buying "haunted" homes

[1463Mark]

Hello mariacamille,
About the house and property lot that you mention, on or near the base in Okinawa, well, the good thing is you seem to not be living on it or near it.
If there happens to be a Catholic chaplain at the base, you may want to talk with him about it.
If you don't find one easily available, you may want to look at the site below.
www.milarch.org
They may be able to refer to the office where you may find a priest in your region.
I know the Japanese government is working out many details with the US gov, to reduce the uniformed population in Okinawa. I hear they are transferring many officers, NCOs and enlisted personnel to Guam and to the Philippines.
But still, the people at milarch.org are the ones to talk with, concerning Catholic military chaplains inside and outside of the US.
Best wishes.
1463Mark

[TheHolyTrinity]

I brought a house that I believe had a demon in residence. Many family and friends urged me to sell up. I stated that I could not pass this to someone unsuspecting. I eventually needed the assistance of a exorcist priest to perform a house blessing and a short time later a house exorcism.

I would not move now, I still remain on guard.

[Iheartcoffee]

Sometimes I wonder if ghosts might have a scientific explanation that we do not quite understand. When you get into some pretty advanced physics and ponder the opportunities that may exist with energy fields and things it makes me wonder if there is a level of energy use and transmission that manifests itself visually that we do not understand yet.

Hundreds of years ago people thought that epileptic seizures were caused by spirits. Now, we test for those and only worry about spirits if the person has a clean bill of neurological and psychological health. Maybe a lot of the ghosts we see are instead something that will be explained by physics one day?

Nevertheless, I still believe in ghosts.

Just about every civilization in history, including very isolated groups, have ghost stories- so there is something universal about it no matter what it is.

[Nilla Bean]

If your house in haunted in the TRUE sense of the word, then your home may be a connection to a soul or souls in purgatory. They may have been overly attached to the things of this world, or unable to move past something in their life, and this home is playing a part of their purgation.

It's not taught as doctrine, but it IS an acceptable beliefe within to church, to think ghosts may exist as souls in Purgatory who are here because God himself allows them to be. They may be here for their own benefit, or for ours.

Again, this is not a required beliefe, but it's allowed, and I believe it. If you do find yourself in this situaiton, pray for them. That's what they need. It is scary, often, but they can bring you no harm.

Peter Kreeft talks about them in one of his books, and if you do a search for "ghosts in the AAA section, Michelle Arnold has some wonderful links.

Demonic possession is A WHOLE OTHER STORY.

[Kat_L]

Well, I have some experience with "haunted" homes/property. Here's my story. A bit long..but..I bought my house from my sister in 2003. She only lived there a year and was afraid-saying there were ghosts. But things she complained about (stuff disappearing, stuff moving, etc) could all be explained easily. It wasn't paranormal. I thought she was just over reacting because she was alone and a single parent. The house didn't look haunted to me. It was open and airy. The living room has floor to ceiling windows overlooking a park. Not haunted.
So, I moved in around April of 2003 after having it remodeled. I had a few experiences right when I moved in. My sister in law lived a block away and wanted her own house remodeled. She told me she would be stopping by to see the kitchen. I was in the bathroom putting stuff away when I heard the front door open and slam shut. It's a heavy steel door and slams loudly if you let it go. I heard her shoes (she wears heels and it's laminate flooring) and I say "Hey!" and I walk out of the bathroom and I can hear her ahead of me walking towards the kitchen-which makes perfect sense because that's the room she wanted to see. As I go through the dining room though, I'm thinking "Why didn't she answer me?" and the kitchen light is off. So, I reach the kitchen, no sis. I go back to the living room-even though I know she hasn't passed me. I go to the front door-it's shut and unlocked. So, I locked the door. I had been going in and out, though, and I was cleaning the bathroom floor and again the front door opens and slams shut. I hear walking. I say "_____, I'm in here!" and this time the foot steps come towards the bathroom and I swear I see her shadow move across the hall and I opened the door more and say "No, I'm in here" and I hear this old woman say "Who ARE you?". And it wasn't a creepy, ghostly voice. It was an old woman. And all the condos look the same so I figure she's in the wrong house and as I'm walking towards the bedrooms I say "You're in the wrong....." Nothing. No one. The sound, I thought, was coming from the master bedroom but it was empty. There was no one in the second bedroom. I go back to the master bedroom and check the closet, bathroom and shower. Nothing. Nobody there. I go back to the front door and it's locked. So..I call my sister and she says "I told you the house was haunted and you didn't believe me". But I didn't believe it was a ghost. I thought maybe, someone was walking around upstairs and it just sounds like it's my unit. I could be mixing up the sounds.
We move in and I keep smelling cigar smoke in the living room. The couches are near a heating vent so I figure it must be coming from another unit. I go next door and it's a woman in her 50's living with her elderly parents. No smokers. I go downstairs to the unit below me and it's a Pakastani couple with a new baby. They don't smoke at all.
So, I ask my sister and she says "Yeah, I'm always smelling stuff. I think it's from down stairs. But when I was getting the hvac unit fixed, the guy told me our vents weren't connected. So, I think it's coming from outside. Are you windows open?" And my windows were open so that made sense.

