I think my apartment is haunted.

[Darth_Kitten]

:scared:

Twice, I have left a certain hallway light on in my apartment when I went out, and twice I have come home and it's mysteriously off. :scared:

Also, (don't laugh!!) I have left the bird's cage door open to let her come out and take a break from sitting on her eggs, and I come back to see her back in her cage, with the door CLOSED. :scared:

something freaky is going on. :(

[Darth_Kitten]

1. I'm scared.

:scared:

[obxhead]

2. .

:scared:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

3. And ...... and ......

:popcorn:

[Cathyclysmic]

4. Your landlord my be obsessive-compulsive....

If his name is Tony, say 'hi' from the Beast man and me....Serious!

Worst.Landlord.Ever:scared:

[BlueIris]

5. Yikers.

I'm sure about a thousand people are now going to flame you to tell you to "smudge" your apartment with sage. Maybe you should see what happens if you simply tell the entity, ghost or spirit to stop bugging you. It might go away if you do that.

[Darth_Kitten]

7. Like spirits from beyond would listen to me.

:(

Maybe it's a playful ghost...

[UTUSN]

10. Hmmm, "smudging with sage"

Perhaps YOU can provide an answer to something that has bugged me for years.

Some years ago, the vent-openings to the small attic had to be removed for some work being done, and the workman said he had found something odd. He showed me that there were CUT branches of oleander, about 15 inches long each, spread out all over the floor of the attic.

There were NO oleander bushes on the property or anywhere nearby. I have asked a couple of people who have spiritualist tendencies whether this might be some kind of cleansing deal, or for "luck"?---or even, like, aroma therapy? Or might even be something more mundane like repelling insects. Nobody has known. Any ideas?

[hyphenate]

12. Try doing a google on it

and seeing what crops up. I know eucalyptus is a well known flea repellant, and putting it around underneath furniture and such helps control fleas especially in the summer. But I don't know anythinga bout oleander.

[UTUSN]

14. You Read My Mind! - This Is Getting TOO Spooky!

LOL. I was Googling the smuding-with-sage deal and found the link below. I'll try the oleander next.

*******QUOTE*******

http://www.the7thfire.com/smudging_with_sage.htm

Smudging with Sage:
the Ceremony of Purification

Smudging has been used since ancient times by many people as a ceremony of purification--among pre-Christian pagans as well as Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, among Hindus and Buddhists as well as Cherokee and Lakota. ....

You can use this ceremony to purify and cleanse people, places and things. Smudging brings an awareness of the sacred and should be performed with sensitivity and respect. As you add each pinch of the smudge mixture to the shell or pot, offer thanks to the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of each of the four directions, The order of honoring may differ from nation to nation. Some start with the east, others from the north or east. Always the rotation is sunwise, following the path of the sun (east-south-west-north, for example). Then to Mother Earth (down), Father Sun (up) and finally to the Great Mystery within all things (brought to your heart). ....

********UNQUOTE*******

[UTUSN]

19. Oleander - "protection from negative energy"

*******QUOTE*******

http://wolfmoongrove.com/Herb%20Info%20Pages/herb_magick.htm

Herbal Magick

.... Herbs For Protection

The herbs that are most normally used for protection are those that have powers to disperse evil and create a protective barrier when burned, carried on your person, or hung wherever protection is needed. Because these herbs contain positive energy they are able to repel, or bounce back negative vibrations or energy. ....

Angelica, Balm of Gilead, Basil, Betony, Dill, Elder berries, Fennel, Garlic (of course), Horehound, Hyssop, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Mullein, Rose Geranium, Rosemary, Rue, St John’s Wort, Tarragon and Vervain. ....

Herbs For Purification

Ever felt a sensation that something just wasn’t right? Your house didn’t seem like home anymore, a visitor left and didn’t take their bad energy with them? Maybe purification is in order. There are many herbs with purifying properties: Bay, Mugwort, Yarrow, Rosemary, Sage, Angelica, Basil, and Juniper to name a few. ....

