Understanding Demonic Hierarchy; Reaching Out To God & The Fear Factor

The Demonic

Over the years we have had people express concerns about reaching out to God (higher power) out loud directly after being frightened or attacked by a potential diabolical entity because they are afraid they will suffer another immediate attack or anger the entity further if they do. It's a legitimate question. But once one understands how the demonic hierarchy works, along with understanding the primary goals of the demonic, then that question becomes possible to answer effectively. So here are perspectives concerning this.

Diabolical Goals and The Demonic Hierarchy

Let's start with diabolical goals. There are two primary goals of the demonic regarding humanity. The first goal is to get the targeted individual(s) as far away from God as possible. The second goal is to see the ultimate demise of the said individual(s). In other words, death. Once the first goal is achieved, the second goal becomes much easier to accomplish.

Remember, demons greatly hate humanity (hate being a strong word). So much so that the created presence of mankind (in God's image no less) triggered a war in the heavens. That was because a third of the angels simply didn't want to serve humanity, as they were expected to do once humanity was created. So after they rebelled, they were cast from heaven. Not only that, but there was also promise of eventual and eternal punishment for those angels (now called demons) who rebelled against God and his plan. That's heavy. That's why they hate humanity so. Thus we are blamed for their demise.

Appeasing Demons

Over time humanity has basically found two primary ways to deal with these beings called demons, which although invisible, still affect our lives. The first way is to appease those demons (in other words, try to make them happy or content). The second way is to oppose them (or to say deny them access into your world). Clearly we recommend the latter (apposition).

Here is why. Appeasing demons invites them into your life, either directly, or indirectly. Whereas opposing them demands that they leave you alone and affect you not. Resisting their presence is thus key. And there is one great way to do that. By connecting to one's higher power, or to say, God.

Oppression

Which brings us back to the initial question. If someone is going through any kind of negative spiritual oppression, at some point they may reach out to God for help, or attempt to do something which can bring them closer to the divine.

But what can happen is that the person will then experience something, such as paranormal activity (perhaps a manifestation or even a physical attack) directly after connecting with their higher power and thus don't want to experience what scared them again. So they refrain from whatever it was that they feel caused the retaliation, which involved a connection with God. Hence that dark entity has now managed to find a way to achieve one of it's two primary goals or missions.

Before we move along, we need to also examine the principle of hierarchy concerning the demonic. This is relevant and important. Understanding this can help put their situation in perspective concerning interaction and success or failure with their attacks against humanity.

Demonic Ranks

Just like in our human military complex, the demonic has a hierarchy they serve or ranks if you will. The exact positions and labels of which aren't necessarily necessary for one to know to understand how orders and objectives work. As long as one understands that there are different levels or ranks of demons who answer and serve other demons of higher ranking, then this premise will certainly make some sense.

Just as there are different ranks within the demonic, there are also different levels of involvement with the demonic in a victim's life. It starts with an invitation (whether advertently or inadvertently), then progresses to home infestation. After that is oppression and obsession, then finally possession, with the ultimate goal being one's death, and as far from God's connection as possible, so one may not found within The Book Of Life (See the book of Revelations).

It tends to start with lower-level demonic entities who will scout and roam, looking for initiative and invitation to get that permission to enter one's life. People can also accidentally move into an environment where the demonic already have established their infestation. Either way, the plan is the same. And their best weapon is fear. If they can use that fear to keep one away from God's presence in one's life, then the demonic know their odds of success are better overall.

But what if they fail? And what happens in their own world if they do?

Consider this. A demon enters one life. At some point the demon's presence becomes apparent. That, in turn, compels the individual to do something out loud and or with action, which in turn brings them closer to God, be it a prayer, reading a holy book, putting a sermon on, or anything of the like.

But then something negative happens, as in retaliation for the apparent gesture to reach out to the divine, such as scaring the individual with a manifestation or poltergeist activity of some type (parlor tricks as one exorcist put it), or perhaps a physical attack such as being scratched or bruised. This, in turn, scares the heck out of the individual, therefore they may choose to refrain from connecting to God again in such away.

But understand this. Refraining from reaching out to God is technically appeasing to a demon (which is appeasing a demon) because now their goal of keeping you away from God is becoming a reality.

Appeasing demons will keep them around.

But what happens when every time a diabolical entity tries to scare an individual, that person turns to God with all their strength and resolve instead of turning away, regardless of a possible retaliation? Well, then that demon is actually failing because no one is doing the exact opposite as intended.

What's more, they have a hierarchy to answer to. Here is a metaphor. If you went to work and accomplished the opposite of what you were supposed to, do you suppose you might get in trouble? Exactly. If every time a demonic entity tries to bring a person away from their higher power, but one only gets closer to that higher power, then that demon is failing big time and thus will gain trouble instead of success. The higher the rank, the more likely the trouble.

