I've caught an episode or two of Sci-Fi Channel's Ghost Hunters. It's pretty cool and they don't automatically assume that every little cold draft or odd reading is paranormal, which I appreciate.
But it does bring up a good question in my mind. More than one, actually. When do you call in a paranormal investigation team? And how do you pick a good one?
A very good question, and not as easy to answer as "where can I find a good plumber?" (Please pardon the thinly veiled Ben 10 reference.)
Well, I'd like to say that you should first see if they claim any affiliation with a church, but anyone can claim anything, especially on the net. Personally, I'd shy away from groups that use mediums or anyone who channels spirits. Channeling involves letting a spirit into your body and giving over some control to that spirit. The only kind of spirits I know about that are willing and able to do that sort of thing aren't the kind you want anywhere near your control circuits. If someone is willingly doing something like that then my first guess would be they're either faking or seriously deluded on the dangers they're in. Either way, I wouldn't trust them for accurate information.
A good indication that a group is worth looking into is if they recommend contacting a priest if the situation seems unmanageable. Of course, I'm Catholic, so I would find that a positive point.
As for when to start looking for a paranormal investigator, do you really think your house is haunted? There are some things you can look for yourself. Make sure you didn't just misplace your keys and that the kids aren't playing games with the furniture. Check for drafts. If the main symptom is noise in the walls make sure you don't have mice. Things like that. If you still can't find a natural explanation then you might want to call someone in to look for unnatural explanations.
And whatever you do, don't panic.
Showing posts with label haunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label haunting. Show all posts
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Piper of Duntrune
This story not only helped get me interested in the paranormal but also contains a little indirect family history. (The latter is probably part of the reason for the former.)
For a long time the castle of Duntrune was a Campbell stronghold. Probably not the branch of the Campbell clan I hail from, but Campbells nonetheless. Most likely this story involves the royal Argyll branch.
In any case, the Campbells and MacDonalds were at each other's throats as usual.
The story varies on how exactly the MacDonald piper became a prisoner of the Campbells. The way I heard it on the documentary was that the MacDonalds took the castle and left the piper there with a small garrison as the main force went on for more conquest. The Campbells came back, however, and took the piper prisoner.
The piper was still allowed relative freedom within the castle because of the status pipers carry. He took to pacing the battlements, wondering when he might do when his master returned.
Eventually, he saw his master's ship on the horizon, and not knowing what else to do he took up his pipes to play.
His master heard the song wafting over the waves and thought at first that his piper was playing to welcome him home. Then the song began to change and he realized the song was a warning to turn back.
Unfortunately, the Campbells realized this too and seized the piper. As punishment they cut off his hands and let him bleed to death. Then they buried him under the cobblestones of the courtyard.
The other version of the tale can be found at Ghosts and Paranormal UK. Here the piper is a spy that is discovered and imprisoned in a tower. Again he sees his master approaching and plays a tune saving his master but costing him his life.
Personally, I prefer the first version.
The ghost is still around even though the body has been found and given a proper grave.
The story was thought to be entirely made up until the renovations unearthed a skeleton without hands under the cobblestones.
There's no explanation for why the activity is still going on. Perhaps because the hands haven't been found. Maybe because he was given a Protestant burial instead of Catholic, since as a MacDonald he would have been a Catholic. No idea.
And what activities are there? Ghostly pipe music, moving furniture, clocks stopping (at the time of his death? I've never heard if there's a particular time when the clocks stop), and sometimes people see a man standing on the battlements of the castle holding a set of bagpipes.
And it was just such a touching story of loyalty. I pray that his soul finds rest.
For a long time the castle of Duntrune was a Campbell stronghold. Probably not the branch of the Campbell clan I hail from, but Campbells nonetheless. Most likely this story involves the royal Argyll branch.
In any case, the Campbells and MacDonalds were at each other's throats as usual.
The story varies on how exactly the MacDonald piper became a prisoner of the Campbells. The way I heard it on the documentary was that the MacDonalds took the castle and left the piper there with a small garrison as the main force went on for more conquest. The Campbells came back, however, and took the piper prisoner.
The piper was still allowed relative freedom within the castle because of the status pipers carry. He took to pacing the battlements, wondering when he might do when his master returned.
Eventually, he saw his master's ship on the horizon, and not knowing what else to do he took up his pipes to play.
His master heard the song wafting over the waves and thought at first that his piper was playing to welcome him home. Then the song began to change and he realized the song was a warning to turn back.
