What to Do If You Think Your House is Haunted
If you’re starting to get the feeling that you and your family are not alone, there are steps that you can take to be safer and find peace of mind. Many phenomena, originally thought to be the creations of ghosts, end up with a perfectly reasonable explanation. Begin keeping a journal consisting of pertinent information such as when you moved to the house, what rooms the phenomena are occurring, and so forth. Keep a record of occurrences that you think have no reasonable explanation. Log the date, time, phenomena and witnesses.
Some common things that others who have had ghostly experiences claim to have witnessed include lights and electronics turning themselves off and on, household items disappearing and reappearing, various unexplained noises, usually footsteps, knocking, scratching or banging sounds, shadows or smoky images, sudden pet or animal behavioral oddities, and eerie feelings of being watched or followed.
Some things to examine before seeking help are the electricity, plumbing, floor boards and other household things that could be causing noises and other “anomalies”. Perhaps you have small wild animals in the attic. Maybe tree branches are scratching against the roof. There are many ordinary things that can seem extraordinary when you’re alone in the dark. Scope out your house and make sure it’s secure.
Research the house history. The internet makes this task a little simpler, but still, it’s a daunting task in some cases. Check archived newspapers, city directories, the chain of title transfers, building permits and court records to find out if there were ever murders or suicides in the home, nearby graveyards, or if the home was a previous slave house, jail, or mortuary. If so, document these facts to put in your journal.
Do not attempt to rid yourself of ghosts without help. Don’t get out the Ouija board and try to solve the mystery, or you could find yourself facing even greater dangers. Some people report that after screaming at the entities, challenging them, cursing them or trying to rid the house of them, the entities’ activities become more obvious, more frequent, and more frightening.
There are organizations that will come to your home, if they believe by the facts in your journal that your home may be haunted, and set up cameras, lights, recording devices and other ghost-finding equipment. Usually the cost is absorbed by donations that are made by others.
Upon actually documenting unexplainable noises, shadowy figures, or items moving about the place, you have several options: call in a priest to bless the house and clear out any evil. This plan usually won’t work if you aren’t Catholic or if you simply don’t believe. Call in a paranormal investigation team to further investigate. Usually a meeting is held with these experts to discuss possible options for helping the lost to find the light.
Prayers, seances, one-sided conversations with the dead, and other means are used to encourage the ghost to pass on to the spiritual world. Sometimes these methods help and sometimes the ghosts remain. Many of these experts don’t charge for their services, or live strictly on donations by the family. Do a little research of your own before calling a well-recognized spirit guide.
Some families pack up and move away from the home, never to be troubled again. Others find that after moving to a new location, the ghosts have simply come along for the ride. In the latter case, a paranormal investigation team is a must. Once the entities have followed you, there’s seemingly no escape until professionals are called in to rid you of them once and for all.
Although some people will scoff at the idea of a haunted house, and others will never experience anything like it, for those living with entities, it can be a frightening and debilitating experience. You don’t have to cower alone, though. Call the “ghost-busters” and you’ll, hopefully, begin to see the light of day once again.