Well, one night, I'm walking through the living room to the hallway that leads to the bathroom and bedrooms and I smell the cigar smoke right by the left side of my face, I turn and there's a man wearing a fedora, an overcoat, I don't see his face but he's holding a cigarette (but it smelled like a cigar). As I backed up against the dresser (that's in that area), it was gone but I could still smell the cigar smoke.

My brother got a job in the area and was contemplating whether he should get an apartment or commute. I said "Just stay with me during the week so you don't have to travel". He started sleeping on my couch. I didn't see him often. I worked during the day and got home around 5. He worked 3 to midnight and got home around 12:30 or sometimes later. One night, I was woken up by this sound of a talk show on TV. I got up but the living room was dark. I then went into my 5 year old daughter's room and she was asleep. I went back to my bedroom and it was quiet. The window was open but I couldn't hear anything but crickets and sound of traffic from a few streets away. So, I went back to bed and again heard talking/laughing. Loud enough to hear it but not clear enough to make out what they were saying. I sat up. Couldn't hear anything. Laid back down and heard laughing. I thought "It must be a tv from downstairs". I then went to sleep. A little while later, my 5 year old came in and said "First the ghosteses woke me up and then they laughed at me" and she wasn't scared or anything-just indignant. And I hadn't mentioned "ghost" to her because I didn't want to scare her. And the next morning, she never brought it up. So, I let it go.
Then my brother says to me "I'm like getting talk shows echoing through my filings or something at night". He also smelled the cigar smoke and figured it was coming from the vent.
His girlfriend came for the weekend and said "You know, sound comes via radio waves and it's possible for a pocket of sound to get trapped in a space. So, that's probably what's happening". And that made sense, and then it stopped happening.

[Kat_L]

My brother moved out when I adopted my second daughter, Hanna, in 2005. I picked her up in November when she was 5 months old. The morning after I brought her home, my older daughter was in school and Hanna cried when I put her down for a nap. Strange crib and everything. So, I held her on the couch until she fell asleep. It was cold and I had the window open so I went and got a green afghan and covered us and then I fell asleep. I woke up with a hand on my face-on my cheek. The impression of fingers. It was so incredibly cold. Colder than freezing cold. As if someone had a cooler and let the ice melt and then put there hand in for an hour and then touched my face. It was soo cold. Not menacing or anything but I could feel the fingers on my cheek. It was like something a mother would do to a sleeping child. And although the window was open and the room was cold, I couldn't figure out how this happened to my face. I kept rubbing it and rubbing it but it was so cold. I finally put the baby down (she was still sleeping) and went into the bathroom. My face was red from rubbing it but I couldn't see any marks or fingerprints-even though I could still feel them. It was so cold. It lasted more than ½ hr.

So, I decide to put the house on the market. I got a realtor and started packing. One morning, I had boxes all over and this same old woman voice from way back when I first moved in says "What's happening?". Again, not scary or ghostly or anything. More like confused. And it was coming from the dining room. I was in the living room and I stood up and there was no one there.