Unfortunately, the Campbells realized this too and seized the piper. As punishment they cut off his hands and let him bleed to death. Then they buried him under the cobblestones of the courtyard.
The other version of the tale can be found at Ghosts and Paranormal UK. Here the piper is a spy that is discovered and imprisoned in a tower. Again he sees his master approaching and plays a tune saving his master but costing him his life.
Personally, I prefer the first version.
The ghost is still around even though the body has been found and given a proper grave.
The story was thought to be entirely made up until the renovations unearthed a skeleton without hands under the cobblestones.
There's no explanation for why the activity is still going on. Perhaps because the hands haven't been found. Maybe because he was given a Protestant burial instead of Catholic, since as a MacDonald he would have been a Catholic. No idea.
And what activities are there? Ghostly pipe music, moving furniture, clocks stopping (at the time of his death? I've never heard if there's a particular time when the clocks stop), and sometimes people see a man standing on the battlements of the castle holding a set of bagpipes.
And it was just such a touching story of loyalty. I pray that his soul finds rest.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Animal Ghosts?
It's a popular plot device in fiction, certainly, from the 'rationally' explainable Hound of the Baskervilles to the somewhat New Age movie Ghost Cat.
And people in real life have claimed to have encounters with ghostly animals. Some may have no close connection to the storyteller, such as those who say that they've seen the ghost of England's last bear near Verdley Castle. Others have closer connects, such as those who say they've been visited by a much beloved pet.
This all makes for wonderful storytelling, but to me the veracity is suspect. For one thing, I'm Catholic and Catholic teaching is that animals do not have immortal souls. It is the immortal soul that is a ghost. Of the known creatures with a physical existence only humans have this.
Animals do have a spirit, but it is a temporal spirit that ceases to exist once the animal dies.
That isn't to say that something like an animal ghost couldn't exist, but it would probably be accompanied by human 'ghosts'.
What I'm referring to is emotional imprinting on an area. This is a phenomenon where there are such strong, violent emotions involved that what might be a called a recording of the event is left behind. If animals are involved then it seems reasonable to conclude that the image of the animals would be left as well.
These are not actual ghosts, however. Only images of an event. They can not interact and the sequence does not change.
And people in real life have claimed to have encounters with ghostly animals. Some may have no close connection to the storyteller, such as those who say that they've seen the ghost of England's last bear near Verdley Castle. Others have closer connects, such as those who say they've been visited by a much beloved pet.
This all makes for wonderful storytelling, but to me the veracity is suspect. For one thing, I'm Catholic and Catholic teaching is that animals do not have immortal souls. It is the immortal soul that is a ghost. Of the known creatures with a physical existence only humans have this.
Animals do have a spirit, but it is a temporal spirit that ceases to exist once the animal dies.
That isn't to say that something like an animal ghost couldn't exist, but it would probably be accompanied by human 'ghosts'.
What I'm referring to is emotional imprinting on an area. This is a phenomenon where there are such strong, violent emotions involved that what might be a called a recording of the event is left behind. If animals are involved then it seems reasonable to conclude that the image of the animals would be left as well.
These are not actual ghosts, however. Only images of an event. They can not interact and the sequence does not change.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Not all things creepy are supernatural: Ghost photos
One of the great mainstays of paranormal research, serious and otherwise, is the ghost caught on film. Usually that film is a set of still images showing a vague, misty shape, like a blob. Some are more spectacular. And much more scary.
There's a Video on YouTube that sets a slide show of such photos to appropriately creepy music.
But are they real? Any of them? I really can't say, though I would have to say that there's a pretty good chance that at least some of them are fake. (I'd even be willing to bet a few cents that most are.)
The thing is that ghost photos are very easy to fake. Particularly for an online audience. There's even a website on How to make a fake ghost photo.
It's really very complete, including such classics as cellophane over the lens and more high-tech Photoshop techniques.
The one they don't cover is the double exposure. This is great at getting ghostly effects, and I suspect the source of a lot of the photos in the above slide show.
There's a Video on YouTube that sets a slide show of such photos to appropriately creepy music.
But are they real? Any of them? I really can't say, though I would have to say that there's a pretty good chance that at least some of them are fake. (I'd even be willing to bet a few cents that most are.)
The thing is that ghost photos are very easy to fake. Particularly for an online audience. There's even a website on How to make a fake ghost photo.
