Forums · Creepy Shadows
I am desperate for answers and I hope someone out there can give me some feedback on their thoughts of my event. This is the first time I have visited a site like this as I have been trying to find a similar story or some photos perhaps. Here's what happened;
A couple of nights ago my mother and I were alone talking in my lounge room. She was on the couch which is seated against a white coloured wall. I was sitting opposite her and as I was listening to her I kept noticing a dark smokey ribbon like shadow moving across the wall from the centre of the wall to the left.
This happened several times until I asked my mum to come and sit next to me and watch the wall, as stupid as it sounds she did as I suggested. We both sat next to each other watching the wall and I wasn't crazy after all, she too saw this shadow moving accross the wall. This continued to happen over a 2 1/2 hour period, with the shadow changing direction, speed and shape. Sometimes it seemed like a cresent / moon shape. Other times it looked like a closed hand turned to the side. The other thing is that occassionally we would smell some sort of strange, off-putting smell around us. I was terrified and frozen and began to cry, my mum was assuring me that it wasn't a bad thing and that I shouldn't be scared, I then asked her why it wouldn't go away then, considering how freaked out I was getting.
(No I was not drinking and not on drugs) Are my mother and I just both mad?
Anyone with a similar story or information about this type of thing, I would so appreciate hearing from you
A couple of nights ago my mother and I were alone talking in my lounge room. She was on the couch which is seated against a white coloured wall. I was sitting opposite her and as I was listening to her I kept noticing a dark smokey ribbon like shadow moving across the wall from the centre of the wall to the left.
This happened several times until I asked my mum to come and sit next to me and watch the wall, as stupid as it sounds she did as I suggested. We both sat next to each other watching the wall and I wasn't crazy after all, she too saw this shadow moving accross the wall. This continued to happen over a 2 1/2 hour period, with the shadow changing direction, speed and shape. Sometimes it seemed like a cresent / moon shape. Other times it looked like a closed hand turned to the side. The other thing is that occassionally we would smell some sort of strange, off-putting smell around us. I was terrified and frozen and began to cry, my mum was assuring me that it wasn't a bad thing and that I shouldn't be scared, I then asked her why it wouldn't go away then, considering how freaked out I was getting.
(No I was not drinking and not on drugs) Are my mother and I just both mad?
Anyone with a similar story or information about this type of thing, I would so appreciate hearing from you
Interesting information...I myself have on occassions...not recently seen "shadow people" on walls and floors, but I haven't smelled anything when I seen them...hard to say what the smell could mean...but you and your mother are not mad! I have seen them before and I am perfectly sane!
Katt
Katt
Thanks Katt that's comforting to know, the thing that concerns me is the fact that the shadows weren't in the shape of people and that it kept changing shape. Someone actually told me that this is a sign of something demonic which has really got me scared now.
I am not real sure about the demonic thing...I have seen some in the shape of circles before and they haven't done anything to bother me yet or anyone else I know that has seen them...so I don't think you have much to worry about...but I am indeed interested in hearing about any contact you have with them!
Katt
Katt
Is it possible that this may be a spirit which is having a hard time trying to manifest itself? Perhaps it doesn't have the energy (or strength) to fully manifest itself into a human shape? Don't really know what to tell you about the smell thing, though. I'm more of a clairaudient and clairsentient type and don't get smells of anything very often at all.
Hello TamOZGal! Welcome to SpiritKeep. =)
I'm glad that you've joined our message board and have shared your story. That's an interesting encounter. I wish I had more of an explanation for you, but first I'd just like to say that NO, you and your mother are not mad!![[No]](graemlins/no.gif)
With something like this - and since I wasn't there to witness the dynamics (not that that's a problem) - I'd just like to impart a possible cause to rule out, before assuming it was paranormal. Was there a window behind your sitting position (at any angle, from your side/opposing)? , which might have shown car headlights in the position where your Mom was sitting across from you? Car headlights (that perhaps pause and then are moving) can look pretty creepy as they come through glass windows and onto a wall as the car turns a corner, say.
