Maybe you notice a sudden drop in temperature in your living room or see the lamp on your nightstand continuously flicker. It’s possible you’ve been hearing unexplained noises around your house or you can’t shake the feeling that there’s someone (or something) in the room. Or perhaps your pup keeps barking at a spot in the corner, as if there’s something there that you, a human with sensory limitations, might not be able to fully perceive.
You wouldn’t be the first person to experience unexplained — and possibly supernatural — phenomena and begin to wonder, Is my house haunted!? We talked to Christine Simmonds-Moore, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of West Georgia, about signs that your house may have some otherworldly visitors, as well as how to connect with any paranormal houseguests.
What Are Some Signs That Your House May Be Haunted?
The following ghost-type occurrences might signal that you have a paranormal presence in your home, says Simmonds-Moore:
- Feeling a sense of presence
- Object movements
- Unusual drafts
- Anomalous powering up of electrical equipment
- Feeling as though one has been touched by an unseen presence
- Seeing ghostly figures (including those who are dressed in clothing from a previous time)
However, these ghostlike occurences don’t necessarily mean there are actual spirits in your home, she explains. What you’re experiencing may be a combination of psychological and environmental factors that cause you to believe you’re perceiving ghostlike phenomena.
For those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, for example, “seeing a ghost” might actually be part of their grieving process, Simmonds-Moore says. According to her research, people tend to recognize deceased loved ones when they are in an in-between state of consciousness, such as when falling asleep, dreaming, or in a meditative state. When this is combined with other environmental factors, like the flickering of lights, it may cause someone to have a ghostlike experience.
What’s also worth noting is that unusual phenomena are more likely to be experienced by highly sensitive people — those who have an increased sensitivity to the environment and an enhanced, deeper processing of stimuli, sensory information, and emotions.
So if you feel that your house is haunted, it could indicate that, for whatever reason, your senses are heightened. (Maybe you’ve been meditating a lot — good for you!) It may also signify that there’s someone who has passed on that you need to see, feel, or experience.
Interested in learning more? Check out Befriending the Ghosts Among Us for Emotional Freedom
Can Ghosts Be Memories of Loved Ones?
Movies and TV shows may portray ghosts to be spooky spirits from another time period or someone unrelated to the person experiencing them, but according to Simmonds-Moore, research shows that most paranormal events we encounter involve a loved one who has passed on.
“Perceiving a ghost of a deceased loved one can help people through the bereavement process by continuing the emotional bonds they experienced while the person was alive,” explains Simmonds-Moore.
Traditions and rituals for calling home loved ones who have passed away can be incredibly healing and a beautiful way to grieve and celebrate life and death. “People can have some profound connections during these experiences that can include being able to say goodbye or resolve issues that were left unresolved while the person was alive,” says Simmonds-Moore.
Cultures around the world have specific rituals to memorialize ancestors who have passed and call them back for a period of time to celebrate. During a Korean Jesa (제사) ceremony, incense is lit to invite ancestors to the table. Then, traditional food and drinks are served to the ancestors, followed by a moment of peace and silence, and finally, a farewell, according to a June 2018 article in the Journal of Ethnic Foods.
For the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, the spirits of the dead visit their families and are greeted with all their favorite earthly delights, including food and drink. Copal and other incense is lit, and elaborate altars are created and decorated with photos, marigolds, and sugar skulls, all to call and guide ancestors home.
How to Befriend a Ghost
Although it might seem scary to befriend a ghost, it isn’t as terrifying as movies and books make it out to be. Now that you know the “ghosts” you perceive may be loved ones who passed on, you might feel compelled to connect with them. Aside from engaging in rituals meant to call back ancestors and loved ones, Simmonds-Moore says “a relaxed, playful, and accepting attitude toward unusual phenomena” can help you call in and connect with these types of experiences, “regardless of whether they are real or illusory (or somewhere in the middle).”
Engaging in meditation can help you create a more relaxed response when you’re experiencing ghostlike phenomena. It also helps to frame these experiences as a time to reconnect, say goodbye, or resolve issues with spirits of loved ones who have passed.
Medium, astrologer, and spiritual teacher Angel Dawn has another tactic for making friends with ghosts: “The first thing to understand is that a so-called ghost is just a spirit, and everyone is spirit. Speak to them out loud or with your thoughts and they will hear them.”
She also says that if your pet is clearly sensing some energy in your home, pay attention. “Animals are more likely than humans to sense etheric energy,” Dawn explains. “They are very psychic, as they are primarily ruled by instincts and feelings.” So the next time your dog starts barking at the wall, think twice before dismissing their behavior.
