you get answers, the sooner you’ll be able to sleep without worrying.
Sincerely,
Fiona
Tina I’m not a phsyic-but I lived in haunted house (or haunted area) in the 80′s for almost 3 years. Not knowing much about ghosts or the paranormal-I was pretty much overconfident as far as not worrying about anything. Everybody in the household saw or heard or smelled something. I agree, to make sure its not a harmful situation-I would seek the help of some professional who is familar with the paranormal to help you out. True, everybody is safe-now-but the house and others-the whole community-we lived in a rental-is now gone. It took me about 10 years to get up the courage to learn about ghosts,etc. Hope you will do the same. Sharon
This comment is for Tina. Hi I am Melissa, reading your comment I was some what relieved to hear someone else with the same problem. I would have thought I was going Mad as well, which is why I record a lot with my ipod. In doing this I have been able to prove I am not going crazy. lol It is very bothersome though. I also hear them talking. Just like you sometimes it is white lights and other times a dark shadow. I prefer the white light. It helps me to read the Bible out loud. Try Psalms 91-94 that usually gets rid of them for a short time. Also pray and tell them In the name of Jesus Christ you can not stay here you must leave. Good luck also stay away from tarot cards and Quiji boards it’s an open invitation.