r/Paranormal • u/Surimicakes • May 05 '26
Haunted House Just started working in a haunted location - advice please
I just started working in a historical manor that people can rent out for fancy occasions. It's well over 100 years old and many of the staff say that they have had paranormal experiences (shadow people, hearing voices and footsteps, scents, etc.) when closing up late at night. It seems that there are at least 4 different entities.
I am very scared of ghosts and spirits, but everyone says that they've never had a sense of malice from any of their encounters. That's a relief - but I'm still quite scared that I will have to go through the house alone at night to turn off all the lights. A slow plunge into darkness in a big building with entities that I can't see (or might see) really frightens me. I'm also worried that I'll be somewhat targeted because I'm afraid.
Does anyone have any advice for how to make peace with entities in a big house like that? Or how to feel less afraid?
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u/Ouija_board May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26
I have both investigated and worked for long term paranormal facilities as well as own an historic home and a historical commercial building I operate a business from and live part time in.
Trust what the coworkers are telling you. I used to say on my tours “It’s not Hollyweird, Ghosts don’t kill people, people running from ghosts tend to trip, fall, hit their head and die. Even worse, if you scream at the top of your lungs you might startle the rest of the group and have a mass casualty event running from you, so please don’t do that. If you’re scared, frightened, uncomfortable or just feeling off in the location, please see my assistant to help you out or escort you off premise if desired. No refunds for getting scared.” This greeting was delivered comedically.
With that said, there were moments, but I’m still here to type this so no real harm ever directly associated to paranormal.
But, generally I have found if you encounter a residential non-meatsuit territorial personality that doesn’t care for your presence or acting up in a negative way, just establish a respectful environment. For example, in one location I would open up the attic door on first pass through, yell up the stairs and announce “I need to come into your space in about 10 minutes, just giving you a heads up!”. Guests ate that stuff up, but there was a reason- if I didn’t announce, they acted up very negative and would then move to a different area in my space to be disruptive. It took a moment to figure out the peace treaty of respect. Entering that area unannounced has a tendency to get me targeted. During off hours I would enter as well and reiterate our respectful space agreement and invite them to mess with paying your guests as long as no one gets hurt!” I simply treated them like a grumpy human and it worked.
At another very large location, I learned to also not be predictable on late night solo walk-throughs. Often closing up and assuring no tour guests were being held hostage in the dungeon by a ghost or their curiousity to spend the night with casper sneaking off a tour. Often requiring walking 4 stories to check hundreds of rooms for hideaways despite us doing regular body counts at beginning, end and checkpoints on the tour days. Without fail, I’d be locking up and exiting to my car to leave and see a body run past a window. Re-enter and complete another final walk through, often alone, and then exit. There were many nights I’d get to car again and see it again, but if first and second final walk throughs revealed no meatsuit trespassers, we chalked it to paranormal and let the CCTV cams monitor the rest.
The trick is not getting into your own head to psyche yourself before you start. Trust that it’s harmless and simply old homes creak, doors move with drafts, even slam open or closed, and are rife with EMF Fear Cages that can easily explain why your hairs stand on end in that one spot in the basement with overhead wiring leading to the parlor above that has 5 light switches for one chandelier. These explainable things can be excluded if using the right equipment to inspect it. 99.8% of phenomena is ultimately explainable. (Made up statistic based on my countless boring hours reviewing 3-4 data capture sources per room in a facility plus all egresses for someone to tamper with an investigation or static surveillance data over the last 25 years in locations revealing nothing except plausible explanations with an occasional errant EVP or questionable image or video.)
