Can Cats And Dogs See Ghosts?

Here Is 4 Signs to Look Out For...

These are interesting questions, but ones that remain not-so-easily answered. We can’t even say for certain if ghosts exist at all, much less whether or not our pets can see them!

However, despite any questions of belief or disbelief, many have often wondered if, perhaps, the exceptional senses of animals might allow them to better observe anomalous activity. To see strange things beyond what we humans might be able to experience.

Maybe you’ve even caught your dog up late at night, searching online for information about spooks and specters on weird paranormal websites. It happens more often than you’d think (Fido up there knows what I’m talking about).

Well, whatever brought you here, there are indeed alleged “signs” that our pets can see ghosts. In this article, we’ll explore a handful (jump right to them). But first, let’s consider just how dogs, cats, and other animals might be able to perceive unexplained phenomena better than we can.

Dogs, Cats, and the Ability to See Spirits
If dogs and cats can see ghosts, or paranormal entities that humans can’t, how might this be possible? Well, for starters, it’s been established that, in many cases, dogs and cats have more highly developed senses than humans.

According to PBS’ NOVA, for example, while dogs may be limited to the same five senses as humans, scientific research has shown that dogs’ incredible sense of smell “overpowers our own by orders of magnitude…10,000 to 100,000 times as acute.”

And while they may not see as many colors as we do, dogs and cats both have larger fields of vision, and can see much better in the dark. They may even be able to see in ultraviolet. This would mean they quite literally might be able to perceive wavelengths of light we simply cannot (this is already confirmed for several animals, including insects, fish, and birds).

Cats, in particular, can see very well at night, better than dogs, and both dogs and cats perform much better than humans in dim light, during dusk and dawn. Both are far more sensitive to sound than humans, being able to hear frequencies much higher than we can, along with the ability to turn their ears like cones toward the direction of sounds.

These heightened perceptions, some claim, could mean that dogs, cats, and other animals are also able to sense the paranormal, perhaps in a way that humans can’t.

Is it possible ghosts emit high frequency sound, or even give off strange ghostly smells that our pets are more likely to detect?

Their keen senses mean that animals may also have the ability to predict earthquakes, a belief that, as National Geographic reports, dates back centuries. In records from the year 373 BC, historians noted that many animals, “including rats, snakes and weasels” fled the Greek city of Helice prior to a devastating earthquake. This is a phenomenon that continues to be observed to this day, though it is still not fully understood.

Of course, there’s a big difference between earthquakes and ghosts. But all of this seems to underline the fact that animals, including dogs and cats, may sense many things that we are not able to, paranormal or not.

Has Your Dog Or Cat Seen A Ghost?

Now that we’ve briefly explored why cats, dogs, and other animals might be able to see wandering phantoms, let’s take a look at some of the signs your pet could be witnessing paranormal activity right under your nose.

Our first sign that your pet has seen a ghost…

• 1. Following something invisible

In December 2011, YouTube user Zack Clark decided to record footage of his dog, Zoey, who had been “exhibiting strange behavior” in his apartment.

This behavior included focusing intently on a certain area of the apartment, following something invisible with her eyes. In the video, the small black puppy could be seen attentively watching a particular corner of the room, near a table. She circled around it, back and forth.

“There is nobody in the house except for me and Zoey (and the ghost),” Clark stated in his video. He could only wonder just what, if anything, she saw that he couldn’t.

At the end of a follow-up video, which Clark uploaded to YouTube in 2012, this behavior was even more apparent. Zoey continued to look up and stare at the alleged ghost. Whatever happened there, it’s clear Zoey could see (or sense) more than her owner.

That’s our first sign: Your pet might seem aware of invisible activity in your home, usually in one specific area.

• 2. Barking, growling, or hissing when nothing is there

Sometimes, the paranormal encounter doesn’t end with fleeting glances and occasionally following something from room to room.

As seen in the aforementioned video, Zoey the dog not only hovered around that invisible something, but also barked and growled at it.

This could, of course, be due to a variety of reasons — perhaps there were mice in the walls, or a sound present that was inaudible to her owner (possibly infrasound, which can cause all sorts of bizarre phenomena). It could even just be a reaction to the shadows on the walls. There are all sorts of things that might rile up a dog or a cat.

But there’s another possibility: Could this barking and growling be a sign that a ghost was present at that moment?


A Cat’s Tale

In one exemplary case of this possible ghostly phenomenon, a cat owner found that, after moving into a new house, his otherwise “laid back” cat would do anything he could to avoid one particular room: The living room.

One day, the cat entered that living room and stopped suddenly, staring at an empty space. “His eyes were wide and he began hissing,” his owner wrote.

With the cat still hissing at some invisible intruder, the owner walked over to the mystery spot, and while he couldn’t see anything there, he did feel what he could only describe as a “weird sensation,” possibly the chills.

Was a ghost also standing in that spot?

He calmed the cat down and gave him some treats. But every time the cat would get near the living room, he would hiss, and sometimes even claw at the air, desperately wanting to avoid whatever he could see that we mere humans could not.

• 3. Ignoring You In Favor Of A Ghostly Friend

Despite the previous account, I’ve read (I don’t remember where) that cats are more indifferent to spirits than other animals. Or maybe it was that cats are just more indifferent in general. That I can believe.

Some, however, would beg to differ. The third sign that your pet has seen a ghost is simple: acting distractedly. Ignoring you, its attention split by a (potentially) invisible force in the room.

Sometimes you might see your dog or cat preoccupied by something unusual. They won’t be growling or hissing, and they won’t be running around following a potential spirit, but they’ll give you the sense that maybe you’re not the only one vying for his or her attention in that moment.

