Firstly, if you make alcohol a mystery to your children, then this is just going to make them even more curious about it when their time comes. From when they are young, you should allow them to sip at an alcoholic drink at meal times, or even have one of their own mixed very weakly with lemonade or another soft drink. This means that once they’re legally able to buy alcohol themselves, they’re not going to rebel against you and just go and drink as much of it as they can. They’re not going to be wondering what it tastes like, as they will have already tried it, nor are they going to think that they are cool for drinking it because it will have just been something that they were brought up being able to drink. It is also important that you set an example to them as well. It is up to you if you want to get drunk, however to do this in front of your children would not be good parenting. This would mean that they would see that being drunk is the norm, and this should not be the case at all.

When they are in their teens, you should tell them that you don’t mind them having a drink at parties, as long as they tell you what they want and then let you buy it for them. You don’t want them to get into the habit of buying alcohol on their own when it isn’t legal, as this is only going to get them into a lot of trouble in the long term. Tell them that you trust them not to drink anything other than what you’re buying for them, and that if they betray that trust, you’re simply not going to allow them to take alcohol or a party again or, if they’re young enough to still be under your control, go to the party at all.

It is important that you talk about the dangers of drinking to them. If you know of somebody who has damaged themselves seriously with alcohol, or even died because of it, then this is a good story. You don’t want to scare them, and they need to understand that alcohol can be fine in small amounts, but it is very important that they do understand just how problematic an actual binge can be to their own bodies. 

Jacob Downing sat at his desk by the glow of his computer reviewing the footage of his last paranormal investigation. He hoped that after the umpteenth time of watching it, he just might see a faint apparition, a cup move of its own accord, hear a bang from nowhere or something that could possibly be evidence of the paranormal!

Jacob’s thoughts were clear: Let’s face it; there has never been any evidence!

He held his head in his hands and rubbed his face from tiredness and exacerbation; running his hands over late night stubble reminding him he had been at this pointless task all night. Jacob had sent his two assistants home – glancing at his watch – five or six hours ago; he couldn’t remember. The task of reviewing the videotaped footage was beginning to become tedious, and all cases started to merge into one big waste of time. He was just too hopeful to find something ghostly to acknowledge it.

Hitting stop on the media player, Jacob watched the time slider move back to the start of the footage. He pressed play.

‘Here we go again!’ he mumbled to himself.

Running his fingers through his short brown hair, leaning his head into his palm, he stared beyond the computer monitor knowing there was nothing to find. He lit another cigarette, inhaling a longer than usual, allowing a sigh to follow his exhale. Coffee would taste good about now, too.

Jacob watched the smoke from his cigarette drift slowly upwards, and flicked the ash into the ashtray. He didn’t really want it now. It tasted of defeat.

He stubbed it out half-way down.

He looked at his watch. The hands read 11.32p.m.

There were still two of the five digital recorders to go through – a couple of nights worth of white noise to listen to.

He could not wait for that!

The thermograph had captured nothing. Only the everyday lives of the family that reported the “haunting”. There was a bit of excitement when Day Two was played back, but it turned out to be the twelve year old son getting a glass of water in the middle of the night.

Yawn.

Sleep was catching up as much as Jacob fought it.

A few more minutes passed on the video, and Jacob decided it was enough for tonight. He closed the media player and shut down the computer. He unplugged the Digital Video Recorder from the USB port, switching that off too.

Turning the lights back on in his office, Jacob grabbed his coat, pack of Lambert & Butler cigarettes, and his car keys. He opened the office door, flicking the light switch off. As the door closed he remembered his lighter. On with the lights again, he saw it lying on the desk near the keyboard. Jacob shoved the lighter and his cigarettes in his left trouser pocket, flung his black coat on, and turned the lights back off.

Wearily, he exited his office. He fumbled with the key in the lock, making him threaten it if it did not go in. It just fuelled his irritability.

Finally the door was locked.

He walked across the main room where his assistants worked in darkness, almost bumping into the television. The main table where they discussed their work was still slightly visible given its size. He opened the main door and headed for the university foyer down three flights of stairs.

Outside the building it was fairly quiet. No surprise really for the time of night. It was just like the tapes – video and audio – nothing.

Jacob approached his car – a black Ford Fiesta – pressed the button on his remote. The locks click open, and he climbed in. Before he even got his car keys ready to start the car, Jacob took out his cigarettes, lit one, actually enjoying it this time.

Ah, sweet nicotine!

He clamped the cigarette between his lips and turned the key in the ignition. The car came to life. Home was only a few short miles, a small flat in a block called Riverside, aptly named being next to a river – if you could call it that.

Entering his flat – all he could afford after that bitch took him for everything in the divorce – Jacob headed straight for the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.

Chapter 2

The alarm screeched in Jacob’s ears. He reached over and pressed the button to cease the infernal machine’s noise. The digital display, as always, read 07.00. Boy, he felt rough. He didn’t remember drinking alcohol last night, but his tiredness made him feel like he may as well have.

He went into the cupboard that want supposedly a bathroom, peed and flushed, showered quickly.