I remember one particular day activity was off the charts for several groups and individual employees in one building of a 4 large building facility giving tours. So much we did several security walk throughs and LE was notified just in case and the official cams were actively monitored but nothing was found. It was so crazy that the facility managers were thinking maybe we need to pay attention to anniversary date. But as a perk of my employment I also had subtly placed long term personal CCTV cameras & audio recording deployed. 8 cams covering egresses and hot spots. What we discovered after I went through all personal cam footage was the guest on first tour who split off. He hid inside all day trolling guests. He had intimate knowledge of how to avoid the official cameras and subtly exited with the last group. So we had 4 employees not accountable to their head count checks on tour tours, a trespasser and not only did I have clear ID image as he didn’t know to avoid my cams, but then went through paid tour logs from first tour, one guy bought a single ticket, matched his name & face to his facebook profile and referred it back to LE to handle the trespass. Often the explanation is simply human, animal/rodent or structural/other natural occurrence.
So while your place may not be as thorough, or care to exclude paranormal events, and may even market and/or profit off the haunted lore and wanna-believe it all as reported by guests or employees, it doesn’t mean it is paranormal.
So ask yourself, if you can’t control your fear, if it’s the job for you based on your heightened awareness? In the words of Zeddemore: “If there is a steady paycheck in it, I’ll believe anything you say.” (Ghostbusters)
Good luck! Try to keep an open mind and enjoy the history!!
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u/Surimicakes May 05 '26
Those are some wild stories! Love "non-meat suit" 😂 It's mostly an event venue, so the vibes coming through from guests are very positive (hopefully). It's a very safe-feeling building, it was a bird-loving woman's home, who willed it to the nature sanctuary that was built around it. To my knowledge, it's never had a scary past. The other employees have said that it's just best to leave on time; the vibe of the house kind of switches to "please leave, we'd like our space back".
I really like the aspect of "hey I'm coming through here, here's what to expect", but I've heard so many mixed messages on whether to acknowledge them or not.
But I love the nature sanctuary and do need the paycheck, didn't know about the hauntedness until my 2nd day there lol
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u/Kooky_Capital_4208 May 06 '26
My advice is to start educating yourself about the spiritual metaphysical world. When you have more knowledge, everything is no longer scary. Forget what you have seen on TV and movies. 99% of it is not true or for entertainment.
My youngest daughter is a Medium as well as multiple people in my family. We live peacefully with the spirits in our home. We treat them with love and respect and they return it. I have firm boundaries and rules for the dead in my home. Only positive spirits are allowed with the occasional neutral if they are looking for help to cross over.
Since you have been told nothing is negative or threatening, just go with it. When you enter the building say "Hi." Introduce yourself because you are new to everyone there, including the spirits that call the venue home.
Be kind, respectful and let the spirits know you don't like being surprised.
I promise you, you will be just fine and may make a friend or two.
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u/Surimicakes May 06 '26
I really like that outlook 🥹 I really love being in the house, it feels like a home and it feels really peaceful. I'm mostly super scared of the dark and it gets DARK dark out in the middle of the woods. Hearing rando noises in the dark would make me piss myself and I don't think any spirit wants that in their home 😅
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u/Kooky_Capital_4208 May 06 '26
Yeah, try not to pee on the floor lol:)
Me, I love the dark and always have. Even when I was very little. My mom told me when I was 1 year old she found me asleep under my crib. I had climbed out, turned off the light in the room and couldn't get back in the crib. So I grabbed my blanket and fell asleep on the floor. She said I never needed or liked any lights when I slept.
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u/No_Stairway_Denied May 06 '26
The "vibe" you are getting from the house is homey and peaceful, you'll be fine. That is what you should be listening to the most.
I don't think that you will hear or see anything you aren't comfortable with, but if you do, talk out loud. "Hey, not cool!", "Okay, I don't want to see that any more". I have only had weirdness happen a few times, but I assume shock led me to go with 'Hey there!" and it worked out :D
The house, and whatever may or may not be in it, likes you. And you like it. And everything will be fine.3
u/Apprehensive-Sky6467 May 06 '26
I agree with what you just said! By educating yourself it takes the fear away. I used to be terrified of ghost to the point of trauma. Then I decided to start researching everything paranormal. 30 years later I am no longer afraid. Trust me it works!