This all means that if one repeatedly reaches out to God (especially in a bigger way) instead of being scared every time something happens, either it's in a demon's best interest to eventually move along to someone else at some point before they catch the wrath of their superiors (because they are failing miserably), or they will get pulled away from their "possession project" by the higher ranking demon so they don't catch strife for their superiors in turn.

This is why it is so very important to wear that armor of God, meaning reaching out to God in a strong way (in this case, every single time fear is caused by the nefarious). Otherwise not only will that oppressing demon remain focused on the individual, but it's also noted that demons will then invite their buddies to the party, so to speak. That is the last thing any victim needs.

So whether one using a rosary, reads their good book, or a dozen other things one can do to plug into God and the greater good, that is much better than retaining the fear of something that ultimately has yet to win. That's the other thing to remember. Demons can't just go around killing people at will. If they could, humanity would be dead and gone by now. God created humanity to exist, despite what any demon may want. They have rules they need to follow as well, the physics that the creator put in place.

Those rules of nature and engagement actually keep us safe in that regard. So just know that one is ultimately stronger in our environment than they are, believe it or not. And when one adds God's protection to that equation, there isn't anything that is not possible, including beating a negative force that encroached upon one's world.

So to answer the question of retaliation, it is our belief that one is better off dealing with the parlor tricks and what not to scare and harass one than eventually becoming possessed because the one tool we have against demonic attack (prayer/spirituality) was eliminated early on. With God's help, one has a chance to beat demonic influence and presence. That is undeniable as there have been countless number cases that have been successfully dealt with which have attributed success to divine intervention. Without God, you are on your own. And these demons have been around a lot longer than any one man.

Pray

Photographer: Olivia Snow | Source: Unsplash

And although patience pays off, even pious individuals who wear the armor of God have been attacked before (see the book of Job), so no one can guarantee 100 percent safety from dark forces all of the time (every single time) even if they are always refraining from sinning. But wearing that armor of God and practicing his wisdom greatly reduces any trouble and strife one may face from evil forces (see the book of Sirach). Having said that, working on alleviating the fear factor concerning retaliation can be done on one's own or with the right education and help from professionals who deal with these topics.

So don't be afraid to find those who may be able to help deal with fear or PTSD if necessary. There are psychotherapists and psychologists who understand that paranormal and supernatural events can happen and that spirituality is a real and powerful thing.

And remember, most importantly, don't be afraid to pray to your higher power for strength and courage when dealing with the paranormal issues which are causing issue every time they come up. Your odds of successfully prevailing over darkness will greatly increase in the long run. Also, remember that a spiritual and emotional support system helps as well. Those can be one and the same if need be. Peace and blessings. 

Kevin & Jennifer Malek 

The Ghosts of St Mary’s Abbey, York.

I moved to York nearly ten years ago and am still to tire of the place. One of my favorite haunts is the York Museum Gardens, which hosts some impressive symbols of the city’s past. The hospitium, observatory and the Yorkshire Museum quietly keep St Mary’s Abbey company. The latter, whilst ruinous, is still a significant reminder of York’s long ecclesiastical history. The Benedictine order built a church here in the 11th century, which was succeeded by the abbey two centuries later. Perhaps the order was keen to establish if it could tolerate the locals before committing to such an extensive building program. Whatever it's motive, the abbots had great wealth and power until the arrival of Henry VIII. The abbey suffered, like so many, under the king’s dissolution of the monasteries - what remains merely hints at its former glory.

It is hardly surprising then that a Black Abbot is rumored to haunt the site. Ancient coffins sprouting like weeds ‘decorate’ the flowerbeds; perhaps he is a displaced former occupant who roams the ruins, lamenting being evicted for a second time. While sightings aren’t restricted tonight, one could forgive him for favoring the quieter hours, especially as he shows no interest in the living. No sounds, smells, cold spots, or any other phenomena are associated with this solitary form. He is not mischievous or malicious, but apparently content to go about his business while the living undertakes theirs. He is seemingly little more than a video, flashing snippets of his daily routine.

It is curious that reported sightings of the Black Abbot are few, yet the rumor persists. The abbey’s romantic state certainly lends itself to fanciful notions, especially when framed with the British climate. Who wouldn’t feel uneasy at the sight of monumental masonry emerging from a cold November mist? Yes, I quite agree, it really is the perfect setting for a specter. One can only wonder at his contemporaries. Did they also chance upon him while stealing a quiet moment, or is he a modern phenomenon?

