I thought this would make an interesting topic. What happened in your life that got you interested in the paranormal and this site?

Here's my story. I've always been fascinated with the unknown. When I was young I read lots of UFO books, and was into aliens and stuff. As I got older, I read about other phenomena such as psychic phenomena, OBEs, ghosts, etc. but to that point I never had any first hand experiences with any of them. I'd love to though!

In May 2003 my wife and I went to the Country Tavern, a haunted restaurant which I've posted about here before. (Interesting coincidence, as I was typing this, the radio was just playing an ad for the Country Tavern! ) Anyway, I made a discovery that night, that I can "feel" ghosts. This kicked my interest into high gear, and I started posting here, and have learned a lot since then.

I've been to a number of haunted places since and have had similar sensations in many of them. I've even had sensations in places that aren't commonly known to be haunted. I even learned that one of my wife's friends lives in a haunted house. I'm hoping to spend more time there in the future, and am hoping to capture my first paranormal photos. When I do I'll post them here!

So, that' my story.

Good idea for a thread Kevin! Let's see, as a very young child, no more than about 3 years of age, I had some experiences that I still remember vividly and never had an explanation for -- images of a person hanging from a mysterious oak tree in our yard, imaginary friends, and a phantom couple who paid me a visit one evening while I was trying to sleep. These were things that couldn't just be attributed to a small child's active imagination because they were very detailed and my story never altered.

My mother and grandmother both had some degree of psychic ability; they too had some odd things that happened to them and both believed in ghosts and spirits. My grandmother was of Irish descent, my mother, as well as my father, were a mix of American Indian, Creole, and some other nationalities. Other members of our family were known to have such talents.
I was always curious, and read as much as I could on the subject. I was always taught that the paranormal wasn't something to fear; there were just some things that people were unable to explain and just to accept the fact that it might not be explainable.

I've always been interested in the paranormal and had many unexplained things happen in my life...honestly I could write a book! But 3 to 4 years ago...sometime in February, the kids and I came home from ice skating to find a pile of sand in our kitchen floor. After ruling all the obvious things out, we just put it down to another oddity in our lives. That incident though got me on the internet to look for explanations which lead me to a paranormal message board. I even sent a sample of that sand to the board owner to have it analyzed. Only thing I found out was that it was indeed sand lol. Eventually I found my way here.

Speaking of sand though....after I left my husband, I moved in with my mom and brother. Well, the other day he laid down for a nap. He woke up because he couldn't sleep. He said he kept tossing and turning and felt this odd lump. When he stood up, he put his hand into the pocket of his shorts and pulled out a huge handful of sand. Again, there is absolutely no explanation. Seems the sand people followed me They both said nothing out of the ordinary ever happened much until we moved in. Anyway, I never have to go looking for the ghosts or paranormal activity, it seems to come find me. Also I've noticed since my divorce that there has been a lot more activity around me and I'm having even more lucid dreams but I have no idea what that means. Anyway, that's my story.

I too have always been interested in the paranormal and like Cindy could write a book on the number of varied experiences I have had. It all started when I was young. Situations that happened in my teens were not only the most memorable, from when I was younger, but were validated so to speak for me so I knew then it was not just my imagination. I would get flash pictures in my mind, very brief, of something and would find it to have happened at that time a short time later. For eg. I saw my sister's car accident (I was traveling in a car nowhere near where she was) and a barn burning (I was in a different city at the time) that I knew was my boyfriends families place - both happened. I had spirit visits as a teen as well ( I mentioned these in another post). I would have dreams or intense feelings that would let me know our family would hear some bad news. Thankfully not often but sadly bad news did follow. Well that was the start of it really.