While drying off, Jacob hoped that he might get a phone call today with some real potential; a haunting worth investigating. Not another episode of Most Haunted where someone gets touched and it must be a ghost! A genuine, honest to God, ghost. Just one would be fine, thanks.

He brushed his teeth.

Finding a fresh shirt and trousers from the wardrobe, Jacob got dressed. He had considered just putting on yesterday’s clothes, but that would have been a bad idea after wearing them for fifteen hours.

Arriving at his offices in the university, the two assistants were already there going through some notes while they waited for him.

‘Mornin’ Boss-man!’ Steve said jovially. Far too happy for the early morning Jacob was experiencing. Steve sat at the large table wearing his usual black jeans and whatever metal band printed on his faded t-shirt.

Jessica turned and smiled her greeting, quickly turning back to her work, making her blonde pony- tail sway. Her attire was more comforting: a purple blouse that hugged her curves, and tight blue jeans that really showed how long her legs were. Quite why she was here was a mystery to Jacob. He saw her doing fashion or at least art. Not hanging around with a forty-two year old ghost hunter and a twenty-something who could not stop eye-balling her. Although Jacob had had his fair share of glances when she leaned over a desk or, the pattern of her bra showed through her blouse.

‘Shall we get finished on the Hutton’s case, Boss?’

Shut up, Steve!!! ‘We can, but I don’t think there’s anything there. I think that’s another dead end. Pardon the pun.’

Steve laughed trying to assure everyone he got the joke.

Who was he fooling?

Jacob laughed at him in his mind; smiled in reality to agree it was as funny as Steve thought.

Jessica was writing up her notes still, oblivious to the conversation. She was a hard worker and natural photographer. She’d learnt the video and camera equipment well. If Steve wasn’t such a dork, he would still be doing it, but his angles were crap, and batteries wouldn’t be charged, and DVR not backed up so the device could be used for the next case, and so on. Jacob gladly let him handle the digital audio recorders.

Jacob thought he would probably have different people working with him – maybe Jessica would still be here – but when he put the notice up for paranormal studies these were the only two that showed up. Unless he counted the girl who did one night of investigated and freaked out because she was petrified about seeing something “unnatural”. Students could come and help his research when they had free time or whenever they wanted, but no one was interested except Christina Aguilera and one third of the Three Stooges; possibly Larry – Curly on worse days.

‘Jessica?’ She looked around to face Jacob. ‘When you’re finished, could you make sure everything is backed up to the USB dongles, and to tape?’

‘Yeah, I sure will, Doctor Downing.’

‘Jacob is fine, please.’

‘OK.’

 ‘What shall I do?’ Steve piped.

Jacob frowned. ‘Help Jessica. Use your initiative.’

Jessica raised the corner of her mouth for a brief moment while she wrote her case notes.

Steve seemed disappointed, but Jacob was not about to let him at footage unsupervised.

Jacob unlocked his office and slumped into his chair.

A few moments later, Jessica knocked gently on the door. ‘Can I just get a laptop and the footage from the Hutton’s case?’

‘Yeah, help yourself. The DVR’s are here; the thermograph and recorders are in the cabinet.’

‘Forgot to lock it last night, again?’ she asked, looking at the padlock dangling freely from its hoop.

‘Must have. It was late when I left.’

Twitching her nose, Jacob realised she could smell the smoke in the air. Jacob knew one day he’d set the smoke alarms off, but wasn’t bothered too much. He ignored the thought while he watched Jessica retrieve the equipment, pretending to look over some files. It was only once in a blue moon he did it.

At one o’clock Jacob leaned back in his chair, his comfy leather chair, interlocking his fingers behind his head.

‘For fuck’s sake,’ he whispered.

How much longer was he to wait for a true case to come his way? If there was nothing found soon the grant would be revoked. Hard as he tried there was just nothing to be found. He saw television programme after television programme finding some sort of evidence – even if it was a whisper on tape. Electronic Voice Phenomenon was everywhere, but the one’s Jacob and his team had heard could be considered background noise. The word futile sprang to mind.

Jacob was snapped out of his daydream by the telephone ringing. He tried hard not to get too excited at the claims someone was about to tell him. After all, it was going to be another set-up; another dead end.

He picked up the receiver.

‘Good afternoon, Doctor Downing speaking.’ He attempting friendly, but it still sounded like sarcasm.

‘He – Hello? Are you the paranormal investigator?’ asked a nervous woman.

‘Yes.’

‘A friend of mine said you could help me. I really hope you can, we’re at my wits end here.’

‘What appears to be the problem, Missis . . ?’

Jacob sounded bored already, knowing what was about to be said.

‘Parker. Patricia Parker. I can’t be certain, but I’m sure my family is being haunted by a poltergeist.’

‘OK, can you give me some details about the events that have transpired?’

‘I’m sorry?’

Jacob sighed.

‘Can you tell me what’s been happening?’

‘Oh . . . oh, things have been difficult in our family for a while now and  . . . ‘

‘I meant with regards to the poltergeist, Missis Parker,’ he interrupted.

‘But it’s all connected. We found another expert before you. He told us he could not help as it would endanger his life.’

‘Who was this other “expert”?’