Of course, ghostly monks are not exclusive to York. Glimpses of robed men have been reported throughout the British Isles. Prestbury near Cheltenham is one such place, where a Black Abbot claims the churchyard, but will also brave the High Street on occasion. Maybe it is our very own shadowy form taking a holiday! Borley Rectory in Essex, which caught the attention of the famous ghost-hunter Harry Price, is also no stranger to hauntings of a religious nature. Destroyed by fire in 1939, and demolished five years later, the rectory is said to have been built on a Benedictine monastery. An ill-fated love affair between a monk and nun resulted in the monk being executed, and the nun bricked up alive. A grisly tale indeed! Witnesses spoke of the ghostly pair haunting the property, while poltergeist activity also plagued the building.

Back in Yorkshire, the Black Monk of Pontefract is the stuff of legends. This shadowy figure tormented the family of four who moved into 30 East Drive in the 1960s. Foul smells, flashing lights, and the sound of heavy breathing were the least of their worries, for this ghostly intruder also had a talent for flipping furniture and slashing pictures. Some believe it was the ghost of a monk who was executed near the property for rape and murder. What a relief then that our own Black Abbot isn’t prone to bouts of anger.

Sightings of monks at random spots may reveal former religious sites. The ‘lost’ church of All Saints in Fishergate, York is such a place. Abandoned during the dissolution, it was rediscovered and excavated in 2007. Roman and medieval burials were exposed, along with ten mass graves dating to the English Civil War. Remains buried in the apse are thought to be those of an anchoress who lived at the church during the 15th century. This site gave me an idea for a case for ghost-hunter Porter Biggleswade in ‘The Haunting of Delavere Hall’, while she also sees the ghost of a young boy at St Mary’s Abbey in my latest book ‘The Ghosts of Kings’ (www.porterbiggleswade.com). York’s ghosts are an endless source of inspiration!

Part of St Mary’s abbey’s defensive wall survives, its scale a reminder of the greatness of the place. St Mary’s Tower is set into the wall at the corner of Bootham and Marygate, and I filmed here recently for ‘Anna and Amy Investigate’. Anna, who is paranormally sensitive, sees a ghostly figure by the tower outside the abbey’s grounds. Known endearingly as Anna’s ‘Woman in White’, we are investigating whether she fled York Asylum (now Bootham Park Hospital) to seek refuge at the tower. I would be interested to know if anyone else has ever seen her, either within the tower, or the abbey grounds.

One may assume every ruined abbey has a ghostly monk, for they certainly offer the perfect cocktail of history, atmosphere, and rumor to fuel the imagination. Yet, it is strange that I haven’t come across any further accounts of disembodied chanting, or shadowy groups praying in the nave. Isn’t it odd that the Black Abbot is the only monastic figure sighted at the abbey when so many have graced the site over the years? What makes him stay?

Tokoloshe - The Spirit That Will Kill You

Fans of the paranormal will have an appreciation for archetypes; archetypical figures who carry their story across the span of continents and time. No matter where you are from, stories share similarities, and ghouls and ghosts take the same shape.

I first became aware of African lore when I was a little girl growing up in a farming community in South Africa. I didn’t grow up in a superstitious household, but being a Caucasian living in Africa will inevitably cause you to live with one foot in reality, and the other in mystery.

Beds on Bricks - or the Tokoloshe Will Kill You

Louisa. She was my very first introduction to an evil spirit before I knew they existed. Louisa was my Malay nanny since I can remember. She had not only raised my mother, but myself as well, but I digress. I was often playing in her room and never thought to question why her bed was raised on bricks. It never occurred to me to ask . I have seen many nannies do the same. I chalked it down as being a cultural thing and put it out of my mind.

It wasn’t until I was much older that I finally asked Louisa to tell me what the deal with the bricks is.

Partly blind and completely toothless by then, she said;

“So that the Tokoloshe can’t get me”.

At first, I thought it was the ramblings of a senile mind. However, it occurred to me that I have seen these brick-beds often. Eventually, I became fascinated by these African demons who stalk their prey at night.

Zulu Mythology

Traditionally, the Tokoloshe appears in Zulu mythology. Nevertheless, in my experience, the Tokoloshe is not exclusive to tribe or culture, but instead appears in many stories across Southern Africa. Accounts of the Tokoloshe vary widely, but the common consensus is that they are small, spiteful, and terrifying creatures that really messes up a good night’s sleep.

Tokoshe Demon Sprite

Tokoloshes are sometimes only blamed for being mischievous. A few ambitious youths have blamed a Tokoloshe for destroying their homework. However, they are generally caught stealing milk from cows. Tokoloshes will turn extremely malevolent once they are under the power of a witch doctor, or Sangomas - like we say in Africa. Essentially, Tokoloshes can only be seen by children, but they abuse young and old alike. Sometimes, they will crawl and drag their way onto the bed and simply scare people, other times they will choke their victims to death with bony fingers. Still, other reports have said that a Tokoloshe will leave long, open gashes across a sleeping body, or perform deviant sexual acts with their victims. Or bite off all your toes. The list of their nightly crimes is endless.

