Is it dangerous to dabble?

scribeX

Hello,

I am busy reading voraciulsy all sorts of material on paranormal ireland (I was recently given a book on the subject). I have noticed that I have become so jumpy and imagine I am seeing little flitting shadows out the corners of my eyes etc. You all sound really informed on this board and I am just wondering if it is posible that someone can (unwittingly) get into a spot of trouble merely researching the paranormal?

I realise this probably sounds senseless but i suppose I really am just a scaredy cat?

john 08

hi ya. i used to have the same problem when i started out visiting haunted locations its all in the head really. ur obviously thinking about it and ur mind is basically playing tricks on you. its like after watching a movie like the exorcist or excorism on emily rose .etc.... u ll be scared and feeling a bit anxious after watching it, lol. try not to think about it too much and you ll be fine.

Dave!

You're just a scaredy cat! I'd say if you took someone who never heard of ghosts, goblins, etc., and put them in a haunted house for the night, they'd be grand and wouldn't experience anything unusual. Stick someone with an interest in the paranormal in the same house, and every creaking floorboard, noisey pipe, and old painting become evidence of ghosts, and they end up running out of the place.

In short, your imagination is acting up.

Watch a scary movie and you'll probably be a bit apprehensive about walking into a dark room on your own. Same thing is probably at work here.

Oryx

Even though I am big into paranormal stuff and have strong beliefs in certain areas, I agree with Dave! You are allowing yourself to be a bit of a scaredy cat. Reading up on the paranormal will no more harm you than reading up on plane crashes will make one land on your head.

But the power of suggestion is strong, and if your mind is focused on paranormal things, thats what youll be thinking of the minute you hear a noise or see a shadow. The corner of the eyes thing has been discussed here before, and I remember someone saying there is a physical cause, something to do with the way the eye works.

That said it is possible to come across stuff you cant explain, or maybe have experiences that rattle you. I think if theres any danger, thats where it lies. That psychologically it can be harmful, and youve got to be able for that. No point going ghost hunting and then not sleeping for the rest of the year.

Some believe that if you disturb spirits they will follow you home and haunt you and generally make life unpleasant. Even though I am open to their existence I really dont hold with that theory.

scribeX

Thanks for your responses - the way you put it really does sound level-headed, watch a scary film and be scared. Or the bit dave said about someone interested in paranormal perhaps reading too much into a situation. Obviously I just wouldnt have the nerve to actually go actively looking for a ghost (lol) being frightened out of my wits by just reading a book is enough of a fear factor for me. I dont know how you do it - john - visiting haunted places! Do you still visit haunted spots? I wish I could leave it at that but I have this compulsion to know more? So not only a scaredy-cat but a curious one at that. Oryx what you said about some beliefs, about spirits following you home and making life generally unpleasant, what exactly do they do? Would they physcially hurt a person or simply scare them senseless?

pistonsvox

Me and my mate went down tonight to get some photography snaps and try use long exposure etc (failed miserably). You're deffo bound to think somethings gonna happen when your stuck alone in a dark path with only the moonlight, trees, and a scary old monastary building:eek:

Might take a look back at those pics

Oryx

scribeX wrote: »

Oryx what you said about some beliefs, about spirits following you home and making life generally unpleasant, what exactly do they do? Would they physcially hurt a person or simply scare them senseless?

I was making the point that that wont happen. I only mentioned it as its a belief you might come across.

faceman

As Max Van Sydow said, in not so many words, when quizzed about the "strange" occurences during the filming of the Exorcist, if people die during the filming a comedy, its considered bad luck. If people die during the filming of a movie about the devil, its assumed its the work of Satan!

scribeX

I am glad that wont happen Oryx - its a small relief! Althoguh I wouldnt actively go ghost hunting (too afraid) do people who do this protect themselves in any way from danger - perhaps wear a special amulet or anything that an ametuer wouldnt know to use and thereby get into danger (unwittingly)?

scribeX

where are those photos pistonsvox?

pistonsvox

scribeX wrote: »

where are those photos pistonsvox?

my friend has them on his camera and is pretty busy atm! Haven't had a chance to look at em yet

Oryx

scribeX wrote: »

I am glad that wont happen Oryx - its a small relief! Althoguh I wouldnt actively go ghost hunting (too afraid) do people who do this protect themselves in any way from danger - perhaps wear a special amulet or anything that an ametuer wouldnt know to use and thereby get into danger (unwittingly)?

