Sometimes ghosts or spirits can appear when we least expect them. You might spot something odd while driving, or when you are rummaging around the house, or even when you are going for a walk. It may be a mist, a bright light, a shadow, or a clearly outlined human form that is faint or almost translucent in appearance. If you’ve experienced this phenomenon in your life, did you turn around to get a better look only to find that nothing was there? Chances are you’ve seen a ghost or spirit.
Consider the Signs
There may be other hints that a spirit or ghost is near, such as a feeling a breeze in an otherwise warm, still room. There may be an unusual scent released in the air, such as the smell of food cooking (it was toast in my house), or pipe tobacco being smoked, or the scent of perfume, cologne or flowers in bloom. You may hear your name called or what sounds like indistinct voices chattering as if a radio is playing with the volume turned down low. Sometimes you can feel a change in the atmosphere before you see it; if so, it means your intuition is becoming more pronounced and ghosts or spirits are reaching out to you.
Ghosts and spirits are not limited to people. Pets can stick around after they have passed away. In the case of one family, the family dog Spot stayed behind to make sure they were OK.
I believe we see apparitions from the corner of the eye as they don’t want to scare us with a full-on view. Peripheral vision enables us to see quick movement from the corner of the eye but not color as that is the responsibility of the cornea, which is located in the center of the eye.
So how do you know if it’s a good or “bad” ghost? As I write this, I am certain some people will disagree, but I believe ghosts are neither good nor bad. All of us have the light of God within us (the spark that gives us life), so that when we pass on, the light remains as energy, and the “bad” or human part falls away. However, some people that die may get lost or stuck in the physical realm and may not know how to ascend to the next level. Also, the person may not realize he or she is dead. These lost souls may be wandering around until they can find someone that responds when they make the effort to get their attention. If it’s you they are reaching out to, don’t be surprised if you hear banging noises or the sound of footsteps. Your electronic device may go a little wonky, or you may even feel something brushing up against you.
The Ghost in the Door
I had an experience in college where the ghost was able to get the attention of a sleeping roommate. His wishes – which were not positive at all – were spoken to me as my roommate was sleeping. Afterwards, a ghostly scowling face appeared on the closet door. At that point, I was awake for the night. Not knowing what to do, I called my mother, who helped me say prayers to calm down the old man. It seemed to do the trick. I received confirmation the next day that he would be more pleasant. He wanted to stay.
Over the next few days, I looked into the history of that apartment complex. It turns out it had been converted from an assisted living facility for the elderly into an apartment complex. It was my Ah Ha! moment of understanding. The apartment was the old man’s final resting place, and he didn’t want a trio of college kids making a racket in his “house.”
Ghost or Spirit – What’s the Difference?
In my experience, ghosts seem to hang out in the location where they died or where life had meaning for them. If I am in a graveyard, ghosts will call out to me. One day, I heard a prayer repeated over and over and over in my head. I began saying it aloud as I walked. After a short while, I stopped and looked, and there before me was a large headstone – a monument really – and on it was inscribed that prayer. The man seemed to enjoy his final resting place and had no intention of “going towards the light.” I wished him well and went on my way. In the case of a child reaching out to me from his or her grave, I take the time to talk to the child, and I let the child know that the final resting place is peaceful and beautiful. I always hope the child will find peace.
Just One More Thing
Sometimes a ghost may have unfinished business and will seek out people that can hear, see or sense spirits, then reach out to that person. I’ve spoken to a number of people who have had these experiences; they want nothing to do with it, or they choose to ignore it in the hope it will go away. I believe it’s a gift to be contacted for help from the other side. If this situation happens to you and you don’t know what to do, consider lighting a white candle, asking the ghost what it wants, and letting the ghost know that loved ones are just beyond the light. The other option is to ignore the request, of course.
She Just Wanted to Say I Love You
A neighbor of a friend found out I was able to communicate with the dead. He asked me to come by and talk to the former owner who had passed. She was in his house still and was making a lot of noise, he said. The deceased lady let me know she never had the chance to tell her daughter she loved her. She never had the chance to say goodbye. I let the homeowner know the lady’s final wishes. In an unusual twist, the daughter heard the request when I did. She visited the homeowner the next day and said goodbye to her mother.
Another time, there was a lady that lived nearby that was mentally disabled. She had been stabbed to death by her sister’s husband. The moment she passed, she visited me and asked me to help her. For three nights I read passages in the Bible until I found the one she wanted: Psalm 23, the Lord is My Shepherd. I sent an anonymous letter to her sister where I let her know that in death the lady was OK and forgave the woman’s husband.
A Soul at Rest Becomes Spirit
It is my belief that spirits represent those that have died and who have ascended into heaven or their final resting place beyond the physical realm. The individual has found peace or is now joyous as he or she is out of pain or discomfort. Unlike ghosts who are earthbound until they are released, spirits have the ability to travel back and forth from level to level and place to place. They can become angels or protectors as well. While not everyone who has passed comes back to the land of the living for a visit, there are many that do. If you wonder if the messages or signs you are seeing represent your loved one, I would say absolutely.
I’m Dancing Again
I had an elderly friend that volunteered with me at a local non-profit organization years ago. While I knew her, she developed macular degeneration and other ailments. She could no longer drive or read and had to move in with her daughter in South Georgia. She was a strong and independent lady, and the decision to leave her home was difficult. I visited her once in South Georgia, then did not hear from her again. A few months later I had a dream. She was smiling and said, “Look! Look! I’m dancing again!” I knew in that moment that my friend had died, and she was happy.
One of the keys to increasing your awareness is to sit quietly WITHOUT THINKING. The idea is not to define or judge what you see.
For example, try sitting outside for about 20 minutes (set a timer if you need to) and watch a bird as it flutters around. Don’t say, “Oh look at the beautiful red cardinal. Isn’t it pretty as it flies to the branch of that oak tree?” Instead, say nothing and just watch the bird. When you don’t define what you see, you will notice that more of the environmental sounds around you can be heard.
Spending time quietly watching what goes on around you opens your mind, which allows enlightenment to come through. Eckhart Tolle says, “The moment that judgement stops through acceptance of what it is, you are free of the mind. You have made room for love, for joy, for peace.”
Sitting quietly can be a challenge, but it’s necessary if you want to channel information from another dimension. Good Luck!