Living with Ghosts

©2006 by Fiona Broome
Are you living with ghosts? Most people who've lived in older homes, or stayed in a vintage hotel or inn, have encountered a ghost or two.

For many of us, the ghost becomes a companion or--after awhile--seems like a member of the family. The ghost leaves the family alone, and they leave him or her alone. Except for the occasional fleeting glimpse of the ghost, or something slightly odd reminding you that the ghost is there, living with a ghost becomes "normal."

As long as the ghost isn't territorial or malicious, or prankish (waking people up at night), you can probably share your home with him or her, comfortably.

At Hollow Hill, we talk out loud to the ghosts. They'll usually respond favorably to requests that are made in a normal tone of voice, talking to them as if they're a friend who's visiting your home and needs to know the "house rules."

Before doing anything else, talk to your ghosts. You may have to remind them of the rules more than once. But, most spirits respond to polite (but firm) requests.

After awhile, you'll probably forget that your home is haunted.

If that's not enough - short-term help for hauntings

Some places are too haunted to live in. The Myrtles Plantation is one of them.

On a recent visit, the only way that I could document The Myrtles' hauntings without interruptions, was to put my shoes side by side, pointing in opposite directions. (See photo at right)

That successfully paused the manifestations for a few minutes, so that I could jot a few notes about what was happening.

(I have no idea why such a silly folk remedy works, but it does.)

That can solve a short-term problem at an inn or hotel.

But, if you want to continue living in a house that's "too haunted," that may not be enough.

Space clearing in haunted houses

For problem cases, we recommend space clearing. It's a very simple process.

If you're going to try this on your own, I recommend a book like Space Clearing A-Z : How to Use Feng Shui to Purify and Bless Your Home.

I use Lillian Too's Feng Shui Space Clearing Kit, especially the "singing bowl" in that kit.

(You can use Feng Shui tools without believing in the spiritual aspects, the same as you can benefit from yoga as exercise, without practicing an Eastern religion.)

However, in a pinch, you could vacuum (hoover) your entire home. Be sure to vacuum every corner, especially near the ceilings, whether they're dusty or not. According to space clearing experts, the noise plus the electrical energy seem to banish ghosts.

Likewise, any incense can work, as long as it gets into every corner in every haunted room.

If you're afraid of ghosts

Generally, ghosts don't hurt people. Poltergeists can cause mischief. They may throw things at you, or push you when you're walking. However, there is no real evidence of a ghost killing someone.

However, if you are truly frightened, don't stay in the house. Visit friends or family, or check in to a local hotel for a couple of days.

(After a few good nights' sleep, the situation may look much better.)

If none of these remedies help, we recommend John Zaffis, author of "Shadows of the Dark." He's had years of experience with frightening hauntings, and he knows how to work with malicious spirits such as demons.

(We get nothing for referring people to John Zaffis. He's a friend, and we'd trust him if we had problems beyond our expertise.)

Or, if you've recently moved into a house that's too haunted, you may have legal options. See our article, Buying or selling a haunted house - When to see a lawyer.

Tell us about your encounter with a ghost!

If you have lived in a haunted house, or if you've encountered a ghost at a restaurant or hotel, or on a ghost tour, we'd like to hear from you. Send a blank email to:


We'll send you information about the kinds of ghost encounters that we're looking for.



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Hollow HillTM is one of the Internet's oldest and most respected ghost-related websites. This is a ghost information site; our information is only as reliable as readers' reports. We assume no credit for your ghosthunting adventures, and accept no liability for your misadventures. Use common sense. Read our guidelines for ghost hunters. Before visiting any "haunted" site, verify the location, accessibility, safety, and other important information.

All photos and text at Hollow Hill are copyrighted by the authors: Fiona Broome, Eibhlin Morey MacIntosh, and staff. Photo at top of article is courtesy of stock.xchng: atsbvtw.