From personal experience, I can say that cats in particular are usually very mindful of what goes on around them. And though they may sometimes ignore you, more often than not they’re perfectly aware that you want something when you call their name. They simply choose not to acknowledge you.

And yet, there have been cases when owners have found their cats doing more than just giving you the cold shoulder. When he or she almost seems to be playing with another cat. Looking to you, then looking to their invisible friend. Maybe they have a spectral playmate!

• 4. Fear of the Unknown

Several years ago, Reddit user Lillibeth shared a story that would seem to exemplify our final clue that your dog or cat has seen a ghost: fear.

At the time, Lillibeth had moved into an old house with her grandparents. The place was at least 100 years old and had a “creepy vibe,” or so she put it.

One night, she and her dog, a Shih Tzu named Lola, were getting ready to go to bed. They were, perhaps ironically, watching Ghost Adventures together. But at a certain point, about an hour later, Lola began to act up. She suddenly jumped to the edge of the bed, and looked over. Her eyes then began to follow something in the air, her head moving back and forth, watching something.

“I would call her name and she wouldn’t move,” Lillibeth wrote. She turned on the light to see if perhaps Lola was being pestered by a fly or a mouse, but she saw nothing. Then, as if in fear, Lola curled up against Lillibeth, occasionally glancing over the edge of the bed throughout the night.

Was Lola afraid of something her owner could not see? A ghost? Or, perhaps, Lola encountered something a bit more terrifying. If animals can sense whether or not a living person has good intentions, perhaps they read spirits in the same way.

Can Dogs and Cats See Ghosts?

None of these signs or stories provide definitive answers to that question. We can’t speak to our dogs and cats. I can’t ask my turtles if they’ve ever seen anything strange lurking around their aquariums (and if they ever did answer, well, that’d be an entirely different topic to write about!).

What is that invisible something our pets eyes are following? Why are the dogs barking, the cats hissing, when nothing is there? Why are they afraid?

It’s entirely possible, when these odd signs occur, that our pets aren’t seeing ghosts at all. Perhaps they’re just jumping at their own shadows, or growling and hissing at literally nothing. Or, perhaps, they do have a slight ability to see things withinour universe that we’re unaware of — higher dimensions, pieces of parallel universes, or other anomalies of space and time.

What can they see?

Questions, questions. All we can do is pay attention, and continue to wonder.

36% Of London Drivers Users Have Seen A "Road Ghost"

Check out the spookiest roads in England and Scotland!

Fancy yourself as a ghost hunter?

Then forget about exploring old haunted houses and get on the open road.

For a real scare, you need to get behind the wheel and check out some of England and Scotland’s spookiest highways.

A new survey by Selectcarleasing shows that one third of Londoners say they’ve encountered a spectre while behind the wheel.

Folks in Scotland and North West England are also convinced there are more ‘dead’ things on the tarmac than just roadkill.

And one in seven Brits overall (13 per cent) agreed with the statement: “I believe I have seen a ghost when driving.”

James O’Malley, Select Car Leasing company director, said: "It’s not just ancient, creaking castles where spooks reside – because there’s almost as many ghosts as there are potholes on our haunted highways!

“Our ancient capital London appears to be a spooky hotspot, with more residents there compared with anywhere else in the UK who claim to have seen a road phantom.”

The poll found 36 per cent of people in the Greater London area thought they’d seen a road ghost at some point in their lives, compared with 15 per cent of respondents in Scotland and 14 per cent in North West England.

And if you’re male you’re more likely to see a road wraith – with 15 per cent of men saying they’d witnessed one compared to 11 per cent of women.

Meanwhile the survey of 1,000 adults also found that 34 per cent of respondents said they believed in the idea of ‘ghosts’, whether on the road or elsewhere. 

Mr O’Malley added: “If you analyse some of the UK’s most famous eyewitness reports, there are some really common road ghost tropes.

“One involves drivers who believe they’ve accidentally collided with a pedestrian, only for the mysterious ‘casualty’ never to be found, having seemingly disappeared into thin air.

“Others involve the dreaded ‘phantom hitchhikers’ - who thumb a lift only to disappear without trace from the backseat of the startled motorist’s car.

“Then there are other tales where motorists are physically forced off the road by terrifying, invisible hands clutching their steering wheels."

If you want to look for ghosts on the highways here’s some of the UK’s most haunted roads:

• B3212 - Dartmoor

The B3212 is home to the ‘hairy hands of Dartmoor’ myth - in which motorists describe how a disembodied pair of mitts grabs their steering wheel and tries to run them off the road.

In 1962 holiday-maker Florence Warwick said, ‘I looked up and saw a pair of huge, hairy hands pressed against the windscreen. I tried to scream, but couldn't. I was frozen with fear.’

• A229 - Kent

The ghost of the ‘Blue Bell Hill Bride’ has been scaring motorists since the 1970s.

By the 1990s, local cops knew all about the legend after an unlucky male had an apparent ‘collision’ with the ghost in 1992. PC Roger Ginn reported: “Once we were satisfied there was no sign of an accident, no damage to his car, and particularly in view of where it had occurred, we just had to write it off as another sighting of the Blue Bell Hill ghost.”

• B1249 - East Riding of Yorkshire

Sightings of supernatural werewolves have been reported since the 1960s. The most recent came in August 2016 when motorist Jemma Waller, 24, described seeing a monster which looked “like a big dog, probably bigger than my car, but it had a human face” near the village of Halsham.

• A696 - Northumberland

The spirit of a dead RAF officer is thought to haunt this stretch of road near Belsay.

In August 2015 Gateshead-based radio presenters Rob Davies and Chris Felton spotted the phantom, with Rob explaining: “He was dressed in what I can only describe as RAF gear and was holding something under his arm, which looked like a helmet or some kind of bag. It was only seconds and no other car had been past, but when we turned around he was gone.”