Next, as for the smell... what did it smell like? Can you describe it? And your mother smelled it as well, yes? Was it something that reminded you of something you know or, or no? I personally experienced something paranormal when I was a child and it accompanied an off-putting smell... yet it was a smell I knew of. Oddly, as this experience happened, and moreso afterward, I realized *what* the smell was of, but it was something I didn't like and was not possible at the time of the paranormal experience. Anyway.... more on that later, if you like.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
But you mentioned a ribbon-like smoke.. I'd say take pictures! Really.... take some pictures at the same angle, and preferrably the same time slot, as you did when you saw it the first time. Don't always wait for 'it' -- just snap photos periodically and keep notes on what's happening both inside and outside (cars, etc) as the pics are taken. You may find a logical reason, or you may not. Either way, we'd love to hear what happens. =)
Best,
Kell
[ March 16, 2007, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: KellKell ]
I'm glad that you've joined our message board and have shared your story. That's an interesting encounter. I wish I had more of an explanation for you, but first I'd just like to say that NO, you and your mother are not mad!
With something like this - and since I wasn't there to witness the dynamics (not that that's a problem) - I'd just like to impart a possible cause to rule out, before assuming it was paranormal. Was there a window behind your sitting position (at any angle, from your side/opposing)? , which might have shown car headlights in the position where your Mom was sitting across from you? Car headlights (that perhaps pause and then are moving) can look pretty creepy as they come through glass windows and onto a wall as the car turns a corner, say.
Next, as for the smell... what did it smell like? Can you describe it? And your mother smelled it as well, yes? Was it something that reminded you of something you know or, or no? I personally experienced something paranormal when I was a child and it accompanied an off-putting smell... yet it was a smell I knew of. Oddly, as this experience happened, and moreso afterward, I realized *what* the smell was of, but it was something I didn't like and was not possible at the time of the paranormal experience. Anyway.... more on that later, if you like.
But you mentioned a ribbon-like smoke.. I'd say take pictures! Really.... take some pictures at the same angle, and preferrably the same time slot, as you did when you saw it the first time. Don't always wait for 'it' -- just snap photos periodically and keep notes on what's happening both inside and outside (cars, etc) as the pics are taken. You may find a logical reason, or you may not. Either way, we'd love to hear what happens. =)
Best,
Kell
[ March 16, 2007, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: KellKell ]
Hi Kell and thank you so much for your response, it was great reading and I really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
To answer your questions, yes my mother and I both smelt it, the smell would come and go every now and then but did not occur the entire couple of hours that the shadows were appearing. The smell was not really familiar, it was a rotten smell and my mum and I kept asking each other "did you pass wind?" and we were trying to figure out where the smell was coming from then it would dissapear again.
As for the possible car reflections etc. there is a window in the loungroom / glass sliding door which faces our back yard - brick wall on the outside but;
I have tried to rule out other causes for this also, it happened continually over a few hours and in that time my mother and I went around turning off the TV, Computer, outside light, blinds in front of the glass sliding door I was taling about etc to try and find the cause thinking there must be some explanation for it, we even moved a cloth around the light fitting to ensure that there wasn't a cob web dangling from the light or something but could not find anything that may have been causing it.
As we sat there watching it and discussing what it could be and trying to justify it, the shadow actually got faster and more frequent. That is when it bgan to change shapes, first a moon/cresent shape then about 20 mins later the closed hand type shape.
My grandmother passed away 11 years ago this month (in approx. 1 week from now) and my mother and I were talking about that when the shadows first appeared, she is the only one that has passed away that I was close to but like I say, that was 11 years ago.
About 90mins into the shadows appearing I actually grabbed mu digital camera and used the video function for about 10mins, whilst I was facing it at that particular wall there was alot of static type lines going across the screen but when I would turn it to another wall it stopped, does that mean anything at all? Anyway we watched the footage the next day becuase we still didn't quite believe what our eyes had seen but there was nothing that we could see - no black shadows just the lines / interference.