Protection

To protect oneself from negative energy, take a small white bag; place a small piece of smoky quartz and one of clear quartz inside. Take five leaves of oleander and add them to the bag, being extremely careful not to get any sap on you. If you do come in contact with the sap, remember that it is highly toxic, so wash up immediately and thoroughly. Handling the leaves with rubber gloves is not a bad idea. Anoint the bag with Frankincense oil, saying:

“Minions of the Dark now quit this place,

For only Light will I embrace.”

Do this during the waning phases of the Moon, visualizing your surroundings being filled with a pure, white and golden light, driving out any darkness from every corner. At the New Moon, burn the bag, being careful to be upwind of the smoke. Remember: Oleander is deadly. Be very careful! ....

********UNQUOTE*******

[Darth_Kitten]

20. Interesting.

:D

[zanne]

35. I dry plants and flowers in the attic...

I make dried-flower wreaths and bouquets. I grow most of the flowers and "filler" material, then put them in the attic to dry. maybe the previous owner did the same thing?

[RebelOne]

6. Maybe you need to buy some new bulbs for your hallway light.

Not laughing, but your bird could have learned how to close the cage door. I have had birds that knew how to open the cage door.

[Darth_Kitten]

8. LOL

no, the light is working fine, and Murphee hasn't opened or closed any doors that I know of.

[hickman1937]

9. Or brown outs and Murphy is smarter than you know.

Brown outs will turn your lights off, and I never underestimate a mom with young. Or you've got a benign ghost.

[hyphenate]

11. I wouldn't worry about it

The things you mention sound like someone who might be obsessive compulsive in a GOOD way. So if you're being haunted, I would just remember to shut off lights to conserve electricity and get some night lights instead. As for the bird, obviously the bird isn't frightened of a possible non-corporeal entity, since he goes into the cage to start with. So let loose and becomes friends with your friendly ghost.

Ghosts are usually not wicked anyhow. That's such a rumor planted by too many idiots watching too many horror movies late at night. Spirits are usually friends, family members, or those who don't really "get it" that they're dead and haven't moved on. So deal with it. YOu might find it amusing.

If you have pets, watch their expressions. Cats and dogs can "see" the spirits better and more often than humans can. They have a better perceptive ability to see them. They can be amusing, because they will watch them walk across a room, and you will think that they're watching a fly or something.

[Darth_Kitten]

13. thanks...

I was noticing something funny a while ago.

Murphee (my tiel) got up from her little place on the bottom of her cage and started looking at something outside her cage. I even asked her, hey, whatcha looking at? She was looking on the floor and seemed interested in something.

:)

[hyphenate]

34. That sounds cool

Perhaps the spirit is a child. My cats will sometimes stare into space and sit perfectly still while their eyes move, and only their eyes. It's slightly frustrating to have them see something perhaps that I would never see, but it's also slightly reassuring to think that there might be more than meets the eye in our everyday world.

[Elidor]

15. The light may be your landlord or his/her repairman

And if a cat can turn a door knob to open a door (and they can), a bird closing the cage is just not that weird.

[Darth_Kitten]

16. she couldn't close it....

it snaps closed on the outside. :)

[Elidor]

28. So she's really clever!

Okay, I'm scared. :scared:

[Ksec]

17. Dont look behind you

Cause theres something there looking at you.

[leftofthedial]

18. you have a VERY smart bird.

[Darth_Kitten]

21. She messes with my head.

she's up to something, the little brat. :evilgrin:

[caty]

22. I don't know

about the light, but birds can open and close a cage door if it is not secured. They're smart little creatures.

[Gothic Sponge]

23. Your visitor is benign

I wouldn't worry.

[saged52]

24. loving these posts!

Apparently the land we built our cabin on was previously occupied (owned) by Native Americans as we find numerous arrowheads, etc. We have what we call shadow people - which I think are people living in a different dimension - and we welcome them. Many photos taken in our home show orbs. Christmas Eve seems to be most active - swinging ornaments on the tree, friend's dog frozen stiff while growling up at the loft, and lots of unreasonably ice-cold drafts. I'm sure all of these things could be explained - but we prefer to think we have 'company.'
I do have a smudge stick but haven't used it.
Tell me more!

[Ksec]

25. Watch the movie called "The Mothmen Prophecies"

Its creepy and it goes along with your post of shallow people.

