2 Things That Will Help Sell a Haunted Home

Killings, torture, insanity and just plain evilness have created houses that are considered by many as "haunted." Take for instance the Riddle House whose inhabitants have taken their lives or have experienced financial hardships and physical injuries because of wicked spirits. 

The Franklin Castle is another place that also had its share of so much tragedy that bound spirits continue to haunt it. Then, there's the Amityville house where the DeFeo's son shot his own family creating a nasty bloodbath. Such atrocities make a house frightening to many people. Who would want to live with spirits or malicious ghosts? Many could take rattling doorknobs or weird sounds. But the line is drawn when ghosts actually cause physical or even emotional harm to a person. Because of this, homes or properties that are supposedly haunted are harder to sell, especially these days when real estate isn't doing that well. Still, there are several special methods that can be employed if the goal is to sell a creepy residence.

Tone Down the Scare Level
Let's face it. The way a house looks does have an effect on how creepy it appears to people. Unkempt yards, broken windows or rotting doors that hang on their hinges all give a house a more depressing look. So, why not give the house a minor face-lift to liven things up a little bit? Adding some greens in the yard and painting the house a cheery color can do a lot in getting rid of the spooky vibe. There are also home stagers as well, which are professionals who know the exact things to do in order to brighten up a place.

Sometimes, physical changes may not be enough to eliminate an ominous ambiance, which is why some people, even real estate agents, call modern "ghostbusters." Psychic mediums or other spiritual experts can help in clearing a property of bad spirits. These people can supposedly "communicate" with spirits of the dead and this way, they can tell the elements to go away. One popular real-life ghostbuster is David Franklin Farkas of HouseHealing.com. He is a psychic and a house healer who can help sell eerie properties, and he also works with priests and other spiritual healers to accomplish this.

Another way is by burning dried sage. The smoke is thought to clear areas of any lingering spiritual elements.

Attract the Right Buyers
Before resorting to doing something drastic, like tearing a house down, why not draw in people who like weird and scary things. Even though creepy houses may only be in during Halloween, there are actually individuals who like haunted homes. Appealing to this niche market is a good option.

Propose options to buyers or investors too. For instance, if a person isn't interested in living in a creepy house, there are other things that can be done to a property. With some renovations, a haunted house can be transformed into a bed and breakfast, and one of its attractions could be that it's haunted. Though this could be a risky move, there have actually been infamous homes that have been revamped and made into inns, bed-and-breakfast accommodations or hotels. Tearing a place down and putting up another structure is another sound idea.

One final thing to try out is to lower the price of a property. This may not bring in a profit, but at least you would be able to sell a house for the same amount that you bought it.

Real estate expert, Claire Radcliffe, specializes in promoting stigmatized homes. She also sells Hawaii Kai homes and other types of real estate in the west coast.

Top 5 Spookiest Travel Destinations in the World

The definition of the word spooky would be different to different people. Some would think spooky means haunted, and would expect to see apparitions or hear unexplained sounds. Others would find walking in an old cemetery spooky while others would find grotesque things spooky. Here are the top five spookiest places on earth, no matter how you define it, that people like to visit, for one reason or the other.

Battlefields all over the world are creepy places but Gettysburg, PA beats them all. It was the site of the bloodiest battle in the Civil War and over 46,000 lost their lives there. There have been countless reports from people who say they have seen soldiers still walking the grounds and participating in battles. The battle field is where most of the paranormal sightings occur, but the town has its share of them. The home of Jenny Wade, the only woman who died during the battle, is said to have ghost visitations daily. Electronic voice phenomena have been reported at the National Cemetery where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.


Many people believe that New Orleans, Louisiana is the number one haunted town in America. That’s not surprising with hundreds of years of pirates, voodoo curses, murders, and victims of plague. The main hotspots for ghostly adventures are the cemeteries. In the 1800s, the city decided to have all bodies put in tombs above ground because of New Orleans’ propensity for flooding and this makes the cemeteries look even spookier. The St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is where Marie Laveau, a powerful voodoo queen, is buried. There are reports of dancing ghosts at her tomb.