I found though when I shared my experiences they were often met with a negative reaction from others. There were those that thought I was nuts, those that always had a logical explanation and those that out right didn't believe me. It didn't take long for me to stop talking about it. I started to put a veil over my eyes and ignored my intuition. Things would continue to occur although much less frequent. It wasn't until I moved into my previous home in the late 80's which had a resident ghost (talked of it in understanding orbs post) that I stopped ignoring it (it was very difficult to ignore) and my interest soared. I started to read a lot of material and seek others that had similar experience to understand what was happening in that home and around me. Again I was met with the naysayers at first - I even shared some with my boss at the time and he outright told me never to talk of this ever, especially at work for I would be looked at as a crazy and that would jeoprodize my job. Thankfully though that changed and I meet people that openly shared their experience or were genuinely interested in mine and did not think I was nuts or making it up. I have learned negative reactions are usualy out of fear as this is not something tangible to them. With my eyes and mind opened again I have had countless experiences since, from ghostly encounters, many strange things happening in the home (including this one we live in now), dreams that have included spirit and ghost visits and what I believe to have been OBE's. On a fairly regular basis I get those little feelings or mind pictures of things that come to pass (little everyday stuff and on occassion more involved). When I go against my instincts, ignore the inner voice I often make the wrong choice or regret not paying attention.

Both of my sons have had experience like I, to some degree. The difference for them is I am trying to teach them to keep their minds open and letting them know their experiences are real. My Mom gets feelings as well but I find she shuts them out more than she should as she is a little freaked by it (we had the same spirit visit dream at the same time on the same night once). I suppose that is why she did not encourage mine when I was younger.

Like Cindy it doesn't matter where I go they find me. The strange, unexplainable, sometimes creepy and bizarre things are apart of my life. The great thing now is I know not to fear it (not easy sometimes) but embrace it. I still have much to learn and certainly have room to open my mind and eyes even more.

I found this site while listening to C to C late one night (early morn actually) I turned on the radio and Peg (SK member) was on sharing an experience and at the end she asked if she could mention a great site and it was this one. I wrote it down and the next day I looked into it and joined. Glad I did.

Thanks Kevin, feels good to share this. I am no longer bothered by naysayers for I am grateful for these experiences and know one day they will understand. =)

I have always been interested in the unexplained, paranormal, since I was a child. It has intensified though, since I have experienced personal losses in my life, such as my grandmother and my father. I have read books and studied articles on communicating with the dead. I haven't however, at least knowingly, had any communications with the afterlife. I am always ready when/if it happens though!

Annabel Lee

Must've been all those games of Pac-man I played on my Atari...

Well, it must be because I have always known that there was something more in my house.... a presence; yet you could not see it or talk to it. I always knew something was lurking, just out of eyeshot. What got be really interested was when I descovered that I, of all people, had a sort of sixth sence. No one else can ever sence these spirits, and yet I always do. PLus I seem to attract them. Some people think I'm crazy, but I now that I'm not. Or maybe, its just hope.

WitchyWoman That does indeed explain a lot! Also one of my favorite games growing up! =)

I honestly don't know what it was that got me so into the paranormal. I know that when I was younger a lot of my relatives talked about ghosts and strange things that had happened to certain family members. But being raised in a Catholic family, it was looked upon as a bad thing to have these abilities or to have these experiences. Not that there is anything wrong with being raised as a Catholic, but some of my relatives where fanatical about it.

When I was young and in elementary school, I used to check the same four books out of the library constantly. Dracula, Frankenstien, Ghosts, & Werewolves. (I can only imagine what the librarian thought) I loved anything having to do with the supernatural.

I have had a few unexplainable experiences myself. I'm one of those people though that always chalks things up to my imagination when I know that I shouldn't. I've also had more then a few instances where I've had a very strong gut feeling toward something and ended up being right. I also get very strong feelings towards people. For ex: I'll see someone at the gym and the warning bells go off and I get very uncomfortable...as if saying...this is not a person that you need to associate with or be near right now. It feels very strange when it happens.

Last but not least, I've experienced that heavy kind of disoriented feeling that Kevin described in one of his posts while in an antique store with my husband. I would have chalked that one up to my imagination too except my husband felt it as well.

So I guess that hearing my relatives talk about the paranormal is most likely what peaked my interest when I was younger, and I haven't lost it yet.

[ July 25, 2004, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: Trinity ]

I've been wracking my brains out trying to remember what 1st got me interested in the unexplained, but I can't come up with any one specific reason or event.

I remember as a kid I would love to go to bed at night listening to the radio. Here in New York back during the late 60's and early 70's there was an overnight program on the old WMCA hosted by the husband and wife team of Long John Nebal and Candy Jones......they were pretty famous....at least here in NYC.