I will certainly do as you sid and take pictures of the wall every now and then just to see what comes out.
Cheers Kell and thanks again.
To answer your questions, yes my mother and I both smelt it, the smell would come and go every now and then but did not occur the entire couple of hours that the shadows were appearing. The smell was not really familiar, it was a rotten smell and my mum and I kept asking each other "did you pass wind?" and we were trying to figure out where the smell was coming from then it would dissapear again.
As for the possible car reflections etc. there is a window in the loungroom / glass sliding door which faces our back yard - brick wall on the outside but;
I have tried to rule out other causes for this also, it happened continually over a few hours and in that time my mother and I went around turning off the TV, Computer, outside light, blinds in front of the glass sliding door I was taling about etc to try and find the cause thinking there must be some explanation for it, we even moved a cloth around the light fitting to ensure that there wasn't a cob web dangling from the light or something but could not find anything that may have been causing it.
As we sat there watching it and discussing what it could be and trying to justify it, the shadow actually got faster and more frequent. That is when it bgan to change shapes, first a moon/cresent shape then about 20 mins later the closed hand type shape.
My grandmother passed away 11 years ago this month (in approx. 1 week from now) and my mother and I were talking about that when the shadows first appeared, she is the only one that has passed away that I was close to but like I say, that was 11 years ago.
About 90mins into the shadows appearing I actually grabbed mu digital camera and used the video function for about 10mins, whilst I was facing it at that particular wall there was alot of static type lines going across the screen but when I would turn it to another wall it stopped, does that mean anything at all? Anyway we watched the footage the next day becuase we still didn't quite believe what our eyes had seen but there was nothing that we could see - no black shadows just the lines / interference.
I will certainly do as you sid and take pictures of the wall every now and then just to see what comes out.
Cheers Kell and thanks again.
The reason I posted that is because I've seen this happen myself. If you start to get more experiences, or if the shadows become bigger or more substantial, and you notice that you are having problems with batteries (it doesn't matter where, your camera, the remote to your tv, or whatever) or the lightbulbs in your house, this may be the cause. Spirits often times use other energy sources to help themselves manifest. This is why so often you hear of ghost investigators having problems with their equipment failing. The spirit is drawing energy off their equipment to help themselves manifest.
It seems to me that people oftentimes equate black shadows with evil intentions. Most of the time that is not the case. Black is a symbol of negativity and evil mostly only in the Western world. My view (of course, I can't prove this anymore than anyone else can prove their theories...) is that a spirit has several stages to go through before it can make itself fully manifest. A lot of times they start with senses like feelings and sounds. For example, you feel as though someone is watching you and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Well, as you notice this, you are actually putting energy into it, just by noticing. This isn't necessarily bad. Once you are starting to notice "weird" things going on, you may start to hear footsteps, banging, or rattles. It is only a progression of the spirit trying to get your attention. You may start to see shadows that are small at first, and eventually they may turn into full-sized human shaped ones. If the spirit gets enough energy up, you may in fact eventually experience a full-bodied apparition (every investigation group's Holy Grail!).
I know it must sound a little scary, but most of the time it really isn't if you stop and examine what is going on around you. It is very, very rare to have a truly negative entity (ie: demon, but I don't like using that term), probably a half a percent of all hauntings. More commonly it is someone you know that has passed and is trying to get in contact with you to let you know that they're allright, or at the worst, just a lost spirit that is attracted to your inner light. Even more frequent are residual hauntings (but yours doesn't fit in this category, really), where it is only an emotional and energy "replay" of events that occurred in the past, either strongly emotional, or something that was done over and over by habit in life.
