MF wrote:

I used to clean a dance studio in my home town, the building was a church before that. One night while vacuuming I heard a blood curdling scream and after investigating the building no one was to be found. The next occurrence a week or two later was the sound of a loud exhale emitting from a darkened stairwell, to which I spoke out loud, if that’s all you’ve got leave me alone! From that point on mischievous things started to happen, like 100 ft. of stretched out extension cord would be coiled up when I would leave one area and return to back to it. The sound of foot steps on hard wood dance floors walking from where I was standing to another part of the room. Doors slamming in downstairs studio areas. All of the foot steps and cord coiling didn’t bother me, in fact sometimes I would laugh out loud and exclaim that’s a good one! But the doors slamming was a bit startling to the nerves. I no longer clean that building, not because of the goings on, just circumstances took me elsewhere. Well there’s my story and I hope you enjoy it.

It is not uncommon for large, empty buildings to appear to make all manner of sounds to which our minds try to attribute logical causes. I have even experienced this very circumstance myself during an extended investogation of a newly discovered crypt below a North London church.

Newly discovered church records suggested the crypt contained a number of burials related to the British Royal Family over the previous two centuries - less desirable characters whose involvement in both royal matters and criminal activities was kept a closely guarded secret, so rumour and myth leads us to believe.

Noises within the crypt were recorded similarly to your experiences. Doors, footsteps, whispers, though none were ever found to hav a physical cause.

My suspiciouns that it was the human mind which turned the general ambience of the environment into what we suposed might be caused by object, led to several session within the crypts where different individuals were to report on the nature of any events they encountered - particulary sounds. It was no surprise to me that the nature of particular sounds were recorded differently between the ndividuals.

However, it remains that a number of clearly audible sounds were indicated identialy, and yet we were at no time able to absolutely pinpoint either the source,nor the cause of those sounds. To this day, thy remain a mystery.

M. Keynes

FROM: M

About a year ago, we moved into a house that use to belong to my grandma’s cousin.  Some weird things have happened to me, and I want to know if it is just in my head, if I’m causing it, or if someone is trying to reach me.

My first experience happened when I was outside behind the carport. To my right is the woods and to my left is the road. I was calling my friend when I heard my name being whispered. It was really quick and sounded like it was right beside me, to my right. A second later, my friend picked up. I asked if she whispered my name, but she said she didn’t. Another time I was walking out of my bedroom when my name was whispered again, this time to my left. The two sounded just alike.

I was lying on my bed one night when I heard something bang on my door. After the bang, I heard this static sound. Mom said that no one was around at that time.

We received a lot of candles for christmas, so we placed them in front of the TV to the right until we could find some place else to put them. The next morning, they were sitting in front of the center of the TV in perfect order. None of them were even knocked over.

Another time, Mom’s beer bottle had slid.

The story that gets me the most is when my little sister and I were waiting for Mom to get home. We both heard the kitchen open, but when I went to see who was there, the door was closed. We would have heard it shut, but we didn’t. Mom wasn’t even home.

Dear M,

As with so many cases of noise, bumps, bangs, whispers, etc. - and when a wild and troublesome imagination can be ruled out - the cause can invariably be assigned to a poltergeist.

As I have mentioned in a recent account of poltergeist activity, I do not attribute poltergeist activity to some form of entity attempting to breaking through from another existence into our own. It is a manifestation of some individuals’ internal energies being “leaked” into his or her environment.

My first question to you is whether such occurrances have been witnessed within the household by others than yourself, while you were not in the vicinity?
I would wager they have not.

This means not that you are to blame for what is happening, but events are surrounding you. I have seen this kind of activity around girls during puberty and post puberty - and sometimes older in cases where there are relationship problems, anxiety, or extreme cases of sexual frustration.

The whispered names are not common poltergeist events, but such are surprisingly common amongst much of the population. I believe that each of us has a latent, unused, natural telepathic ability. Over our evolution, this has diminished into a subconscious action that, once in a while, manages to break through into our conscious minds. I remember when my wife and I would appear to communicate simple messages without speaking and when we were on opposite ends of the house. I have come across many such instances in subjects I have investigated and unless one is hearing a specific message, one should have no cause for concern.

In the majority of cases, the activity will dissipate naturaly. To encourage a reduction in the events, give conscious consideration as to what is out of place within your life and what is troubling you. Once an understanding of these problems is achieved, and steps taken to overcome them, such activity invariably ceases.