I don't recall them doing much on ghosts but they sure did a lot on UFO's. It was their program that I 1st heard the Betty & Barney Hill story.

I think I started getting into ghosts when as a kid I started reading a lot of books written by the famous ghost hunter Hans Holzer.....man I could never read enough of his stuff!

Like most everyone else I too have had my share of experiences......although nothing earth shattering enough to write my own book!

I still love a good ghost story and I'm an avid listener to the "Coast to Coast" radio program.

When Art Bell is scheduled to have the members of the "Ghost Investigator's Society" on to play their EVP's I'll usually try to take a nap that day and make sure I set two alarm clocks so I can get up and listen to the entire program!

[ July 25, 2004, 08:04 PM: Message edited by: gene ]

I got interested in the paranormal about 3 years ago. I was a great big skeptic, until I got a picture back that I took of my daughter at Halloween. I almost threw it out because it had a white blob in it going across my daughter. But my husband look at it and said that looks like a face. Well, I looked at it more closely and sure enough it was a face. The only thing I can figure is, my late husband died int he house in which we were living, not too far from where the picture was taken, and he decided to pop in and say I am still here. Since then I have researched ghosts and spirits on the internet, talked to several people about hauntings and have tried to capture something else on film. It is hard to believe that one simple picture could turn a skeptic into a true believer

I have to parrot what everyone said (or at least thinks). Great idea Kevin. So simple and yet so good.


I guess for the most part I didn't have much choice. We always do but when paranormal stuff is so right there in front of you it's hard to ignore.

I grew up in a haunted house. My whole family has had and still has experiences with the resident ghostie in my parents home.
Later I found out that just about every place you go there's someone there.
Just about every place I've ever lived had a resident ghostie.
My whole life has been riddled with psychic experiences. You name it I've experienced it.

With so many experiences of the paranormal nature it's hard not to be interested in trying to find out why. Why they happen. Why they happen to me. Do other people experience what I do?
It was a nice thing to learn I'm not alone.

I've lately come to believe that I had a NDE as a baby(under 3 yo). So many bits of evidence point to that happening. Feelings, dreams, after affects, etc.. .

[ July 27, 2004, 07:01 AM: Message edited by: nakis ]

This type of thread is always a good idea! Gives us a quick way to get to know one another! Thanks Kevin!
When I was 11yrs. old and I was in the Boy Scouts. During the Christmas Season our Troop would sell Christmas Trees, and Christmas Wreaths. On 2 different occassions a year apart from each other. I experienced De Javue, while selling these products.
First a family from Kentucky had moved to town and wanted to buy a Christmas Tree. I showed them a few but to no avail.
Then I grabbed one tree, and then a moment before they said anything, I knew everything they would say, and everything I would say. And I new this was the tree they would buy.
The same thing happened the next year when I was selling a Christmas Wreath.
Nothing happened again, until I was about 26 yr.s old, and had started working in a very haunted Psychiatric Facility here is the Midwest. It's been 23 yrs. since I started that job, and during that time frame I have experienced several Paranormal experiences.
But due to "Rules on Confidentiality", I can not take a camera to work. So I had to locate other places that were haunted to pursue my quest to take photos of Paranormal Events.
In the last few years I have conducted several Ghost Hunts. Once with the help of this Website, I helped an ABC affliated TV Station conduct a Ghost Hunt in a cemetary in Homer, Neb.; for a special they were doing for Halloween. The Ghost Hunt was then aired as a 2 part news story on their evening news program.
Thanks to the gals here at Spiritkeep I had a memoriable event, that I have shared with many since that time!
However on the fatefull night of the filming of that News Story, I suffered an ankle injury which has pretty much sidelined me, and my Ghost Hunting activities.
Once in a great while I still get out there; to have some fun with family and friends while conducting a Ghost Hunting Adventure!

I'm not exactly sure when it started. I have always been odd. I have always seen/felt spirits and seen auras. I see or feel spirits everywhere I go. And it's not a strange thing to me, I never have thought of myself as psychic.