Sorry I was being so long-winded...if I was any help to you at all, be sure to let me know. Otherwise I'll just shut up...lol =)
It seems to me that people oftentimes equate black shadows with evil intentions. Most of the time that is not the case. Black is a symbol of negativity and evil mostly only in the Western world. My view (of course, I can't prove this anymore than anyone else can prove their theories...) is that a spirit has several stages to go through before it can make itself fully manifest. A lot of times they start with senses like feelings and sounds. For example, you feel as though someone is watching you and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Well, as you notice this, you are actually putting energy into it, just by noticing. This isn't necessarily bad. Once you are starting to notice "weird" things going on, you may start to hear footsteps, banging, or rattles. It is only a progression of the spirit trying to get your attention. You may start to see shadows that are small at first, and eventually they may turn into full-sized human shaped ones. If the spirit gets enough energy up, you may in fact eventually experience a full-bodied apparition (every investigation group's Holy Grail!).
I know it must sound a little scary, but most of the time it really isn't if you stop and examine what is going on around you. It is very, very rare to have a truly negative entity (ie: demon, but I don't like using that term), probably a half a percent of all hauntings. More commonly it is someone you know that has passed and is trying to get in contact with you to let you know that they're allright, or at the worst, just a lost spirit that is attracted to your inner light. Even more frequent are residual hauntings (but yours doesn't fit in this category, really), where it is only an emotional and energy "replay" of events that occurred in the past, either strongly emotional, or something that was done over and over by habit in life.
Sorry I was being so long-winded...if I was any help to you at all, be sure to let me know. Otherwise I'll just shut up...lol =)
Lots of good stuff here TamOZGal.
Always put a good effort into finding a practical explanation. Even when you have eliminated most mundane causes there can still be a practical explanation. An example was I was hearing voices that seemed to be coming out of the crawl space in my house at night. Nothing from in my house was causing it. I found out it was smokers from a nearby bar talking. When the conditions are right their voices carry and I can hear them.
Going a little further on what CT said. Sometimes all we can perceive of ghosties are shadows. Not only is it what they are able to manifest but it's also our ability to perceive. I've had experiences with shadows that turned out to be nice people. Shadows are not all bad.
I would like to suggest that you and your mom keeping asking yourself (in your mind) what is it that you are experiencing. Ask youself to clarify what you are perceiving. How do you feel about it. What do you sense or see. I find that taking a moment in these situations to question myself during and afterwards helps you get an idea of what you are/have witnessed. I'm a firm believer that we are all psychic and are the best ones to deal with these things.
And if for some reason it does turn out to be something that's not kind (I also hate to use the word demon, I'm not sure they exist), you may want to think about doing a house cleaning/smudging. There is a static(pinned in place) posting here about various ways and information for house cleaning and smudgings. Lots of good stuff.
And if you get scared, don't be afraid to ask everyone here to send you some white light, prayers, etc.. to help you. It really helps.
Always put a good effort into finding a practical explanation. Even when you have eliminated most mundane causes there can still be a practical explanation. An example was I was hearing voices that seemed to be coming out of the crawl space in my house at night. Nothing from in my house was causing it. I found out it was smokers from a nearby bar talking. When the conditions are right their voices carry and I can hear them.
Going a little further on what CT said. Sometimes all we can perceive of ghosties are shadows. Not only is it what they are able to manifest but it's also our ability to perceive. I've had experiences with shadows that turned out to be nice people. Shadows are not all bad.
I would like to suggest that you and your mom keeping asking yourself (in your mind) what is it that you are experiencing. Ask youself to clarify what you are perceiving. How do you feel about it. What do you sense or see. I find that taking a moment in these situations to question myself during and afterwards helps you get an idea of what you are/have witnessed. I'm a firm believer that we are all psychic and are the best ones to deal with these things.
And if for some reason it does turn out to be something that's not kind (I also hate to use the word demon, I'm not sure they exist), you may want to think about doing a house cleaning/smudging. There is a static(pinned in place) posting here about various ways and information for house cleaning and smudgings. Lots of good stuff.
And if you get scared, don't be afraid to ask everyone here to send you some white light, prayers, etc.. to help you. It really helps.