Like I have stated before, I am not a real believer of ghosts and the afterlife.

I work at a grocery store as a stock and bagger. Last night I was cleaning the restrooms. I was in the Women's restroom when I started to feel something watching me. I ignored it and kept working. After a few minutes, I stopped what I was doing and looked around in silence. I said out loud that I didn't appreciate being watched, hoping to get some kind of response (thought I was crazy). Didn't get any kind of response and thats when I just got mad and started saying things like "I don't believe in ghosts" "The afterlife isn't real" "Whatever is watching mean probably deserved to die" "I am glad you are dead". I finished off by saying "Prove to me that the afterlife is real. Before I wake up tomorrow morning, give me some sort of reason why I should believe." Telling it to give me any kind of sign such as a dream or voices or scratches on my bedroom door. After all that I waited in silence for another minute, and just told myself that I must be crazy for talking to myself. Finished out my shift and went home.

It is now the next morning, and nothing weird has happened. Now, since I gave this thing a timelimit, does that mean that I am OK, or is it going to like wait and kill me in the night (so to speak) for taunting it like I did?

I'm not really too worried. Just want some advice. I know that I shouldn't have done that, but maybe nothing was watching me at all. I just don't appreciate being watched (if I was at all) and not having anything respond to me.

Thanks for listening.

[ February 10, 2005, 05:11 AM: Message edited by: EVPMike ]

Have you been back to the store or the restrooms? If something was watching you, maybe it was an entity tied to the store, not to you, so it didn't give you a sign at home, but maybe it's waiting for you at the store?

Not all ghosts/spirits are nasty and many don't have enough energy to do much of anything at all, so it's quite possible nothing will happen at all. On the other hand, the restroom or another part of the store could be all messed up too. It all depends on the ghostie's disposition and ability to use energy to move/alter physical objects.

Or you could have just been paranoid and there was nothing there at all, and you were talking to thin air. =) Hope the boss wasn't within earshot.

I've got to agree with Kevin. Chances are, you won't have a "sign".

Just out of curiousity, has anyone else at the store experienced anything odd?

It's easy to let your imagination get the better of you sometimes, especially if you've done a lot of reading recently on the paranormal. I'm not saying this is what happened -- I wasn't there. However, I've done it myself on more than one occasion, I think everyone has. Just like when you were a kid and watched a scary movie, you might be a little jumpy the next day -- same thing happens to adults.

As Kevin said, if there is an entity at the store, it would most likely be earthbound and tied to the store or the land it is on. Most are not malevolent, in fact, some are quite protective in a positive way.

Yep, hope the boss doesn't catch you talking to thin air! That might take some 'splaining!

Heh, noone was around to hear me.

I clean those bathrooms atleast 2 - 3 times a week and never felt that before. Yes, reading about paranormal stuff can make you paranoid, but I cleaned the Men's restroom previous to that and I felt nothing. I will return to the store tomorrow, but I won't be cleaning the restrooms because I don't work a later shift like I did last night.

I was probably just being paranoid. I feel real dumb right now.

Aw, Mike! Don't feel dumb. You may have very well legitimately sensed something, especially given you cleaned the other area and felt nothing. It could have even been something that was just "drifting" through.

We moved from a house about a year ago that was near a church in a suburban area. I could often tell when a funeral was being held without even looking outside the window. The entire atmosphere of the house would change and usually we would have a spurt of paranormal activity -- unexplained knockings, lights flickering, to just feeling something wasn't quite "right". The house had some "presence" to begin with, and I always felt that some of the spirits might be attracted to whatever was there. Maybe they were just checking in and greeting each other? You may have had something just pass through for a visit.

Keep your eyes and ears open. There may very well be something there!

Just an extra piece of information. The store was built over 10 years ago, so it isn't like it is brand new.

Also, a question. Does something bad or dramatic have to happen in an area for paranormal activity to exist?

No, not at all! A lot of times, especially with earthbound spirits, a life was cut short without warning; however, this is not always the case. Sometimes, a spirit will hang around because it is especially attached to a place in a protective manner. Other times, they don't realize they are dead and carry on with what would be their daily routine. I've heard of numerous cases where employees were extremely dedicated to their jobs, and were seen at their places of employment even after their deaths.

Often times, ghosts or spirits can be helpful or at least have positive energy. I was taking some pictures a few years ago in a cemetery that had the reputation of being haunted, after finishing up, I "thanked" everyone for cooperating with me. My car at the time had cruise control that had not worked in over a year. I would fiddle with the control occasionally, but procrastinated taking the car in because it really didn't bother me much, just a minor inconvenience. Driving away from the cemetery that evening, I absent mindedly fiddled with the cruise control and it immediately started working. It was either a really weird coincidence, or something there was appreciative of me taking the time to acknowledge their presence and thank them politely.