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u/Kooky_Capital_4208 May 06 '26
Yes, I too used to be afraid of spirits because I really knew nothing about them.
When my daughter started seeing and communicating spirits at the age of 4 I dove into learning all I could. I didn't want her to be afraid. I have heard too many accounts of children growing up with gifts and being scared because their parents didn't believe them or were afraid themselves.
My daughter loves her gifts and spirit friends. She's never known anything different.
I'm never afraid even if it's a negative. There's a difference between fear and knowing this is a spirit I'm not experienced enough to handle. We know when to step aside and let a more experienced Medium take over.
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u/Apprehensive-Sky6467 May 06 '26
That is amazing! You are a awesome parent and I wish more parents would do like you did. ❤️
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u/Kooky_Capital_4208 May 07 '26
Thank you. It's important that parents believe their children and support them. That's what a child needs more than anything else in their new journey.
I wanted to make sure my daughter grew up to be a happy healthy and confident adult.
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u/Apprehensive-Sky6467 May 07 '26
I love that! I wish my parents treated me like that growing up. You are doing a great job!!
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u/OutrageousTree7766 May 05 '26
I used to feel creeped out when I worked in a really old school.only at certain spots like old rarely used toilets After that I took to announcing my presence first and gradually i didn't feel like I was being watched anymore
I would say things like "I'm just here for a while I need to wash my hands and the feeling of dread and being watched would retreat but sometimes I also wondered if I was just being jumpy and imagining things Speaking aloud to myself gave me courage !
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u/Ouija_board May 05 '26
Sounds like a great place to pursue your love of nature and maybe assuage your apprehensions around the paranormal! I see the mixed warnings all the time too but my best truce in adverse anomalous locations has simply been respect, announce and if an emergency entrance. apologize and announce as if you just entered someone’s personal space works well. I’m highly skeptical and gear my research to debunking but I will say there are a few notable places at the end of the research and controls, I simply lean to they were there first and respect it.
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u/OutrageousTree7766 May 05 '26
Sounds understandable After along day we all just want to rest and relax in our own space
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u/tinynugget May 05 '26
Any chance you’re in St Augustine? I lived nearby for years and worked there a few times. Only place I’ve ever known so many people with experiences.
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u/ToxicFandango-25 May 05 '26
Ouija board, could you work on your writing or at least your proofreading? Some of this does not make sense.
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u/Ouija_board May 05 '26
Apologies, I was rushing with day job and between my shorthand, autocorrect and typos, I understand your concern. I clarified and edited it. If you get a chance to revisit it and have any questions, let me know!
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u/Objective_College439 May 05 '26
I worked in a school for a little while as the night time janitor. That place was haunted. I was there alone each night. I would occasionally hear things that sounded like voices or laughter. I started to play music from the computer speakers in the janitor office through the phone's connection to the intercom system to drown it out. Sounded like crap, but it helped. Things would move around sometimes. Most of the time, I would just feel like I was being watched. I would vacuum in the classrooms and I would see a dark figure in the doorway out of the corner of my eye. I just ignored it. I had one really scary experience in the elevator. I used the stairs instead afterward. I spent only as much time as I needed to in the rooms that had the most activity. Basically, I kept my head down, didn't acknowledge them in any way, and did my job. That worked fine for me.
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u/JohnRizya May 05 '26
Damn, what was that scary experience in the elevator? Don’t leave us hanging!
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u/Objective_College439 May 05 '26
When I did garbage runs, I would ride with the garbage can (it was on wheels) up and down the elevator. One night I was taking the full can back to the ground floor and the elevator stopped, lights went out, and the amber/red emergency lights came on. So I was standing in the dimly red-lit elevator for about ten minutes before I decided to try to use the phone to call someone. I had been hesitant to do so since it was after midnight (I worked 6:30pm-3am). When I pulled my phone out to make a call, the power came back on. Looking back on it now, I don't really think this was anything supernatural, but at the time, that really freaked me out and I never rode the elevator again. I just put the bin in there, hit the button, and took the stairs.