I was going to sell my home and use the equity as a down payment on a townhouse but couldn't find one I could afford without moving out of the county. So, I took the house off the market and started unpacking.
Nothing happened for years.
In 2007, I adopted my third child. A boy named Angel. He was a foster adopt child. I had become licensed to foster adopt a girl between the ages of 4 & 7 to fill in the gap between my two girls (who were 2 & 9). The social worker called me because she had a baby boy on her lap. She wasn't sure he'd even be coming into care. It depended on whether his mom found a place to stay that night. And even if he did come, it would only be for the night. Well, he came. He was 7 months old. And one night turned into a few nights, which became weeks, then months. I had a son. I didn't even know I wanted a boy. He was such a joy. He was very joyful and happy. He was never cranky or moody. He did everything fast. Walked early, potty trained before age 2. Just a happy joyful and very smart little boy.
On August 1st, 2009, we had a gas leak. I didn't know it. I asked Maire-Kate if she smelled gas and she said "No, just laundry detergent" (washer/dryer is in kitchen). I put Angel (who was now 2 yrs, 7 months old) to bed first because if I put him to bed with Hanna (who had just turned 4), they would keep each other awake. M-K was in her room. I was on the couch. Hanna was playing around the living room and dining room (which are open to each other). I wasn't paying attention to her but she ran and jumped on the couch and onto me. She was shaking and her eyes were huge. She said "The man in the kitchen scared me". I sat up and looked toward the kitchen. The light was off and I knew there was no one there. I said "There's no one there. It's just your imagination." She said "No, he scared me. He did this" (and she made shooing gestures) and said "You can't play in here". So, I picked her up and went to the kitchen and turned on the light. I said "Where was he?"-she pointed to the washer/dryer. I said "What did he look like?". She said "He was wearing a hat, and his coat and he had tap-tap shoes on". She called dress shoes 'tap tap shoes'. I immediately thought of the guy with the cigar smoke. I thought "Oh my gosh, she SAW him. As I walked into the kitchen, I could smell gas by the washer/dryer. I turned the fan on over the stove and opened all the windows. I called the gas company and they came and turned off the gas.

Exactly one week later, Angel died. We had gone to Mass, came home, I gave them leftover pizza. Angel wanted pepperoni pizza but he didn't like pepperoni. He stacked in a neat little pile next to his plate (funny the things that stick in your memory). He was playing with Hanna. It was a beautiful day. Hot and sunny. August 9th. I was going to take them to the park but I wanted them to nap first. I said "C'mon Angel, you're taking a nap". He said "I not tired". I said "You have to take a nap. We're going to the park later". So, I picked him up and brought him to his room and put him on his bed. He started crying but not a real cry-more like a "I don't wanna nap" cry. And I said "If you don't take a nap, I'm not taking you to the park". I left the door open and went back to the living room. The next time I saw him, he was dead. I was on the couch and Hanna came to me and said "Angel's sleeping in the window and he has this thing on his neck". I ran screaming down the hall and found Angel hanging in his bedroom window. It was so incredibly horrific. There are no words to describe it.

[Kat_L]

After he died, I wasn't going to go home again. I stayed with my sister and she or my mother would go to the house to get stuff we needed. After a few weeks, my mother talked me into going into the house just to look around. She said "His happy little spirit is everywhere". I went to the house and it wasn't scary or anything. It felt like 'home' so we moved back in. My mom stayed with me for a couple days. After she left, we did have a few experiences that were Angel related. One night, I could feel him standing in front of me. I could sense him. I could smell him. If I had reached out, maybe I could have touched him but I didn't reach out. Other times, we would find feathers around the house. We have down pillows and blankets so that's not paranormal but we had never had so many.

It's been more than 2 ½ years since Angel died. In October 2011, I started seeing bright pinpoint lights-like a bluish white star in the sky-but in the living room. And they only last a second. It's strange but the eye doctor couldn't find anything wrong. He said if it kept happening to come back. Then I started seeing dark shadows. I didn't pay much attention because there are floor to ceiling windows in the living room and light from outside can come in. Then one night last week, the shadow went across the wall and down behind the couch. I immediately thought "BAT!" and got scared. I was looking around for the bat but couldn't see it or hear it. I sat back down and saw the same shadow again down around the end table by the same couch. I thought "Maybe it's a mouse of something". I pulled the couch out from the wall, couldn't find anything. Then, a few nights later, I was watching TV and I thought I saw my oldest, out of the corner of my eye, coming into the living room from the hallway. I turned and it wasn't her. It was a black mass-shaped almost like a person but no head, no arms, no legs and solid. I couldn't see through it. It was like a dark shadow-about 4 feet tall. It was in front of the dresser and it glided or floated, silently, as I looked at it straight on. And it went from the hallway entrance to the entryway (where the front door and closet are). I can't see the front door or closet from the couch so I don't know which way it went. If it kept going straight it would have ended up in front of the closet door or if it went through the wall, it would have ended up next door at the neighbors.

I was terrified. I couldn't even move. I finally got up and got the holy water and spread it around the area. I checked on the girls and they were asleep. I went back out to the living room. About 3 days later, my now 6 year old was putting on her shoes and she yelled for me. She said “I saw a shadow”. I said “Your shadow?” and she said “No, the man’s shadow.”. I said “You know there is no one here”. She said “But I saw it. I saw it go like this” (and she moved her arms in a gliding motion). I said “Where did it go?”. She said “Down that way” and she pointed to the hall (the same hall where I saw it come out that night when I saw it).
I also talked to a friend who is into paranormal stuff. She called a friend who’s a ‘ghost buster’ and he said that black shadows aren’t necessarily evil. We associate “black” with “bad” but that’s actually something that only occurred in the last two centuries. White used to be associated with evil. He said the darting shadows were a problem. He said they are attracted to depression and sadness. I could be drawing them unconsciously because I’m still grieving my son’s death. He said “Are there knocking sounds? Bad smells? Scratches appearing?” and I said “No.” and he said “Well, it’s not demonic. But it’s not good”. He had some new-age advice about burning sage and burying St Michael metals..etc. I called a priest. Hecame out immediately and blessed the house. I didn’t tell him about the shadows. Just that we were having problems.

