1. Unexplained noises - footsteps; knocks, banging, rapping; scratching sounds; sounds of something being dropped. Sometimes these noises can be subtle and other times they can be quite loud.
2. Doors,
cabinets and cupboards opening and closing - most often, these
phenomena are not seen directly. The person either hears the
distinct sounds of the doors opening and closing (homeowners get to
know quite well the distinctive sounds their houses make) or the
person will return to a room to find a door open or closed when they
are certain that it was left in the opposite position. Sometimes
furniture, like kitchen chairs, are perceived to have been moved.
Very rarely will the person actually witness the phenomenon taking
place.
3. Lights
turning off and on - likewise, these events are seldom seen
actually occurring, but the lights are switched on or off when the
person knows they were not left that way. This can also happen with
TV's, radios and other electrically powered items.
4. Items
disappearing and reappearing - this phenomenon, has been dubbed
"the Doppler Effect" (DOP = Disappearing Object Phenomenon) Others
have called this "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. But they're gone and you look high and low for
them with no success. Some time later, the keys are found - in
exactly the place you normally put them. It's as if the object was
borrowed by someone or something for a short time, then returned.
Sometimes they are not returned for days or even weeks, but when
they are, it's in an obvious place that could not have been missed
by even a casual search.
5.
Unexplained shadows - the sighting of fleeting shapes and
shadows, usually seen out of the corner of the eye. Also known as
"Shadow People." Many times, the shadows have vaguely human forms,
while other times they are less distinguishable or smaller.
6. Strange
animal behavior - a dog, cat or other pet behaves strangely.
Dogs may bark at something unseen, cower without apparent reason or
refuse to enter a room they normally do. Cats may seem to be
"watching" something cross a room. Animals have sharper senses than
humans, and many researchers think their psychic abilities might be
more finely tuned also.
7. Feelings
of being watched - this is not an uncommon feeling and can be
attributed to many things, but it could have a paranormal source if
the feeling consistently occurs in a particular part of the house at
a particular time.
8.
Feelings of being touched - the feeling of being watched is
one thing, and actually feeling like you are being touched is
quite another. Some people feel something brush past them,
something touching their hair or "a hand" on the shoulder. Some
feel a gentle poke, push or nudge.
9. Cries
and whispers - on occasion, muffled voices, whispering and
crying can be heard. Sometimes it's music 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.
10. Cold
or hot spots - cold spots are classic haunting symptoms, but
any instance of a noticeable variance in temperature without a
discernable cause could be evidence.
11.
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, or voices. Foul odors can
happen in the same way.
12.
Moving or levitating objects - dinner plates sliding across
the table; pictures flying off walls; doors slamming shut with
great force; furniture sliding across the floor.
13.
Physical assault - scratches, slaps and hard shoves.
This kind of personal assault is extremely rare, but
obviously highly disturbing.
14.
Apparitions - physical manifestation of a spirit or
entity. These phenomena are also very rare and can take 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 as
real and solid as any living person, but that disappear into
a room or even while being viewed.
15.
Other physical evidence - unexplained writing on paper
or walls; hand prints and footprints.
Before you
decide there's a ghost in your house or move out from fear,
do your best to find rational explanations for what you are
experiencing. Virtually all of the phenomena listed could
have perfectly natural causes:
Noises
could be house settling, plumbing or even vermin such as
mice and squirrels
Opening
and closing doors could be faulty hinges or caused by drafts
DOPler
phenomena could just be carelessness and forgetfulness
Shadows
could be just that - shadows caused, perhaps, by a passing
car's headlights
as real as some of these things might seem to you, they
really could be just products of your imagination
Of
course, the more extreme the phenomena, the harder they
are to dismiss. And, as noted , if multiple witnesses
experience the same phenomena, they are likely to be
taken more seriously. Get help in finding rational
explanations for the phenomena. A plumber might help you
find the cause of that banging. A carpenter can fix that
door from closing on its own. A friend or neighbor might
be able to look at your particular experience in a
different way and offer a reasonable explanation for
your "haunting" that you might not have thought of. In
short, make every possible effort to prove that your
house is not haunted.
If you
feel you have ruled out rational explanations for the
phenomena that are taking place in your house, and they
are still occurring on a more or less regular basis,
document them. Keep a journal of the phenomena as they
happen. For example:
Feb. 2,
2005; 10:30 p.m. - Was sitting watch TV when the
bathroom light switched on by itself. Went in and turned
it off again.
May, 10,
2005; 9:14 p.m. - Was in the kitchen and heard the
footsteps crossing the upstairs hallway again. No one
was up there. Went up to investigate and could find no
cause.
A journal
such as this could help with any formal investigation of
the phenomena by experts.
If you
hear unexplained noises, attempt to record them with a
portable tape recorder. If there are physical phenomena
of any kind, photograph or videotape them. Keep your
journal, recording and camera equipment readily
available so you can document the phenomena as it
happens.
Usually,
it is something you need not fear.
*Author Unknown.