• A75 - ‘Kinmount Straight’ in Scotland

Dubbed the “most haunted highway in Scotland”, the A75 is apparently home to ‘screaming hags, eyeless phantoms and a menagerie of unearthly creatures’, according to local paranormal investigator Kathleen Cronie.

• M6 - between Crewe and Knutsford - Cheshire

This section of the M6 has seen scores of ghost reports, and in 2017 one eyewitness – who did not wish to be named – said: “To me, it looked like the figure had run across the lanes and was now waiting for me to hit them – as if they were suicidal. But as I got closer the figure didn’t look like a solid figure. It looked almost translucent. And then the figure just vanished.

"There was nothing there. I literally blinked and it had gone.”

• A616 - Stocksbridge, near Sheffield, South Yorks

In 1997 eyewitness Paul Ford told his local newspaper: “From a distance it looked like someone trying to cross the road but as I got nearer I could see it was like a man in a long cloak. Then I realised it had no face and it was just hovering above the road. I just slammed the brakes on and swerved to avoid hitting it, and it was only through Jane (his wife) grabbing the wheel that we managed to stop the car from crashing.”

Supernatural Staffordshire

The mysterious floating figure in a field:

Paranormal expert Damon Simms has explored some of Staffordshire's spookiest locations. This week he brings you the story of a teenager who believes she had a frightening supernatural encounter with a mysterious figure in a field

Claire regularly spent many hours after work looking after her beloved horse Toto in stables near to her childhood home.

The 18-year-old would often take this journey alone and enjoyed the brisk walk and chance to take in some fresh air. The stables were in a private field in rural Lightwood and she always felt safe.

But one cool, crisp and pleasant evening in 1992 when she made her way to the stables, something unexpected occurred.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed what looked like a figure walking in the nearby woodland.

And what happened next still haunts her dreams.

"All of a sudden he looked like he started to levitate - I know that sounds mad but he just started to float upwards and soon disappeared into the foliage," shudders Claire, now aged 43.

Stopping and staring towards the area in which the figure had floated, Claire froze with fear and could not bring herself to look away. Who or what on earth had she witnessed?

"I know people will think I'm crazy and most have said I must have imagined it but I swear I know what I saw and the figure was clear as daylight.

"It just started to walk along and then all of a sudden it just floated up like it was on strings – then it disappeared into the trees above, where it had been walking a few seconds earlier."

Although still shaken, Claire was overtaken by inquisitiveness and started to walk towards the woods.

By the time she had reached the tree line her heart was in her mouth.

Physically shaking with terror she glanced up to where the figure had gone. It was not to be seen.

"Many times I think about what I saw that evening and it still keeps me awake even today – it's hard to explain to people how real the floating figure was. But I know that what I saw!"

Supernatural Staffordshire

Ghost at pub was as real as 'man on the moon'

So man walked on the moon. We know this because we all watched the news, the TV footage and eye-witness accounts.

Now remove the part about "man walked on the moon" and replace with any paranormal experience; all of a sudden it doesn't seem feasible. But why not?

People witness ghostly goings-on every day. The paranormal world reports on new sightings and evidence all the time - so why only believe main stream media? Are we that brainwashed?

It always confuses me as to why we listen to big corporate claims and ignore genuine people at a local level.

The paranormal is real. That is a fact.

Roger knows that - he lived through an amazing yet real event that has changed his perception of the world forever.

Roger, now 52; lived in Blurton at the time. The year was 1985.

Roger, then 20, was working at a local pub at the time, bottling up, collecting glasses and occasionally working a few hours behind the bar. He was dating a girl called Tina.

When Roger had finished work at the pub Tina would meet him to walk home with him. On one particular evening she was waiting outside, taking in the night air. She happened to glance through a window and saw an elderly woman who seemed to be staring at her.

Tine was about to look away but as she did she was astonished to see the woman vanish before her eyes.

When Roger came out of the pub to meet her she told him about the vanishing old lady but, as a non-believer, he just laughed it off and even mocked her about it.

Then, a few days later while going in early to bottle-up, he would live to regret mocking the paranormal.

Roger entered the pub and clicked the kettle on so he could have a cup of coffee while carrying out his chores.

He placed the coffee on the bar before going down into the cellar. As he entered the main area where all the barrels of beer were kept the cellar felt colder than usual.

As Roger was changing a barrel he heard an unusual noise. It sounded like something being dragged.

Turning, he was stunned to see that the empty barrel he had just disconnected had moved some four feet away from where he had left it.

Becoming increasingly scared, he nervously made his way back up the stairs and quickly closed the cellar door behind him.

Returning into the bar area, which was empty of any other at that time of day, he gasped to find the coffee he had made just minutes earlier had tipped on its side, spilling its contents across the bar.

That's when Roger looked up and saw an elderly lady looking out of the window - she looked as real as a normal person, but Roger knew he was alone.

Then he thought of what his girlfriend had seen just a few days earlier. Running from the pub and tripping on a stool as he did so, he left and never returned to the location.

Ghosts are real - well as real as a man on the moon.

SOURCE: The Sentinel

Paranormal Investigators Offer Spooky Support to Animal Rescue Centre

Things that go bump in the night have been lending a helping hand to charity.

Leamington-based Spirits Alive held a paranormal night at the Lillington Club, investigating the ghostly goings-on.

And the event raised £200 which was donated to Solihull-based Heronfield Animal Rescue Centre.

Duncan James, owner of Spirits Alive, said: “We paid a visit to the rescue centre to have a look around before deciding to offer our support.

