This page was designed to answer the questions I get all the time about me, my website, and the paranormal. It is not a replacement for the Ghosts and Hauntings FAQ, since it covers different areas. If you are looking for information on specific ghosts or hauntings, information on types of ghosts, or other ghostly info that is not on this page, please check there.
All of the questions below are ones I've gotten from real people. (In other words, I didn't just make them up.) Some have them have been rephrased for clarity, but that's about it. I've divided this document into four parts to make it easier for you to find the answer to your question.
Questions on ghosts/paranormal phenomena
Questions about the website
Questions about me
Miscellaneous questions
"I hope you can help me. I'm trying to find out when ghosts entered western culture. [...] Can you tell me what the earliest recorded stories of a ghosts is in western culture and the culture that most influenced our belief in ghosts."
According to the excellent book Ghost Sightings by Brian Innes, the oldest written report of a ghost comes from the Bible, in the first book of Samuel. Saul goes to a medium ("a woman that hath a familiar spirit") and asks her to conjure up the deceased Samuel, which she does. Samuel appears in the form of "an old man covered with a mantle."
Another very old ghost sighting comes from Ancient Greece. A Greek writer named Pausanius wrote around 150 AD about a haunting at the site of the battle of Marathon (490 BC). In the words of Pausanius:
"At this place you can hear all night horses whinnying and men fighting. No one who stays there just to have this experience gets any good out of it, but the ghosts do not get angry with anyone who happens to be there against his will."
Notes: The description of Samuel in his undead state, covered with his mantle, seems to set a precedent for the sheet-covered ghost so favored in Western culture. Although Samuel was conjured and perhaps not a "true" ghost, Pausanius' account is clearly that of an already established haunting which must have been well known at the time.
"Are ghosts real?"
If I knew that, I would be writing a bestselling book, not maintaining this web page. The short answer is: Nobody knows. For a longer answer, I suggest going to the bibliography and reading a few of the books there. One book I recommend highly is "Ghost Sightings" by Brian Innes. Brian Innes has a scientific background and tends to take a more level-headed view than many paranormal writers, but without discounting the possibility of paranormal phenomena.
Just an aside, but an important point I think needs to be made: Anyone who tells you that ghosts are definitely real is either lying or misguided. The fact is, there is no hard proof of ghosts, spirits, etc. Let it be known that I don't disrespect the work of honest ghost hunters and paranormal investigators. Obviously since I run a paranormal website, I do not completely discount the paranormal myself. (For more on this, see my answer below to "What would you tell people who don't believe in ghosts?")
"How do I tell if my house is haunted?"
Unfortunately, the only real answer I can give you is: you can't. Since there is no hard proof of the paranormal, there is no definitive way to tell if your house is haunted. However, if weird stuff is happening on a regular basis, you might want to start a journal. Record the weird occurrences, noting the time, weather conditions, witnesses present, etc. If you are hearing weird sounds, try to record them. If you are seeing manifestations or objects moving, try to get photographs or video. Write down all the information you can think of about your home, its history, and the weird stuff that has happened there that is definitely NOT paranormal in origin. (For example, if it snows where I live and then warms up quickly, the snow sloughing off the roof makes an incredible and spooky racket.)
When you feel you've got a reasonable amount of proof, take your case to some experienced ghost hunters. Tell 'em Obiwan sent you. They will find the journal and pre-prepared info very helpful in their investigations.
"How do I get rid of the ghost in my house?"
One way to get rid of ghosts is to ask the ghosts out loud to please depart and/or cease their activities. Judging by the stories I receive, this is a remarkably effective way of dealing with the issue.
Another thing to remember is that not all weird occurrences are of paranormal origin. Regular house sounds, even if you've never heard them before, can be mistaken for paranormal phenomena. Also, certain "real but weird" things such as ball lightning can be plenty spooky without being paranormal. (I know I mention ball lightning a lot in this context. It's because almost everyone has heard of it, and because I've seen it myself, and because it is really is a perfect example of a VERY bizarre natural phenomenon.)