The whole idea of something negative or traumatic causing paranormal activity certainly does happen. I'm of the belief that certain events cause such intense emotions, that those emotions are imprinted on the fabric of time and under the right conditions, are played back. You couldn't pay me to live in a home where I knew there had been a violent crime. However, Hollywood has exaggerated some of this stuff and made people fear it, or at minimum caused them to be uncomfortable with it. Not all ghosts are bad or scary, and not all paranormal activity is linked with a violent or traumatic past.

If you sensed something at work, it could have simply been a former employee who had passed on and was just checking on things. It could also be linked to the land the store sits on, but it isn't necessarily anything negative or threatening.

It would be interesting to see if anyone else notices anything. Like I said, keep your ears open and see if other employees mention anything. Keep us updated!

Busaiku makes a good point.

Mike, if you felt you were being watched and it made you uncomfortable, all you needed to do was say, "I'm busy, please go away", or something to that effect. Cursing/yelling/screaming/taunting a spirit can cause more trouble that you want. Just be calm & polite and tell them to leave you be (yes, it really does work!) - talk to them in the same way you would a living person. =)

You know.... I was wondering if maybe you just felt a little hinky because you were in the ladies room. All kidding aside, everyone has given you good advise, explanations, etc.

Kell

Hi Mike

I agree we must be cautious about openly inviting the unseen to prove their existence. It's my belief Spirit is not the same as an earthbound ghost or unworldy entity. This belief comes partly from experiences I've had but mostly from the written words of wisdom by those who have demonstrated their ability to communicate with both Spirit (including Spirit guides) and earthbounds. Spirit will never harm you but a negative energy can create very unpleasant experiences. Even those energies that are not necessarily negative but enjoy playing tricks to taunt are not fun to deal with.

I agree with the others, asking doesn't mean you will automaticaly be given the proof you are wanting. It's possible if the feeling of being watched came from Spirit, you may in time notice little things at home that are given as signs that they are there. Spirits don't just visit us at home. As Kevin and Carrie noted if this is an earthbound linked to the store you may get that feeling again or note something else that makes you go hmmm.

When I first starting have experiences I had moments like the one you described and sometimes it was a one time thing and other times not. It may be that since you had the visitation dream you have in a small way started to open your mind to the possibility there is more and that in itself can sometimes be enough to open the door a little, especially for spirit energy. I'm not saying you will suddenly have numerous things happen just most ppl I know did have other things occur after their first experience opened their thoughts some.

I agree with Carrie something traumatic doesn't have to happen for their to be paranormal activity. We have activity here at home and there is no history of tragedy linked to the house itself. I don't have the full history of the land so I can't comment on that. Also a home or building does not have to be old for their to be activity.

You may as you put it be a little paranoid from all the paranormal things you've read of late. As Carrie said we've all done that. At the same time I also believe often we shrug little things off as nothing when maybe we shouldn't have.

If you are still concerned by the way you asked for the proof take some protective measures. I do everyday. Picture yourself being surrounded by a white brilliant light and ask that only positive be let in.

Is there anyone at the store that you are close enough to to ask if they have felt the same being watched sensation you did? Do let us know if anything further happens.

Cat =)

I have been all eyes and ears since this happened. Only 1 thing sticks out in my mind, and it happened last night.

Last night, I was sitting here at my computer. To my left is a window with a blind on it. Now, there are no lights of any kind at the end of my driveway. Just a streetlight, but it cannot be seen from where I sat at my computer. I was on this forum browsing, when out of the corner of my eye, I see a spot of light at the end of the driveway (short driveway). There is no light near that spot where it was at. There were no cars driving down the street. It was there by itself in the darkness. I went to turn and look at it, and it was gone. I didn't imagine it, as I clearly saw it in the middle of the dark driveway.

That is the only thing weird that I have seen since I cursed the spirit on Wednesday.

[ February 11, 2005, 06:49 AM: Message edited by: EVPMike ]

Hi Mike:

I know you said that you have a hard time believing in spirits. It could be one of your loved ones, watching over you, since you seemed to have started being "aware" since you had the dream/visitation. As Kell said, speak to them in the same manner you would speak to a living person, and you will get much better results. Reading and researching the paranormal can conjur thoughts and feelings as well, if you're not used to it.

Stores can be haunted, just like anything else. Have you ever heard of the Toys R Us Ghost, in Sunnyvale, CA? Sylvia Browne went there to investigate. If you want to read about it and see the photo of the apparition, go to this link: Toys R Us Ghost[/URL]

In the meantime, don't get freaked out, and try to remember, it could be someone looking out for you.

Hi Mike,

So have you heard anything or seen anything since your post. I remember once in Indianapolis when I lived there, I had those lights that are attached to the wall. And the knob is at the bottom. It's very hard to turn off but it turned off by itself one night. I ran out my apartment and knocked on my neighbors door across the hall. She let me in and I told her about it.. But to make a long story short. I seem to notice when I pay attention to the spirit world things happen. I was thinking I hadn't had a experiene in a while. But now that I am on the site and start thinking about it or talking about it thats when it will happen. Do you think that they take the opportunity of realization to make themselves known.