“The work they carry out is truly amazing. So many animals are in their care and all who work there volunteer time and services.

“It was after that visit and a chat with the rest of our team that we knew we desperately wanted to help.”

SOURCE: Lemington Observer

Something Fishy Going on at New Hartlepool Chippy

A Hartlepool businessman says there is certainly something fishy going on at his new chip shop. 

Ray Morton says since taking over premises in Tower Street there have been lots of ghostly goings-on.

The 50-year-old took over the former print works and has transformed the building into The Coble, which is a fish and chip restaurant. But after moving into the building, Ray found he wasn’t the only tenant there and several strange things have been happening. 

The former rig-worker, said: “When we got the building and carried out the work we had a cleaning company come in to do a deep clean. “I left the building and when I came back the woman was very distressed, she said she had seen a big man walk through the wall and out the other side. “Since then there has been loads of weird stuff going on.” 

Ray and members of his team at the fish shop have experienced things such as lights switching themselves off and on, bins suddenly launching themselves across the room on their own and the feeling of being touched on the shoulder when there’s no one there. 

The building, which houses a number of companies and also residents in flats, dates back to 1880 – and Ray says lots of people who have lived or worked in it have reported strange happenings. 

Ray said: “It seems to be haunted by a man and what I assume to be his wife.” But, the ghostly happenings are not putting Ray off his new venture.


SOURCE: Hartlepool Mail

Ghostly Goings-On at Gresley Old Hall

Spine-tingling spirits which are believed to haunt a historical South Derbyshire building, will be put under the microscope as a paranormal investigation team delves into the underworld of ghostly apparitions.

Shadows From The Past will be spending the evening at Gresley Old Hall, in Church Gresley, following reports of ghostly goings-on in nearly every room of the 16 century building.

It has long been famed for its eerie surroundings and brave members of the public are being invited to spend an evening with the team as they tour around the many rooms, including the attic which has been the site with the most ghostly activity.

A spokesman for the team said: “Gresley Old Hall looks like any other country mansion. However when you close the front door and walk up to the first floor, the building completely changes and you begin to realise just how eerie this building is.”

The building dates back to the 16th century and is now a Grade II listed building. It is steeped in history and has an impressive family tree; the most recent is the Alleyne family.

Sir Christopher Alleyne built this mansion from materials left from the demolished Gresley priory that once stood on this land which dates back to the 1100s. The house, in its present form, was built in 1734, replacing the original hall constructed in 1556.

The current house has an array of floors, some of which have not been touched since the 19th century. 

There are also many gruesome tales that surround this building of people who sadly lost their lives. 

The spokesman added: “This venue has a lot of uneven floors and has no electricity supply; this sets the scene for a perfect night of paranormal investigations and the chance to discover what lies within Gresley Old Hall.

“The lack of power in this venue means that we will explore by torch light the layers of history, will you discover who or what still haunts this very eerie location.
“With reports of activity in every room in this location, the one favourite area here is the attic area that if you look close enough you can see Victorian graffiti on the lime wash stone walls. Reports of activity here is of being touched, shadows seen, guests hair being pulled and full apparitions.” 

The investigation will be held from 7pm to midnight, on Friday, August 25.

Snacks and refreshments will be available throughout the night.

Tickets cost £20 per person and are available by visiting the Shadows from the Past Investigations Facebook page or calling 07950 553952.


SOURCE: Burton Mail

Check Out Some Of My Video Channels

Random Video Channel

Random by name, Random by nature! Here we bring you an ever expanding collection of funny, amazing, cute, stupid, insane, scary, true and horrific videos for you view for free at your pleasure. Hope you enjoy!

Hauntings & Ghosts

BEWARE: This Is The Scariest Hauntings & Ghosts Video Channel! A video collection from all over the world which includes subjects on hauntings, ghosts, the paranormal and anything else considered as 'strange'! See the "playlist" tab for full seasons of top paranormal programs such as Paranormal Witness, Ghost Adventures and My Ghost Story etc... Please add me to your contacts and click share so I can keep on adding more of the stuff you like. P.S Please be responsible and don't watch in the dark - this is the spookiest Daily Motion channel around!

Youtube 

A mixture of videos but mostly videos associated with the paranormal. Please see my spooky playlists, these include full horror movies, full episodes of Ghost Adventures, Paranormal State, Most Haunted, My Ghost Story, A Haunting plus loads more. The links will take you to my Facebook Fan Page, Google+ and my blog with all the latest news involving hauntings and ghosts. Please like, subscribe and leave a comment and I will return the favour.

A Haunting at Caledonia Mills

A Haunting at Caledonia Mills: The Chilling Case of the Mary Ellen Spook Farm

In January of 1922, farmer Alexander MacDonald, his wife Janet, and their adopted daughter Mary Ellen fled their home in Caledonia Mills, Nova Scotia after a rash of poltergeist activity, including more than 30 unexplained fires. Though several researchers, journalists, detectives, and paranormal investigators would eventually examine the farm and house, the so-called "fire spook" was never fully explained.

The poltergeist activity that had plagued the household for almost an entire year included moving the cattle around when no one was in the barn, mixing ashes into the stored milk, and even braiding the tails of horses. Most notable, however, were the fires which earned the haunting its name.

The fires would spring up spontaneously all over the house and grounds, often far from the hearth or any other source of a spark. Everything from wallpaper to wet towels were said to burst into flame: it got so bad that the family organized a kind of "neighborhood watch" to guard against arsonists, though none were ever found. Eventually the family fled the property for good.

Once the family moved out of the house, journalists and would-be paranormal investigators moved in. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was invited to explore the phenomena. Some of the most notable accounts include those of Harold Whidden, a reporter from the Halifax Herald, and police detective Peachey Carroll, who spent two nights in the house. During this time they both experienced several odd events, including the feeling of being slapped on the arm and face by phantom hands. Whidden was so troubled by his experiences that he never published them in his lifetime, though they have since been released by his family.