Let us not forget the power of the human imagination. Sometimes humans see or hear things that aren't there. That doesn't mean we're all crazy. It happens to all of us. The human mind is also notorious for "filling in" details that aren't really there. I once saw something I immediately thought was a ghost, on a street I had lived on for three years. As it turned out, it was a street sign (one I had seen/ignored hundreds of times) that by a really odd twist of light and shadow had been transformed by my mind into a floating apparition of a woman. If I had turned and run away (my first inclination, but it's hard to do that when you're in the passenger seat of a moving car) I would have forever thought that I had seen a ghost.
However, if these more mundane explanations don't hold any water with you, and/or you are feeling seriously harrassed, my advice is to call a local ghost hunter. There are plenty of them listed in the "Ghost Hunters" section of my Ghostly Links page.
"Can you get rid of my ghost for me?"
Er, no. I don't do that. If you want to get rid of your ghost, follow the advice in the last question.
"I was reading the part about the man in a black cloak and top hat. I've read some other of your stories which involve this character. Anyway just wondering if you had any insight as to who this figure might be?" AND from numerous people: "Who is this black shadow ghost that appears in so many stories?"
There do seem to be certain ghost archetypes that appear over and over. The only (semi-scientific) explanation I can think of is that many of us are conditioned to think of ghosts in a certain way, e.g. "dark" or "old fashioned looking." The other explanation is, of course, that there are "classes" of apparitions organized by some other-worldly set of rules.
"Can you tell me more about the black eyed kids I've read about other places on the net?"
The "black eyed kids" or BEKs story that is widely circulated is the one Brian Bethel wrote about his very true experience. Brian has provided a Black Eyed Kids FAQ. I suggest you go check it out if you're interested in the phenomenon.
"Can you attract paranormal activities or have your paranormal senses heightened by reading about them? Or am i just freaking myself out?"
Some people believe that you can attract ghosts (or other paranormal activity) just by thinking about it. However, I venture that if this were the case, a lot more people would be having paranormal experiences. I think you probably just got freaked out from reading the stories. It still happens to me once in a while and I've been at this for over a decade. Spooky but not necessarily paranormal.
"Do you have a banner I can use for a link to your site?"
First of all, thanks for the link! :-) And secondly, you can find a banner at http://www.ghosts.org/images/sitelogo.jpg
"Can I take stuff from your site and put it on mine?"
Umm, it depends. If you want to use a longish quote (for instance one section from the FAQ), or a couple pictures, that's fine. Just give me credit and a link on your page. OTOH, I find that a lot of people who write me with this request mean: "Can I reproduce your entire FAQ, about 200 of the stories, and some various unnamed other stuff, and put a link to you somewhere on my "links" page, or your name in real small letters at the bottom of all the info?" In that case, my answer is: No, you can't use stuff from my page.
"Why aren't there more graphics/pictures on your page?"
I guess I am "old school" on this topic. I feel that graphics should only be used when necessary. Most of the information presented on the website doesn't need graphics. When I've found a pertinent picture, I have used it, but mostly I only add pictures to pages that need them, like the Haunted Places page.
NOTE: The front page went under fairly major design revisions in June 1997, October 1997, September 1998, January 2001, and August 2003.
"When are you going to update the web page?"
Short answer: Whenever my children let me.
Long answer: I do try to update as much as possible. However, my computer time is pretty limited these days due to homeschooling two very active children. I realize that I can sometimes be really slow on adding stories, links, and other info... all I can tell you is, please be patient with me. I am usually dealing with my son and daughter at the same time I'm on the computer. Also, please keep in mind that there is quite a bit of "behind the scenes" work to be done before I can add things like stories and new features. Again, I beg your patience on this matter.
"How can I tell when you add new stories? How often do you add new ones?"
The latter question varies so drastically that I have given up on trying to answer it. However, whenever I add stories, I post a noticeable message on the front page telling the world that at long last I have updated the stories page.
"How do I contribute a story to the archives?"