It's really very complete, including such classics as cellophane over the lens and more high-tech Photoshop techniques.
The one they don't cover is the double exposure. This is great at getting ghostly effects, and I suspect the source of a lot of the photos in the above slide show.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Experience talks.
Hello to my tiny number of readers. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask you for your ghost stories. Personal experiences would be great. Secondhand stories would be good, too. Please keep it so something you have some reason to believe actually happened though. Please?
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Possession vs. Oppression
There is a very important distinction between oppression and possession when dealing with demons.
Now one thing I will mention right off the bat. As far as I know demons are the only spiritual entities capable of either of these attacks. I suppose angels are, since demons are simply fallen angels, but angels don't do these things as they are violations of free will.
Now, I suppose you may be saying, "Well, I know what possession is, what's oppression?"
Oppression is when a demon makes suggestions or puts thoughts in someone's head that wouldn't otherwise be there. Usually of a highly destructive nature. There isn't as much information on this sort of attack in popular works such as what's on the internet because it doesn't make for as sensational a story as full possession.
It is still dangerous.
With possession the demon must be welcomed in somehow. This can happen with seances or other forms of summonings and divinations. Or perhaps a request for power. I'd like to think it's rare for someone to knowingly let a demon into their body, but I really don't have any proof of this.
With oppression it's different. Anyone can be oppressed. It doesn't matter what you do. It doesn't matter how often you go to church. It doesn't even matter if your a priest.
Actually, it's likely that the holier you live your life the more likely it is that demons will try to oppress you. All of the saints have experienced this. Mother Teresa wrote about a time when it seemed God was not in her life. This caused quite a sensation after her death, but to me it wasn't so surprising. After all, in a war who do you try to bring down first but the best the enemy has?
That is what oppression is. The slow wearing away of defenses. Also to scare and disturb the target.
Having said all that, you may wonder how someone can be sure they are being oppressed, rather than just suffering from depression or having random thoughts.
Well, that's hard to say. I suppose in most cases you can't really tell.
There have been times when I'd pass a stained glass window or something else of great worth and have a mental image of me somehow destroying it. It always scared me a bit because I knew I'd never do something like that on purpose. At the earliest times oppression never occurred to me, but at that time I didn't know about oppression. Later I thought that might be it, but never said anything to anyone.
Maybe I should have. Maybe some of the fear would have been alleviated.
On a related note, while trying to find information for this post I found an interesting site that may be useful. It's called the Catholic Online Spiritual Warfare Education and Information Center.
Now one thing I will mention right off the bat. As far as I know demons are the only spiritual entities capable of either of these attacks. I suppose angels are, since demons are simply fallen angels, but angels don't do these things as they are violations of free will.
Now, I suppose you may be saying, "Well, I know what possession is, what's oppression?"
Oppression is when a demon makes suggestions or puts thoughts in someone's head that wouldn't otherwise be there. Usually of a highly destructive nature. There isn't as much information on this sort of attack in popular works such as what's on the internet because it doesn't make for as sensational a story as full possession.
It is still dangerous.
With possession the demon must be welcomed in somehow. This can happen with seances or other forms of summonings and divinations. Or perhaps a request for power. I'd like to think it's rare for someone to knowingly let a demon into their body, but I really don't have any proof of this.
With oppression it's different. Anyone can be oppressed. It doesn't matter what you do. It doesn't matter how often you go to church. It doesn't even matter if your a priest.
Actually, it's likely that the holier you live your life the more likely it is that demons will try to oppress you. All of the saints have experienced this. Mother Teresa wrote about a time when it seemed God was not in her life. This caused quite a sensation after her death, but to me it wasn't so surprising. After all, in a war who do you try to bring down first but the best the enemy has?
That is what oppression is. The slow wearing away of defenses. Also to scare and disturb the target.
Having said all that, you may wonder how someone can be sure they are being oppressed, rather than just suffering from depression or having random thoughts.
Well, that's hard to say. I suppose in most cases you can't really tell.
There have been times when I'd pass a stained glass window or something else of great worth and have a mental image of me somehow destroying it. It always scared me a bit because I knew I'd never do something like that on purpose. At the earliest times oppression never occurred to me, but at that time I didn't know about oppression. Later I thought that might be it, but never said anything to anyone.
Maybe I should have. Maybe some of the fear would have been alleviated.
