By Jessica Szabo
WINNEMUCCA - Ghosts are seen every day. Reality shows like "Paranormal State," "Ghost Hunters International" and "The Haunted" feature ghost hunters seeking the truth behind reported tales of spirit activity. "My Ghost Story" and "Celebrity Ghost Stories" provide a forum for individuals to share their experiences with the supernatural.
Some view these shows as pure entertainment. They do not believe it is possible for a human being's spirit to remain on earth after he or she has died. Others believe it is possible for a person's essence to remain behind when they pass away or to return to visit the living.
"There are many places in Nevada that are haunted," said Paul Lindemuth, founder of the Nevada Paranormal Institute. "Since Nevada has many areas of open land, the hauntings are concentrated in the areas that have been populated the longest. The areas of less population do have hauntings, but they are less reported since they are visited less often. We have found that mining towns like Virginia City are very active. Reno and Las Vegas are also very active."
Lindemuth added that he has heard several reports of various haunted public places in Winnemucca, but has not yet confirmed any of these reports. However, he did note an increase in reported hauntings overall.
"We have found there more and more people are reporting hauntings," he stated. "This could be because of the popularity of TV shows or that the incarnation of older souls has allowed more people to see ghosts."
Ghost hunters and those who suspect their home may be haunted must look for specific signs indicating the presences of a spirit. Perhaps the most obvious sign is actually seeing an apparition. This may take the shape of a shadowy human being, like a silhouette, or it may be a person with features, even clothing. In some cases, the witness does not see a full human, just notices an odd and unexplainable shadow. Noises and voices that cannot be attributed to any natural cause or linked to any type of illness in the witness are also dramatic signs of a haunting. Doors, windows and drawers opening and closing seemingly by themselves, lights, computers, clocks or televisions turning on and off when nobody is near the controls, and cold spots in a room are further indications of paranormal activity. Spirits are also known to drain energy from batteries, so a cell phone, mp3 player or laptop that never seems to be able to stay charged for the expected length of time might also indicate the presence of one who has left this world.
More subtle signs of a haunting include animals appearing to watch something that people cannot see, refusing to enter a room or reacting to an empty spot as though someone were present. Humans may sense they are being watched, feel someone touching them or experience that sensation that is commonly felt when another person walks into a room or stands behind one's chair, only to turn and find that nobody else is there. Objects may disappear only to reappear in the same spot after their owner has spent time and energy searching for them, or they may turn up in places the person knows they could not have placed them, such as an item missing from the kitchen turning up in an unused back bedroom.
Lindemuth advised anyone who believes he or she may be experiencing a haunting to remember that a living person has seniority over a non-living person. However, he stressed this does not mean the spirit should be treated with disrespect.
"Spirits are usually earthbound because they need to finish something they did not accomplish when alive," Lindemuth explained. "Many just want to communicate a message. We have found that simply acknowledging them relaxes you and validates them."
Lindemuth further advises against asking the person how they died. He explained that the person may not realize that they are dead. Lindemuth further advises against conjuring or inviting spirits or the use of Ouija boards.
"Using Ouija boards or opening the area up to 'any' spirit who wants to come in can cause problems," Lindemuth warned. "Once the invitation is open, you don't have control of what may come. The question we ask is 'Is there anyone here that wants to talk with us?' It doesn't open any invitation for anyone to come in but still allows us to communicate with anything that may be there."
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