Another prominent investigator who visited the home for several days was Dr. Walker Franklin Prince, who concluded that the poltergeist activity emanated from the family's then-15-year-old adopted daughter, Mary Ellen-this in spite of the fact that Dr. Prince, himself, experienced no unusual phenomena during his stay. Members of the family were even brought back to the house during his investigation in an attempt to "trigger" the ghost. Dr. Prince did, however, report unexplained rapping noises in his office back in New York for several weeks after he had completed his investigation into the Caledonia Mills "Spook Farm."

Unfortunately for Mary Ellen, Dr. Prince's suggestion that she was the cause, albeit unknowingly, of the fires and other poltergeist activity stuck with her throughout her life. People began calling her Mary Ellen Spook, and, according to some accounts, she was even confined to an asylum for many years. Regardless of the cause, after she and her family moved away from the farm in Caledonia Mills, the phenomena ceased.

However, that wasn't the end of the story of the Caledonia Mills Spook Farm. Over the years, several other explanations have been put forth as new detectives attempt to solve the mystery. Edward J. O'Brien, a lecturer who stopped off at the nearby St. Francis Xavier University, posited that the fires might have been caused by radio waves passing through Caledonia Mills between the radio towers at Wellfleet, Massachusetts and Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, though to modern science that theory sounds perhaps even more preposterous than "fire spooks."

A variety of books have been written on the strange occurrence, including the 2013 book Fire Spook: The Mysterious Nova Scotia Haunting by local Pictou County author Monica Graham. Graham suggests that a neighbor may have been responsible for starting the fires.

Arsonist or no, the Caledonia Mills legend persists. Even today, long after the farm and house have disappeared, people say that if you take home any item from the property, your house will burn down. According to one couple, who call themselves P.O.N.I. (Pair of Normal Investigators), "This has been tested by regular every day [sic] people (who have put things such as shingles or bricks in sheds, etc.) and the buildings always catch fire."

It seems like it would be a simple enough hypothesis to test--assuming you can actually find the property where the Mary Ellen Spook Farm once stood--but who would volunteer?

This Story Was First Published on The Lineup
SOURCE: The Hauntist

The Stone Tape Theory

Proposed in the 1970s as a possible explanation for ghosts. The Stone Tape Theory speculates that inanimate materials can absorb energy from living beings. In other words a ‘recording’ or track is laid down during moments of high tension, such as murder. This stored energy can consequently be released, resulting in a display of the recorded activity. The replay can take the form of a full manifestation or partial sounds such as voices or footsteps. Paranormal investigators commonly refer to such phenomena as residual hauntings. Ghosts are not spirits but non-interactive recordings similar to the registration capacities of an audiotape machine that can playback previously recorded events. While the theory may explain some ghostly sightings, no one knows what the recorded energy actually is. However, the possibility that it could be composed by our natural electric and magnetic fields is one of the explanations that the Stone Tape Theory advances.

Theories of Ghosts, Why Manifestations And Apparitions Happen

Theories

Although ghosts and apparitions have been reported for thousands of years, surprisingly little information is available with regard to their nature or essence. They are elusive and unpredictable, and the ways in which they manifest are surprisingly diverse. Contrary to popular belief, most ghostly encounters are not visual, but rather consist of noises, smells, sensations, voices, cold spots, electrical disturbances such as lights switching off or on, and displacement or movement of objects. Much of the available data is anecdotal and is therefore prone to exaggeration, embellishment, and sometimes outright deceit. Although studies suggest that approximately 1 in 10 of us has the ability to perceive ghosts, those of us who are actively looking for them are apparently the least likely to have a ghostly experience. Children seem more apt to experience manifestations, suggesting that adults develop some kind of blocking mechanism as they mature. Women seem more attuned than men, and it appears that the higher your IQ, the less likely you are to experience ghostly phenomena. So where does this leave us? Below are five theories to consider regarding the basics of ghostly manifestations......

Theory #1

Ghosts are the earthbound souls of the deceased. This is the most common interpretation when confronted with a visible apparition, and it certainly does fit many hauntings where the apparition is more or less recognizable as someone who is deceased. For most of us, this theory is also comforting, as it hints at a life after the physical body is gone. One common example of this type of manifestation is when an individual suddenly becomes aware of the death of a loved one through one or more senses. This type of occurrence is often visual, but may just be a sudden "feeling" as if relayed telepathically, or may even come in the form of a vivid dream. Typically, this type of manifestation relays important information to the observer. We know from science that everything is composed of energy. Our thoughts, feelings, sensations, experiences, and indeed our very souls are all forms of energy. The theory is that when the physical body dies, this energy continues on in some form and can be tapped by living persons sensitive enough to perceive it. Animals seem to be quite sensitive to this type of energy, and many very reliable reports of them avoiding certain rooms, chasing unseen prey, or sitting contently as if being stroked and petted have been recorded throughout history - another indication that this type of phenomena is quite interactive.

Theory #2

Events are somehow recorded in certain surroundings to be replayed over and over to living people sensitive enough to discern them. This theory accounts for a lot of our ghost legends and is likely the source for virtually all hauntings that repeat again and again, such as the many "lady in white" sightings and ghostly battle reenactments. These apparitions are often visual, but sounds and smells are common too. The catalyst that starts the recording is usually very emotional or violent, such as a war or a mother losing a child. These apparitions never interact with the observer or acknowledge the presence of the observer in any way. They are reported as walking through walls or just disappearing into thin air, and they do not appear to be conducive to photography, though EVP recordings are occasionally successful. Although most concur that these types of apparitions do appear to be "recorded" somehow in the surroundings, there is disagreement on how exactly we as observers perceive these recordings. One side postulates that it is something within the observer that sets the recording in motion, and that the recording thus "plays inside our heads." The other side postulates that the recording is being played externally for all to see, but that only those with the right "antenna" can experience it. Thus, as frightening as this type of manifestation may be, the apparition is not a thinking entity, nor does it have a will or a purpose, and it is no more of a threat to the observer than watching a character on a television show.

