A haunting is the appearance or occupation of a spirit, usually of someone deceased. It can also describe a place where apparitions are said to occur. Most hauntings are associated with the death of a person, whether it was recent or ancient. The haunting often is a result of the feeling of regret or fear that the deceased experienced in life. The term also is used to describe the lingering presence of a demon.
Bumps in the night, music that plays randomly or stops suddenly, lights flickering or fading, doors that open and close, shadows moving on their own or suddenly showing up where they don’t belong and voices or even full-bodied apparitions can be signs of a haunting. However, some of these occurrences can also be explained by other factors such as carbon monoxide poisoning or mold.
In most cases, the ghosts that people encounter in their homes are benign and do not pose a threat to their health or well being. If they do cause discomfort, a psychic can perform a cleansing or exorcise the spirit. But it’s best to get in touch with a legitimate paranormal investigation team before trying to deal with the issue on your own. The experts can determine the extent of the haunting and help you decide what action to take. They can also help you learn to live with the presence. If the ghosts are annoying, for example by causing a child to be afraid to sleep in his or her own bed, Newkirk suggests speaking calmly and firmly to them, and making your statement in the name of whatever spiritual force you believe in most strongly.