By Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Copyright Visionary Living, Inc.

 This article addresses questions that I frequently get concerning how to resolve unwanted haunting phenomena, such as caused by ghostly residues, and how to resolve problems with interactive spirits that invade places and attach to people and objects.

RESIDUAL GHOST HAUNTINGS

Sometimes a ghost is really not a ghost at all.  Before you conclude that you have a ghost, eliminate all possible natural causes for the phenomena.  Changes in climate can make a house creak and snap.  Poorly fitting doors and windows can be sources of strange breezes and abrupt closings.  Odd smells may seep in from outside sources or even be imbued into the structure.

The late English ghost hunter Andrew Green once investigated a case in which a mysterious smell of perfume wafted through the sitting room of a cottage.  The perfume was identified as the mignonette flower, popular in Victorian times.  Through research he was able to ascertain that a previous tenant had used that perfume while living there for many years.  Apparently the fragrance had permeated the exposed oak beams.  The smell was released whenever a fire was built in the fireplace, and the heat warmed the beams.

You also must honestly ask yourself if your own imagination is involved, or you have been influenced by television or films.

Dowsing with a pendulum and/or rods is one of the best ways to determine the paranormal energy present on site: its precise location, and perhaps the reasons for it (such as crossing lines of earth energy).  Many dowsers are experienced at clearing residual and active spirit presences.

The following remedies are effective for residual hauntings, which involve left-over remnants that are like cobwebs from the past:

Cleanse and purify.  You can alter the psychic “atmosphere” in various ways.  Take a lighted white candle and go from room to room.  Walk the perimeter of every room.  Tell all unwanted presences to leave immediately.  Seal each room by visualizing white light around it.  Give a blessing of protection, asking that only the invited may enter.

Saging — burning bundles of sage or other herbs — also is effective.  Follow the same procedure.

Place crystals in rooms.  Black stones such as hematite, onyx and obsidian are considered “anti-ghost” protectors.  Clear quartz and rose quartz help to keep spiritual energies clean.

Iron spikes and nails driven into the ground at the corners of a home and at the thresholds may enhance barriers.  Iron is an ancient and universal remedy against unwanted spirits.

 Redecorate or renovate.  You may find that the “ghost” goes along out with the old.  New paint, carpeting, cabinetry and room remodeling may disrupt the residual energy patterns and imprints.

Do feng shui.  The Chinese art of placement concerns changing the physical environment to minimize negative energies and maximize positive ones.  Shapes, colors, textures, mirrors, fountains and crystals are common tools to alter energetic space.  Consult a feng shui expert.

UNWANTED SPIRIT PRESENCES

 For interactive and intelligent presences, more is usually required.  If haunting presences are causing nightmares, unpleasant poltergeist disturbances, and other distress, it is important to get help.  Medical, emotional and psychological factors may be involved and require professional help; such factors should be addressed first.

Paranormal problems do not spring up out of the blue for no reason.  The origin and apparent causes must be identified in order to determine possible solutions.  There are no quick fixes, no Band-aid approaches, no one-size-fits-all “tell me what to do to get rid of it” internet solutions.

Again, dowsing is an effective way to communicate with spirits, learn why they are present, and convince them to leave.

All of the aforementioned remedies for hauntings can be effective as part of a solution, but one or more of the following may need to be employed as well:

Assert yourself.  Many presences are pushed out by the living coming in and taking over the space in a strong, energetic way.  Attitude is a form of energy.

Tell the presence to leave.  It may seem too simple, but it often works.  If you do not mind sharing space with a presence, tell it not to bother you.  Sometimes they will back off or go away.  If they do not, try increasing the level of pressure.

Invoke spiritual help.  Pray and call upon the intercession of God, angels, saints, spirit helpers, guides and other sacred figures of personal importance to you.

Get experienced help.  Every community has experts who can address hauntings.  Be careful about credentials and experience.  Many so-called paranormal investigation groups have little knowledge of spirits and only imitate what they see on TV.  Psychics and mediums who are experienced in spirit releasement and minor place exorcisms can be effective; not all of them are. I once had a case of a persistent, negative haunting.  A famous medium had refused to visit the premises and told the owner to “write a letter to the ghost” and tell it to go to a funeral home when a service was being conducted in order to “find the light.” Maybe this worked once or twice for the medium, but it’s a sugar-pop, naïve approach.  In this case, far more was going on than “ghosts.”

Some energy healers and shamanic practitioners also have the right skills; again you must qualify them by asking about their training and casework.

Religious authorities vary considerably in their knowledge of spirits, and many are limited, even severely restricted, to the viewpoints of their religions.  Sometimes religion is the best approach, depending on the victim.

I have found Taoist exorcists to be among the best and most effective at exorcizing unwanted presences.  They have a deeper understanding of the spirit world than most Westerners, and they know how to effectively close openings and shore up boundaries.  They are also frank in their assessments, and will tell you if something can be permanently cleared.  Not all presences can be sent away.  Some are attached to, and energized by, the land.  In that respect, they have “land rights.”  Exorcisms and banishments can send them away temporarily but not permanently.

Every case depends on the unique factors and presences involved.  Taoist exorcists can be found in the acupuncture and martial arts communities.  Not all acupuncturists have experience in dealing with spirits, so inquire about specific expertise in that area.

Dealing with the spirit world is complex.  Entities are not uniform cookie-cutter beings that all act alike.  You may have to consult a variety of experts in order to find the solution that works the best.  Keep in mind that a solution may require the affected parties to do something about themselves; for example, learn how to manage their own energy boundaries, or address medical issues.

SPIRIT ATTACHMENTS

 Sometimes unwanted presences are attached to objects or people.

Objects

Spirits can attach to just about any object – but not every object has a spirit attached to it.  Sometimes problems arise when people buy second-hand items, and once they are taken home, the resident spirit becomes active, with phenomena such as apparitions, shadow figures and poltergeist activity.  Sometimes the level of activity is benign and may even fade away after a time.  Other times it becomes intrusive.

Even new objects can have attachments, created deliberately or even unconsciously in the making of the object.  Attachments to objects, even second hand ones, are the exception, not the rule, otherwise few people would be able to live peacefully in their homes.

An expert may be able to determine what object, if any, is the focal point of troubling activity, and take the appropriate steps.  Sometimes objects with residual energy can be simply cleansed by exposure to sunlight, immersion in sea salt, and blessings.

“Possessed possessions” usually involve an active presence, in which case the object is removed from the premises, and a binding is done on the spirit.  This should be done by an experienced practitioner.

People

If a spirit is attached to a person, a more serious exorcism is required.  Some people are “open” and naturally attract spirit attention.  They naturally stir up activity without being aware of what they are doing.  They must be willing to address shoring up their own defenses for effective long-term relief.

Sometimes people are quite aware of their attachments, having experienced them repeatedly from a young age.  In some cases, they must be willing to let go in order to obtain relief.  Sometimes people who have had lifelong spirit attention, even if troubling, find they are not willing to give it up, for its absence creates an uncomfortable vacuum.  These issues are beyond the scope of environmental and external remedies, and must be addressed by the appropriate professionals in the medical, counseling, alternative therapies, and perhaps religious fields.

For additional information

Rosemary Ellen Guiley’s Guide to the Dark Side of the Paranormal (Visionary Living, Inc.).  Available in paperback at www.visionaryliving.com/shop and also in e-book format for Kindle on amazon.com.

Rosemary’s websites:

Visionary Living   www.visionaryliving.com

Djinn Universe     www.djinnuniverse.com