Theory #3

Apparitions are created from some type of naturally-occurring electrical, magnetic, or electromagnetic condition. Many serious paranormal researchers believe that measurable properties such as electricity or magnetism play a part in why we experience ghostly encounters. Equipment for detecting anomalies in atmospheric, electrical, and magnetic conditions for the purposes of detecting paranormal activity is big business these days. Many different variations on this theme have been postulated through time, likely originating with the "feelings" reported by observers in the vicinity of paranormal phenomena. Feelings of "magnetism" are often reported, as are sensations that the hair is "standing on end," a common occurrence around fields of high electricity. Temperature fluctuations have become the litmus test for detecting activity, as have vague feelings of the area being "energized" by some unknown process. Many different theories regarding how naturally-occurring elements may interact to allow for paranormal phenomena have been offered, and include exotic theories ranging from energy emitted from earth ley lines, natural geologic fault lines creating bursts of energy, or some kind of natural vibration or earth harmonic. One of the few things we do know for sure is that paranormal phenomena is more likely to be experienced at night, and sure enough, there is an scientific explanation for why this may be. In short, the earth is covered by a fluctuating membrane we all know as the atmosphere, which is constantly being bombarded by a strong solar wind from the sun. During the day, this membrane is at its thinnest and densest because it is being directly hit by the solar wind. However, at night, when sheltered from the sun, it expands much farther into space and has much less resistance This explains why television and radio stations come in better at night, and why you can tune into stations much farther away than is possible during the day. Therefore, the reason we see more paranormal activity at night is because there is much less resistance to every kind of magnetic and electrical current or force, making it easier for energy-based manifestations to appear. Indeed, the best time to go on ghost hunts is widely believed to be between 9 pm and 3 am, with midnight being optimal. For these same reasons, since ancient times, total eclipses of the sun have been the source of many legends and tales of paranormal occurrences. Anyone who has ever gone on a ghost hunt has likely realized before too long that ghosts can be annoyingly camera shy, and the explanation for this may very well be related to the above discussion of electricity and magnetism. It stands to reason that if paranormal occurrences are energy-based, the arrival on the scene of man-made energy-based devices may put a kink in the environment needed for the apparition to appear. Even a battery-operated digital camera, voice recorder, or flashlight may put out enough energy to disrupt the natural energy of an area, to the chagrin of ghost hunters everywhere. This might explain why as a whole we are remarkably unsuccessful at capturing verifiable ghosts on film.

Theory #4

Ghosts are actual beings living in one or more parallel dimensions. The concept of a parallel universe is a fairly complex one. To put it simply, this theory suggests that there are one or more (perhaps an infinite number) of complete universes co-existing with us on a plane we are generally not aware of. Picture a lot of soap bubbles all floating around in a room. Each soap bubble contains an entire unique universe, and though there are hundreds of bubbles in the air, each is independent of all the others. Occasionally, two bubbles will collide and stick together, creating a passageway between the two universes. Any type of spectral appearance, sight, sound, or anomaly can fit into the theory of parallel dimensions. Thus, when we see an apparition, especially one seemingly from another time and place, it could be that we getting a rare glimpse into another dimension or reality and we are seeing events develop in that plane of existence. Interestingly, it is also theorized that each of us even have parallel selves living on different planes in different stages of development and that we may be aware of them at times on a subconscious level. Obviously, this theory is just that - a theory - but it is a particularly tantalizing one, and hopefully we progress technologically, more scientific light will be shed on this topic.

Theory #5

Ghosts exist only as figments of our imaginations. This theory can be made to apply to every kind of paranormal manifestation there is, and in some cases, it is probably at least in part correct. Medical studies have proven that when certain parts of the brain are stimulated, various perceptions are disturbed, such as visual, auditory, and tactile functions. Various external stimuli such as very low frequency sound waves and high fields of electricity can cause hallucinatory experiences that for the subject are indistinguishable from reality. Indeed, schizophrenics often relate seeing, hearing, and even talking to very real entities that nobody else can see or hear, but medical science thus far has not found the cause for this. Are they really seeing things that nobody else can see or hear? The consensus seems to be no - it is "all in their heads" due to an unknown short circuit in the make-up of their brains, but nobody really knows for sure. Further study in this particular type of mental disorder may eventually shed light on some areas of the paranormal. However, there are still a lot of questions left unanswered by this theory, such as when more than one person sees the same phenomena. Skeptics use the term "mass hysteria" for situations like this, but nobody has offered an explanation for the core catalyst causing many brains to suddenly go haywire. Obviously, this theory needs a lot of work, but it will probably be among the first to be proven or disproven by science.

Even though some of this information is simular with types of haunting, it makes things a little bit clearer also. It is all inter connected...wouldn't you agree?

http://www.cctopsghosthunters.com/

Are You Haunted?

Below are just a few of the typical signs for a spiritual infestation. They are as follows:

1. Feeling a sense that you are constantly being watched or spied upon.  You will often feel jumpy and/or on edge if a spirit is influencing the atmosphere in your home. You may also be looking over your shoulder a lot for no apparent reason. You will just feel, "creeped out".