Jacob expected to hear the name, Peter Waters or even the Most Haunted crew – neither being “experts” in the field in his opinion – they both play along with the homeowners fears, then claim to clear the property of any spirit activity with use of a medium. Peter was the worst, someone Jacob had run into several times, and almost resulted in throwing a punch or two at him. He was the only one Jacob knew of to send a bill to the people he had so-called “helped”.

‘He was a very odd man, said he was from some spiritual group. I can’t remember the name of it.’

‘Did he not leave a card or some means to contact him?’

‘No.’

‘How did you get in touch with him in the first place?’

‘We didn’t. He came to us.’

Jacob began to lose interest now; yet another crack-pot on the line.

‘How did he know you had a poltergeist?’

‘He said that he had “sensed the presence” or something. He had come to warn us to move house.’

‘Move house? Why didn’t he help you?’ Jacob asked curiously.

‘He told me he couldn’t. If he tried to send the poltergeist away, it would endanger his home by draining his energy or something or other.’

‘Right,’ he said thinking it was a psychic trying to get paid more likely. Jacob attempted to hold back the smile on his face, but it was too late.

There was a moment of silence.

‘Can you help us, Doctor?’ Patricia pleaded.

‘My team and I can come and investigate your home; see what is actually causing the disturbance, yes.’

‘If that’s all you can do . . .’ she said sounding disappointed.

‘That is what we do, Missis Parker.’

‘How soon can you come?’

‘We can be there tomorrow, if that suits you?’

‘Yes please,’ she replied with relief in her voice.

‘Say . . . about this time?’

‘Yes, that’ll be ok.’

‘Ok then, see you tomorrow afternoon, Missis Parker.’

‘See you then. Thank you.’

‘Goodbye, Mrs Parker until tomorrow.’

‘Yes, and thank you again.’

Jacob heard the phone hang up on her end, placing the receiver back on his phone.

He went out to Jessica and Steve.

‘Get all the equipment ready for tomorrow, please.’

‘We got another case, Boss?’

‘Yep. Bit of an odd one, so be ready for another disappointment.’

‘I’ll pack up the equipment then and . . .’

‘No, Jessica will do that, Steve. I do not want a repeat of the Child’s case. You can get the audio recorders ready. Jessica, can you make sure we have everything, please?’

‘Trust me, mate, I can do it. I have learned a lot since then,’ Steve stated eagerly.

‘No! And that’s final!’

Steve sulked sneering at Jessica.

Chapter 3

The ancient Egyptians often used waxed figures of Apep, a monster who was the enemy of the sun. The magician would write Apep’s name in green ink on the effigy, wrapped it in new papyrus and throw it into a fire As it burned he kicked it with his left foot four times. The ashes of the effigy were mixed with excrement and thrown into another fire. The Egyptians also left waxed figures on tombs.

Like blessings, curses have universally been bought and sold throughout the centuries. With the exclusion of the neo-Pagan Witches, witches and sorcerers throughout history have performed both blessings and curses as a service to others because both are calling upon supernatural powers to effect a change. They have rendered these services to client for fees, or in carrying out judicial sentences. Plato mentioned in the Republic, “If anyone wishes to injure an enemy; for a small fee they (sorcerers) will bring harm on good or bad alike, binding the gods to serve their purposes by spells and curses.”

Waxed figures were popularly used during the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Europe by numerous witches. King James I, of England, described such activities in his book Daemonologie (1597):

To some others at these times he [the Devil] teaheth how to make pictures of wax or clay. That by the roasting thereof, the persons that they beare the name of, may be continually melted or die away by continually sickness.

They can bewitch and take the life of men or women, by roasting of the pictures, as I spake of before, which likewise is verie possible to their Maister to performe, for although, as I said before, that instrument of waxe has no vertue in that turne doing, yet may he not very well, even by the same measure that his conjured slaves, melts that waxe in fire, may he not. I say at these times, subtily, as a spirite, so weaken and scatter the spirites of life of the patient, as may make him on the one part, for faintnesses, so sweate out the humour of his bodie. And on the other parte, for the not concurrence of these spirites, which causes his digestion, so debilitate his stomake, that this humour redicall continually sweating out on the one part, and no new good sucks being put in the place thereof, for lacke of digestion on the other, he shall at last vanish away, even as his picture will die in the fire.

Alternatives to melting of effigies has been to stick them with pins thorns or knives. Animal and human hearts have been used for substitutes. Hearts, animal corpses or objects which quickly decompose, such as eggs, are buried in the ground with spells that the victim will die as the objects deteriorate.

In Ireland “cursing stones” are stones that are stroked and turned to the left as the curse is recited. It has been frequently claimed that gems and crystals possess the power to hold curses. . The Hope Diamond purchased by Louis XVI from Tavernier in 1668, is thought to be cursed, because its owners have suffered illness, misfortune, and death.

Various legends abound in the United Kingdom and Europe of curses laid upon families, especially of the aristocracy. One of the most horrible curses was that of childlessness or death to the heirs, to the family lineage died out.

Effigy of a Knight (Photo credit: spratmackrel)

Effigy 01 (Photo credit: kirstyhall)

Some studies say that it can permenantly alter your mind into being more open minded to new experiences and spirituality.

