It's October - Halloween season. And even though I obviously believe in the supernatural (God), I've never seen a ghost. I've never had any experience that could be construed as involving ghosts or anything from the occult realm.
A multitude of people whom I trust completely have had incredibly terrifying experiences involving the supernatural (clearly not God). However, in each of those cases, it wasn't a 'ghost' that was involved. My understanding of the word ghost is that it is a person's spirit remaining on this plane of existence after they have died. Each person who has shared a story with me had an encounter with a being that was not readily identifiable as human, past or present, spiritual or otherwise. In spook terms, every story that I have heard directly from the source has involved the demonic, not ghosts.
Sure I've seen people on TV who claim to speak to the dead. I've also seen how effective cold reading is. I may believe in Bigfoot and aliens, but I've never seen anything that would convince me that people can really act as mediums between this life and the one after.
I also enjoy watching the variety of ghost hunting television series. Again, I have yet to see anything that is convincing to me. Even there however, most of the experiences that people have seem to be demonic rather than ghost-oriented (maybe demons are just more entertaining).
For those instances that are clearly ghosts (again I'm referring mostly to stuff I've seen on TV), it appears that a great many of those instances are so-called after-images - nonsentient repeating images or sounds that cannot interact with the living. They are mere imprints from the past. It seems like the whole idea of ghosts, actual spirits of the dead remaining among us, isn't really supported.
So I have a question. Has anyone out there had an experience that they feel is convincing evidence that ghosts are among us? Not just supernatural - but clearly a two-way interaction with a person who has passed on? And if so, is there something about the encounter that a demonic force couldn't fake? Some aspect of the person that made it impossible to believe the experience was actually a demon pretending to be the deceased?
Just curious.
This blog makes me think complete anonymity would be really, really fun. You can talk about anything.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a ghost. Several times in the year or two since Mom died I've felt her unmistakable presence near, and although I didn't hear her voice, I knew what she was thinking.
Once Dad had some family stuff he wanted to do down in Salt Lake and the Subaru broke down. We didn't have anything going on, so we lent him our minivan. Standing in Dad's kitchen, I felt very briefly, that Mom was there and appreciate our small act of kindness.
Also, when Scarlett was born, at her baby blessing, I felt Mom next to me, letting me know how happy she was for us.
And then there was Shay's wedding... Oh my. That was the most intense.
So is that a ghost? Not in the Halloween sense. Is that a person who has passed on communicating? Yes.
And the clearest difference to me is this: there was nothing scary about it. In fact each of these experiences was wonderful - emotional, but peaceful. It wasn't any scarier than being around Mom was when she was still living.
And I'm waiting to see what everybody else has to say....
I am officially calling Michael out to explain his "white lady" sightings in the basement bedroom, while growing up.
ReplyDeleteArgh... typos. I meant "in the year or two AFTER Mom died," not since. The number of years it's been is pretty easy to remember - the twins' age minus one week.
ReplyDeleteJason has summoned me to appear, as if I were a demon of sorts. Perhaps I am, given that I am now here to perform the task he has asked of me.
ReplyDeleteThere was only one "white lady" sighting, and it wasn't exactly a lady. When I was about 15 years old I wake up one morning and opened my eyes to see (I thought) the trailing edge of a while gown move into the hallway in front of the furnace room. I didn't think much of it. I assumed it was mom still in her nightgown, though it seemed odd she had been skulking about in my room with the light off.
After I got up and went upstairs I asked mom why she had been down there earlier. She replied that she had not been downstairs at all that day.
do-do-DO-do do-do-DO-do
So did I see a ghost, perhaps one sneaking over from the other house where they usually stay? I don't know. There is the fact that I only saw it very briefly, and just as I was waking up. I don't normally see things like that when I'm still half-asleep, but it could have been the trailing edge of a dream. There's also the possibility that mom really was down there, but for some reason didn't want me to know it.
A few years later I was reading a book on the supernatural (I've long forgotten the title) that mentioned the brief sighting of a white gown leaving a room as one category of supernatural encounter. It also said such a sighting was supposed to be an omen that the person seeing it would die within 7 years. The fact I'm still alive and kicking therefore suggests it wasn't a ghost after all.
Wow, that should be "woke up" and a "white" gown. grrrr
ReplyDelete"Whew, folks!! You hear that?! Michael almost got his brains sucked out by a white witch! Thanks for coming. Now, get out."
ReplyDeleteSteph: I would definitely agree that your experience falls outside the realm of stereotypical ghost encounters. Although contact was made, there is no indication that Mom is 'stuck' on this plane of existence, which seems to be a defining feature of any ghost.
ReplyDelete(And yes, anonymity is fun)
Michael: I wonder if your experience can be attributed to a brief hypnopompic hallucination. You've made comments about other such events, and I believe you've also said that you've experienced sleep paralysis before. As I've said in the past, I wouldn't be surprised if you have a very low-level ("subthreshold") REM sleep disorder.
I've experienced sleep paralysis on perhaps a dozen occasions, and once had my bed mattress come alive and attempt to suffocate me. I probably have a long list of low-level disorders, sleep related and otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI've also told you before about my demonically possessed salt shaker. But I think that too has a more boring explanation.
Lol coming over from the "other" house?........... as in the one I'm currently living in?
ReplyDeleteOops, LOL!
ReplyDeleteSorry, Justin!
If it makes you feel any better, I never saw anything strange over there and neither did Ryno. And I was sleeping on the same bed both of my grandparent died on (great back support!)
It's ok lol I usually get creeped out in places but haven't here yet although having a huge paranoia of the dark doesn't help!!
ReplyDeleteOops indeed! Tonya, back when Sarah and I were living there, I refused to give her the details of everything that's happened there. She's scared of the dark too.
ReplyDeleteWell, now I'm glad I didn't put any details about that place in my post. It really is better that you don't know. Cuz' like Mike said, neither of us has ever had any sort of paranormal experience there. If you're not having any problems there, I see no reason to upset that balance.
I totally agree with Ryno, but let me know if/when you're moving, Tonya. Your last night in Pleasantville will be more like a stay in Amityville!
ReplyDeleteHow about the Ghost of Television Past?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/syfy-orders-new-battlestar-galactica-32184
Hmmm.... If it does air, I just hope it's better than Caprica. That show lost me after the first three or four episodes.
ReplyDelete