Tokoloshes go invisible by drinking water or by swallowing a pebble (depending on who you ask) but if you ever see a Tokoloshe, you will be best advised to play blind, and hope and pray that it goes away.

The appearance of a Tokoloshe

Tokoloshes are described in many numbers of ways. Some believe that they can shape shift into other animals, but a common consensus is their small size. Some describe them as small, brown, and hairy dwarves. They share a similar appearance to the European Brownie, which does not sound really terrifying at all. Others describe them as small primates with large black eyes. Dwarf or primate, a Tokoloshe only has one buttock and an incredibly large penis. So large, in fact, that he has to fling it over his shoulder. His witch-mistress will reap the benefits of this well-endowed monstrosity.

“Another common belief is that witches inherit their demon lovers from their mothers.”

The Creation of a Tokoloshe

According to legend, the Tokoloshe was originally a water sprite before it became bound as a terrorizing domestic spirit. At least one piece of evidence has been found concerning the legend. In Eastern Zimbabwe, a beautiful maiden was lusted after by the water sprite. As these stories go, the maiden did not return his affection, and instead accepted a gift of 9 bangles from her lover. This enraged the sprite so that when his love interest came to bath, he cut her arms off and drowned her in the river. In 1924, a prospector did find the remains of a human arm, and nine metal bangles surrounding it on the riverbank. Apparently, the prospector donated this to the Harare Museum of Human Science, but I have not confirmed its existence myself.

Witch Doctors

Back in the present day, Tokoloshes are called upon by witch doctors to cause pain and destruction to either an individual or a community as a whole. A Tokoloshe is essentially a dwarf zombie, for a lack of a better description. To create one, a Sangoma has to find a dead body for the Tokoloshe to possess. The creator also needs to promise the soul of someone dear to them, but the Tokoloshe will decide for himself who he will take within a year. The spirit does not exact vengeance for free, and the creators are well aware of this. In the worst cases, when a dead body cannot be found, it can be arranged…

The eye sockets and brain are then pierced with a burning iron rod to destroy any free will the creature may have had, and life and obedience are breathed into this now shrunken corpse. Sangomas keep their creatures docile by feeding it curdled milk, which may explain why they love cows so much.

The Tokoloshe has even been linked to a UFO sighting over Zimbabwe, but that is a different story altogether. However, the sight of a small extra-terrestrial emerging from the UFO has speculation running whether Tokoloshes may have an alien origin.

Protection Against a Tokolshe

There are a few ways to get rid of a Tokoloshe, or protect yourself from one. Sangomas sell Tokoloshe salts to sprinkle around the house to keep him at bay (talk about creating a market for your products). A Sangoma or holy man can also perform an exorcism if individuals are affected, or a cleansing ceremony around the house.

A concoction made of Tokoloshe fat is a very popular option. A skilled witch doctor, it is said, can magically capture and paralyze another Tokoloshe by sprinkling a mysterious substance on the ground. Once the Tokoloshe has been killed, the fat is then used to make a poultice to protect others against a Tokoloshe attack. You can find Tokoloshe fat in any of the numerous muti (traditional medicine) shops across the country. The real deal, apparently, will leave a cold mark on your skin.

Conclusion

Aside from the slight variations, it is generally accepted that the Tokoloshe is prominent in African culture and absolutely terrifying to those who beheld it. But I have often wondered why the sleeping is so afflicted by the creature. There is one theory that stands out above the rest, albeit provides a bleak reality.

Traditionally, many Africans sleep on grass mats to that encircles a wood fire in the middle of the hut. Contrary to popular belief, Africa can get bitterly cold in winter. Healthy people have inexplicably been found dead the next morning, sometimes en masse, and not from hypothermia. It makes sense to blame their deaths on a vicious creature, of course. In reality, it is highly possible that these poor souls died from oxygen deprivation as the home slowly filled with carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is heavier than oxygen and will sink to the floor. So put your bed on bricks. Keeping out the Tokoloshe’s way also keeps carbon monoxide poisoning at bay.

Whether or not the Tokoloshe is real is not what scares me. A very dreary and macabre reality is the corpses the Sangomas still practice their craft on. Like I said, if a corpse is not available, they will go to extreme lengths to ensure they get one. Thousands of people disappear in South Africa every year in Tokoloshe-related killings, as can be seen on the discovered corpses.

