So you get the distinct impression you’re not alone in your home.
I know the feeling!
When I first moved into my husband’s place, I was a non-believer in all things paranormal. My husband was a skeptic, too. And then we started experiencing non-ordinary reality every other day. I don’t know if it was the fact that we were in love and our hearts and minds broke open or what, but for the first time in our lives, we couldn’t deny ghosts and spirits existed. They came so fast and furious, I thought we must have a portal.
The first one was an old man and he smelled like vomit, God bless him. I had only just started watching shows like “Long Island Medium” and “The Dead Files” and “The Haunting of…with Kim Russo” for entertainment and had none of the materials the mediums used to cleanse houses, etc. I freaked out that first night feeling totally inadequate to move this person and the smell of vomit on. I called on God and the archangel Michael and my recently departed father for help. I lit a candle and opened all the windows. I said prayers. I asked the guy repeatedly to leave.
Eventually, he left but it took hours.
I ordered white sage smudge sticks from Amazon that night and not a minute too soon since the old man was just the beginning.
Our place was located close to Lake Michigan (bodies of water attract spirits), built on detritus left over from the Great Chicago Fire and pushed into the lake (bad vibes), and close to a hospital and morgue (no explanation necessary). Plus, who knows who lived (and died) in the building before us or if they used Ouija boards or held séances (both big no-no’s).
I could write a book detailing all the ghosts (souls who have not passed over) and spirits (souls who have gone to the other side) who visited us, but I’m only focusing here on what I learned about clearing out unwanted energy.
Ghosts love dark, dirty, cluttered places, so if that sounds a little like your home right now—open the shades, get rid of the clutter and clean.
Play happy or holiday music while you are doing this. Negative energy can’t stand light, cleanliness and happy or holy music.
Ghosts also like to hang out with addicts, alcoholics and depressed people, so if that’s you–the time is right to find ways to create a sense of well-being without resorting to drugs, alcohol and burying your feelings. Trust me, I know exactly how hard that is, but that’s another story.
Purchase white sage smudge sticks. Google where to buy them near you. They aren’t expensive.
When you’re ready to smudge, open a window in every room.
Light the sage and, starting at the front door, walk counterclockwise along the perimeter and smudge every corner of each room and closet. I hold the smudge up and allow the smoke to rise into the corners.
While you walk, say something like this: “Only the energy of light and love may come into this space. All negative energy must leave now–in God’s name.” Then say a prayer or chant of your choosing. Repeat as you walk along.
Close the windows when you’re done or leave them open for a while if it’s too smoky.
Some people follow this by sprinkling holy water on the walls and pouring sea salt at the bottom of the front door and along the window ledges to keep the ghosts from getting back in. I found smudging sufficient most of the time, but there were a couple occasions when the same ghosts kept returning. I added the holy water and sea salt and that did the trick.
If the ghosts had a human, but neutral, smell about them (vs. a bad-vibe sulphur or rotten egg type smell), I would tell them they were dead, if they were unaware of that fact, and to look around for the light and walk into it. I’d also tell them that if they knew they were dead, but were scared to go into the light—there was nothing to fear. Only love and forgiveness waited for them there. Either way, I’d say they couldn’t stay with us. Then I’d say a prayer and ask an angel to accompany them to the other side.
There was a lady I met who wouldn’t sleep in her apartment anymore because of the mean ghosts. I gave her the name of the Catholic exorcist associated with her parish. She didn’t want to call, though, because her place was so messy and crowded with clutter.
I like those decluttering enthusiasts who advise getting rid of anything that doesn’t give you joy.
We should definitely be surrounded by and filled with joy as much as possible!!
In the event sage, holy water, and sea salt don’t do the trick and you hear repeated scratching or knocking on the walls, are seeing blacker than black shadow figures, are being touched and so on, I would definitely call a medium to come in, find out what’s going on and suggest a solution.
***
In retrospect, I know I had many experiences with ghosts and spirits all my life, beginning in the house I grew up in on Chicago’s North Shore. But if everyone denies reality, it doesn’t exist, right?
So wrong.
Although my trilogy, Winnetka Road, isn’t a roman a clef, and is primarily a psychological thriller with paranormal elements, parts of it were inspired by the dark energy that lived in our house long ago.
I hope you give Winnetka Road a try. Here’s the Amazon link: Winnetka Road (Book 1)
(The Winnetka Road Trilogy will be available from other retailers in October. The paperback version will be available from Amazon the week of July 23, 2018.)
The Winnetka Road Series 