Haunted Places

132. The spontaneous manifestations that have been produced in all times, and the persistence of some spirits in giving ostensible marks of their presence in certain localities, are the source of the belief in haunted places. The following answers have been made to questions on this subject:—

132. Spontaneous manifestations have occurred throughout history. Some spirits have persistently given visible signs of their presence in certain places. These are the sources of the belief in haunted places. The following answers were given to questions on this subject:

1. "Do spirits attach themselves solely to persons, or do they also attach themselves to things?"

1. "Do spirits attach themselves only to people, or do they also attach themselves to things?"

"That depends upon their elevation. Some spirits can be attached to terrestrial objects; misers, for instance, who have hidden their treasures, and who are not sufficiently dematerialized, can still watch over and guard them."

"That depends on their level of spiritual development. Some spirits can remain attached to earthly objects. For example, misers who have hidden their treasures may still watch over and guard them if they have not become sufficiently detached from material things."

2. "Do wandering spirits prefer particular places?"

2. "Do wandering spirits prefer certain places?"

"Still the same principle. Spirits who are no longer on the earth go where they find anything to love; they are attracted by persons rather than by material objects; yet they might, momentarily, have a preference for certain places; but these are always inferior spirits."

"The same principle applies. Spirits who are no longer on earth go where they find something to love. They are drawn to people rather than material objects. Yet they may temporarily prefer certain places. But these are always inferior spirits."

3. "Since the attachment of spirits for a locality is a sign of inferiority, is it equally a proof that they are bad spirits?"

3. "Since a spirit's attachment to a place is a sign of inferiority, is it also proof that the spirit is bad?"

"Certainly not. A spirit may be but little advanced, yet not be bad for all that; is it not the same among men?"

"Certainly not. A spirit may be only slightly advanced and still not be bad. Isn't it the same with people?"

4. "Has the belief that spirits frequent ruins from preference any foundation?"

4. "Is there any basis for the belief that spirits prefer to visit ruins?"

"No; spirits go in these places as they go everywhere else; but the imagination is struck by the somber aspect of these places, and attributes to their presence what is, most often, but a very natural effect. How many times has not fear taken the shadow of a tree for a phantom, the cry of an animal, or the breath of the wind, for a ghost! Spirits love the presence of men; so they seek rather inhabited places than those that are isolated."

"No. Spirits go to these places just as they go everywhere else. But the gloomy appearance of these places affects the imagination. People blame spirits for what is most often a perfectly natural effect. How often has fear made people mistake a tree's shadow for an apparition, or an animal's cry or the wind's breath for a ghost! Spirits love being around people, so they prefer inhabited places to isolated ones."

"Yet, from what we know of the diversity of character among spirits, there may be among them misanthropes who prefer solitude."

"Yet, we know that spirits have different characters. Some may dislike people and prefer to be alone."

"Did I not answer in an absolute manner to the question? I said, They can go into deserted places, as everywhere else, and it is very evident that those who go there go because they please; but that is not a reason why ruins should be places of predilection for them; for, indeed, there are many more in towns and in palaces than in the midst of woods."

"Didn't I give a definite answer to the question? I said they can go into deserted places, just as they can go anywhere else. Clearly, those who go there do so because they want to. But that does not mean they prefer ruins. In fact, there are many more of them in towns and palaces than in the middle of woods."

5. "Popular beliefs have usually a foundation of truth, which may be the source of that of haunted places."

5. "Popular beliefs usually have some basis in truth, and this may be the source of belief in haunted places."

"The foundation of truth is the manifestation of spirits, in which man has believed at all times, by instinct; but, as I have said, the aspect of these melancholy places strikes his imagination, and he naturally connects them with the beings he looks upon as supernatural. This superstitious belief is kept alive by the recitals of poets, and the fantastic tales that have cradled his infancy."

"The truth behind this belief is that spirits appear. People have instinctively believed in these appearances throughout history. But, as I have said, the look of these gloomy places stirs the imagination. People naturally connect them with beings they regard as supernatural. This superstitious belief is kept alive by poets' stories and the fantastic tales people heard as children."

6. "Have spirits who gather together, certain days and hours for so doing?"

6. "Do spirits gather on certain days and at certain hours?"

"No; days and hours belong to time, for the use of men, and for corporeal life; but of which the spirits have no need, and about which they do not trouble themselves."

"No. Days and hours are measures of time for people and for physical life. But spirits have no need for them and do not concern themselves with them."