Vintage Addition

A few years back, I came across an article about early 20th century Masonic art (artifacts, architecture, ceremonial clothing, etc.), and I was pretty much hooked in.  As an independent filmmaker, I deal with fictional stories based on ethereal concepts but, on a personal level, I've always paid attention to beliefs relating to the otherworldly and how those beliefs intertwine with our tangible world.  I don't know much about the Masons now, nor Masonic ideals from 100 years ago, but I do know that plenty of their beautifully constructed, period relics--featuring all-seeing eyes, pyramids, hearts, hands, and angel wings--certainly seem like they'd be magical or used for that kind of purpose.  There's no question about that.

After a little while spent looking through Google images, I realized that I wanted to purchase some Masonic artifact for a film-related purpose but I wasn't sure what kind of object I wanted or what project, specifically, it would be used for.

But then a project came up out of the blue and I figured that could create an opportunity to utilize one of those artifacts.

Last summer, I shot an experimental short called "Someplace" about a woman who goes missing and the questions surrounding her disappearance.

The film deals with down-to-earth assumptions about where she could have gone and why but then the narrative, towards the middle of the piece, pivots towards outlandish rumors and the woman's fascination with fairy tales.  It was written in the script that the lady would encounter 3 or 4 mysterious figures who seemingly stepped out of a Brothers Grimm fable.  One of the characters that we briefly see in the film is a character called Glas, an iteration of the Green Man archetype, acting as a sort of Pied Piper for the lead character.  I wanted him to appear eternally youthful but ancient, playful yet serious and intimidating.

I don't remember whether or not I saw the robe, through posted pictures, that was used for his costume first and then based the character around the robe or if I decided on the basic details for Glas initially and then hoped that I would be able to find the right something for him to wear.  I think, probably, that the character was created to fit the robe....

You never know what you can find online.  You can get shoes, electronics, furniture, and..... grimy secret society outfits from the 1800s.  This particular item, purchased on eBay, wasn't expensive.  It's not in great shape.  It's falling apart, possibly rain damaged, torn up in certain spots, and the front of it features a puzzling/problematic brownish-reddish-purplish stain that looks like very old wine or blood splatters.  If you think that those bloody wine splatters would scare me off from a visually-stunning bargain like this then you'd be very, very wrong.  The damaged robe contains an array of incredible colors, fabrics, designs, symbols (leaves, grapes) and a sequined Sun emblem in a pretty good mood despite the surrounding conditions.  I knew that the robe would be an amazing costume for the Glas character.  So what if it kind of looks like it was dragged out of the crypt of some medieval Harry Potter wizard?  I knew that the gentleman playing Glas--the endeavorous Remy Osborne--wouldn't be concerned.  He's not a delicate, easily-scared type of guy.

Nobody's perfect: rust? chocolate milkshake, maybe?

Still from "Someplace" short film, Addovolt Productions. A sash was added to the Glas costume since questionable stains weren't part of the storyline.

For a couple of weeks while we were shooting, I had the garment hanging up and airing out in my living room (it's fascinating to look at) and, I admit, that there were a couple of nights that I walked into the dark condo and forgot that I had put it there.  So, yeah, for a quick moment or two I got image flashes of a headless occultist floating next to the couch when I flicked on the light switch but, no worries, it was just the antique masonic robe.

The robe wasn't delivered with a backstory printout stuck in the box so I had to make due with the information I was able to dig up about it.

It originally came from the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  You can read about this location here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2018/02/25/inside-the-downtown-milwaukee-masonic-center.html

There seemed to be a lot of stages - shows, that took place at this location and, when the building was no longer being used for its intended purpose, there were plenty of costumes and props left behind in storage.  I'm going to take a wild guess that the robe was one of those left-behind costumes and, clearly, hadn't been used in a long time.  Somehow it wound up at a boutique in New York (from where I bought it on Ebay) and now it's in Chicago as of August 2019.  The Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center was built in 1912, but the robe could be older than that.  This means that it may or may not have been custom-stitched for pageants on that specific stage though it was, more than likely, put to use there at some point in the past.

There is no tag inside the robe, like the kind that can be found on other vintage ceremonial pieces, so it may be impossible to be sure of when, where, or why exactly it was made.  It's truly mysterious, appropriately enough.

I'm no expert on Masonic symbols but, from what I've researched, the details of the robe probably match in meaning to other widely-recognized uses of color and imagery.  The main colors of the robe are green (immortality, life force, thriving nature), white (purity), purple (mastery, elevated status), and yellow/gold (light, divine truth). Leaves and grapes typically mean bounty/harvest and Sun imagery refers to godhead, the ultimate, the source, etc.

Who wore this robe during ceremonies?  What did the ceremonies entail? 

