| Signs that your House may be Haunted |
| First off, you need to figure out whether or not you have a legitimate haunting... Not all hauntings are alike, and they may exhibit a variety of phenomena, or a single phenomena. Here is a partial list of phenomena that might indicate your house is haunted. Unexplained Noises - Footsteps, knocks, banging, rapping, scratching sounds, sounds of something being dropped. Sometimes these noises can be subtle and quite loud at other times. Doors, Cabinets and Cupboards opening and closing - Most often, these phenomena are not seen directly. The person or persons experiencing, either hears the distinct sounds of the doors opening and closing. (Homeowners get to know the sounds of their house quite well) or the experiencer will return to a room and find a cabinet or door open or closed when they are certain that it was not left that way. Sometimes furniture, like kitchen chairs, are perceived to have been moved. Very rarely will the experiencer actually witness the phenomena taking place. Lights turning off and on - Likewise, these events are seldom witnessed, but the lights are switched on or off when the experiencer knows they were left the opposite.This can also happen to TV's, radios and other electronically powered items. Items disappearing and reappearing - This phenomenon also known as "The Borrowers" phenomenon, and it's the familiar experience of not being able to find a regularly used item - say, your set of car keys - Which you believe you placed in a spot you routinely place them, only to find they are missing and you search everywhere and you still cannot locate your keys, like they were borrowed temporarily for a short period of time, then you find them in an obvious spot that you have already searched. Sometimes, the object may stay missing for days or weeks. Unexplained Shadows - The sighting of fleeting shapes and shadows, usually seen out of the corner of the eye. Many times, the shadows have vaguely human forms, while at other times it is less distinguishable. Strange animal behavior - A dog, cat or other pet behaves strangely for no apparent reason. For instance, a dog suddenlly refuses to enter a room it normally would or barks at nothing. Cats may seem to be "watching" something cross the room. Animals have sharper senses than humans, and many researchers think their psychic abilities may be more finely tuned. Feelings of being watched - This is not an uncommon feeling and can be attributed to many things, but it could be a paranormal source if the feeling consistantly occurs in a particular part of the house at a specific time. Mild psychokinetic phenomena - Hearing a door open and close is one thing. Actually seeing it happened is quite another. Similarly, actually seeing a light go on and off by itself is greater proof that something unexplained is happening. Do you see the radio or TV turn on by itself? Are you present when a child's powered toy begins to operate on it's own? Doors and windows are locked or unlocked by unseen hands. Some people have reported that when they are in bed they can actually feel something or someone sitting on the bed. Feeling of being touched - Some people feel something brush past them, something touching their hair or a hand on the shoulder. Others claim a gentle poke or nudge. Cries and Whispers - On occasion, muffled voices, whispering and crying can be heard. Sometimes it's music playing from some unknown source People hear their names being said. This phenomenon, as is true for the one above, gains more credibility if more than one person hears or sees the same thing at the same time. Cold Spots - Cold spots are classic haunting symptoms, but any instance of a noticeable variance in temperature without a discernable cause could be evidence. Unexplained smells - The distinct fragrance of a perfume or cologne that you do not have in your house. This phenomenon comes and goes without any apparent cause and may accompany other phenomena, such as shadows, voices or psychokinetic phenomena. Foul odors can happen in the same way. Moving or levitating objects - Dinner plates sliding across the kitchen table, pictures flying off the walls, doors slamming shut with great force; furniture sliding across the floor. Physical Assault - Scratches, slaps and hard shoves. This kind of personal assault is extremely rare, but obviously highly disturbing. Other physical evidence - Unexplained writing on paper or walls, handprints and footprints. Apparitions - Physical manifestation of a spirit or entity. This phenomena are also very rare and can take on many forms; human-shaped mists or forming mists of some indistinguishable shape, transparent human forms that disappear quickly, and most rarely, human forms that look real and solid as any living person, but that disappear into a room or even while being viewed. Rule out Rational Explanations A person who has experienced some of these phenomena might have cause to believe that his or her house is haunted. But, maybe not. In fact, according to most experts, probably not! The human mind and human senses are easily fooled. People can often mistake explainable (if unusual) occurences in their homes for paranormal. Before you decide there's a ghost in your house, or move out from fear, do your best to find out rational explanations for what you are expereincing. Virtually all of the symptoms listed above could have perfectly natural causes. * Noises could be the house settling, plumbing or even animals such as mice or squirrels. * Opening and closing doors could be faulty hinges or caused by drafts. * The Borrower's Phenomena could be just plain old forgetfulness or carelessness. * Shadows could be just that - shadows caused, perhaps, by a passing car's headlamps. * As real as some of these things might seem to you, they really could have or be a product of your imagination. Keep a Journal If you feel you have ruled out all the rational and natural causes for the phenomena taking place in your home, and they are still occuring on a regular basis, document them. Keep a jopurnal of the phenomena as they happen. If you hear unexplained noises, attempt to record them with a portable tape recorder. If there are physical phenomena, try and capture it on film using a camera or video recorder. Call The Experts If you are still convinced your house is haunted and you have ruled out any logical explanations of the phenomena you are experiencing, then an experienced Paranormal Investigator might be who you need for answers. There are hundreds of paranormal investigation organizations across the United States and Canada. You can find information on obtaining a paranormal investigator here at StatebyStateListings. Despite whatever strangeness you are experiencing, your house probably is not haunted. But if it is, any number of the Paranormal Organizations is more than qualified to handle such phenomena. And maybe it is a benign spirit or phenomenon that you can live with. Usually, it is something you need not fear. Article by: Stephen Wagner - http://paranormal.about.com BACK |