7. "What is the origin of the idea that spirits, by preference, come in the night?"

7. "Where does the idea come from that spirits prefer to come at night?"

"The impression produced on the imagination by silence and obscurity. All these beliefs are superstitions, which the rational knowledge of Spiritism must destroy. It is the same with the days and hours they believe to be most propitious to them; believe that the influence of midnight has never existed save in stories."

"The effect of silence and darkness on the imagination. All these beliefs are superstitions that a rational understanding of Spiritism must destroy. The same is true of the days and hours they believe are most favorable to them. Believe that midnight's influence has never existed except in stories."

"If it be so, why do certain spirits announce their arrival and manifestations for that hour, and for certain days, like Friday, for instance?"

"If so, why do certain spirits announce that they will arrive and manifest at that hour or on certain days, such as Friday?"

"There are spirits who take advantage of credulity, and amuse themselves with it. For the same reason, some pretend to be the devil, or give themselves infernal names. Show them that you are not their dupes, and they will not return."

"Some spirits take advantage of people’s willingness to believe them and make fun of them. For the same reason, some pretend to be the devil or give themselves devilish names. Show them that they have not fooled you, and they will not return."

8. "Do spirits return, by preference, near the tomb where their bodies rest."

8. "Do spirits prefer to return to the tomb where their bodies rest?"

"The body is but a covering; they care no more for the envelope that has made them suffer, than the prisoner for his chains. The remembrance of the persons dear to them is the only thing they value."

"The body is only a covering. They care no more for the body that made them suffer than a prisoner cares for chains. The only thing they value is the memory of those dear to them."

"Are the prayers made at their graves more agreeable, and do they attract them rather than otherwise."

"Are prayers said at their graves more pleasing to them, and do these prayers attract them rather than repel them?"

"Prayer is an invocation that attracts spirits, you very well know. Prayer has greater action inasmuch as it is fervent and sincere; before a venerated tomb the thought is more concentrated: the preservation of relics is a testimony of affection for the spirit, to which he is always sensible. It is always the thought that acts on the spirit, and not the material object; these objects have more influence on him who prays, by fixing his attention, than on the spirit."

"Prayer is an invocation that attracts spirits, as you know very well. The more fervent and sincere the prayer, the greater its effect. Before a revered tomb, one's thoughts are more focused. Keeping relics is a sign of affection for the spirit, which he always appreciates. It is always the thought that acts on the spirit, not the physical object. These objects influence the person praying more than the spirit, because they focus the person's attention."

9. "According to that, the belief in haunted places would not appear to be absolutely false?"

9. "Based on that, the belief in haunted places may not be entirely false?"

"We have said that some spirits can be attracted by material things; they can be so by certain places, where they seem to choose their dwelling, till the circumstances that led them there are at an end."

"We have said that some spirits can be attracted to material things. They can also be attracted to certain places, where they seem to choose to live. They remain there until the circumstances that led them there come to an end."

"What are the circumstances that might lead them there?"

"What might lead them there?"

"Their sympathy for some of the persons there, or their desire to communicate with them. Yet their intentions are not always so praiseworthy: when they are bad spirits, they may wish to execute vengeance on certain persons of whom they have cause of complaint. The sojourn in an especial place may be for some a punishment inflicted on them,—especially if they have committed a crime there,—in order that they may have this crime constantly before their eyes."

"Their affection for some of the people there, or their desire to communicate with them. But their intentions are not always so admirable. Bad spirits may want revenge on certain people they have reason to resent. For some spirits, being confined to a particular place may be a punishment. This is especially true if they committed a crime there. The punishment keeps the crime constantly before their eyes."

10. "Are places always haunted by their former inhabitants?"

10. "Are places always haunted by the people who once lived there?"

"Sometimes, but not always; for if the former inhabitant is an elevated spirit, he cares no more for his terrestrial dwelling than for his body. The spirits who haunt certain places have often no other motive than caprice; at least, if they are not attracted thither by their sympathy for certain persons."

"Sometimes, but not always. If the former resident is an elevated spirit, he cares no more about his earthly home than his body. Spirits who haunt certain places often do so on a whim. That is, unless they are drawn there by sympathy for certain people."

"Can they remain there to protect a person, or his family?"

"Can they stay there to protect a person or his family?"

"Assuredly, if they are good spirits; but in this case, they never manifest their presence by disagreeable things."

"Certainly, if they are good spirits. But good spirits never make their presence known through unpleasant things."