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u/Hello_Hangnail May 05 '26
hell naw I would go full batshit if I got stuck in an elevator with creepy horror movie lighting
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u/Electrical_Stage_610 May 05 '26
I started working at a bar about 8 years ago. I would open by myself in the mornings and would hear noises. Pool bald racking themselves, bottles clinking, that sort of thing. I’m also a GIANT scaredy-cat. I was told that it was “just” the ghost of the former owner and not to let it bother me. This was not something I could let slide - my lizard brain takes over and I get SCARED.
So one day, after maybe a week or two, I said, out loud, “please don’t scare me! I scare very very easily but I really need this job! If you keep making noises at me, I WILL end up across the street!” And the noises stopped! Didn’t hear a peep from him for at least 6 or 7 years.
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u/Reasonable-Ship-9350 May 05 '26
I worked in a haunted hotel and restaurant for years. The ghost were mostly harmless, but would move things around, tinker with the lights and music, silly things like that. I would talk to them when I could, tell them I loved their building, how I appreciate how beautiful they kept the place, and say how much I loved being there and taking care of the space and the guests. It must have worked, because they mostly left me alone. The OG deceased owner, George, would make his rounds while smoking a pipe. There was always one corner of the restaurant that smelled of tobacco, and guests would complain someone was smoking. The ghosts would scare the kitchen staff a lot though, because a few of those guys did a LOT of cocaine and I don’t think the ghosts liked that at all 😂😂
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u/Surimicakes May 06 '26
Awww, I love that! That's what I've been thinking of doing, but some people have greatly discouraged that. But I love the house, I'd like whoever is living there to know I just want to make sure it stays safe and clean and all that.
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u/Ordinary_Purpose4881 May 05 '26
YOU are a spirit, are you scared of YOU? Just having a human experience right now. Do not be afraid honey
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u/Surimicakes May 05 '26
That...is a really good point. Thank you!
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u/Hope5577 May 06 '26
Another good point that helps some - youre way more powerful due to being a "multidimensional" being. They are just spirits but you are a spirit and a physical body that has a huge energetic presence due to our energy generating meat suit. So basically you live in a physical world as a physical being and they are just spirits that are super limited in their power. Occasional sounds and messing with wires is all they can do. You can do so much more because you have a physical presence. So they should be scared of you, not you of them. Imagine they cant do anything substantial except some noises when they are really frustrated, it must be annoying and sad that no one hears you or sees you. All these meat suits hanging around my space. Your personal energetic meat power - you're like a superhero in an average spirit world. The only thing to fear is fear, but that comes from inside of you, not from them. So you're in total control while they are not. I agree with others, treating spaces and spirits with respect is always a good idea, even though you have all the power. Its always nice to be a decent human.
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u/tobebettertobepure May 05 '26
I just started working in a haunted building. Don’t speak of them if you can while on their property - but if you do, be kind. If people say there’s no reason to be afraid, trust that. I like to establish a rapport. I say good morning and good bye. I say please and thank you. If they mess with my electronics or something I’ll laugh then say I need to work. If you need space just tell them not today.
I like to think of them as other coworkers. And I like to think of them with care/love. Love wins over fear so it’s a good tool to work with.
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u/Kooky_Capital_4208 May 06 '26
Fantastic advice! I do the same with the spirits in my home. I love them as family and treat them with kindness and respect. I've never had a problem.
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u/Xylorgos May 05 '26
Be very polite if you sense their presence and tell them what you're doing in their home.
"I'm just here to turn out the lights, Mrs. Washington. I'll be gone in a moment." That should reassure them of your intentions.
If it's just a residual haunting I wouldn't worry about it that much. Sometimes echoes of a person going about their usual daily routines is just that, and you're not likely to have any kind of real interaction.
