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My House Is Haunted: Now What? by Natalie Fowler

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

As the whole world shut down for a global pandemic, stay-at-home orders everywhere forced people inside. As people began to spend more in their homes than they'd ever had to before, a few of us began to realize we weren't as alone as we otherwise thought.

As a paranormal investigator, I often remind tour participants that their best ghost hunting tool is their own body, equipped with a variety of senses. One of the reasons we sit in the dark during a ghost hunt is to better tune in to the energies around us. We listen better with our ears. We can better feel when the temperature changes in our space. Our other senses are amplified when our sight is restricted.

When the daily distractions came to a grinding halt, it naturally made it a lot easier for all of us to tune in to the energies of our space—whether we wanted to or not. And sometimes, that meant realizing our space was a little more haunted than we originally thought.

It's one thing to begin to understand that something is there—that an unseen energy is sharing and haunting our space. But the very next question becomes, what should we do about it? All of us have the ability to do more than we might think.

First, it's important to understand the two different ways a space can be "haunted." There are two types of energies that can haunt a space: Residual and Intelligent.

Residual Energy
When a traumatic event occurs, or something repeatedly happens in a space over and over again, a residual energetic pattern can imprint on that space. It's almost like a record player, replaying recorded sound waves.

For example, have you ever walked into a room after two people have argued? You might not even have had to witness the argument, but the tension can still be hanging in the air; it can feel heavy. Some of us who are more empathic and sensitive can physically feel that energy. Just imagine if someone argues in that same space over and over again for the course of days, weeks, months, or years. The amount of angsty, tense residual energy that can build up might very well be overwhelming for anyone to feel, empath or not.

Residual energy doesn't always have to be sad and heavy. For example, a common paranormal occurrence up at the Palmer House Hotel in Sauk Centre, Minnesota is unexplained disembodied footsteps in the hallway. But this type of residual energy makes a whole lot of sense at a place like the Palmer House. In operation as a hotel for its entire existence, it was built in the early 1900s. Back then, it was ahead of its time with respect to indoor plumbing, boasting an indoor bathroom on each floor. Even still, there was only one bathroom that served a lot of residents and guests. Imagine for a moment what would happen every night as people would get ready for bed—they would walk down the hallway to get in line for the bathroom.

Residual energy can be cleared. Metaphysical tools like sage, Palo Santo, Florida Water, or even singing bowls and special crystals can be used to help clear and rebalance the energy of a space.

Clearing Residual Energy
In my humble opinion, there's no wrong way to clear residual energy out of a space as long as the intent is clear. I usually burn sage and Palo Santo, mostly because I like the way they smell together. I start by setting an intention, which I repeat as I walk through the house.

I usually say some variation of, "I hereby breakup and release all of the negative energy in this space, may peace light and love be ever present." But if it makes more sense for you to say something like, "Bad stuff be gone, good stuff take over," then do that. This process is called "smudging."

I never worry about walking in the right direction or making sure all of the windows are open. The more I start to worry about any of that, the more it takes away from my intent that any negative residual energy be replaced with light and love. In other words, worrying and having a lot of fear about "doing it wrong" is actually going to be the reason you do it wrong.

Intelligent Energy
The other way a house can be haunted is by an intelligent energy. Intelligent energy is just that, intelligent…and oftentimes, interactive. An intelligent energy can move small objects around. It can reach out and touch a shoulder. It could tap on a wall in response to a question or command. It can even whisper your name from across the room.

But intelligent energy can come in different vibrations. A high-vibrational energy feels light, happy, and non-threatening. Often times, high-vibrational energies are our loved ones from the other side of the veil coming back to check in on us. After all, heaven can be wherever they want it to be and often, part of their heavenly experience can be popping in on us every now and then. When I was going through a rough stretch, I couldn't turn around without bumping into one of my grandmothers. My father-in-law has been known to drop in at our house, and once he even turned on my husband's stereo, which just happened to be playing a song that had been his favorite. I also love going into church and seeing how many people have their loved ones from the other side sitting right next to them.

A lower-vibrational energy (i.e. a ghost) often feels heavier, and more confused. Sometimes, this kind of energy actually needs help. If a soul didn't go where it was supposed to go upon death, it can get trapped in what seems to be an in-between dimension—it's one that overlaps with ours just enough that we know something is there. This energy can take a little bit more work to clear, in part because in that in-between dimension, there's not a lot of clarity. Sometimes, these ghosts don't even realize that they died.

Clearing Intelligent Energy
Even when a ghost does realize that it's dead, getting a low-vibration intelligent energy to move along can be a little bit trickier. Why? Because an intelligent energy has freewill choice in death, as it did in life. If a soul chose not to go where it was supposed to go upon death, there is usually a reason. If a ghost specifically chose not to go to the light—that higher vibrational dimension—when it had the chance, waving some sage around is not going to get it to go where it is supposed to go now. When we've burnt sage at the Palmer House, I've actually watched ghosts simply go outside and wait for us to be done smudging. When the air has cleared, they go right back inside again.