You can send stories to obiwan@ghosts.org . Go to the Story Contribution page to find out more.
"Are all those stories really true?"
Well, probably not. I do, however, make an effort to weed out the obvious fakes. After ten years of reading them, I am pretty good at that, so you'll just have to trust my judgment. I do believe that most of the stories posted on my site are from people who believe them to be true. I am aware that not all of the stories have supernatural explanations. There are quite a few stories of "old hag," to name just one natural phenomenon that I consider spooky enough to include amongst the "ghost" stories.
"Why didn't you post my story?"
There are numerous reasons stories don't make it to the site, but the two most common are:
"I love UFOs. Are you ever going to add UFOs and extraterrestrial topics to your page?"
Nope.
"Why not?"
They don't interest me. UFOs that is.
"How old is the website?"
It first became publically available in March 1995. Before that it was an FTP site.
"I am doing a research paper/report, and I need your name to put down as a reference."
You can use L.C. Krause for a reference name.
"Have you ever seen a ghost?"
No.
"Then what is the weirdest thing you have encountered?"
The weirdest thing I have personally experienced was probably witnessing ball lightning in my bedroom when I was a teenager. It sparked all around the edge (outline) of the window, making a crackling sound, and then went out. Ball lightning does some very bizarre stuff and is often mistaken for a "paranormal" phenomenon.
I've had some other odd things happen, but that is the only one I can say happened "for sure." The others are too dependent on personal interpretation.
"Are you an expert on ghosts?"
I'm not an expert on ghosts, but rather an interested amateur. I do know a lot about paranormal phenomena, just from reading a lot over the years, but do not claim any special insight. Ghosts are my hobby, not my profession. :-)
"Do you believe in ghosts?"
Sort of. See my answer below to "What would you tell someone who didn't believe in ghosts?"
"What other types of paranormal things interest you?"
I like to read about cryptozoology and "earth mysteries" such as ghostlights/will o' the wisps and ley lines and things like that. The idea that there might be undiscovered creatures or natural phenomena out there fascinates me. I'm also interested in telekinesis and other "psychic" phenomena. It would be cool if our brains could really do that kind of stuff, although I am not totally convinced.
I don't believe in UFOs or astrology at all, so I don't study those much, although I was interested in them when I was younger and as a result know the "basics."
"Why do you hate UFOs so much?"
I don't "hate" them. I just think it would be kind of silly to devote space on my page to them, since I have no interest in them.
"I have been trying to find out where the Quote" From Ghoulies and Ghostie to long leggedidy Beasties and things that go bump in the night, Lord deliver us" comes from! I believe it is a Prayer but can not find out the true source . Can you help??"
As far as I can tell from poking around the net, this is an old Scottish prayer of obscure origin. The actual wording is:
From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
By the way, here are some interesting related links: Spook Etymology on the Internet; World Wide Words: Ghoulies and Ghosties; Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts: Things That Go Bump in the Night.
"Is Stephen King's Rose Red based on a true story?"
Answer: Nope. Although the story was "inspired" by Sarah Winchester, King invented the plotline for Rose Red and all its characters (including the house) himself. The story of Rose Red is "completely fictional and has no basis in actual Seattle history." (Source: HistoryLink.org) The mini-series was shot at a place called Thornewood Castle, which was selected to match the building in King's script... not the other way around. (Source: Thornewood Castle Inn and Gardens) Although Thornewood Castle is rumored to be haunted, none of the story of Rose Red was based on or inspired by Thornewood itself.
"What would you tell someone who didn't believe in ghosts?"
Well, I guess it would depend what they were asking. Hehe. Usually I tell interested skeptics that they are free (just as we all are) to believe what they like, but not to automatically discount the Weird Stuff reported by millions of people all over the world. I personally believe that everything can be explained in scientific terms, even if we haven't developed the right TYPE of terms yet. So my view tends to be that ghosts are probably not the lingering spirits of dead folk, but rather some as-yet-unexplained natural phenomenon.
"What would you tell someone who wanted to become a ghost hunter?"
