Find yourself wondering whether you live in a haunted house? Here are the common signs – and what to do about them…
Not everyone believes in ghosts, spirits and the paranormal. But are there strange goings-on in your home that you sometimes can’t explain? One possible conclusion could be that it’s haunted…
Alison Wynne-Ryder, a psychic medium, believes there’s a few easy ways to tell if your house is home to spirits. And before you think that it’s only old buildings that can be haunted, think again.
With the release of the new Ghostbusters film starring Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, take a look at how you can tell if your home is haunted...who you gonna call?
What type of buildings can be haunted?
“Although most people you ask would say old properties – or buildings that house many people, such as prisons, hospitals and castles – the reality is that any property can be haunted, even a modern one,” says Alison.
“However, the likelihood is that more old properties tend to have a ‘haunted feeling’ about them, as they have more history and habitation than newer buildings.”
What feelings would I have in a ‘haunted’ property?
• Feelings of being watched or spied on.
• Feelings of someone standing close behind you.
• Feelings of being touched by unseen hands.
• Feelings of the hair on back of your neck standing up.
• Feelings of cobwebs on your face or body.
• Feeling a cold breeze as if someone has walked past you.
• Dark depressing feeling, especially in one particular location.
• Feelings of someone standing close behind you.
• Feelings of being touched by unseen hands.
• Feelings of the hair on back of your neck standing up.
• Feelings of cobwebs on your face or body.
• Feeling a cold breeze as if someone has walked past you.
• Dark depressing feeling, especially in one particular location.
What are the signs that a building is haunted?
• Lights turning on and off, or up and down, on their own.
• Light bulbs blowing frequently.
• Sounds of items being dropped – but when you go to investigate, there is nothing there.
• Seeing unexplained shadows from the corner of your eye.
• Strange behaviour from pets in the property: e.g. dogs barking or growling at something you cannot see, cats staring in a particular area as if they can see someone.
• Hearing voices of people, whispers, or someone calling your name.
• Seeing twinkling lights, mists or unexplained moving shapes.
• Sudden temperature drops, especially in one area of the property.
• Light bulbs blowing frequently.
• Sounds of items being dropped – but when you go to investigate, there is nothing there.
• Seeing unexplained shadows from the corner of your eye.
• Strange behaviour from pets in the property: e.g. dogs barking or growling at something you cannot see, cats staring in a particular area as if they can see someone.
• Hearing voices of people, whispers, or someone calling your name.
• Seeing twinkling lights, mists or unexplained moving shapes.
• Sudden temperature drops, especially in one area of the property.
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How do spirits enter a house?
“They can 'reside' anywhere, but there are some traditional beliefs that
the spirit enters and leaves through the chimney,” says Alison. “I know through
experience that if they want to enter a house, they will enter wherever they
wish to – and don't always exit the same way.
“They don't necessarily confine themselves to one area, although if they
feel comfortable in a particular area, this will be where most of the activity
is felt – such as extremely cold spots, feelings of being touched and so
on.
“For example, there was a spirit boy in my own house a couple of years
ago and the sounds he was making seemed to come from within the walls. However,
the deep cold I felt was in the spare bedroom, where my grandchildren stayed
when they visited. He was drawn to them, making their toys go off on their own,
playing with them. During this time, he hid in the wardrobe until I drew him
close, communicated with him, and with the help of my medium friend, sent him
to the light.”
What should I do if I think my home is haunted?
Alison suggests keeping a diary of events to see if there’s a pattern
occurring of unexplained activity.
She also advises to think about when the strange goings-on started, and
if something had happened around that time that could be attributed to the
activity.
[Read more: Fancy yourself as a
ghost buster? Try these 5 free spooky apps on your phone or tablet]
“For example, did someone 'play' with a oujia board, did you stay in a
haunted house or castle, or visit an old graveyard?”
“If your home is indeed haunted, this will not go away of its own accord
- it will get worse,” says Alison. She advises calling a reputable medium with
‘spirit rescue experience’ to see what they feel or sense, and give you advice.
“If there is a spirit stuck in the home, they will attend with another
medium (or two, in case one of them is overshadowed by the spirit) and
communicate with the spirit, hopefully sending it to the light.”
Alison Wynne-Ryder is the author of The Quirky Medium.
Is your home haunted? Share your
scary tales in the Comments box below.
Ghosts – are they really all that
bad?
We asked Alison why spirits are considered evil…
“Ghosts – or spirits as I prefer to call them – often get a bad rap
because of the chaos they cause in terms of unexplained activity around people
and in the home or place of work.
“When a spirit is stuck between two worlds (they didn't go to the
light), they can also affect the personality of someone in the house and even
make everyone feel depleted of energy.
“When I was co-host
on the TV show Rescue Mediums, one family had to flee their home because their
daughter had completely changed in character - the nasty spirit who had
attached itself to her was making their life hell.”