M. Keynes

P.S. I understand from my contact in your time, that “TV” is a “television” whereby images may be sent from one location to appear on a device at another. With such devices transporting images and sound through thin air, I am yet more convinced that latent telepathy within each of us is a distinct possibility.

Within the last year I have experienced many strange things through out my house.

It all started when I took a photo of the christmas tree When I got the film developed there was a white cloud wrapping around my tree forming into a white ball, on the right side of the photo is a sidefiew of a mans face. I have looked at that photo for hours at a time and it very much resembles my dad that had passed away back in 86, you can see his forehead eye nose and chin.

Thats when it all started, little things like lights going on and off sometimes by itself, one night I was almost asleep and I sat straight up in bed when I heard loud footsteps coming from the kitchen, it sounded as if someone was dragging my kitchen chairs across the floor or kids running back and forth, but my kids were sound to sleep That happened a few times and one night I came home from a friends house and I went to go lay down in bed, as soon as I got under my covers something made a crashing noise into my bedroom door, and the door hit the wall, there was nobody home but me, then one evening I was doing my makeup to go out for the evening and through my laundry shoot I kept hearing a cat meowing, we have no cat, yet another time I heard a small child laughing from my closet when I opened it there was nothing there. My cellphone will come unplugged by itself, I had a photo of me and my boyfriend in a frame I walked into my bedroom oneday and it was on the floor when I went to put it on the dresser the picture was upside down in the frame, that really freaked me out Ive been wondering what is causing all this to happen?

At night I have a hard time falling asleep wondering whats going to happen next. my son is 6 years old he told me one morning why did you keep opening and closing the kitchen cabinets last night? I couldnt tell him it wasn’t me cause I dont want him to know. My daughter has also had things happen to her but we try to not let him know whats going on. What can I do to stop all this? Do we have some type of spirits through out our house or a ghost?
Please respond back.

You most certainly are experiencing a number of phenomena! But the cause is, I suspect, not created by some ghost or external entity. Much of what you describe can attributed to a poltergeist.

First described in 1838, poltergeists - from the German word for “noisy spirit” - can create all manner of noises, and often appear to move objects around, open and close doors, switch lights on and off, etc. In nearly all cases they are harmless, sometimes regarded as simply mischievous “spirits”.

Poltergeist activity has been frequently attributed as emanating from or centred about the women of a household, particularly adolescent girls who have not reached sexual maturity, or slightly older omen who have a great deal of emotional strain and stress within their lives. The activity seems to be an outward projection of inner energies, is uncontrolled, and leads to yet further stress on the individual so unintentionally creating them.

Often such phenomena simply disappear, but can be encouraged to do so through an active adjustment of any and all elements of life that are creating emotional strain and tension.

The answer is most certainly inward. I sincerely hope you rare able to discover a resolution to these troubling experiences.

M.Keynes

Hello my name is ******* and I am looking for some help. I often hear my three and half year old son talking to him self. One day I asked him who he was talking to. He told me ‘That man and lady, mommy’. I than asked him were are they and he pointed over my shoulder. I however didn’t see anyone. This was not the last ’sighting’ of the man and woman, but just one of many. I just wanted you to understand what I am saying. I need some help figuring things out with this, I am very freaked out about this. If you have any information about ANYTHING that might help I would greatly apprecate it.

Children are oft aware of elements we adults are not. It is something we lose as we grow into adulthood, and inherent intuition about the world around us that reveals what might be hidden from the five senses.

Whether this particular “man and lady” be actual entities of some nature, or merely representations of the child’s growing consciousness, cannot be told. If the child appears not to be in distress with their presence, there is little need to be concerned. However, do pay close attention to your reactions in the presence of the child as he will be encouraged to react in a similar manner to yourself.

You should ask yourself whether anyone close to the family has been recently deceased, or whether the child no longer sees someone who was once close to him, for whom the instinctive longing may manifest itself in this manner.

1. Integrity.

Above all, truth must be permitted to prevail and at no time should the investigator offer the opportunity for his personal emotional motivations to taint the evidence being examined. There is no room for belief, merely sound logical conclusions from clear, empirical evidence.

2. Tuned senses

Each of the five senses - for there are but five - must be finely tuned for they will certainly be required at every junction. No manner of instrument can replace the human senses. Let the instruments verify and record while one’s senses communicate the true nature of one’s environment.

3. A gentleman

It is a known fact the very nature of the female constitution is incompatible with the exploration of the unknown. Squeals of fright, excitement and the constant danger of feinting all give rise to greater concern for the woman than for the nature of the investigation. This is a most unfortunate circumstance as it is frequently the case that a woman herself is the very focus of said investigation.