Normally I’m a “just say no to drugs” kinda person because I don’t like not being in control of myself, but also, I don’t like the way most drugs have been demonstratably proven to damage you permenantly.

I think DMT is different though, since unlike mushrooms or LSD (which are both related to DMT), it’s a natural part of your brain chemistry. Some scientists have apparently found brain levels of DMT which are equal to smoking it, in the brains of monks in deep meditation. This demonstrates that you don’t need to administer it as a drug to get “high” off of it, you can just train yourself to do the same thing. That could take years of practise though so who wants that?

Some people smoke DMT because it’s a quick and easy way to take it and it only lasts for 15 minutes or so. I have problems with smoking anything because inhaling smoke is BAD FOR YOU. Instead I’d like to take DMT orally as Ayahuasca. This can last for several hours and it won’t scar your lungs.

The things I’ve heard about it, the wisdom it could unlock through visual introspection, I’d truly love to see it work.

Built in 1863 for the Reverend Henry Bull. It sits on the site of an ancient monastery. The ghost of a mournful nun who patrolled the so called “Nun’s Walk” had often been seen there. An old story claimed that she had fallen in love with a monk from the Borley Monastery- to outrage- and the two had tried to elope together but had been quickly tracked down. The monk was executed and the nun bricked up in the cellars of the monastic buildings!

There are countless tales of ghosts from all over the world, but some are far more interesting than most. Many of us remember that superb horror film ‘The Shining’, based on the novel by Stephen King.  The book was inspired by a stay at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. Assigned Room 217, he reportedly himself heard ghost children playing in the hallway.

Many have experienced paranormal activity in this hotel, but these real-life ghosts seem harmless. Of the many spirits that are said to haunt the place, guests and employees claim to have heard faint music coming from the ballroom, and seen the piano keys moving.

Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire, England, is another building with a ghostly reputation.. Building work has never been completed here, and in the last 200 years workers have repeatedly run from the place, seven of the builders rumored to have died in inexplicable accidents..

Strange noises are often heard, like the sounds of crashing masonry or voices wailing, and many ghosts, including Roman soldiers and young girls.have reportedly been seen Regular ghost hunts are held here.

One of the more notorious haunted sites is the Skirrid Mountain Inn in Llanfihangel Crucorney, Wales. 900 years old, according to folklore over 180people have been hanged from a beam on the staircase, which is still in place today, with rope marks, apparently. The first floor of the inn is thought to have been the courtroom during this time. 

Glasses often suddenly fly across the room of their own accord, faces are seen at windows and people feel nooses around their necks.  Guests who stay there often report waking to icy room temperatures – even when the heating is on – and the feeling of being watched. 17th century barmaid Fanny Price is thought to be the most active spirit among many, but everyone agrees that this really is one scary place to stay.

People in India know all about ghosts. Locals give the Bhangarh fort, and the area around it, a wide berth, due to some popular spooky stories associated with the fort and town. Authorities have told visitors not to enter the ruined city after dusk. It is said that a wicked sorcerer cursed the city after being spurned by a princess. The 17th-century city was soon destroyed by an advancing army, leaving only its temples intact, and has been uninhabited since. Visitors say that birds and wildlife fall silent as the spirit of the sorcerer approaches at night, and nobody has ever tried to spend the night there. Just too spooky to take that chance

Perhaps the last place on this list will surprise you most. The infamous prison of Alcatraz, which closed in 1963, is said to be haunted by many of the former residents. Things as different as the sound of banjo playing by Al Capone to the really eerie events that occur in solitary confinement cell 14D, where a prisoner was said to have been strangled to death by a spectral beast in the 1940s. Visitors have in the past reported smelling smoke where no fire was burning, and hearing the unhappy screams and shouts from the ghosts of long dead condemned prisoners.  Another uncomfortable location that sets your spine tingling. If you give credence to the idea of ghosts or not, it is difficult to deny that places like this have a certain ‘feel’ to them which makes you want to get out ASAP. Overactive imagination, or subconscious warning?  You be the judge.

Just outside of Houston, Texas, is a neighborhood filled with upscale homes and manicured lawns. In the early 1980s, Sam and Judith Haney settled in at the far western edge of the development. Sam described it as their dream home: 

“When we bought the house in Newport, it was the house that we had always been looking for. So, it was the house that we intended to stay at for a long period of time.” 

But there was a morbid secret about the Haney’s perfect home, one that soon turned their lives into a never-ending nightmare. Sam said it all began when amysterious old man showed up at their door with an ominous warning: 

“This elderly man told me that he had noticed that we were putting a swimming pool in our backyard and that there was something about our backyard that I needed to know about. So I followed him around to my backyard and he pointed at the ground and said that there are some graves right here. And he marked a spot on the ground where they were. And I really didn’t know how to react to that. I didn’t know if he was just joking. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to joke about something like that.” 

Using a backhoe, Sam decided to see if the man’s alarming claims were true. Sam says it wasn’t long before he hit something: 

“And at that point, we stopped with the backhoe and we got down into the hole and continued digging by hand. There were pine boards. When we lifted up the first board, we could see an indentation of a skeleton form. It didn’t take long to figure out that it was actual human remains.” 