Nope.

The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.

Dave!

Oryx wrote: »

Nope.

The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.

And badgers !

Oryx

Dave! wrote: »

And badgers !

Well if youre getting into wildlife youve got Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

But seriously, OP, you sound like you are easily spooked. Which makes me wonder why on earth you want to get into all of this.

6th

Some people like to be spooked .... I know I do. Just doesnt happen too often.

scribeX

Yes, I am so easily spooked as I really really think there is "something" there and I dont know if its good or bad. (LIke we agreed, a scardey-cat.)
To be completely honest, I dont really want to get into it at all but some strange things have happened. My mom died very unexpecedly earlier this year and she was only 58 - because if my fear of the unknown (an possibly over active imagination) I really dont want to contact her or anything but am still grieving so maybe this can explain things. At the same time - two other strange things happened and one of them was a book delivered to my post box (which is a 1/4 mile down a rural track from my house) called Paranormal Ireland. Perhaps I just mis-read things or interpreted things wrong, but I wondered if it was some sort of a "sign".
So, it feels as if I am being dragged along a bit.
6th - you say you enjoy being spooked - wish I had your courage - and its happening often to me but I keep dulling it down saying its my imagination, its because of what I have been reading, etc as in all the previous posts. Just afraid (again) that I am inviting something in by acknowledging "somethings" presence?

Oryx

scribeX wrote: »

Just afraid (again) that I am inviting something in by acknowledging "somethings" presence?

If you keep reading, you will eventually come across the term 'psychic self defence'. It can consist of all kinds of ritual and the use of amulets etc, but basically what it comes down to, is having the belief that you are stronger than anything 'out there' that could possibly wish you ill. And you are.

Sometimes it helps to use your existing faith, or the belief that someone in spirit is protecting you, but essentially it comes from you. Nothing can harm you. (Frighten you maybe , but harm you, no )

scribeX

Thank you Oryx - you're amazing and have made this so much easier for me! If you were in the room you would warrant a great big hug! x

Dave!

Can I have a hug too?

Oryx

Dave! wrote: »

Can I have a hug too?

Sure, but no punching in the clinches.

Glad you feel a bit better, op.

scribeX

Dave! wrote: »

Can I have a hug too?

Hugs all around - when I get off this ride

Latchy

I wouldn't risk it to find out

Nephilim Wolf

scribeX wrote: »

Yes, I am so easily spooked as I really really think there is "something" there and I dont know if its good or bad. (LIke we agreed, a scardey-cat.)
To be completely honest, I dont really want to get into it at all but some strange things have happened. My mom died very unexpecedly earlier this year and she was only 58 - because if my fear of the unknown (an possibly over active imagination) I really dont want to contact her or anything but am still grieving so maybe this can explain things. At the same time - two other strange things happened and one of them was a book delivered to my post box (which is a 1/4 mile down a rural track from my house) called Paranormal Ireland. Perhaps I just mis-read things or interpreted things wrong, but I wondered if it was some sort of a "sign".
So, it feels as if I am being dragged along a bit.
6th - you say you enjoy being spooked - wish I had your courage - and its happening often to me but I keep dulling it down saying its my imagination, its because of what I have been reading, etc as in all the previous posts. Just afraid (again) that I am inviting something in by acknowledging "somethings" presence?

Very sorry to hear about your mum scribeX, you have my sympathy. I'm also very interested in the supernatural/paranormal and I have quite a few books about ghosts and lots of scary stories that are really quite frightening. I wonder if there are very many haunted buildings/sites in Tallaght?

MrMojoRisin

I'd say it might only be the adrenaline, excitement, and preconceived notions you have in your head that are making you all jumpy and seeing (possibly imaginary) things out of the corner of your eye. I'm not saying youre mental or nothing, or that you're prone to imagining stuff, but it's unreal what the mind can conjure up for you when it's imagining the worst case scenarios. You have full control over what enters your own personal space, so keep that in mind, and exercise that control. There are shovelloads of people who have researched the paranormal casually or seriously down through the years, and many of them didn't report seeing any weird sh1t they couldn't explain later or straightaway.