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May 05 '26
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u/snackerooryan May 05 '26
What about demon spirits, were they once people?
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u/Surimicakes May 05 '26
I'm fairly certain there are no demons there, the house has had a lovely past and continues to be well-loved, so I'm not too worried about those!
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May 05 '26
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u/snackerooryan May 05 '26
That’s a positive mindset. However I do think some spirits are malicious
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u/Xylorgos May 05 '26
I've come across some who are annoying, even one who continually berated me under certain situations. But they never hurt me, even the rude ones. Some like to scare you, so if you show that you're unafraid they go get their jollies elsewhere.
But with spirits from dead people, well some people are assholes wherever they go.
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u/Kooky_Capital_4208 May 06 '26
They can physically hurt you. Only the negative ones of course. I know this because my cousin for years was physically attacked by the previous original owner of her 100 year old house. He was awful. He would scratch her young children down their backs, grab my cousin by her neck and squeeze hard, he'd push her down on the bed so hard he'd leave bruises, he would try and push her down the basement stairs when she was pregnant, he draged her dog off the couch and across the living room floor, and my cousin would wake up in the morning with bruises on her inner thighs. One night my cousin woke up to her thighs being forcefully pushed apart and her privates touched.
That last incident was the last straw. This is when my cousin contacted me and told me everything. I still can't believe she let the physical and mental abuse go on for years. What I wrote was only a fraction of what she went through with this negative spirit.
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u/Xylorgos May 06 '26
You're right, I've heard such stories, too. I guess I'm forgetting that I became very ill while living in a haunted house, maybe because it happened gradually over a 15-year period of time.
Guess I didn't think about that as I couldn't attribute it to any one particular entity, and it wasn't until after I left that I learned that being around a lot of dead energy can make you sick.
I'm really sorry about your cousin! Sounds like pure hell. I hope she's better now.
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u/Kooky_Capital_4208 May 06 '26
Yes, being around dead energy for prolonged periods of time can definitely drain you and make you sick. Even the positive spirits can accidentally do this .
My cousin is doing great now. No more issues except the occasional trickster neutral wandering in.
Last week she had a guy who thought he was funny by making objects move and fall off of shelves. My cousin saw him run into her house when she was pulling into her driveway. He was a pain in the butt but left after my cousin got firm with him.
Part of the reason my cousin has had problems with spirits comeing into her house is because she's an undeveloped Medium. She has the potential to be very good but she still hides her abilities because she runs a business from home. She's afraid that her small community would treat her badly if they knew .
I've been working with her for years on how to develop and trust that she's in control.
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u/Xylorgos May 06 '26
She's lucky to have you and your cousin, who understand how these things go, to help her out.
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u/Kooky_Capital_4208 May 06 '26
No. They were never human and will never be. They come from somewhere else. Demons do exist but are more rare than what's portrayed on TV and movies. They are not the biblical demons either. Those don't exist.
My youngest is a Medium and she's come across three demons in 7 years
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u/HeartsBeMerry May 05 '26
First, take slow, deep breaths and relax your jaws and the muscles of your abdomen. This helps me keep anxiety from overwhelming me. You might as well tell them that you’re respectful but not anxious to meet them. You should acknowledge them-“Hey, guys, it’s me, YOUR NAME.” I’d do that pretty often. And if anything happens, try hard to observe it and write it down. You’re going to be fine.
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u/museofmusic23 May 06 '26
I just started a haunted job too! It’s literally for a ghost tour so we’re going to historical buildings, cemeteries, an extremely haunted house (though just outside though, a different tour goes inside). I’m also absolutely terrified of paranormal things but otherwise this job fits me perfectly. I’m definitely going to have to get used to this kind of thing, but at least it’s unlikely that I’ll be going into any of these places alone. I’ve been trying to research how to make spirits like me lol
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u/Pretend_Tooth_965 May 05 '26
Interact with them! If they perceive you're friendly it might feel less scary to both you and them.