On a related note, while trying to find information for this post I found an interesting site that may be useful. It's called the Catholic Online Spiritual Warfare Education and Information Center.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Opening the Gate: The Dangers of Divination
One of the most popular forms of divination is the Ouija Board, perhaps because it's been sold as a children's game by Parker Brothers.
Whatever the tool, though, any form of divination opens a gateway. It welcomes in spirits to answer questions, particularly about the future.
This sort of thing is strictly forbidden by the Catholic Church.
"All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to 'unveil' the future.[48] Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone." (Catholic Catechism, paragraph 2116)
The story some might know from the Bible dealing with the summoning of spirits is how Kind Saul consulted a medium so that he could speak with the prophet Samuel. The first thing Samuel says is, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" (1 Samuel, 28:15 Revised Standard Edition)
But if you are not a Catholic, or of any other Christian denomination, what reason do you have not to consult spirits?
Perhaps first I should mention that I think the Ouija board is the most dangerous of the divination tools I know of.
This is why.
To use the board two or more people touch the planchette and it seems to move under its own power. One theory is that the users move the planchette with their subconscious, another is that spirits are involved.
Either way, the very fact that it must touched by human hands to work indicates that those bodies must be involved in controlling the planchette. But is the mind of the humans in control or someone else?
It is because of this that many people have rituals to protect them when using the board. It might be as simple as a positive attitude, avoiding certain times of day or weather conditions, or even placing up sacred barriers.
The thing is, no matter what walls you have in place the Ouija board is a door. So when you start the session there's a gaping hole in your protective barriers and you no longer have control over which spirit answers first.
Also, spirits can lie. Especially if the spirit that comes to call is demonic in nature. It seems very silly, even arrogant, to think that we'd get honest answers whenever we consult the spirits.
Repeated use of divination tools can make the door harder to close, too. The stories most often seem to involve people who didn't take the tool seriously to begin with, but to me 'taking the tool seriously' involves not using it at all. Why take the chance?
There is one story of a girl who's Ouija board made the furniture in her room shake. One of the kids involved eventually moved on to Tarot cards, and found them "wonderfully insightful" (Tarot for Teens) but I beg to differ.
The only difference with Tarot cards is that rather than controlling the human's body, the spirits manipulate the cards. There is still nothing to keep the spirit from lying. And there's still nothing to keep the spirit from manipulating the human's mind. A charming speaker with a manipulative nature can do a lot of things.
I recommend strongly that you never try to contact spirits this way. If you have ghost in your home that you believe desires help passing over, don't you think the spirit would contact you? They can talk, after all. It's the spirits that you can only contact through an intermediary that you have to worry about. That's why such things are forbidden.
Resources:
Whatever the tool, though, any form of divination opens a gateway. It welcomes in spirits to answer questions, particularly about the future.
This sort of thing is strictly forbidden by the Catholic Church.
"All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to 'unveil' the future.[48] Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone." (Catholic Catechism, paragraph 2116)
The story some might know from the Bible dealing with the summoning of spirits is how Kind Saul consulted a medium so that he could speak with the prophet Samuel. The first thing Samuel says is, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" (1 Samuel, 28:15 Revised Standard Edition)
But if you are not a Catholic, or of any other Christian denomination, what reason do you have not to consult spirits?
Perhaps first I should mention that I think the Ouija board is the most dangerous of the divination tools I know of.
This is why.
To use the board two or more people touch the planchette and it seems to move under its own power. One theory is that the users move the planchette with their subconscious, another is that spirits are involved.
Either way, the very fact that it must touched by human hands to work indicates that those bodies must be involved in controlling the planchette. But is the mind of the humans in control or someone else?
It is because of this that many people have rituals to protect them when using the board. It might be as simple as a positive attitude, avoiding certain times of day or weather conditions, or even placing up sacred barriers.
The thing is, no matter what walls you have in place the Ouija board is a door. So when you start the session there's a gaping hole in your protective barriers and you no longer have control over which spirit answers first.
Also, spirits can lie. Especially if the spirit that comes to call is demonic in nature. It seems very silly, even arrogant, to think that we'd get honest answers whenever we consult the spirits.
Repeated use of divination tools can make the door harder to close, too. The stories most often seem to involve people who didn't take the tool seriously to begin with, but to me 'taking the tool seriously' involves not using it at all. Why take the chance?
There is one story of a girl who's Ouija board made the furniture in her room shake. One of the kids involved eventually moved on to Tarot cards, and found them "wonderfully insightful" (Tarot for Teens) but I beg to differ.