4. Knowledge of science

One may not simply take to the high street to purchase all that is required within the ghost hunter’s arsenal of measuring, test, and defensive tools. One must design such implements and have the necessary means to have them expertly manufactured to an exacting standard. Measurements are meaningless without implicit trust in the accuracy of the tool being used. I mention defensive implements for it is my experience that the charlatan can become physically violent at the ultimate realisation she is about to be exposed.

5. An understanding of deception

One must understand the nature of one’s opponent and the ghost hunter’s most commonly encountered opponent is the deceiver. I have experienced all manner of events - some of which, I will admit, defy explanation within the bounds of scientific understanding at this time - most of which have been revealed to be deliberate deceptions on the part of some person or persons. it is only through becoming learned in the vocabulary of the deceiver that one can reveal the deception.

With such qualities - and yet more - the ghost hunter may find himself revealing the truth of the matters to which he is called to investigate. Without them, he is nothing more than the charlatans he pretends to expose.

At the hospital, despite his verbal threatening should I make a return visit, Dr. Ashden gave quite a chase. I eventually caught up with the fellow having hidden himself behind a tool shed amongst the well tended grounds, puffing frantically on a cigar to ease his excited state. He was in no mood to continue the chase and after some discussion I was able to extract from him the story of the dog and I have little concern as to the tale’s validity. Dr. Ashden is oblivious of the dog’s origins and is insistent that it simply started to appear not long after Mrs. Marshmoor’s admittance. It comes, then it goes, he said.

“Have you followed it to determine its destination?” I asked.

“I have not and I will not!” Exclaimed Ashden sporting a paled expression of terror at the very prospect, following which I could retrieve nothing further of use from the man. It was as though he were terrified for his self at the prospect of divulging information.

Returning to the room of Mrs. Marshmoor, the dog predictably appeared as before. I wished to have observed its approach from outside the room, but the extended time dealing with Dr. Ashden foiled such plans. I was, however, able to follow the creature as it left.

As previously, it appeared to be called by something unheard. I kept a guarded distance - out of fear of its unknown temperament aside from its attention of Mrs. Mashmoor in as much as wanting not to distract it - and followed it’s meandering path out of the hospital and into the grounds. The more I followed, the more my mind was set to the corporeal nature of the beast. Why would the creature wander such if its sole purpose was to pay a visit to Mrs. Marshmoor? I had expected it to merely vanish into thin air in the blink of an eye, yet here it was, several minutes later happily making its way interjected by brief pauses to sniff the air or on passing a tree or flower.

It was some time before I realised where the creature was leading me. We emerged from the gardens with the infirmary to our left, directly onto Coronation Road, whereupon the dog - without hesitation as though it had no fear - trotted across the road and straight into the entrance of Lower Place Farm! My attempt to continue the chase was thwarted by the sudden arrival of several coaches, heading for some event or celebration judging by the sounds of jovial voices leaking out of them.

Lower Place Farm proved to be nothing above the ordinary and what I could see of its structures showed some signs it was not in best of health. Primarily cattle and sheep and by the advertisement sign near the gate, a small sideline breeding dogs as domestic pets - which explained the barking dogs I had heard on my first visit. As I approached I noted the smell of burned wood in the air and unlike previously I heard no dogs barking. I was accosted before I managed to make the shut gate at the end of the driveway by a burly fellow sporting a suspicious tone. Rather than risk a misunderstanding concerning my true ambition to discover the whereabouts of what I now termed to be the rather less mysterious Irish Wolfhound, I explained I was seeking out a canine companion for my London home, The fellow - who not once mentioned his name nor greeted me in a polite fashion - refused my entry beyond the locked gate that separated the two of us, stating the breeding kennels were currently closed to visitors. I questioned as to why, but received nothing more than vague, diversionary responses which merely served to strengthen my suspicion regarding the dog.

As I made my way once more towards the infirmary, I took one final glance around at Lower Place Farm and noticed there might be no way for a creature the size of an Irish Wolfhound to gain entrance to the farm proper as the gate and adjoining fences were extremely secure. I presumed he must have simply leaped the gate, though by his clearly lethargic nature I found that difficult to accept despite no other explanation. By the time I returned to the infirmary, Mr. Marshmoor had taken leave of his wife and so I would have to make perhaps one final journey to gain access to Lower Place Farm and discover the truth…

I tussled with my urge to experience the touch of this creature for myself, to feel the warmth - or otherwise - of its alleged unearthly body under my hand as did Mrs. Marshmoor. But in fear of having the creature run off and diminishing the obvious benefit to Mrs. Marshmoor’s well being, I decided at this time to remain an observer.