I was investigating a property with my Ghost Stories Ink team once at a notoriously haunted property on the East Coast. We were having an intelligent interaction with an energy that we believed was the ghost of a woman who committed suicide. Throughout the course of our conversation, it became clear that this ghost was feeling guilty for a lot of the choices she had made in her life and this guilt was keeping her trapped in the dimension between this world and the next. By offering some words of kindness and compassion, we reassured this poor girl that she still deserved to go to heaven. After a few minutes, there was a big swirl of energy. The interaction stopped and it was obvious this ghost was gone.

It might feel a little silly to talk to the air, but it can't hurt to give it a try. Sometimes, all a ghost needs is a little bit of reassurance that their loved ones are waiting for them or that they deserve to go where they should have gone all along. After all, at one time or another, that ghost was somebody's grandmother, father, brother, daughter, or friend. And if one of my deceased loved ones were stuck somewhere they weren't supposed to be, I know I'd be forever grateful to the person who noticed and tried to say a few words to try and help them.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2020. All rights reserved.

Recently I lost an important ring that I had purchased lovingly for myself. The missing ring is gold with a citrine stone in the center, sided with garnets. When I envision the ring on my right index finger, I can still feel the energy coming from it. I really need to have this ring returned, as the story behind it is special to my heart. Do you have any psychic or spiritual techniques for finding lost objects?

Astrea:

I know how frustrating it is to lose a treasured piece of jewelry. When my mother passed away, we hunted all over for her wedding ring, only to find it in her jewelry box later on. I had looked there several times, but it just wouldn't manifest for me. She would have enjoyed the fact that I was looking right at it and not seeing it. I'm hoping your ring is hiding in plain sight, like hers was!

If you're of the Christian faith, a prayer to St. Anthony will often bring the return of the item you seek. There are several versions of that prayer. Here they are below:

O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me (here state your request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the saint of Miracles.

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

The above is the long version. Here is a more popular one that is far easier to remember:

St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come down. Something is lost and can't be found!

If you're pagan or open to a magickal approach, you might try this ritual: Assemble a mirror, a small magnet, and two candles. One candle should be black to represent the lost item, and the other candle should be orange for memory. Light some patchouli incense.

Place the candles in holders in front of the mirror and say three times:

I invite the elements as I move around to help my lost item to soon be found.

Touch the magnet (to draw the item to you) as you remember the last place you saw the item. If you look into the mirror, it will be revealed to you where it has been misplaced.

Be sure to blow the candles out when you're finished!

As a reminder to everyone, with the holidays here and company is around all the time, it's very easy to lose things that are precious to us. When life is chaotic, we're wise to be extra diligent in order to prevent losing things in the first place.

*****

Susyn:

I'm recalling a time when I too lost a treasured piece of jewelry. As I searched for it over a few weeks' time, I discovered other things I had lost or misplaced in the process, and I began to realize as I searched that this jewelry was taking me on a journey to find other treasures.

I would search for a few days and then let it go. When the urge to find this item would rise up again, I would resume my quest. Then I would stop again after a few days. This continued for about three weeks until by chance I located it.

It's possible that your search for the ring is making it even more elusive. Instead, I recommend using the following spiritual methods to discover its whereabouts. In the mean time, continue to meditate and envision the ring on your finger at least once a day.

You can create or purchase a pendulum to help locate your ring. To create a makeshift pendulum, tie a magnet or quartz crystal to the end of a string. Hold the pendulum at the top of the string with your thumb and index finger, letting the magnet or crystal dangle at the bottom.

Ask the pendulum to show you the answer yes. It should start to move in a specific direction, such as left to right, front to back or in a circle. Then ask it to show you a no answer. Note the direction it moves so you'll be clear on whether it is generating a positive or negative response.

Then start to ask the pendulum a series of yes or no questions such as, Is it in the bedroom? and Is it in the car? (etc.) to narrow down an area to begin your search.

Visualization meditations may also help. Sit quietly in meditation and ask to be shown where the ring is. Once you relax and let the images come to you, you'll see the ring in its current environment. For example, if you see clothing or socks around it, it could be in one of your dresser drawers. If you see nature around it, you may want to retrace your steps through the garden or lawn.

Even if these methods don't produce the ring, I'm convinced you will find it when the time is right. In the interim, take note of how its misplacement is causing you to act spiritually and emotionally. The higher purpose behind this ring's disappearance is to create more awareness and spiritual experiences within you, and once it does, your ring will reappear as if by magic.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.