2. Strange out of place sounds. This could be bangs or knocks on the walls, muffled voices, whispers, or even a voice you recognize, but the real person was not talking to you or even in the home.

3. Strange unexplainable smells. This could range anywhere from a cologne or perfume smell; to rotting meat, sulfur, or garbage smells. You might even smell smoking. Always check for a natural explanation though, and the nasty smells especially at night usually indicate a demonic presence.

4. Things vanishing or being moved. Favorite targets of evil spirits seem to be things like car keys or other things that are of use or value to your daily life. Evil spirits just want to intimidate you and make you think they are in control. If this does happen then don’t think you are losing your mind or waste a lot of time searching for things, just command them all to be returned in Jesus’ name.

5. Being touched or feeling like something passed through you. If a spirit passes through you then you will likely feel chilled to the bone in that area. You may be touched especially at night, and if this happens command the spirit to stop it and ask God to send His angels. You may need to catch up on your sleep at someone else’s house from time to time until the situation is resolved.

6. Seeing a spirit or orb. Evil spirits love to generate as much fear as possible in order to feed on it so they try to manifest themselves in different ways, usually at night. This may be an apparition or an orb that looks like a little bubble about 3/8'' in diameter. I’ve seen them even in the daytime.

7. Pets acting harassed and threatened. If your pets start acting like an intruder is in the house or they start running around as if trying to get away from something, this could either be the "kitty crazies", or they might actually be seeing or sensing something that you cannot see.

8. Bad dreams or nightmares. This will likely be a demonic presence trying to get into your head so to speak at a very vulnerable time, namely when you're asleep. But it could also be a stress dream due to the activity. Either way, just rebuke the spirit and command it to go in Jesus name.

9. Cold spots in your rooms or home. If you're dealing with an evil spirit then that spirit will likely try to drain power from things in order to manifest itself which can leave a void of cold. Also, flashlight batteries going dead for no reason can be a sign too. I had new batteries drained.

10. Family strife and odd mood swings. Evil spirits can project negative emotions at you and your family in order to drain you and break down your family unity. Many times they will focus on the most vulnerable person there in order to progressively break them down and try to control them.

Haunted York

Ghosts, Ghouls and Spooky Goings On...

The Most Haunted City in The World…

The Paranormal Database – yes, such a thing exists – claims York is the most haunted city in England. The GRFI (Ghost Research Foundation International) has gone one step further, claiming in a survey that they found York to be the most haunted city anywhere in the world with a staggering 140 ghosts and 504 reported ‘hauntings’.

Various explanations have been advanced for York’s other-worldly abundance. Some point to the city’s turbulent and often bloody history, whilst others believe the Romans to have founded the city on a sacred burial site. Whatever the reason, York is certainly not short of a good ghost story or two…

Haunted York

Bedern, a narrow alleyway off of Goodramgate (above), is thought to be haunted by the ghosts of long dead children. In the early nineteenth century it was the site of York Industrial Ragged school, an institution for orphans and children from impoverished families.

The establishment was run for nearly a decade by a violent drunk. Local gossip rumoured that he had beaten more than one child to death and hidden the bodies in a cupboard in his room. It is said that their restless spirits can still be heard here – and you might feel the cold hand of a child clinging to yours.

The ghost of a small girl called Sarah has been reported as wandering the corridors of Micklegate Bar – sometimes accompanied by a sound of jangling keys. After losing the keys to the Bar that were her father’s responsibility, she spent the rest of her life looking for them. When she finally did find them she dropped down dead.

Linking Swinegate with Low Petergate, Lund’s Court – or Mad Alice Lane as it used to be called – is believed to be haunted by a famous former resident. One Alice Smith used to live here but was hanged for the crime of insanity at York Castle in 1825. Her ghost – it is said – can still be seen gliding down the alleyway.

Just south of York in the village of Bishopthorpe, there have been sightings of a headless torso wandering the fields. Back in the eighteenth century, a wealthy women was murdered for her money and the body hidden nearby. By the time she was found the body was in an advanced state of decay and the head had become detached.

If you travel north-east from York toward Malton you might see the ghost of ‘Nance’ on the A64. Due to marry a mail coach driver, she apparently fell for the charms of a highwayman. Her choice proved a bad one unfortunately, for he left her and her child to die of exposure on the lonely road. She is believed to appear when visibility is bad to guide travellers through the mist.

Haunted Houses in York

One of York’s most famous ghost sightings occured in 1953. Apprentice plumber Harry Martindale was working in the cellar of the Treasurer’s House just behind the Minster. Hearing the sound of an approaching horn, Martindale saw a horse with a dishevelled Roman soldier on its back emerge through the wall followed by more legionaries in plumed helmets talking amongst themselves.

They appeared to be walking on their knees as he couldn’t initially make out their feet and lower legs – it turned out that there was a Roman road fifteen inches below the floor of the cellar. His detailed descriptions of the soldiers’ clothing, facts he couldn’t have known previously, seemed to give his story legitimacy. Legend has it that when the young plumber fled upstairs, the buildings curator said to him ‘You’ve seen the Roman soldiers, haven’t you?’ – apparently this wasn’t the first sighting of the legionaries.

A female ghost that has been seen in the Principal’s House – dressed in green and carrying roses – is rumoured to be that of Catherine Howard, the fourth of Henry VIII’s six wives. The building in which she has been seen is built on the site of the old rose garden where the queen apparently liked to spend much of her time when in York. She would later be beheaded – possibly for her infidelity here with her lover Thomas Culpeper.

The King’s Manor, also on Exhibition Square, is frequented by the ghost of a monk and the groans of wounded men can also be heard as it was used as a temporary hospital during the Civil War.