I would tell them to find a back up job first. ;-) Paranormal investigators generally offer their services for free and work in the "profession" in their free time. Those that charge are, rightly or wrongly, often considered frauds. If someone is really interested in becoming a paranormal investigator, the smartest way to go about it seems to be to get a degree in some related discipline (e.g. psychology, biology, or perhaps quantum physics, hehe) and apprentice under an established paranormal investigator. Some parapsychological societies offer "training courses," but IMO these are not of much use since the theories covering paranormal phenomena are so diverse and (unfortunately) unproven. [Note: the for-fee training courses are a whole different thing than actually working with an established paranormal investigator, or by learning how to ghost hunt through trial and error. I am not knocking those who have learned through hard work.]
"Why should people be interested in ghosts?"
Not everyone is interested in learning about ghosts, and that's okay. But folks interested in folklore, religion, history, psychology, or even (*gasp*) certain areas of science might gain something by studying ghosts and paranormal phenomena in general. Even if a person chooses not to believe in ghosts, they can still learn a lot about the human psyche and history and certain experimental methodologies if they study the subject.
"Can you analyze this ghost photo for me?"
If you'd like opinions on a photo, you can post it in the Paranormal Photography forum of the UFO Free Message Board. There are several people there more knowledgable about photography than I am who may help you.
"When I was a young teen (12 or so) I and a freind used to use ouija alot - always together. Anyway, my question is that I can honestly say that I was not trying to move the planchett, but it would always spell out what ever I was thinking. Any ideas on why?"
The way the ouija works (if we ignore the paranormal and stick to the scientific view) is by utilizing the unconscious connection between your brain and your body movements. In other words, if no one was pushing it, the darn thing wouldn't go at all. ;-) So ALL the words spelled out on the ouija have to come from the brain of someone who is touching the planchette.
If you adhere to this view, it's not surprising that the ouija would spell out the things that were in your mind, even if you thought you weren't pushing it. By the way, the fact that this type of activity utilizes that unconscious connection is the reason why the ouija works so much better in groups. Most people find it very hard to use a ouija board on their own. Sitting alone, you are much more conscious of yourself and the fact that you are the only one touching the planchette, and thus by default the one making it move.
"What are some natural explanations for supernatural phenomena?"
Again, natural oddities such as ball lightning and "will o' the wisp," imagination, and simple misinterpretation are often mistaken for paranormal occurences. Here is an interesting bit sent in by a reader:
From: "Hilli" (iridium@tegmentum.net)
To: obiwan@ghosts.org
Subject:
Date: Monday, February 11, 2002 6:29 AM
Dear Obiwan,
My name is Hilli and I recently graduated from UCLA with a bachelor degree in neuroscience. I have been reading some of the stories that people have submitted to your page. Having been a scientifically-minded person all my life, I couldn't help reacting to some of the situations that the writers have described by asking myself how such things have happened. For example, some writers have described smelling strange scents when supposed apparitions were about; I am familiar with the mechanism by which the brain interprets scent--molecules diffuse into the tectorial membane in the nasal cavity and activate connections in the brain which are interpreted as scents. So in order for the writer to have experienced a scent, this neural pathway in the brain would have to be activated by something.
Certain relatively-common neural disordes are characterized by such connections becoming activated in the brain without external sensory stimuli, and are expressed in the patient in the form of images, scents, sounds, and so on. Often these sensory experiences are aided by the patient's memories--for example, a memory of a relative will influence visual stimuli, and the patient will report having seen the relative. These sensations are very real and not mere illusions--they are as real to the patient as images of objects that are in the patient's actual visual field.
I can't help wondering whether a lot of the experiences that people discuss in the stories they submit to your webpage are manifestations of such neural mechanisms. I have worked with patients, myself, who have experienced such sensory experiences as part of the symptoms of their condition. I think this information is worthwhile to mention on your website for those who are not familiar with neuroscience and neuropathology.
This page (http://www.ghosts.org/questionsanswered.html) last updated 3/23/05.