Or, maybe, the robe was used to dress a character in a story that took place on the Masonic stage and wasn't used for ceremonies per se.  It's not difficult to imagine the robe representing a king or emperor within a performed narrative, similar to how a nature king character wears it within the "Someplace" short film.

No, I don't believe that this robe is cursed or anything along those lines.  It's simply an unusual, historic artifact.  The robe was put to good use within my film but the character who wears it is only in the story for a few short seconds.  I wish that we could see the costume more onscreen but the Glas character is meant to be a brief, quick vision; a kind of hallucination.

Still from "Someplace" short film, Addovolt Productions

Whether or not this old, enchanted-looking garment possesses some kind of special energy, or was even meant to, I can't really say.  It did, however, contribute some very real visual spark to one of my own works and, as worn-out and damaged as some of the fabric is, the robe couldn't have been more perfectly magical and timeless.

The Most Haunted Homes In The World

If you are thinking about purchasing a new home, you might want to check this list first. Various homes around the world have an extensive history, sometimes even with their own resident spirit or reported hauntings. Of course, some homes around the world are known to be haunted homes, but which are the most haunted ones?

Photographer: Stefan Ringler | Source: Unsplash

Myrtles Plantation (United States)

Myrtles Plantation is undoubtedly one of the scariest haunted homes in the world. It achieved the dubious title of 'one of America's most haunted homes' and it is claimed that the home was built on an ancient Indian burial ground.

The rumor that the home is built on an Indian burial ground might not be the sole reason for the haunting. Local legend also states that ten murders took place in the house. Reported sightings include the ghost of a slave wearing a green turban, Sarah Woodruff and her children - who were former residents of the home - and William Winter who was allegedly shot on the front porch of the house.

The Ancient Ram Inn (United Kingdom)

We decided to include the Ancient Ram Inn in this overview because it still functions as a restaurant and hotel. Built in the 1100s, this house has quite the history. Guests have reported hearing screams in the middle of the night and furniture moving on its own. It is even claimed that the house was built on a Pagan burial ground, where children were sacrificed. There have also been reports by guests claiming they were pushed on the bed by a male demon.

The Monte Cristo Homestead (Australia)

The Monte Cristo Homestead may look picturesque from the outside, but there have been some strange and terrifying reports over the years. The Monte Cristo Homestead was the site where a baby was thrown down the stairs by something supernatural. Another boy got burned to death and a pregnant woman was pushed over the balcony by something. It is believed that this home is haunted by the former owners of the house, Christopher and Elizabeth Crawley.

Château de Brissac (France)

While a castle is a home that most of us could not afford, those who can may encounter this French castle situated in Maine-et-Loire. Nicknamed the 'Giant of the Loire Valley', this castle has its own private opera house and can seat a whopping 200 people. It was built by the Count of Anjou in the 11th century and has ties to King Louis XXIII.

The castle is no longer a home, but is currently functioning as a hotel. Reported ghosts are the Green Lady, which is claimed to be the bastard child of King Charles VII. She was murdered by her husband in the 15th century.

Casa Loma (Canada)

Casa Loma in Canada is not as old as some of the other haunted locations mentioned here, as it was only built in 1914. Nonetheless, the estate home is packed with secret passages throughout, which certainly adds more mystery to the stately home.

For years, there have been reports of hauntings at Casa Loma. One of the reported hauntings is that of the White Lady, who is believed to be one of the maids that worked at the home shortly after its construction. It is believed the maid lost her life alongside 60,000 other people in Toronto during the influenza crisis.

Another reported ghost in Casa Loma is believed to be that of Sir Henry Pellatt, the man who ordered the home to be built. It is believed his wife Mary also haunts the home.

Kehoe House (United States)

Built in 1892 for William and Anne Kehoe and their large family consisting of ten children, Kehoe House has quite a sad history. Shortly after starting to live in the house, several of the Kehoe children died.

Since 1992, Kehoe House has been transformed into a popular bed and breakfast. The bed and breakfast is certainly popular among ghost hunters, as several guests have reported hearing the sounds of children playing throughout the night, even though nobody was there.

The Winchester House (United States)

Many books have been written - as well as countless movies produced - about the Winchester House, its history, its unusual previous owners, and of course its ghosts. The stately Victorian home was built on behalf of Sarah Winchester shortly after the death of her husband, the rifle tycoon William Wirt Winchester.

Sarah believed that she was being haunted by spirits who were killed by the rifles her husband made and sold. To avoid the spirits, Sarah built a home that was filled with 47 staircases, 160 rooms, 10,000 window panes, and architectural marvels you would not find in any other home. Staircases reaching to the ceiling, but nowhere else, and even windows that lead to secret passages are a common occurence inside this home. Interestingly, the house was constantly changed and being worked on for 38 years. Construction only stopped when Sarah died of heart failure in 1922.

