So, do you think your Washington state house is haunted? Here’s what you can do about it
Many different phenomena have been attributed as “proof” of ghosts, paranormal activity and haunted domiciles. None of them are considered to be definitive — but they are usually enough to give residents the creeps. The chance that certain happenings might be the actions of a ghost is enough for some people to move out permanently.
What kind of phenomena do people experience, though? Common reported signs or symptoms of haunted homes include:
Random, localized smells
Hearing voices or whispers
Sudden temperature drops
Lighting and technology glitches
Seemingly inexplicable object movements
Strange sounds, like bumping or banging
If you notice these or other strange things happening in your home, and are starting to get a bad feeling, what options are there? You can take several approaches to a possibly-haunted home. Here’s what to know:
Paranormal investigation teams in Washington
There are multiple paranormal investigators right here in the Evergreen State that can assist with your possibly-spooky problem. Whether you look into resources on their websites, call them for questions, or undergo a full-fledged investigation, they can help. Some of the many options include:
There are also steps you can take before calling in a team. In fact, most paranormal investigators will ask that you do some sort of personal research before they make a home visit. By doing this early on, you can save time when you do decide to call in investigators.
How to self-investigate a haunted house
According to the regional paranormal experts, there are numerous ways you can conduct a preliminary investigation to better understand the phenomena in your home. Here are some of the recommendations:
▪ Research the property
Look into the property’s history through property records and quick Google searches of the address. This can get you a basic timeline of events for the home. It won’t tell you whether or not the home is haunted, but it can provide helpful context.
▪ Cleaning & cleansing
Many people turn to methods of cleansing their home to dispel unwanted spirits. You can do this yourself with the right materials. While traditionally white sage is used, the plant should only be handled by Indigenous folks. Opt for other sage or one of these substitute options to get the job done:
Incense
Smoke cleansing (using any dried herb or white, unscented candles)
Bells (ring in each corner or handle like smoke cleansing)
Dusting, sweeping
It is said that cleaning the dust and dirt from your home, and motioning like you would with sage, can be just as effective, according to ‘spiritualists’ and other paranormal experts.
▪ Attempt to communicate
Still think there are spirits in your home? You can try opening a dialogue, speaking directly to the spirits. It is best to be calm and focused before opening up communication, according to regional experts, so consider meditating first. You might want to record the interaction to play back later.
▪ Salt, mirrors and other superstitions
There are many different beliefs regarding how to evict a ghost or spirit. Once standard cleansing is done, you may try out some of these more “superstitious” approaches:
Pouring piles of salt in room corners, doorways, around the perimeter of a building
Turning around mirrors
Using protective crystals, stones
Getting professional help for a haunting
If you still feel like you need professional assistance, you can reach out to one of the many paranormal investigators around Washington listed above. On the plus side, the majority of paranormal investigators will not charge you for an investigation. An unpaid investigation maintains the validity of any possible findings.
First, the team will conduct their own investigation in your home. There are a myriad of tools paranormal investigators may bring with them, all in order to confirm your spiritual suspicion. These might include:
A spirit box, which jumps between radio channels at least once a second. Sentences or strings of words are thought to be spirits manipulating the sound waves.
An Ovilus, which translates a space’s energy changes into specific sounds or words.
Dowsing rods, which are meant to provide spirits an avenue to answer yes/no questions.
A mag lite, which has a switch that can sit between on and off. It is believed that spirits can switch the light on and off more easily this way, allowing for conversation.
Other video and audio recording and monitoring devices that can capture sound and images.
Once the team has conducted its investigation, paranormal investigators might switch to removal methods. If they believe there are spirits in the home that should not be there, they might gather more information about the reported spirit, and try to convince it to leave.