The house was quiet and had a much happier feel to it. I haven’t seen the dark shadow or the darting shadows since the blessing in November 2011. However, about 2 weeks after the blessing, I woke up choking. It felt like I inhaled a feather or something. I was coughing and choking for about a minute or two and then I sat there trying to catch my breath. I went to lay down and as soon as my head hit the pillow, a female voice said “Helllllooooo” in a sing song voice. It didn’t sound old. And it didn’t sound like Angel or a child. It sounded young. Maybe a young woman. I put my head down and started praying.
I talked to another friend who is a strong Christian. She said “You have nothing to be afraid of. Jesus already won. Nothing can happen to you without God’s knowledge and approval. Do you think He won’t take care of you?”. After that, when saying evening prayers, I would ask God to send his angels to guard us and watch over us. Haven’t heard anything since.


My friend posted on her Facebook "Sometimes, we over exhaust our energy on an already defeated foe. Yes, the devil is very real and full of tricks, but we have victory over him when we walk in our God-given authority! Remember the story of the 3 Little Pigs? The wolf in the story would represent the devil. If you are the person whose house is built upon a Rock, and the Lord is your Shelter, the devil can huff and puff, but he CANNOT knock your life out of commission! You are covered by the Lord God Almighty and the Blood of Jesus! So, remember this when the clown comes knocking talking about "let me in". Say- Whatever devil! This is God's property! Step off in Jesus Name!!"

It's good advice

[VeritasLuxMea]

We're just going to take it for granted that "hauntings" exist?

[Kat_L]

Originally Posted by VeritasLuxMea

We're just going to take it for granted that "hauntings" exist?

"Hauntings" exist. Whether they are holy spirits stuck in some sort of purgatory or evil spirts wreaking havoc, we do not know.

[VeritasLuxMea]

Originally Posted by Kat_L

"Hauntings" exist. Whether they are holy spirits stuck in some sort of purgatory or evil spirts wreaking havoc, we do not know.

You have had thousands of years to develop proof. Show me your proof.

[1463Mark]

Hello Veritas Lux Mea.
It is very comfortable for someone who may not believe in the existence of preternatural phenomenae, or supernatural phenomenae, or someone who doubts it, or does not accept such things, to ask for, or demand 'proof'. Perhaps such person ought to read books and articles which have been published. If you read English, you may inquire from your local or university librarians. They can provide reading material for you. If you read Italian or other languages, you may find librarians who will point you in the right direction. Of course, this also hinges on the field of the librarian, and if she or he actually believes such things exist, or allows the possibility in her/his mind, that such things exist.

You may want to inquire at your library, about the original case, upon which the movie 'Amityville Horror' was produced. That actual case is only one example. There are others. If you are open minded, you probably will discover evidence of these phenomenae. If your mind is of the 'inquisition' type, or of a very rational type, you probably will not find much or any evidence in writing, concerning cases of this nature.

Bear in mind, though, that there are quite a few hoaxes and various frauds out there, usually to make some money. So if you are a serious inquirer/researcher, it probably will take you some effort to find 'proof'. Unless someone delivers it to you, prepackaged, perhaps in electronic format of one sort or another.

Here is a link to an article. This may make your search a little less rough. It is written in easy English.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amityville_horror

Here is another link, courtesy of the hard working volunteers and techs at Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunting

Within Catholic spheres, you may want to find out who is the official exorcist in your diocese, and ask him.

The old Catholic custom of blessing a house, apartment or other property has some reasons. One of them is precisely, to avoid spiritual 'problems' to become attached to such property. The fact the custom is not popular in the US these days, does not mean it is unknown here or in lands where the Catholic Church exists and functions, in other languages.

In the Orthodox world, if you are interested, you can read some info at the following link.
Look for a line that begins thus:
The situation of the other family, that of Raguel, was no less disheartening since Sara, his daughter, ...
http://orthodoxwiki.org/Archangel_Raphael

Then you may want to check in your Bible.