11. "Is there anything real in the history of the 'White Lady'?"

11. "Is there any truth to the story of the 'White Lady'?"

"It is a tale drawn from a thousand facts that are true."

"It is a story drawn from a thousand true facts."

12. "Is it rational to fear places haunted by spirits?"

12. "Is it reasonable to fear places haunted by spirits?"

"No; the spirits who haunt certain places, and make a racket there, seek rather to amuse themselves at the expense of credulity and cowardice than to do evil. Besides, remember, there are spirits everywhere, and wherever you may be, you have them constantly at your side, even in the most peaceable houses. They appear to haunt certain houses only because they find an occasion to manifest their presence."

“No. The spirits who haunt certain places and make noise there are more interested in amusing themselves than doing harm. They do this at the expense of people’s gullibility and cowardice. Besides, remember that spirits are everywhere. Wherever you are, they are always beside you, even in the most peaceful homes. They appear to haunt certain houses only because they find an opportunity to make their presence known.”

13. "Is there any means of expelling them?"

13. "Is there any way to get rid of them?"

"Yes; but most often the means used attract, instead of removing, them. The best means to drive away bad spirits is to attract the good. Draw good spirits to you by doing as much good as possible, and the bad will go away; for the good and the bad are incompatible. Be always good, and you will always have good spirits at your side."

“Yes, but most often, the methods used attract bad spirits instead of driving them away. The best way to drive away bad spirits is to attract good ones. Attract good spirits by doing as much good as possible, and the bad spirits will leave. Good and bad spirits cannot stay together. Always be good, and you will always have good spirits at your side.”

"Yet there are many good persons subject to the torments of bad spirits."

"Yet many good people are tormented by bad spirits."

"If these persons are really good, it may be only a trial to exercise their patience, and make them still better: but, believe me, it is not those who talk most of virtue who have most of it. He who possesses real qualities is often ignorant of them himself, or does not speak of them."

"If these people are truly good, this may only be a test of their patience, meant to make them even better. But believe me, those who talk most about virtue are not the most virtuous. A person with genuine virtues is often unaware of them or does not speak of them."

14. "What must be believed with regard to the efficacy of exorcism to drive away bad spirits from haunted places?"

14. "What should we believe about the effectiveness of exorcism in driving bad spirits away from haunted places?"

"Have you ever seen this means succeed? Have you not, on the contrary, seen the racket redoubled after the ceremony of exorcism! They are amused at being taken for the devil."

"Have you ever seen this method work? On the contrary, haven't you seen the racket double after an exorcism? They are amused that people mistake them for the devil."

"Spirits who do not come with an evil intention may also manifest their presence by noise, and even by making themselves visible, but they never make a troublesome racket. They are often suffering spirits, whom you can soothe by praying for them; at other times they are benevolent spirits, who wish to prove to you that they are near you; or they may be light, frolicsome spirits. As the noisy, troublesome spirits are almost always those who are amusing themselves, the best thing to do is to laugh at them: they will become tired if they see they can neither terrify nor annoy you. (See Chapter V., Spontaneous Physical Manifestations.)

"Spirits who do not come with evil intentions may also make their presence known through noises. They may even appear to you, but they never make a disturbing racket. They are often suffering spirits whom you can comfort by praying for them. At other times, they are kind spirits who want to show you they are near. They may also be playful, mischievous spirits. Noisy, troublesome spirits are almost always amusing themselves, so the best thing to do is laugh at them. They will grow tired of it if they see they can neither frighten nor annoy you. (See Chapter V., Spontaneous Physical Manifestations.)

The above explanations show that there are spirits who are attached to certain localities, and remain there from preference, but that they do not need to manifest their presence by obvious effects. Any place whatever may be the abiding-place, either forced or from predilection, of a spirit, even a bad one, without his ever producing any manifestation.

The explanations above show that some spirits are attached to certain places and stay there by choice. But they do not need to make their presence known through obvious effects. A spirit, even a bad one, may dwell anywhere, either by choice or because it is forced to. It may do so without ever making its presence known.

The spirits who are attached to localities, or to material things, are never superior spirits, but, without being superior, they may neither be wicked nor have any evil intention; they are even, sometimes, companions more useful than injurious, for if they are interested in persons, they can protect them.

Spirits attached to places or material things are never superior spirits. But although they are not superior, they may be neither wicked nor have evil intentions. Sometimes, they are even more helpful than harmful companions. If they take an interest in people, they can protect them.