Reports of hauntings have been rampant for years. Visitors have claimed to have seen the wheelbarrow ghost, who is believed to be someone who worked at the house. Some also believe the home is haunted by Sarah Winchester herself.

Raynham Hall (United Kingdom)

Haunted Homes

England has plenty of old homes with a lengthy history and one of them is Raynham Hall. It was built in 1637 and is currently a tourist attraction, as it is believe the home is being haunted by the so-called "Brown Lady of Raynham Hall". The Brown Lady is believed to be Lady Dorothy Walpole, the former owner of the home. A photographer from Country Life Magazine managed to capture her spirit on camera, which was later published in the 1936 edition of the magazine.

The Amityville House (United States)

The Amityville House is probably the home with the bloodiest history in this overview. In November 1974, Ronald Defeo Jr. shot six family members inside this house. He would later claim that an evil spirit caused him to commit the murders.

The weird history of the Amityville House did not stop with the murders committed by Ronald Defeo Jr. The year following the murders, the home was purchased by the Lutz family. As soon as they moved into the home, the Lutz family experienced severe paranormal activity. They found a hidden red room and doors slamming on their own.

Shortly after their arrival, the family requested that a priest bless the house in order to expel the spirits. The priest in question would later state that mysterious voices told him to get out of the house.

The Lutz family had to move out of the house after only 26 days. Books and movies have been made about the events. Due to all the media attention, the Lutz family later recanted their story. However, one of the sons would later state that the stories were all true, but that the media attention caused them to recant. He also admitted he still had nightmares from his time at the house.

Haunted Homes List?

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The Most Prominent UFO Sightings In Human History

UFOs have always spoken to the imagination of the human race. After all, is it possible that a sentient race with technology above our own is regularly paying us a visit?

Over the years, there have been reports of UFO sightings across the world. Some have been more famous than others though. If you are curious about the most prominent UFO sightings in human history, be sure to check out our top picks below.

The New Jersey Turnpike Lights In 2001

One of the most memorable UFO sightings is the one with the lights above the New Jersey Turnpike. On July 14, 2001, countless orange and yellow lights were seen in a V formation above the Arthur Kill Waterway. Among the witnesses, a lieutenant from the local New Jersey police department.

The USS Nimitz

The USS Princeton, one of the carriers belonging to the USS Nimitz strike group, claimed to have noticed an unknown aircraft 100 miles from the coast of San Diego. Interestingly, the military team followed the object at approximately 80,000 feet, after which it seemed to remain stationary above the Pacific Ocean.

Two fighter jets were sent to investigate the area, but all they found was a churning vortex of water with an oval shape underneath the water surface. The unidentified object would re-appear above the water, but would accelerate so fast the fighter jets lost track of it. Then, it turned back up on the radar a whopping 60 miles away; this would mean that the object would have travelled more than three times at the speed of sound and at double the speed of the investigating fighter jets!

The Incident At O'Hare International Airport

Another famous UFO sighting was the incident at the O'Hare International Airport. On the day of the incident, an airplane called flight 446 was getting ready for its flight from North Carolina to Chicago. However, one of the employees noticed a "metallic object" above gate C17. Several other witnesses would spot the saucer-like object.

According to witnesses, the saucer remained hovering in place for about five minutes. Then, it shot up so fast it would break a hole in the clouds. Officials at the FAA called blamed the incident on the weather, mainly because the object was not seen on the radar. However, the witnesses who saw the incident claimed otherwise.

The UFOs In Stephenville

Texas has always been one of the hotbeds for UFO sightings. However, one of the most famous cases is undoubtedly the one at Stephenville.

Stephenville is a small town in Texas, known for its dairy production. In January 2008, a strange object was seen in the sky. First, there was a report of strange white lights above highway 67, which seemed to be changing pattern erratically. According to a local pilot, the lights were a full mile long and a whopping half a mile wide. He estimated they were travelling at 3,000 miles an hour.

There were many things that stood out about the UFO sightings in Stephenville, but the most prominent thing is that the technology to explain such sighting simply did not exist. Whether you want to believe this was a top-secret experiment or a UFO sighting, it is certainly one of the strangest phenomenon in history.

The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program Incident

As the name suggests, the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program was created to identify any threats to the United States coming from the air. In 2015, a video was released from this program, which showed an encounter between a US aircraft and an unidentified flying object.

Until this day, no explanation for the encounter has been revealed. The Super Hornet tracked the object at approximately 25,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, after which it promptly disappeared.

The Disappearance Of Frederick Valentich

An Australian pilot called Frederick Valentich reported a strange aircraft following him while he was flying over Bass Strait. During his report to Melbourne Air Traffic Control, he also reported that his aircraft was behaving strangely. He also claimed the object was hovering and not flying.