Keep in mind, that some cultures are less inclined to publicize 'extra-normal' or preternatural phenomenae that occur, or may have happened in such cultures, in the past.

Another source for you, is to inquire from historians of religion, if you find one who is interested in this field.
Best wishes in your search for evidence.
1463Mark

[Kat_L]

Originally Posted by VeritasLuxMea

You have had thousands of years to develop proof. Show me your proof.

Show me proof that they don't exist. Jesus spoke to evil spirits during his ministry and spoke of souls of deceased ( rich man in story of Lazarus). Are you calling Him a liar or do you need proof that He existed, too
?

[MtnDwellar]

Originally Posted by VeritasLuxMea

You have had thousands of years to develop proof. Show me your proof.

What kind of proof will you accept?
Photographic evidence and eye witness testimony are abundant. These types of evidence are sufficient to convict and execute a criminal. While acceptable in a courtroom, they are not good enough for a laboratory. The phenomena does not lend itself to scientific proof.

[Rosepetal7]

I do not know what to tell you about what house to buy, but I can tell you to be very cautious and as another poster stated... take other family to see the property as well and get their opinion. That said, even if everyone feels it's a good home, doesn't mean it won't have any problems. We bought a home and lived there several yrs. I do not know if there were any poor souls in purgatory there or not, but I know there was a demon, at least one. We did not know what to do or where to turn. There are other homes we've lived in as well that have had these problems. I can tell you DO NOT, under any circumstances, attempt to communicate with whatever is in a home (or anywhere else for that matter). I was foolish and fell for the trap. I became curious which led to paranormal investigating and other occult activities..... and all of this only made my situation worse. No communication with spirits is ok. It is a sin against God and opens many doors. We do not know who we are really communicating with, as satan and his demons can disguise themselves as angels of light, even as Jesus.... and even as children.We are told to test the spirits( 1 John 4:1) if they appear to us and we think they are good... if they are obviously demonic, there is no reason for testing to know what they are. The devil appeared as Jesus to St Gemma. I believe she tested by saying "Blessed be God, Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ...." A demon will never repeat that entire phrase as is. If it is a spirit sent by God, they will do whatever it takes to make sure you know they are from God. If we just see them, we think maybe it is a human spirit, even if ewe are not sure... it could be a poor soul in purgatory. If that is the case then we should pray. Even if it is not a poor soul (& only God will know this for sure), our prayers will go to other poor souls who need them. Praying is ALWAYS good! If things happen, stuff moving around, shadow people, voices, lights turning off and on, touching, etc... then you need to contact the archdiocese and ask who to write to contact the exorcist priest. If the house is infested with demons, you would need a house exorcism. If it is a family spiritual problem that has attracted demons (oppression), they will help counsel and make suggestions as to what you should do (mass sacraments, daily prayer, family prayer, living a good catholic life).

I want to add... Unfortunately "ghost hunting", "psychics" and all the TV shows and media that go along with them have become so mainstream, that a lot of good Catholics become confused. It is not merely entertainment or a hobby. It is a sin, it is against the first commandment, and it is spiritually dangerous (and can become physically dangerous as well). However, because of the mainstream effect and so many places, and homes now call paranormal groups and psychics to come in, whether for fun or because they're having problems.... you just don't know what has gone on in a home or on the grounds before you live there. I honestly think about this too sometimes, when I think about moving. Stay close to God, attend Mass, pray daily, receive the Sacraments, and have your home Blessed (before you move in if possible). As the priest to Bless every room and closet, repeating the prayer in each place and sprinkling the Holy Water.... This really does make a difference.

I just hope that my post, or any others, have not scared you, but made you more aware. I wish I had been more knowledgeable, I would've avoided many mistakes! I pray that I can make a difference in even one persons life! Please do not be scared, as that is the tactic of the devil.

[mt_gooseberry]

It makes me very uncomfortable knowing how many people (especially Catholics) flippantly dismiss and deny the supernatural. The supernatural is real. It can be Good or Evil. Everytime you attend a Mass, you are experiencing the supernatural. Why do you so doubt that some hauntings are real? We can debate ghosts, but not demons, who often pass themselves off as ghosts. Dismissing all hauntings and ghosts is dangerous. The devil wants us to dismiss him. You can't fight what you don't believe in.

Back to the original post. Homes can be haunted. Whether by "ghosts" is debatable, but many a demon has passed itself off as a ghost. As any exorcist worth his salt knows, a blessing does not always solve the problem. You do not want to get embroiled in the hell that is demon attachment and exorcism. My advice is to avoid houses with rumors of hauntings. You can't tell from the surface which rumors are just that, and which point to a deeper evil.