You're grand

MrMojoRisin

I've been into all sorts of spooky and strange stuff since I was a small fella and I've gone from weeks to years and back where I didn't sense anything,then sense/think I saw a fair few weird things in the space of a fortnight again. Your frame of mind has a lot to do with it,based on my experience. When I was reading up like a mad thing on that Enfield Poltergeist story a few months ago, I was jumping around like a dope at the slightest sensation in the room after reading a couple of chapters. I just said to myself, "Look. This is all your head because youve been spooked a bit by the book. Now cop on". That worked a dream.

scribeX

MrMojoRisin wrote: »

I'd say it might only be the adrenaline, excitement, and preconceived notions you have in your head that are making you all jumpy and seeing (possibly imaginary) things out of the corner of your eye. I'm not saying youre mental or nothing, or that you're prone to imagining stuff, but it's unreal what the mind can conjure up for you when it's imagining the worst case scenarios. You have full control over what enters your own personal space, so keep that in mind, and exercise that control. There are shovelloads of people who have researched the paranormal casually or seriously down through the years, and many of them didn't report seeing any weird sh1t they couldn't explain later or straightaway.

You're grand

That is exactly the kind of reassurance that I have been hoping to find, but now my question comes back to the danger element. How do some people become "possessed" then - surely they did not mean for that to happen - were they simply ghosthunting and got in over their heads? At first I was just afraid of being hurt (physically) by a spirit - then I appeased myself that they could not adhere to me - wish I had not read the chapter now on possession!
ps I still see the little flitting things from teh corner of my eyes but think that it happens mostly late at night when I am really really tired.

john 08

some1 gettin possessed is extremely rare to be honest. ive been reading a few stories during the week about ouija boards. some of the stories were really disturbing. if you want a bit of reassuring on it, read this thread. it ll explain everything u need to know http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2281983318/m/1431980138/p/1

mcmoustache

Don't be afraid dude. Ghosts don't do anything to you except scare you. Think of them as a monster behind super-strong, metal-reinforced perspex. He might wail, scream and throw himself at the wall but he can't touch you. The worst he'll do is freak you out.

If you need reassurance, have some comforts around you. Ghost-busters theme tune ready to play on your sound system. Easy access to the light-switch. Rosary beads combined with the knowledge that all ghosts are religious or at least believe in an afterlife. Your mother on speed-dial.

It's also important to stay away from hallucinagenic drugs. I mean it. No wacky-backy or shrooms. A bottle of buckfast can be good for calming the nerves should they become jittery.

And remember, if you see a ghost, don't be afraid. They probably don't give a fúck about you. And if you're feeling confident, sneak up behind him and go "booh!".

Most importantly, don't be afraid.

scribeX

john 08 wrote: »

some1 gettin possessed is extremely rare to be honest. ive been reading a few stories during the week about ouija boards. some of the stories were really disturbing. if you want a bit of reassuring on it, read this thread. it ll explain everything u need to know http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2281983318/m/1431980138/p/1

Wow - that was SOME reading! Thanks for the link - what do you make of it - that it is hard work to get "possessed" it cannot just happen! Whew!

stormkeeper

mcmoustache wrote: »

Don't be afraid dude. Ghosts don't do anything to you except scare you. Think of them as a monster behind super-strong, metal-reinforced perspex.

This bit reminded me of 13 Ghosts.

On a more serious note, there's nothing to really be scared of... granted, you may get startled every now and again, but it tends to happen when you're going around a really dark place with nothing more than torches.

scribeX

Ha ha - you will laugh at me Stormkeeper - I havent even gone anywhere yet - not a remote dark place anywhere - this fear so far is only in my head - and I havent even got to the "real stuff" yet. xx

stormkeeper

Well, as they say... no time like the present. I just about remember my first time going to Charleville, was over 5 years ago now. Keep an eye out for investigations that are announced here as there should be a couple by the end of the year. I'm 50-50 on organising one myself, although it's not likely I shall be organising any investigations as I haven't really got enough time now to organise anything.

leddpipe

No, it isnt!

gcgirl

Sometimes i think my 3 & a half yr old is possessed !!lol ! but i have a certain interest in th paranormal 34 yrs on this planet and still have not seen a ghost or witness things moving, have taking the odd photo which have been a bit different and i also lived in a house that my mum heard something coming from my room crashing down on the floor then somehow ended up on my bed i was else where so missed the whole thing! But maybe some people can but the only time i'd see dead people was if i worked in a mortuary!