Fifteen minutes after it had arrived, the creature departed as though it had been summoned back by its master. Its ears pricked and its head turned to the room’s exit as if hearing a command (there was nothing audible to myself, however it is known that canines have the ability to hear sounds man cannot). Acknowledging the apparent signal and wish of the creature to leave, Mrs. Marshmoor removed her hand from its head and if immediately moved off, offering me the briefest glance of curiosity as it left the room. Mrs. Marshmoor’s subsequent state of mind allowed her to drift into a serene sleep.

I thought the better of chasing after it on this occasion, already planning to make at least one return visit to experience the visitation.

I decided that day to return to the rail station on foot, along Coronation Road, turning left through the Football Field - it was a most pleasant and fresh day to be out of the London bustle. As I passed Lower Place Farm - mere yards from the Infirmary - my attention was drawn to the sounds of many rather excitable, barking dogs. At the time I thought little more of it.

As chance would have it, Mr. Marshmoor had need that day to pay a visit into the city and I found him already at the station when I arrived, having presumably taken a cab ride from the Infirmary. We returned on the same Great Western Train offering an ideal opportunity to discuss what I had just experienced. The carriages were sparse of other travelers and so we were able to secure a compartment to ourselves in order to discuss such a private matter openly.

Once the train was off, it was, surprisingly, Mr. Marshmoor who instigated the conversation…

Take this account by ‘T’ over at Mostly Safe for Work. Although they have not alluded to the realisation, it is clear that the subject entity has indeed been subjected to an exorcism of sorts, though not one of religious nature.

The text tells of the ghost “living in my downstairs bedroom” which is an intriguing choice of words. Later the spirit is given visual attributes in order to solidify its presence within the real world. It is this application of phsysiological attributes to which our minds are inexorably and instinctively drawn. Of a similar process is the need to assign physical attributes to the plethora of superior persona depicted littering the universe throughout organised religion and occult teachings.

One may note the empathy ‘T’ has with the now abused entity, but they may both sleep peacefully with the understanding that whatever had occurred was little more than a reflected echo of something that once took place and our attribution of consciousness - and even emotion - onto the entity is a reflection of our inner, base human need for acceptance.

It was without warning that I received notice of Mrs. Marshmoor’s illness less than two weeks before she passed from this life.

Mrs. Marshmoor’s bearing of a child had developed a number of complications (I shall not impart the details for it is irrelevant to this account). It was late into her term and it was without question that both she and the unborn would most likely perish during the labour. I should point out that at this time I had very little in the way of communication with Mrs. Marshmoor, being a long time acquaintance of her husband, Abelard Marshmoor (a man whom I have found to possess utmost integrity despite a position in local government).

The notice of Mrs. Marshmoor’s imminent departure was accompanied by an intriguing post script:

P.S. It is beyond all belief and understanding and all that is known within the world, but for the past ten days Florence has on occasion been visited by Reginald, a trusted Irish Wolfhound whom we lost not six weeks past. I have seen the dear animal myself sitting at my wife’s side and offering her comfort through his presence. I do not know what to make of it.

And so it is revealed as to why Mr. Marshmoor saw fit to contact me, for our relationship was not of a nature to inform me of his wife’s illness in this manner.

On Saturday, March 14, I made my way to the Willesden Infirmary, Coronation Road, where Mrs. Marshmoor was under the care of one Dr. Ashden. Ashden, you may be aware, is renowned for less than scrupulous practices and unconventional treatments of the terminally ill. His methods range from herbs and concoctions, to the laying on of hands, to the intervention of channelers and mediums. His techniques are as broad as they are ineffective in halting or slowing the passage of those destined to death, and I have little time for the man’s obsessions. However, Ashden had been assigned to Mrs. Marshmoor’s treatment under her explicit request, and it was at once that she was admitted to the infirmary that the canine apparition began making its visitations.

The investigation of ghosts - and all matters paranormal - is my passion. For twelve years or more I have sought the secret to understanding the nature of what so many spiritualists call the other planes of existence, and yet they escape me.

Now, with the aid of your technology and the Watson Tempographicator, I am able to reach across the years to discover the truth of my time in the stories of yours.

Through your stories and accounts I hope to grasp a greater understanding of what drives us mortals to reach out to the departed and them to, apparently, reach back to us.

Sincerely, 

Dr. M. Keynes