Sam immediately called the Sheriff and county coroner who conducted an official exhumation. Most of the bones had turned to powder. But 25 fragments were found, some so brittle that they disintegrated when touched. 

Wanting desperately to do the right thing, the Haneys decided to find out whose remains were buried in their backyard. The search led them to a longtime resident named Jasper Norton. 

Years earlier, Norton had dug several graves in the area. He told the Haneys that their home and a dozen others were built on top of an old African American cemetery called Black Hope. The deceased were mainly former slaves. The last burial was in 1939, and as many as 60 people were interred there in paupers’ graves. 

he two people buried in the Haney’s backyard were Betty and Charlie Thomas. They died during the 1930s and their graves were eventually forgotten. 

Judith and Sam Haney made an extraordinary decision. They reburied Betty and Charlie in their yard, and prayed their spirits would rest in peace. But, according to Judith, peace was not forthcoming: 

“There was a clock in my bedroom and one night it started sparking and putting out a sort of blue glow.” 

When Judith checked the clock, she found that it was unplugged. That was only the beginning of the Haneys’ ordeal. On another evening, Sam went to work the night shift, leaving Judith alone: 

“I heard the sliding glass door open and I heard what I thought was Sam saying, ‘What you doing?’ Everything was quiet, the sliding glass doors were locked, and I thought, ‘Well, you know, you must be losing your mind. This really must be getting to you.’ But much to my amazement that’s not where the story ended. In the morning I awoke, went in my closet to get my red shoes, and I could not find them anywhere.” 

Sam backed up Judith’s story: 

“So, of course, I started looking for them and went through all of her closets where she normally puts things. And we just couldn’t find them. We had walked just a short distance from where the gravesites were and I could see something on the grave. And they were both side-by-side like someone had just picked them up and carried them over and laid them down on the gravesite.” 

Even more disturbing to Sam was the realization that this was Betty Thomas’ birthday: 

“And I kinda got the feeling that it was like Charlie was giving Betty a birthday present.” 

Judith felt she knew what was going on: 

“I began to come to the realization that this was not all in my mind and that this had to have some relationship to Betty and Charlie’s graves being disturbed. Their spirits were saying, ‘This isn’t right.’” 

The Haneys were not alone. A dozen of their neighbors also reported lights, televisions and water faucets turning on and off, and unearthly sounds andsupernatural apparitions. Worse, these bizarre events were becoming malicious. 

Like the Haneys, Ben and Jean Williams thought that they had found their suburban paradise when they moved into the same neighborhood. But Jean said she never felt at peace in the house: 

“After we moved, in everything changed. When I tried to plant new plants, they just would not live no matter what I did. You know, fertilizer or whatever, they still would not live. And I constantly had a foreboding feeling, a feeling of things are not right or something bad is about to happen.” 

The Williams said that near their flowerbed, sinkholes appeared in the unmistakable shape of a coffin. The Williams would fill them in, only to have them reappear a few days later. The Williams also felt their ideal home was being invaded by a menacing presence. Random shadows slid along the walls, followed by whispered words and a putrid smell.

At the time, the Williams’ granddaughter, Carli, lived with the couple. During the blazing heat of summer, Carli said she would stumble into bone-chilling pockets of ice-cold air: 

“It would be very, very chilly and you’d have this feeling of foreboding, or just, you know, like something wasn’t right. Anywhere in the house you’d have a feeling that you were not alone. Somebody was watching you. It terrified me to be in the house by myself. The toilets used to flush on their own. As the water went down I could hear, it was almost like conversations. You could hear people murmuring to themselves. It was a presence or spirit or something there. Something that wanted to be heard. Wanted me to know that it was there.” 

Jean Williams had no doubt as to the source of the disturbances: 

“I absolutely believe that all of these things happened to us because we were on the graveyard, and that we were simply going to be tormented until we left there.” 

Ben said he and Jean debated what to do next: 

“Me and Jean, we talked it over. And she said, ‘Well what can we do? Walk off and leave it?’ She said, ‘We ain’t got enough money to pay down on another home.’ I said, ‘We’ve always been fighters. We’re gonna stay right here and fight it and try to beat it.’” 

According to Ben, it wasn’t long before he got his chance: 

“I came home from work around ten after twelve from the midnight shift, and I walked straight to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator door, and that’s when I seen these two ghostly figures. And they went straight backwards into the den. And then they started heading right down the hall to Jean’s. And it was standing right about a foot and a half from the end of the bed. The only thing I really thought of was, ‘They ain’t messing with me wife.’ As I dove through it, I felt a sticky cold sensation in my body.” 

Down the street at the Haney’s, Judith said the disturbances caused her life to unravel: 

“I was crying all the time. I was frightened. I was scared of doing my daily routine in my own home.” 

The Haneys decided to fight back in court. They sued the builder for not disclosing that their home was built over a cemetery, in part, so that everyone would know what was happening at their subdivision. A jury awarded them $142,000 for mental anguish. But a reversal ruled on legal grounds that the developers were not liable. The verdict was thrown out and the Haneys were ordered to pay $50,000 in court costs. Sam Haney recounted the total cost of their ordeal: 

“At that point we decided to file bankruptcy. All in all, we ended up losing the case, losing the money, losing the house.” 