scribeX

Well thats it folks! I am not going to read anymore or even meet trouble half way! I know that I am highly strung and HIGHLY suggestable but last night I had a terrible feeling that I wasnt actaully asleep (although I was) and something came over to the bed and stuck something really long and sharp and very very thin like a needle right into my heart - I sat bolt upright with pain and nothing at all was there. Nothing in the room, and nothing at the point of pain, not even a dot of blood or pin-prick mark althougth it felt so real! I have been trying to appease myself that it was indigestion or something but this is exactly what I was sort of afraid of - these little unexplained interactions that can be dangerous (and more than a bit painful too!) Because I am curious though (and we all know what that did to the cat) I am going to keep checking in on here as now I know that these things are real.

Dave!

scribeX wrote: »

Well thats it folks! I am not going to read anymore or even meet trouble half way! I know that I am highly strung and HIGHLY suggestable but last night I had a terrible feeling that I wasnt actaully asleep (although I was) and something came over to the bed and stuck something really long and sharp and very very thin like a needle right into my heart - I sat bolt upright with pain and nothing at all was there. Nothing in the room, and nothing at the point of pain, not even a dot of blood or pin-prick mark althougth it felt so real! I have been trying to appease myself that it was indigestion or something but this is exactly what I was sort of afraid of - these little unexplained interactions that can be dangerous (and more than a bit painful too!) Because I am curious though (and we all know what that did to the cat) I am going to keep checking in on here as now I know that these things are real.

Wow man... You acknowledge that you're "highly suggestable", you have a rather mundane and normal experience (heartburn), and acknowledge that it felt exactly like heartburn and left no physical mark so probably was, and then go on to say it's unexplained and that you're gonna keep checking into the Paranormal forum as a result?!!!??

I don't know what to say to people with that frame of mind except that you will no doubt have many more paranormal experiences during your life ! It's inevitable, since you're clearly very eager to have one.

scribeX

Oh good heavens no - there have been LOTS of odd things happening here in my life and surrounds since about April - this was just the final straw, thats all.

smelltheglove

I dont often post here but I can relate to the op. I am a huge scaredy cat, I'm even afraid of the dark:o but I have a huge interest in paranormal activity. I was told by people previously I was an old soul etc etc and could be opne to things, whether it is true or not I do not know and once whilst in the midst of sleep parlysis that lasted months I decided sure why not read a couple of books. I couldnt. I was scared stupid. The Charleville castle opportunity has arisen a couple of times on the photography forum but I couldnt bring myself to join.

But there is a twist....

My first house I bought for myself and my then 1yr old daughter in Navan. From the day I occupied the house I could not bring myself to stay there alone with myself and my daughter. I had 2 friends who would alternate staying with me, I would also spend a night or 2 at my mams house. On the odd ocasion that I was in the house without my daughter and a friend didnt show up I could not sleep until the sun rose, I would shiver in my bed with the heating up full and constantly felt presence. I was scared stupid.

The first time we realised something was shortly after my now husband moved in. He went off and my daughter at 2 now saw someone in the kitchen, she was scared stiff, she would not let go. To cut a long story short things escalated. There was outstanding fear for the first few weeks but quickly enough I began to relax more than I did before I knew there was something. I still would find it hard to sleep if my husband was out but not quite as bad as I did initially. Whenever I left an empty house I said goodbye to whoever was there. We had the house 'cleaned' and felt completely safe but in all honesty I have to admit I am more nervous when I am unsure as to what a noise is as when I was when there was something to blame the noise on. The girl we were dealing with to have the hosue cleaned told us she was dealing with a spirit stuck and we had nothing to fear and even though the attic door swung open above our heads on seperate occasions we were happy to accept this. I have never experienced anything of the sort before this occasion apart from my sleep issues which to be honest were far worse and more frightening than this. It was almost a relief to find out that I wasnt imagining things.

Anyway, just wondering, I have spoke about it in sleeping and dreaming before and read very indepth about sleep paralysis and I know there are many beliefs but I would be interested to know if anyone reading this thinks it is in any way paranormal.

