Types of Hauntings
Unexplained
noises
-
footsteps; knocks, banging, rapping; scratching sounds; sounds of something
being dropped. Sometimes these noises can be subtle and other times they can be
quite loud.
Doors, cabinets and cupboards opening and closing
-
most often, these phenomena are not seen directly. The experiencer either
hears the distinct sounds of the doors opening and closing (homeowners get to
know quite well the distinctive sounds their houses make) or the experiencer
will return to a room to find a door open or closed when they are certain that
it was left in the opposite position. Sometimes furniture, like kitchen chairs,
is perceived to have been moved. Very rarely will the experiencer actually
witness the phenomenon taking place.
Lights turning off and on -
likewise, these events are seldom seen actually occurring, but the lights are
switched on or off when the experiencer knows they were not left that way. This
can also happen with TVs, radios and other electrically powered
items.
Items disappearing and reappearing -
this phenomenon, which we have dubbed Disappearing Object Phenomenon. Others
have called this "the borrowers" phenomenon, and it's the familiar experience of
not being able to find a regularly used item - say, your set of car keys - which
you believe you placed in a spot you routinely place them. But they're gone and
you look high and low for them with no success. Sometime later, the keys are
found - in exactly the place you normally put them. It's as if the object was
borrowed by someone or something for a short time, then returned. Sometimes they
are not returned for days or even weeks, but when they are, it's in an obvious
place that could not have been missed by even a casual
search.
Unexplained shadows -
the sighting of fleeting shapes and shadows, usually seen out of the corner of
the eye. This phenomenon has also been discussed in some detail in "Shadow
People."
Many times, the shadows have vaguely human forms, while other times they are
less distinguishable or smaller.
Strange animal behavior -
a dog, cat or other pet behaves strangely. Dogs may bark at something unseen,
cower without apparent reason or refuse to enter a room they normally do. Cats
may seem to be "watching" something cross a room. Animals have sharper senses
than humans, and many researchers think their psychic abilities might be more
finely tuned also.
Feelings of being watched -
this is not an uncommon feeling and can be attributed to many things, but it
could have a paranormal source if the feeling consistently occurs in a
particular part of the house at a particular time.
Feelings of being touched -
the feeling of being watched is one thing, and actually feeling like you are
being touched is quite another. Some people feel something brush past them,
something touching their hair or "a hand" on the shoulder. Some feel a gentle
poke, push or nudge.
Cries and whispers -
on occasion, muffled voices, whispering and crying can be heard. Sometimes
it's music from some unknown source. People hear their names being said. This
phenomenon, as is true for the one above, gains more credibility if more than
one person hears or sees the same thing at the same time.
Cold or hot spots - cold spots are classic haunting symptoms, but any instance of a noticeable variance in temperature without a discernable cause could be evidence.
Unexplained smells - the distinct fragrance of a perfume or cologne that you do not have in your house. This phenomenon comes and goes without any apparent cause and may accompany other phenomena, such as shadows, voices or psychokinetic phenomena. Foul odors can happen in the same way.