The only difference with Tarot cards is that rather than controlling the human's body, the spirits manipulate the cards. There is still nothing to keep the spirit from lying. And there's still nothing to keep the spirit from manipulating the human's mind. A charming speaker with a manipulative nature can do a lot of things.
I recommend strongly that you never try to contact spirits this way. If you have ghost in your home that you believe desires help passing over, don't you think the spirit would contact you? They can talk, after all. It's the spirits that you can only contact through an intermediary that you have to worry about. That's why such things are forbidden.
Resources:
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Image of Victorian Houses
Why is it haunted houses are almost exclusively pictured as run down Victorian mansions?
The Victorian Age is notorious for several things. Perhaps the best known is the excessive prudishness. They even went so far as to put skirts on tables so that the *gasp* 'limbs' wouldn't show.
Good grief.
Well to do Victorians were also obsessive collectors. Their homes could easily be nearly impassable mazes of vases, paintings, statues, and perhaps a mummy or two.
Yes, mummies. Egypt was all the rage at that time and archeology was in its infancy. Most archaeologists were really little more than treasure hunters. They'd find some odd bit of jewelry or part of a mummy and sell it to the highest bidder. Counterfeiting was a great side business.
I don't know why anyone would want to keep a mummy, let alone a copic jar, in their home, but the Victorian age did seem to attract macabre interests.
This was also the time of spiritualism, an increasing interest in East Asia, and the popularization of the Ouija board.
This was the age of Houdini and Charles Dickens. Both Braum Stocker and Mary Shelley wrote their infamous horror stories during this time. (Dracula and Frankenstein, respectively.)
The idea of reincarnation also became popular. It seemed every lovestruck woman was the reincarnation of an Egyptian dancing girl and the object of her desire a reincarnated prince.
And I haven't even gotten to the houses themselves. The fanciful turrets, decorative extentions, and occassionally cramped confines may well have given them an other worldly air when they were new. Now that they average a hundred years, the creakings and groanings natural to an aging structure can make the most sensible person uneasy.
I should know, I lived in one for most of my life.
Granted, it's an old farm house and thus of a more utilitarian design. Still, it's age gives it an air. It's been remodeled at least once in the interim, including a questionable electrical system. The plumbing is certainly from the second half of the 20th century, though it's showing its age more than some other parts of the house. Still, there are creaks, groans, and odd spaces left over from renovations.
It is, in short a house more than capable of frightening newcomers. Once you get used to the place, though, it's easy enough to distinguish the normal sounds of settling from things much more... unsettling.
The Victorian Age is notorious for several things. Perhaps the best known is the excessive prudishness. They even went so far as to put skirts on tables so that the *gasp* 'limbs' wouldn't show.
Good grief.
Well to do Victorians were also obsessive collectors. Their homes could easily be nearly impassable mazes of vases, paintings, statues, and perhaps a mummy or two.
Yes, mummies. Egypt was all the rage at that time and archeology was in its infancy. Most archaeologists were really little more than treasure hunters. They'd find some odd bit of jewelry or part of a mummy and sell it to the highest bidder. Counterfeiting was a great side business.
I don't know why anyone would want to keep a mummy, let alone a copic jar, in their home, but the Victorian age did seem to attract macabre interests.
This was also the time of spiritualism, an increasing interest in East Asia, and the popularization of the Ouija board.
This was the age of Houdini and Charles Dickens. Both Braum Stocker and Mary Shelley wrote their infamous horror stories during this time. (Dracula and Frankenstein, respectively.)
The idea of reincarnation also became popular. It seemed every lovestruck woman was the reincarnation of an Egyptian dancing girl and the object of her desire a reincarnated prince.
And I haven't even gotten to the houses themselves. The fanciful turrets, decorative extentions, and occassionally cramped confines may well have given them an other worldly air when they were new. Now that they average a hundred years, the creakings and groanings natural to an aging structure can make the most sensible person uneasy.
I should know, I lived in one for most of my life.
Granted, it's an old farm house and thus of a more utilitarian design. Still, it's age gives it an air. It's been remodeled at least once in the interim, including a questionable electrical system. The plumbing is certainly from the second half of the 20th century, though it's showing its age more than some other parts of the house. Still, there are creaks, groans, and odd spaces left over from renovations.
It is, in short a house more than capable of frightening newcomers. Once you get used to the place, though, it's easy enough to distinguish the normal sounds of settling from things much more... unsettling.
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