The Williams also explored legal recourse. But they say that they were told that without definitive proof of a cemetery on their property, nothing could be done. It was then that Jean made a decision that she will forever regret: 

“That was the last straw. You want a body? I’ll show you a body. So, I thought to myself, I can dig about two feet a day and I knew I would reach a body.” 

But soon after she started digging, Jean felt ill. Her adult daughter, Tina, volunteered to finish the job. After digging for a half hour, Tina also fell ill. Carli Karluk was there that day: 

“I remember her saying that she was, that she felt funny. She was getting dizzy as well. She put the shovel down and she went back inside. And she just laid down on the couch. She’s like mom, daddy, I don’t feel right. There’s something wrong. The last thing I remember her saying was, ‘Mommy, take care of my baby, take care of my baby.’ And she looked so scared.” 

While waiting for paramedics to arrive, Jean tried to keep her daughter conscious: 

“Almost immediately her eyes started glazing over. And I was talking to her, trying to talk her out of dying. ‘Please Tina, talk to me.’ And all this time her eyes were changing until they got to the point where I knew that she wasn’t responding at all.” 

Tina had suffered a massive heart attack. Two days later she died. Jean burdened the blame: 

“I realize that I had desecrated another grave and now I’m paying. I told Ben, ‘We have to get out of here. It doesn’t matter what we lose, what we had.’ And I knew that if we didn’t, that I was not going to make it, because my fight was gone. I could fight no more.” 

The Williams escaped to Montana and later moved back to another house and another neighborhood in Texas. Today they are a happily growing family, no longer plagued by mysterious noises, horrific apparitions or heart-breaking tragedies. 

Back in their old neighborhood, none of the current residents have reported any paranormal activity. No one has ever been able to explain what happened to the Williams or the Haneys. 

 Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was completed in 1870 and is one of the

tallest lighthouses in the USA. Located on Hatteras island in Buxton, the

lighthouse was moved from its original location in 1999 to a place further

from the shore to protect the structure from encroaching erosion. Along

with being a historic building, the area around the lighthouse is also

rumored to be haunted.
 People call the ghost seen here the Gray Man of Hatteras. The legend of

this ghost states that it’s the spirit of a man who drowned here during a

hurricane in the early 1900’s. His spirit is usually only seen during

hurricanes and mostly from a distance. Most of the reports about this

ghost say that he is usually only visible for a few seconds and then he just

dissappears into the rain and fog. 
 The lighthouse is still operational today. Those who may want to visit this

historic place are welcome, as it is fully open to the public.

- Devil’s Tramping Ground (Bennett, North Carolina)
  ——————————-

  The Devil’s Tramping Ground is a barren circle in the forest in the

Harper’s Crossroad community near Bennett, North Carolina. It is the

subject of some of North Carolina’s oldest legends. For years now, nothing

has grown within the boundaries of the 40 foot ring. It remains a perfect

circle, void of any plantlife or anything else in it. Why plants wont grow on

this little area isn’t known and the phenomenon is thus far unexplained.

Even the United States Geological Survey team checked out the area and

could not find a scientific explanation for the lack of growth within the

ring.
  Stories about the ring are well known in the local communities around

the area. These include the disappearance of objects left within the ring

overnight, and strange events occurring to those brave enough to spend

the night within its boundaries.
  Legend says that this is the very place the devil himself can rise from the

depths of hell, and come to earth. It’s at this very place, the devil walks in

circles on certain nights and brings his evil into this world.
  It is a known fact that devil worshipping takes place here alot and

evidence of satanic sacrafices of small animals has also been uncovered

in the area. This is definately a dangerous place to check out, especially

at night, due to some of the crazy satanic people that come here to

worship the Devil.
  Maybe because of satan, or maybe because of all the bad things that

have taken place at this spot, alot of paranormal activity does take place

here in and around the circle. For a few decades now, people have

reported weird things taking place here. Strange lights and figures have

been seen here at the Devil’s Tramping Ground. Pictures taken here have

come back with orbs appearing on them. A feeling of dread also over

takes alot of the people who come here, and most people leave here alot

quicker then they expected too.
  With all of the ghost stories and legends that surround this place, its

easy to see why people come out here, to the middle of the woods, to

witness some strange or paranormal activity. Never check out an isolated

place like this alone or without being properly prepared. Good directions,

a cell phone, and a compass are all good ideas to bring with you on a visit

to a place like the Devil’s Tramping Ground.

- Hacker House (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
  ————————
 The legend of the Hacker House goes back centuries, and it is

continually evolving, as terrible events continue to plague this ill-omened

house. It rests upon a Native American mass grave, where several dozen

bodies lay, aged 20-25 and deposed execution-style, but in such a way

that has baffled archaeologists because there was no evidence of

weapons or struggle. And indeed Cherokee lore says that the place is

cursed, a place, “where the brave may not walk, as his prayers would not

be answered.” Further evidence of evil play came in 1821, from signed

affidavits given by Continental Army soldiers claiming to have had a gun

battle with dozens of undead. A century later, the Hacker House was a

hospital and laboratory. Though reports are unclear, several bodies were

excavated after a great fire in 1930, and they were found to be curiously

hollow. Experimental documentation by a Dr. Johnas Hacker seemed to

indicate that the hollowing was a result of the experimental medicines

ingested by his patients. Rebuilt, the house was turned into a funeral

parlor where things went predictably unwell.
 Now people seem to have smartened up. It is possible to take tours of

Hacker House, but nobody lives there except maybe a ghost or two.
 