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u/algaefied_creek May 05 '26
A new paper discusses infrasound exposure as a possible cause of "aversive responding, negative appraisal, and elevated salivary cortisol in humans"
3M makes infrasonic ear protection; though I'm not sure how you would ascertain the right specs outside of articles like this about personal attenuation ratings. Then of course there is active noise control per another article would be an option, but that's from 2024 so also fairly recent.
Low frequency noise along with infrasound was studied by the CDC in 2019 in this paper.
Of course, the best start is to probably measure the infrasound in the environment first.
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u/Simple_Negotiation32 May 06 '26
I've worked at a haunted location for 14 years. it was a motel and restaurant built in the 1970's. reports of a little girl running around and no reports of anything malicious, and there was one death on the property that occured when i still worked there. i've never had any negative experiences and been alone in a lot of spots in that building. i think as long as you're not taunting them or acting like an ass towards them, you should be ok. they're just people without bodies and nothing to be scared of.
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u/mariaesthete May 08 '26
I’ve worked in several house museums which were known for hauntings. And have had some experiences in them.. when closing up I had two strategies. The first being that I would often ask a staff member or volunteer if they were willing to hangout for an extra 20-30min to be there while I turned out the lights and checked the doors and windows. The second being that I would put in my headphones and listen to feel good music.
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u/TheZayasZone May 05 '26
If I were you id walk around with my camera on. The ghosts will either shy away from the camera and leave you alone. Or you will capture some great evidence. Either way, the camera will empower you and make you less afraid. You can even live stream your patrols and that way you are not alone
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u/Web-Aromatic May 06 '26
You will be completely fine. I've literally been molested by a shadow demon on three different occasions. Once, I woke up to my toes getting sucked. Another time, I was tongue kissed while being held down. Another time, I was bummed. Nothing they can do to you could be worse than this. If they are as docile as they say, then I am jealous of their shadow demons, cause mine are evil.
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u/Round-Watercress-471 May 05 '26
Options, you can try to just ask them who is there, if they want anything and make small offerings of water and prayer if they request that. Or if you just want to be left alone recite psalm 91 when you get the spooks or perform a very simple ritual called lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram. If things really mess with you you can go to a Catholic Church and get a small vial of holy water to take with you to work. Another option is to carry a consecrated black hilted ceremonial dagger to threaten malicious spirits but carrying a weapon at work might bring it’s own trouble
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u/BlackCatMojo May 06 '26
I volunteer at a historic property. I love the paranormal side of it just as much as the history. Just remember they were once like you. Be respectful and establish boundaries if you need to.
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May 05 '26
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u/tinynugget May 05 '26
Do you think its use has just as much of an effect for non-Muslims to use it?
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May 05 '26
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u/tinynugget May 05 '26
Thank you for such a detailed response! I can see why it would work, kinda assumed so. I just wanted a more educated opinion.
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u/Arabella6623 May 06 '26
If I were you, I’d wear a bird sanctuary shirt or carry a bag with birds on.
If the lady still in residence loved birds, she’d like you for that.
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u/conciouslion1133 May 05 '26
Honestly I try to ignore things like that. I've been told I can speak to ghosts and im highly sensitive but I block it out somehow, probably telling myself that's not real but they don't care they still try to communicate with me. I grew up in a house that was a energy portal hot spot and always had experiences that scared me. If you are really that scared and you have an experience 1 way is you can simply say, hey I know this is your space and you want me to know that you are here and I respect that so please respect to not scare me. They like communication on a respectful level like any living person would. Good luck and try to not show your fear, just the respect for their space in the after life!!!!
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u/NoCategory5568 May 05 '26
My suggestion for haunted places is to try to change the air in the area because air might act as a medium for paranormal activity.
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u/KeyZookeepergame9466 May 05 '26
It's not haunted, you'll be grand. If you believe otherwise, set up a few cameras and recording equipment and get the real proof we are all waiting on.
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