Frederick Valentich would lose contact with Melbourne Air Traffic Control and disappeared without a trace. The Australian government claimed that either Valentich staged his own disappearance or got disorientated and crashed into the sea. However, no wreckage of the plane was ever found.

The Belgian UFO Craze

Between 1989 and 1990, there were loads of UFO reports in Belgium. The unknown object reports would reach their peak in march of 1990. Photographic proof of the sightings exist, as two Belgian aircrafts took photos while tracking the object.

The unidentified objects were not just witnessed by aircraft pilots, as more than 13,500 people reported sightings, with a whopping 2600 official reports and written statements.

Even though the UFO sightings were reported across Belgium between 1989 and 1990, the majority of the sightings were detected in Brussels. While the government has attempted to explain the incidents as helicopters or simply a feat of nature, the sightings have never really been explained.

The Pearl Harbour UFO Aftermath

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbour by Japan, a UFO sighting was reported in Los Angeles. Considering the situation with Japan, the coast guard defense assumed another Japanese attack was taking place.

Various witnesses reported a hovering object over the Los Angeles coast. At 3 am in the morning, the army opened fire and the entire city was put in a blackout. The blackout was only lifted shortly after 7 am in the morning.

Despite the public nature of the event, the unidentified object has never been explained. Given the times, little attention was paid to the occurence until years later. At the time, the media put it down to "war nerves".

Roswell UFO Sightings

Photographer: Brian McMahon | Source: Unsplash

One of the most famous incidents in history is that of Roswell. There has been much debate and controversy surrounding the incident, but here is the core of what happened.

In 1947, a unidentified flying object was found 75 miles from the town Roswell in New Mexico. The object was initially reported as a flying disk and would later be explained away as a highly classified project from the US Army Air Force. Still, despite the official statement years later, man still believe an actual alien was recovered from the wreckage and is still kept secret by the government.

A Workplace Haunting

Haunting In Parkstone: Parkstone, in Poole, Dorset is alive with restless souls intent on causing distress, confusion and disharmony amongst those that dare enter their territory.

It is a place that has suffered immense change through the centuries - maritime development, industrial transition, to disease and bombardment. Commercial Road in Parkstone, Poole is where this honest event took place; it is a busy road that takes you into the heart of 'haunted' Poole centre.

It was 2013 when I first entered the stylish, modern, yet foreboding doorway. It was a private office full of secrecy. It wasn't long before things started to kick off.

There were usually four other co-workers that shared the office with me; one of the ladies had been there from the beginning and there was one place in the building she wouldn't enter alone. There was also much friction and stress in that office which sometimes caused angst and hostility.

A Haunting Feeling

Photographer: Camila Quintero Franco | Source: Unsplash

One day I was in the office with a senior employee. All the windows were closed as always, and although there was a floor above, the entire building was soundproof. As I sat at my computer I heard a loud moan, as if someone was trying to catch their breath. I looked at my associate but she was working solidly at her accounts; I didn't ask her outright as she always had deadlines to meet. I tried to work out where this auditory phenomena had come from. There was no echo in the building and nobody else in the room.

Yes, there were computers and wires, so some electrical charge would have been present, yet I was not fatigued or thirsty, which may have caused some hallucination. I heard a loud moan again later among other staff members.

Another incident occurred when an important figure who sits behind me, went to look out of the window when he became entangled in the curtain cord which attached itself around his neck.

Another time while alone, a roll of sellotape bounced off the desk in front of me, hitting the carpet. It had been placed on a hard, even surface and there were no vibrations.

Oppressive Haunting

I was asked to go down to the basement for the first time to collect a file. Making my way through a narrow corridor; dim lighting, complete with a shower, I felt I was being watched. This was an oppressive area and I felt a presence. The basement was icy - cold. The lady that had been there for years told me she'd never go there alone. It gave her the creeps. I asked her what stood on the grounds before; only an old cottage next door.

After a year, my contract was up so I left. I asked the community about the buildings next door and then visited the nearby library. Further research states that the office where I worked used to be an 18th/19th century house with nothing untoward documented. There was also a potter near by; a corn merchant directly opposite. A dairy stood close to the office to which the owners contracted typhoid, and new management took over. There were air raids witnessed here during the second world war.

I can only conclude that this paranormal phenomena in Commercial Road was possibly a result of a member of staff bringing in a menacing attachment; or the previous owner of the house that once stood may have witnessed a haunting in the very walls where spiritual energy remains.

Further paranormal investigations would benefit here, particularly during the evening, as my events unfolded in the day. But because of the nature of this impressive looking building, and the confidentiality linked to it, it would be hard to gather the answers.