Dave!

smelltheglove wrote: »

I am a huge scaredy cat,
I'm even afraid of the dark:o
I have a huge interest in paranormal activity.
I was told by people previously I was an old soul etc etc and could be opne to things,

Do you think when you combine all of these things, it might make you a bit more likely to see mundane and ordinary events in a paranormal 'light' ? Maybe consciously or unconsciously, you attribute normal sounds and occurances to a ghostly presence?

smelltheglove

Dave! wrote: »

Do you think when you combine all of these things, it might make you a bit more likely to see mundane and ordinary events in a paranormal 'light' ? Maybe consciously or unconsciously, you attribute normal sounds and occurances to a ghostly presence?

You'd think and yes I would have said so previously but I felt different in that house, I really did, I had a huge fear I had never felt before. When things started to fit into place its was not me that stitched them together it was my daughter initially and then my husband had some strange happenings also, i.e. radio blaring that screechy noise like its being interfered wsith even though it was plugged out, another occasion when we were in bed a wand toy that activated on movement kept going all night, we went downstairs to see what was up but it was just sitting there on top of other toys, it was the tyoe that needed a good shaking. That night we ended up taking the batteries out because it kept going.

I am still a scaredy cat, always will be, I can pinpoint a few reasons why but my interest is huge in the paranormal and more so because of the experience in that house. The girl who 'cleaned' my house did so at no charge, after a while I decide to go to her for a readin and I tell you, she told me some things that she could not have known without knowing me personally, and they were not from my past they were plans for my future. One night I had a small experience, cloud of dust sort of thing whilst walking through the sitting room, then a bulb blew very quickly after that, it was late on a wednesday, she called me the very next day asking what happened, she said she knew something had happened the previous evening, something that may have been significant and wanted to see if she was right, I have no doubt in my mind about what happened in that house.

The sleep parlysis thing can be put under a variety of explanatiions I know and I can accept I may never know why it happens, why I suffer such horrendous occurences whilst I am in the midst of one I just wonder what other people think of it. I hope it is not paranormal to be honest because if it were I kinda would know who it was and the thoughts if it sicken me but I have learnt how to overcome it, I'd want to considering the amount of years I have been suffering from it but it would be good to hear what others who are open to paranormal think about it.

Oryx

@ smelltheglove. Thanks for posting that here, its interesting. I can see why youd've been scared with stuff like that going on. I lived like that for a long time, couldnt sleep in the dark, jumping at odd noises, curious things happening in the house and around me generally. I have had the same thing with kids toys too. Woke up in the middle of the night to one of their electronic gizmos yabbering away, I thought it mustve fallen and come on, but no. It was sitting in the middle of the floor, nothing near it. Small stuff like that can really spook you.

I cant remember a time prior to the age of 27 that I didnt feel an underlying fear of something I couldnt put my finger on. I had to have people around in order to feel safe, day or night. Now, some might call that a psychological problem, but the cure was interesting. I stopped being afraid of spirits/ghosts, and paranormal things. The reason is too long winded to go into here, and all I really wanted to share was that when you let go of thinking 'they' mean you harm or can frighten you, it takes all the spookiness away. Once you look at it clearly, the big awful terror becomes something very small and irrelevant. If you feel something, you can go 'oh bugger off, Im washing my hair'.:D

smelltheglove

Oryx wrote: »

I cant remember a time prior to the age of 27 that I didnt feel an underlying fear of something I couldnt put my finger on. I had to have people around in order to feel safe, day or night. Now, some might call that a psychological problem, but the cure was interesting. I stopped being afraid of spirits/ghosts, and paranormal things. The reason is too long winded to go into here, and all I really wanted to share was that when you let go of thinking 'they' mean you harm or can frighten you, it takes all the spookiness away. Once you look at it clearly, the big awful terror becomes something very small and irrelevant. If you feel something, you can go 'oh bugger off, Im washing my hair'.:D

lol, I do that now, I guess you get tired of it after a while. I guess the thing that always got me was the fact that these experiences in my paralysis were so terrifying and full of harm so when I decided to start reading up on these along with paralysis it scared the crap out of me to think that there could have been something there trying to scare me, its been a while since I learnt to pull myself out of the sleep paralysis so I am not too afraid of it anymore, I am so aware of the feelings I can combat it, I guess maybe it is time that I look deeper into these things now that I am past that stage. Things liek creaking floorboards etc havent bothered me since my experience in that house.

Can anyone recommend any books to start off reading? Or the type of book to go for I knwo there are tonnes of different types, I still have a couple loying around somewhere that I picked up but it would be handy to go on recommendations.