Undoubtedly, the most interesting thing that happened to me when I "came out of the paranormal closet" was the outpouring of stories from friends, family, coworkers, heck even strangers. I thought I was for the most part alone in my interests and experiences, boy was I wrong!
For some people, activity in their home can be an exciting experience, but for others its a fearful time. I think many of us are seeking messages from our departed loved ones, but when the lights start flickering, and shadows appear out of the corner of your eye- you might not be so sure its your dear old aunt.
Regardless of how you feel about the activity, I have a few simple things I ask of everyone who comes to me with their experiences.
The first thing I suggest, to those who are fearful, and to those who think Casper is going to be their new BFF, is to write your experiences down. It can be hard to articulate what happened in conversation for many reasons, one is the fear of being judged,trust me, you're not the only one who thinks they might be going crazy when you have unexplained experiences. Take a few moments, to sit and write everything down, you don't have to share this with anyone but it can be therapeutic to write it down.
Now that you've taken the time to write everything down, its time to rationalize the experience. This does not mean I want you to try to explain away, debunk, or make an excuse for the activity. Instead, I want you to think about the situation rationally, setting emotions like fear and anxiety aside for the moment. For example, you felt a hand on your arm in your home, and you were startled and terrified. That's an understandable reaction, but think about what really happened, someone unseen, touched your arm (ok, still creepy), but was the touch light? Did the entity try to harm you? Or was someone simply trying to get your attention? If you can change your mindset about what happened and think rationally about the activity and spirits intent, I think you will be much more comfortable in your home.
Next up, its time for a conversation. Communication is key in all relationships, and contrary to what the movies show us you probably won't be "excorcisng" or "clearing" your home, so this will be a matter of coexisting. Now, before you freak at the idea of Casper sticking around, hear me out. Please consider, that if the activity is genuinely paranormal, that who you are going to communicate with, was once alive and well as you are. These are people, with memories, feelings, and reason. I have found that the most simple way to stop frightening activity is to talk. Take a moment, and say out loud- " You are frightening me, I need you to respect my space. This is my home and I need to feel comfortable." It may sound silly, but it can't hurt to try.
If the activity in your home is ongoing, you have a little more work ahead of you.
You've done all of the above, and the activity is still troubling you, or maybe simply you want to better understand what's going on.
Well you're in luck, you have several options on how you can approach activity in your home.
If you are a person of faith, you can reach out to your religious community and leaders for comfort. This can be a great avenue for many people, but just because you practice religion, you are not limited to your church, or religious body. I don't believe there is any harm in consulting your faith, alongside scientific based paranormal research teams or organizations. Now, I respect that for many people, this will be their final step. Whether your home is blessed, cleared, sprinkled with Holy Water, if it works for you- it works for you.
If you do choose to consult a paranormal research team, I think you will be amazed at the array of teams in most communities. For example, when I met someone who ran a paranormal team in Portland, OR, I was thrilled. I didn't realize there was a single team in Portland, and here I was meeting someone in my neighborhood. It felt like fate, but after I began working in Paranormal research I encountered dozens and dozens of teams. Why is this important? Because I don't want fearful or eager homeowners to run to the first organization they encounter. I cannot stress the importance of finding the team that will be the best fit for you. You should not be afraid to ask questions, they will probably interview you and you shouldn't be afraid to interview them. Do your research, and if a team doesn't meet your standards-don't use them. If you happen to live in a small town, or an area with few teams this may be more challenging. I could go on for pages about what I think is in important in selecting a team, but this isn't about me, this is about you.
I do however have a few basic "Rules of Thumb" for you to consider:
1. Avoid any organization that expects compensation for their services
2. The Team should have a mission statement, and information about anonymity practices readily available
3. The team should be accommodating and professional, these people will be spending time in your home/ business. Don't be afraid to ask questions, set boundaries, and research the team and members.
If at any point, you feel uncomfortable with the team or their practices- you reserve the right to ask them to vacate the premises and terminate the relationship. You should never feel obligated to allow them to do anything.
I could quite literally, write an entire book on handling paranormal activity in your home, but I hope this very small piece offers some information to those who are curious or who are in need.
No comments:
Post a Comment