Like so many others, I cannot pinpoint a specific event that got me interested in the paranormal. One early event that stands out is a memory of telling my father about my past life when I was only about 3 years old. Although other family members are skepitcal, my father believes that I was telling him some kind of truth and not just relaying a childish fantasy. (I do still remember telling him that and events from that life, btw)
As I got older, reading and writing became my passions and the paranormal quickly became my favorite subject. Experiences that my family and I have shared in our house, town, and family history reinforced that the things I was reading about (ghosts, orbs, evp's, etc.) did actually exist. I have experienced several encounters with spirits, unexplainable sounds and voices, visions of the future, and psychic connections to others like most others here that prove to me over and over that we are not alone.
Oh, and you others that have posted here have had some amazing experiences!! Wow!

Well, as a spanking new, fresh out the box, new member here I thought this would be a good topic to start on.
My interest / obsession began when I was a little boy and I thought i saw a ghost behind me bedroom door. I saw it twice in the space of a few weeks.
I may, as it turns out, have been having Night Terrors (those familiar with Darkness Falls and Them may have an idea as to what I am talking about).
From then on I was fascinated by the paranormal and fortean phenomena in the world and growing up worshipping the Ghostbusters didn't help.
Obviously I have a more skeptical approach to most incidents now but I still look into hauntings, myths and legends because, as the man says, 'The Truth is Out There'

Hi everyone, haven't posted for awhile but this title caught my eye. I've always Loved Halloween and October, since my birthday is in late October. For as long as I can remember I've loved the feeling I get on Halloween, I can't describe it fully but it's almost like it is the one day of the year (and the one season of the year) where I feel most alive, thriving and have lots of positive energy. Somehow I feel my best, emotionally, physically, & mentally around this time of year and holiday. I feel like I am supposed to feel this way all year, but after the holiday passes so does this feeling. Like I said, I know I'm not describing it adequately! So Halloween started it, and that led to other things, like spooky movies and such. However, I am the biggest chicken when it comes to anything (especially involving the religious) Really scary - like the Exorcist. That scares me in a Not good way! So then the internet comes along and you can pump in Halloween and then it just spins off in a million different directions and this message board was direction the net took me and that's how I landed up here!

My grandmother (mom's mother) was from the hills of Kentucky, and always had a alternative cure for everything. When I was stung by a bee, she put a chopped up potato to draw the poison. My mother always seemed to know things before they happened. (Not just when I had done something I shouldn't have either) I used to go to classes sometimes with her (ESP) and I had 2 different experiences during one class. One we were to look around the room and see if we saw anything/anyone near or aroung another student. I kept seeing this Gatsby type young women standing behind this one lady. When I asked her about it, she told me it was her favorite aunt who had died when she was in her mid twenties. I described the outfit she was wearing and amazingly it was the dress she was buried in. We then tried our hands at psychometry, the lady next to me gave me her favorite necklace to hold. I could only hold it for a short time as no matter where I put my are it would ache, I finally gave it back to her because my arm and shoulder hurt so bad. When I told the group what I felt, she gasp and said I have bursitis in my shoulder and elbow. When I studied Wicca I became even more open to the paranormal, I guess because I was more accepting of the unexplained and did not fear it.

I have been into the paranormal since i was very young. The house i grew up in was very old and has about 5 or 6 spirits in it. They never showed themselves to me but they used to touch my shoulder's when i was sleeping and we would hear a girl crying in my room all the time but no one was up stairs! My mom, grandmother and aunt have seen ghosts in that house. I think thats why im soo into ghosts!

Well I think it was due to the fact that practically everyone in my family had experienced something paranormal. My grandmother has had a poltergeist in her house for like 40 yrs. So my mother, aunts, and uncles all experienced things growing up. My father lived with his aunt who was a witch who did black and white magic. She predicted her own death when my father was 6yrs old. I think my first real experience was when my cousin died, I was 6 and she was 8. I don't remember everything being that it was a few yrs back, but my mother told me many stories of me having conversations with her and playing with her. I lived in a house for 10yrs (4-14) and it was haunted. I would wake up at around 3am and see something walking up and down the hall..hmm I think I've written too much.