[aquaman]

26. That is a pretty cool movie......

[BlueIris]

27. You get orbs?

That would freak me out the most. I've seen orby photos before--they're scary to me. Yes, I know, nothing to be afraid of, but still. To an "open-minded" rationalist like me, photographic evidence of ghostly stuff really unnerves me.

[saged52]

29. I understand!

We have experimented with different cameras, angles, times, etc. but they still show up. I don't want to further freak you out - but one showed up in a photo of my daughter's preggie tummy last Christmas. Nt to worry - grandaughter, Noelle, is a beautiful and happy and normal 5 month old now.

[BlueIris]

30. Well, it's not like I think "orbs" or what they represent are "evil."

But sometimes my mind boggles that they can be captured on film. I actually have a book on the famous ghosts and hauntings of my home state, and the sadistic author chose to make the cover of her book a color photograph of a house hallway FILLED with orbs.

[saged52]

32. I don't think they are evil, either

But I do understand they are drawn to young females. It definetly freaked out my daughter - I think we are spending Christmas at her house this year. It also boggles my mind that this can be captured on film. I am always looking for another reasonable explanation.

[Fox Mulder]

31. A ghost, eh?

Mind if I investigate?

[spacelady]

33. You are so lucky.

[bikebloke]

36. I once dated this woman....

She decided her flat was haunted. She was sure he had turned her plant around in the window, but it wasn't. Then here was a box of detergent left on top of the washer, while the machine was going. When she went back down to the basement, it was on the floor. I guess she'd never seen a washer in spin cycle. And one night in bed, she thought a pile of blankets next to me was another person and said "Excuse me. EXCUSE ME!"

So she decided to chase away the spook. Burned candles. Shook rattles. Poured piles of sugar (or was it salt?) in all the corners. As a finale, she painted the floor with a mixture of bay rum, brown sugar and her own urine. The ghosts and I fought with each other to get out the door.

[Shine]

37. Wow, that's very interesting, Darth Kitten!

I LOVE stories like these because they remind us that Life is full of Mystery and we cannot understand everything.

However, for your own peace of mind and to create a sense of protection, I would suggest smudging your apartment with sage. It is a great way to purify and cleanse space.

Please keep us posted. I am definitely interested to hear more!

~Shine

[Kailassa]

38. spooks can be friendly

I've always figured that the ghost in houses I've moved into have been there longer than me, so I promise them to treat them with respect amd they generally leave me alone. In the house where I am now one has been particularly mischievious, I've several times been hit by "falling" things that fall from a wall on an angle to hit me in the middle of a room. One I was knocked unconscious by a beam over my head falling on me. I'd have put that down to just bad luck, but it was not long after 2 other incidents of heavy woodwork falling on my head. In fact, no woodwork has fallen down here without hitting me.

However nothing has happened for a few years. The last one, a quart tin of paint hitting me in the back when I was a yard away from the cupboard it "fell off," was just after I told someone that it had obviously gone away, so I watch what I say now.

If I had a sensation of malevolance from a place I'd steer clear of it, but most ghosts seem to hang around just because they are attached to places, not because they want to do any harm.

[Tallison]

39. I wish my house was haunted

Very desperately. Would really break up the day/night. I hate routine.

[Darth_Kitten]

40. My apartment building was in the newspaper a few years ago...

because it was allegedly haunted, but that was the 19th floor.

Things going on, cupboards opening, cats being spooked, things like that.

hmmmm, doesn't seem to be a "bad" spirit... :)

[pitohui]

41. well the bird prob. closed the cage

it was prob. a bit of a project for her but she prob. felt more secure w. the door closed

i have birds who call & complain if a door is left open

it's a security issue

no idea re the lights

[arwalden]

42. That's Just Crazy-Talk. There's No Such Thing As Ghosts.

[Akoto]

43. You may have an evil monkey in your house.

[Joe Chi Minh]

44. I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night,

about a week ago, thinking I'd been brusquely pulled down the bed by my legs, and tried to call out, but no sound came out, (which seems to have been a feature of scary, nocturnal, ghostly events experienced by other people I've known). But I've had a lot of similar experiences, somewhat more violent in intent.