Do You See Dead People?
Ghosts. Are you a believer? Either you are or you aren’t. Everyone has an opinion.
Ghost stories are said to have been around since 2000 B.C.. The word Spirit from Latin. Phantom from Greek. Spook from Dutch. Wraith from Scotland.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead speaks of ghosts, as does the Koran. So does the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Let’s face it, Jesus’ resurrection on the third day is a ghost story.
Different religions dedicate full days to ghosts such as the Chinese Ghost Festival, which in 2012 will be August 31. Christianity gives us, All Souls Day, traditionally November 2. Mexico’s Day of the Dead is an official state holiday. Banks close.
Many people make their living interacting with ghosts. Ghost Hunters like those cuties, Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes. Or ghost tours like one finds in cities such as London: www.walks.com/Homepage/Ghost_Walks/default.aspx Or mediums like James Van Praagh //vanpraagh.com/index.php or Dr. Mary Anderson //www.drmaryanderson.com/
My point is: with all this history, literature, and religious validation, there must be something to the myth.
Those who don’t believe in ghosts do not doubt the sightings or physical experiences of those professing to have had an other worldly encounter. Indeed, the experiences number too many to be ignored. Instead, the naysayers argue that phenomena such as a cold rush of air, or seeing cloudlike shapes, or seeing actual dead people are due to brain activity.
Yes, the brain, in its grieving state, will compile random bits of information (sights, sounds, smells) to recreate such phenomena to release its grief. Another explanation is that the sightings are hallucinations from a stressed brained, or as others believe, a subconscious brain. If the ghost is seen by more than one person it is a case of a group hallucination, or the telepathic ability of one person to communicate their hallucination to others.
Interesting this last group believes in telepathy, but not ghosts.
So what do you believe?
Do you see Dead People?
For fun check out this free site //ghoststudy.com/
Hey Nicola,
I believe in all that stuff, both natural and unnatural. It’s all a mystery.
Fun blog!
Bette
Hi Bette, We know you love your mysteries… :)
I write supernatural mysteries, and when people ask if I believe in ghosts, my reply is that I don’t necessarily think they exist in the form that I write about but I believe that the boundaries of reality are broader than we usually give them credit for.
You write ghost stories so well it’s hard to believe you haven’t seen a few. FYI folks, Peggy’s ghost novel is House of Whispers.
Hello, Nicola. Good to meet you. I saw your post on the Paranormal & Dark Fantasy FB group and thought I would drop by for a visit. Nice place you’ve got here. Twitter claims you’re in ‘Frisco. I’m near Fresno. *waves*
As to your question. I’m with you on this deal. There’s too much not to believe in it. As fate would have it, my current WIP has to do with ghosts. I only hope the ghosts live in other people’s houses and not my own. I only like my ghosts on the printed page.
;)
Take care.
-Jimmy
//jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/
Hello James, Nice to meet you. I see you’re a Big Bang fan, too. I’m always interested in ghost stories so keep me informed about your WIP. Dance on Fire looks interesting. I’ll look for you on FB.
Why was the movie the Sixth Sense so successful, because we want to believe, don’t we? I wasn’t so thrilled with the make-up job on the ghosts, but the story the movie put forth was great. Marie
I liked the Sixth Sense the first time I saw it, but not so much the second time. I think the interest was all in the twist. I know what you mean about the make-up; all the ghosts looked not just dead but miserable.
I am a believer.
As the movies are concerned, “Ghost” (Swayze/Moore) is my favorite.
I love Ghost! Haven’t seen it for a while, think it’s time.
“Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes… The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!”
Always the optimist