The area around the Minster seems to be a popular hang-out for local ghosts and is home to some of York’s most haunted houses. The house at 5 College Street is reportedly home to a ghost of a young girl who wanders around upstairs. When the Black Death spread across England in the 14th century, a six year old girl was locked in the boarded up house with the bodies of her parents who had died from the disease. She wasn’t infected however, and slowly starved to death.

St. William’s College next door (above) is home to a ghost with a guilty conscience. In the 16th century, two brothers staying here hatched a plan to rob a wealthy priest. They stole his jewellry and purse – but also slit his throat. Fearing his younger brother, who was now overcome with remorse, would get them both caught, the elder reported his brother for the crime. His brother was tried and hanged, but the elder died himself soon after, racked with guilt. It is his spirit that is said to pace the floors of St. William’s college.

Haunted Pubs in York

There are a number of haunted pubs in York – and many lay claim to the city’s ‘most haunted’ title. One of which is The Snickleway Inn on Goodramgate which is apparently frequented by a number of ghostly apparitions. The ghost of a woman killed just outside the pub by a horse and cart delivering beer can be seen waiting on the staircase, there is a sinister presence in the cellar and an elderly man in old-fashioned apparel has been seen walking through the back wall.

A pub I didn’t know until recently was haunted, The Cock and Bottle on Skeldergate is said to be visited by the ghostly figure of one George Villiers who owned a building that was once on the site. A Royalist and alchemist, Villiers can be distinguished by his large nose and wavy black hair.

Now a Wetherspoon’s pub, The Punchbowl on Micklegate is said to be haunted by a former landlord who burnt to death in a fire. He has allegedly been seen in both the cellar and one of the bedrooms upstairs. Other inhabitants include a young woman strangled by a drunk and a woman who died of a broken heart.

On the other side of the city, a bowler hatted Victorian workman is apparently a ‘regular’ in The Black Swan on Peasholme Green (pictured). He gives the impression that he is waiting for someone, and sometimes paces about before gradually fading away. More peculiar perhaps is the pair of legs that have been seen wandering about the staff quarters and going down the stairs.

Used as a hospital during the English Civil War, down in the cellar of Ye Olde Starre Inne on Stonegate you can apparently hear the screams and cries of amputees. The pub also has some feline ghosts as well. Legend has it that two black cats were bricked up between the door and the bar – an attempt to protect the building against bad fortune. Dog owners visiting the pub have reported their animals growling, snarling and throwing themselves toward the place where the cats were said to have been entombed.

Round on High Petergate in the York Arms there is said to be a phantom nun who, like the cats, was bricked up behind a wall many centuries ago (although in her case she wasn’t considered a lucky charm, she had apparently just given birth and was being punished). Although the original building is long gone, the pub stands on the same spot.

Haunted Hotels in York

The Golden Fleece, a pub that also offers lodgings, is reportedly haunted by a ghost from the mid-twentieth century. At the end of the Second World War, a Canadian airman staying here fell from one of the upper windows and broke his neck on the street below. Ever since, his ghost has been said to haunt the bedroom from which he fell.

Guests have also reported seeing the ghostly figure of a woman wandering the corridors. It is said this is Lady Alice Peckitt, a one time resident of the neighbouring building, although it is unclear why she would be haunting next door.

Located on Duncombe Place in view of the Minster, Dean Court is another of York’s haunted hotels and has a number of spooky stories associated with it. One ghost has been recorded as that of a Roman soldier, but it is unclear whether his metal helmet is enough to distinguish him as Roman.

Although this whole area around York Minster was the site of the original Roman garrison, the present building was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century as lodgings for visitors to the Minster and it wouldn’t make sense – according to ghost authorities – to see such an apparition upstairs here.

Although there haven’t been an ghost sightings here, Room 36 is said to have provoked odd sensations in guests, including pressure on the bed and a frequently recorded cold spot that occurs even on warm days. A Victorian cleaning lady is also said to haunt the cellar downstairs. She is thought to have possibly had a room here or possibly just stored her tools and this is why she returns.

Haunted Churches in York

York Minster is the setting to a number of ghostly tales. One such story was recorded by T.M. Jarvis in his ‘Accredited Ghost Stories’ published in 1823. A group of friends were visiting the Minster when some of their party became separated. They were approached by an officer in full naval uniform. He paused for a moment, whispered in the ear of one of the ladies ‘There is a future state’, and then carried on past before disappearing.


The man was the brother of the woman who had been spoken to. The two had made a pact that whoever died first would confirm to the other the existence of an afterlife. The brother had just been killed at sea.

The ghost of one Dean Gale who died at the beginning of the eighteenth century has apparently been sometimes seen sitting at the end of a pew listening to sermons.

The Minster is also said to be haunted by a dog whose barks can be heard echoing at night. The dog, called Seamus, was owned by a stonemason who worked on the Minster during its construction. Due to their being an unpopular pair, the other labourers decided to brick Seamus in behind a wall. The dog died alone in the darkness, his barks unanswered.

The headless ghost of Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland has apparently been seen at Holy Trinity Church on Goodramgate. A staunch Catholic he was executed for treason in 1572 for plotting against the Protestant queen Elizabeth I. His head was spiked and placed atop of Micklegate Bar, where it remained for many years before being buried in the church grounds. His body has been seen stumbling between the graves in search of its missing head.

Another haunted church in York is the Church of the Holy Trinity on Micklegate (similar name, different place) where sightings of three ghostly figures have been reported – two adults and one child. There are two different and contradictory stories that explain their appearance. The first is that mother and child were buried apart and the second adult figure is a nanny reuniting them. The second says that the women are unconnected, the mother and child were united in death after the youngster died of plague, whilst the other women is an abbess killed during the Reformation.



CREDITS - York PM