- Maco Light (Wilmington, North Carolina)

  ————–
   
 The Maco Light is one of North Carolina’s greatest mysteries. For over a

century now, these mysterious lights have been seen and even

photographed bobbing up and down along the railroad tracks near the

Maco Station. The strange lights can be seen from a distance, but when

anyone approaches the lights, they always disappear.
 The legend of the Maco Light dates back to a tragic night in 1867. A train

was rolling along the tracks and the signalman, Joe Baldwin, was

sleeping in the caboose. Awoken by a violent jerk, Mr. Baldwin

immediately knew that the caboose had become detached from the rest

of the train. Then he heard another train coming closer to him. Grabbing

his lantern, he stood on the back of his caboose and he frantically waved

his lantern light to try to get the other train to stop. The engineer of the

other oncoming train unfortunately didn’t see the light fast enough, and

then the locomotive slammed into Joe’s caboose. Joe Baldwin was

decapitated and killed instantly in the crash. His head was thrown by the

force of the accident into the murky swamps and it was never found. His

headless body was buried a week later. Ever since that night, lights have

been seen moving up and down the track around Maco. Sometimes it’s

only one light, sometimes it’s two. People says that it’s the ghost of Joe

Baldwin, still searching for his missing head.

- Amelia Island Old Jail Museum (St. Augustine, Florida)
  ————————————–

 Located in one of the most haunted towns in America, The Amelia Island

Old Jail Museum is one of the many places located here that is haunted by

ghosts.
 The building is around one hundred years old and it is believed to be

haunted by more then one spirit. People have caught images of the

ghostly figures here on pictures taken in the building. Others have

reported feeling moving cold spots, and the feeling of being watched

while inside the old jail museum.
 One of the ghosts here, is rumored to be the spirit of a sherif who use to

work here. Sherif Perry was the first ever sherif to work at the old jail. He

was a large man who stood six and a half feet tall. Since his death, a very

tall ghostly figure has been seen throughout the building on a number of

occasions. Even today, tour guides and guests alike have reported seeing

the tall ghost of Sherif Perry dressed up in a plaid shirt like he use to wear

when he was alive and working here.
 Another spirit that people say haunts this building is a convict named Luc

Simone Aury. The bastard son of a Pirate, Aury was held here and

sentenced to death for the many crimes that he committed. A large crowd

came to see the famous criminal be hanged. But the night before, Aury

tried to commit suicide by slitting his neck with a knife. A doctor

managed to keep Aury alive, and his deep wound was stitched up. The

very next morning, a weak Aury was carried to the gallows for his

execution. While hanging, the stitches ripped open, and blood went flying

everywhere. Alot of the spectators that were standing close to the

gallows were soaked in blood. Nowadays Aury’s ghost can be heard

moaning near where the gallows use to stand. On a few occasions, he has

also been seen, all bloody with a wound on his neck still bleeding badly.
 The town of St. Augustine is a ghost hunters paradise. If your ever here

make sure to check out the old jail museum as it brings a piece of history

alive today.

- Cassadaga Hotel (Cassadaga, Florida)
  ———————-

 Called the Cassadaga Hotel and Psychic Center, this beautiful building

serves as a hotel for the living and a sanctuary for spirits who have

passed on. The Cassadaga has been called the phychic capital of the

world because of all the psychic people that come to the hotel everyday.

The hotel even offers spiritual development classes, meditation circles,

shamanic rituals, and informative lectures about spirits. The Cassadaga

Hotels main purpose seems to be a place where the living can contact the

dead.
 Since it first opened in 1927, the Cassadaga has stood as a hotel for

those who wanted to get away for a few days. Today that purpose has

been expanded to a place for the living and those long passsed to

congregate. The hotel is most famous for its paranormal activity that

takes place here. People have claimed there are many ghosts at this

location, and visitors are even advised to bring cameras with them and

take pictures as many orbs and spirits have been captured on

photographs taken here. The paranormal activity here is so active, that

the staff basically guarantees a paranormal experience to all of their

guests.
 For people who are interested in mediums, psychic abilities, and

paranormal activity, the Cassadaga hotel is a wonderful place to spend

some time in.

- Castillo de San Marcos Masonry Fort (St. Augustine, Florida)
  ———————————————–

 The oldest masonry fort in the United States, Castillo de San Marcos was

first built in 1672 by the Spanish when Florida was still a Spanish territory.

Despite being in a number of conflicts, the fort has never been taken by

force by anyone. Today it stands as a reminder of our history and it is also

believed to be haunted by ghosts.
 Apparitions, floating orbs, strange shadows, and weird lights have all

been seen here by witnesses throughout the years. People have also

reported hearing screams, chants, and soldiers marching in the distance

coming from areas that were currently unoccupied. Many videos and

pictures of ghostly activity has been caught here. The TV show Ghost

Adventures did an all night investigation here in 2009, and they caught

alot of paranormal activity happening here on that occasion.
 Tours are offered inside the old fort daily. It is an awesome big place that

has got that haunted feeling to it as soon as you walk in.

- Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse (Gasparilla Island, Gulf of Mexico,

Florida)
   ——————————————————-
 Built in 1890, this lighthouse might have two ghosts. The first is the

young daughter of one of the lighthouse’s keepers, who died in the

building, perhaps of diphtheria or whooping cough. Tour guides say that

she can be heard playing in one of the rooms of the building’s upper floor.

The second ghost is reputed to be the headless spectre of a Spanish

princess named Josefa. According to the legend, when Josefa rejected

the love of the Spanish pirate Gasparilla, so then he lopped off her head

with his sword. Her headless spirit has allegedly been seen wandering the

beach, possibly looking for her head.

- St. Augustine Lighthouse (St. Augustine, Florida)

   ——————————-

 Originaly built in 1824, this place is very paranormally active. Several

ghosts are said to haunt this lighthouse. The voice of the 12-year-old

daughter of the lighthouse’s builder, who drowned near the building, can

sometimes be heard. Footsteps from some unseen presence can be heard

shuffling on the gravel and on the steps outside and inside of the

lighthouse. A large, dark male looking figure also has been seen in the

basement area, possibly the spirit of a former caretaker who hung himself

in the lighthouse.   From shadows being captured on video, to voices

being heard on evp’s, St. Augustine has been a great place to capture

evidence of the paranormal.

Scientists have found archaeological evidence that Neanderthals buried their loved ones with handfuls of flowers – neatly organized, doesn’t this show that there was some belief in an after- life. The film exorcism was actually based on the true story of a girl called Annelise Michal that was possessed by a demon. Unfortunately, she died of starvation and dehydration after tried and failed attempts to heal her soul. 

This piece of writing is from Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anneliese_Michel

Anneliese went on a pilgrimage to San Damiano with a good friend of the family, Thea Hein, who regularly organized such pilgrimages to “holy places” not officially recognized by the church.[3] Because Anneliese was unable to walk past a crucifix and refused to drink the water of a holy spring, her escort concluded that she was suffering from demonic possession.[2] Both Anneliese and her family became convinced she was possessed and consulted several priests, asking for an exorcism. The priests declined, recommended the continuation of medical treatment and informed the family that exorcisms required the bishop’s permission.[1] Eventually, in a nearby town, they came across vicar Ernst Alt, who, after seeing Anneliese, declared that she didn’t “look like an epileptic” and that he didn’t see her having seizures.[3] He believed she was suffering from demonic possession.[2] Alt urged the bishop to allow an exorcism. In September 1975, Bishop Josef Stangl granted Father Renz permission to exorcise according to the Rituale Romanum of 1614,[2] but ordered total secrecy.[4] Renz performed the first session on 24 September.

Once convinced of her possession, Anneliese, her parents, and the exorcists stopped seeking medical treatment, and put her fate solely into the hands of the exorcism rites.[2] Sixty-seven exorcism sessions, one or two each week, lasting up to four hours, were performed over about ten months in 1975 and 1976.[2] At some point, Michel began talking increasingly about dying to atone for the wayward youth of the day and the apostate priests of the modern church, and refused to eat. At her own request, doctors were no longer being consulted.[2]

On 1 July 1976, Anneliese died in her sleep. The autopsy report stated her cause of death as malnutrition and dehydration from almost a year of semi-starvation while the rites of exorcism were performed.[5] She weighed 68 pounds (30.91 kilograms).

However there are accusations from scientists that Anne in fact was suffering from a mental disorder that made her believe she was possessed by a demon. 

 Ermmmmm……Anyway, let’s get back to ghosts:

I don’t think I’ve ever been scared in my life, but last night was one of the scariest nights ever. I was looking after a friends pet whilst she went to check on her mom (she lives on a floor of a large Victorian type house). I decided to watch a bit of telly when the door swung shut behind me – I got so scared since there were no windows open in the house because its winter here in England. I finally built the courage to look around – armed with a blanket, to find that there was nothing there…… I swear, this has spooked me so much – I’m going to have to sleep with the light on today!

Why? Maybe some ghosts are just spirits that have not realised they are dead yet. Or they are confused and want to stay in familiar surroundings – maybe they have a message to a person that’s living. I mean who said ghosts have to be mean. Some people even say that ghosts are spirits waiting for judgement day. Ghosts are just lost people that don’t “actually” have physical bodies. There is a scientist in Russia called Dr Konstantin Korotkov (search him up) that photographed the soul leaving the body using a hi-tech science equipment that traces energy.

Or Ghosts just don’t exist………….

The best scientific answer to this is it’s just a pigment of our imagination – we, as human beings, fall for anything believable and we trick our mind into believing Ghosts? Simple….

Any way you look at it, Ghosts might or might not exist, the arguments on both sides cancel each other out, but if you want my opinion………I think I’ll stick with believing in them – after that experience last night I don’t know who wouldn’t believe in them.