How Haunted is your House?

Getting goosebumps, feeling a chill or suddenly feeling your hairs stand on end for no reason is a common phenomenon – and most of us just brush it off and forget about it. Some people, however, refer to these episodes as spiritual chills, something that apparently happens when another being is trying to connect with you through their energy.
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Those bumps and bangs in the night might be a sign of something more – it’s the most commonly reported sign of a haunting or poltergeist. Clicks and knocking sounds are the most frequent, but some people also say that have heard footsteps, breathing, whispering and dragging sounds... creepy! Equally, a big sign of a haunting is when a recorder picks up a noise that people in the room do not hear.
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Shadow ghosts, or specters, are the most commonly seen ghosts and they are most likely to be attached to a set location – meaning they are probably the ones you’re seeing if your house is indeed haunted. These ghosts are thought to be stuck here due to searching for family or friends, or having experienced trauma or unfinished business. By comparison, seeing orbs or flickers of unexpected lights at home also suggests supernatural activity. This is an age-old sign, often reported over hundreds of years by various people, and are said to symbolise a passing.
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When it comes to hot and cold spots, paranormal experts tend to think that cold spots suggest another being is pulling energy, so heat, from the environment in order to exist; making the area around them very cold. Other thinking suggests that cold spots mean the ghost is gentle and calm, while hot spots suggest a more mean or angry ghost is present – while yet another chain of thought is that the hotter the spot, or object, the higher the activity.
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Objects moving of their own accord suggests that a poltergeist has taken up residence in your home, according to various ghost hunters. If you think you have this kind of haunting, it’s known as an intelligent haunting due to the ghost’s ability to communicate with you – this includes by hiding or moving objects around your home. Not all these ghosts are nasty; apparently it depends on their character when they were alive, and it’s likely that they just need a little assistance in getting something done.
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Ghosts can’t actually see you, according to some spiritualists, but they can sense you – so when you think you are being watched, it’s likely that a ghost or spirit is sensing your presence, as you are theirs! This is generally not dangerous, although it may feel a little uncomfortable...!
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If you’ve noticed objects disappearing in your home, you may find that you’re a victim of Disappearing Object Phenomena. This is normally when something you’ve just been using or holding seems to vanish and, no matter how hard you look, you can’t seem to find it. Later, you might find it easily in an obvious spot or exactly where you thought you left it – so what’s happening?! A poltergeist is one possible answer, using mischevious antics to get your attention.
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If you’ve witnessed or heard a door open or close apparently unaided, it’s no wonder you are thinking twice – although it’s easily dismissed as just a draught, it’s actually a very similar kind of energy to items moving of their own accord, and usually attributed to poltergeists.

Ghosts are known to cause electrical wiring problems, according to certain experts, and this can result in lights turning on or off, flickering or even bulbs burning out altogether. Apparently, it’s all down to electromagnetic fields that are often found in haunted areas, which can be to blame for power failures.
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Looking in reflective surfaces, particularly at night time, has been the subject of much warning for hundreds of years, with many stories about seeing ghostly reflections. Mirrors are even believed by some to be able to suck out souls, so are removed from or covered in rooms where people are sleeping, ill or dying. They are also believed to be portals to other worlds, a little like ouija boards!
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Barking, howling, staring into space or just having a crazy five minutes are all suggestions that your pet is trying to tell you something, or reacting to something that you simply can’t see. Even though your pet may seem nervous, this doesn’t mean the ghost is unfriendly – it may just be that they are unsettled or confused, as ghosts are often emotional beings due to their unfinished business.
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Although feeling as though something is touching you, standing close beside you or even breathing on you can be really unpleasant and frightening, this is likely to just be an innocent attempt to get your attention. Negative or angry attacks can happen, but they are a lot less frequent.
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