Aokigahara Forest, Japan is a haunted forest that sits at the bottom of Mount Fuji. Also called the Sea of Trees, it not only has a lot of paranormal activity but it is used as a place to commit suicide. The government does an annual sweep of the forest for bodies and 78 were found in 2002. Evidence of phenomena includes pictures of ghosts and electronic voice phenomena. People have also reported seeing the walking dead. Being the third most popular place in the world for suicide just adds to its creepiness.

Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Australia claims their cemetery is the most haunted one in the world. Around one million people are buried there so with such a large number, it has to be one of the most haunted cemeteries. There has been a great abundance of documented evidence of paranormal activity that includes pictures and electronic voice phenomena. Two famous people buried there are the Davenport brothers, who were criminals and are reported to have been seen haunting the cemetery.

With its long history, it is not surprising that London, England is one of the spookiest places in the world. It has the Tower of London, which at one time was a prison. One interesting sighting is Anne Boleyn who was beheaded by her husband King Henry VIII. It is said she carries her head and searches for her husband, who has her killed so he could remarry. Other famous ghosts are the Countess of Salisbury, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Thomas Beckett. Also in London is Berkeley Square, where paranormal sightings have occurred on the upper floor. There have been white shadowy mists, strange sounds, and apparitions.

Zac Grace loves to travel the world, even spooky places. Luckily for him he has friends to help him travel on a budget, Flight Centre for affordable travel prices and Escape Travel for amazing holiday packages in one go.

Strange Things Occurring in Google Maps 2011

Listen, nearly everyone in the world could spend an entire day perusing Google Maps. It’s the fastest and least expensive way to ‘see the world,’ and is amazingly FUN!  Chances are you, just like everyone else in this world - has looked up your old addresses (and addresses of the exes) simply to see if the mysterious Google Maps has caught a chance shot of you sun bathing, or at least features your car parked in front of your house.   The truth is that with the randomness of Google Map photography often shot from satellites hovering in space, there are apt to be some pretty strange and amazing things captured by the camera responsible for documenting the digital globe. 

Of course, there are crop circles.  And plenty of them.  Whether you believe that they were placed there by aliens are not, the bottom line is they are awesome to look at.  One in particular located in Speen, United Kingdom Berkshire is an awesome piece of artwork, so unique it had to be created by celestial beings.  Another picture from Stainborough – also in the United Kingdom is extremely vast and covers hundreds of acres.  And of course, one from the United States is a picture of Oprah’s head.  Does this mean she is the next celebrity to be abducted by aliens?

There are also quite a lot of pictures of beautiful sand art created by what must be budding artists hoping to get their canvasses picked up by Google satellites.  Additionally, National Geographic teamed up with Google Maps in 2011 and has created amazing imagery of animals and cultures all over the world in their natural state.  Whether you want to see a lone elephant in Chad – or see camels wandering through the desert, you are sure to get your scientific fix.

Speaking of science, Google maps has also captured some things that defy scientific thinking.  There are plenty of pictures of what seem to be angels, ghosts and other beings from the other side of life captured from around the globe.  But of course, even as Google Maps 2011 will label these things as angels, they also admit it could simply be a bug or smudge on the camera lens.  Interesting nonetheless.  You should check them out yourself; some may make a believer out of you.

Other things captured by Google Maps 2011 are just downright strange.  How about a ship that seems to be parked between two buildings in Hong Kong?  There is also a plane that seems to be parked on top of a building and a strange triangle located in Fort Kissimmee Florida that looks like it has a target laid out.  (But a target for what, is the question).  One picture from a lake in Amiens, France could have caught a glimpse of a gigantic sea creature, while on Mongolia – out in the middle of nowhere, there is an obvious drawing of something.  (No one knows for sure what it is, or what it means!)

Essentially Google Maps 2011 has become so adept at taking pictures; there are endless possibilities for finding amazing sights and strange occurrences within the maps.  Luckily, some sites including Google Maps, will allow you to mark and document them if you happen to run across something mysterious.  A word to the wise however.  If you are planning to take a closer look at the President or Vice Presidents residence (or military operations), those views have all been pixilated.  Enjoy finding more strange things at Google Maps.

Frank Anderson writes for blogs and spends his days searching the Internet for fascinating stuff.  He also conducts email exchange hosting training sessions to help people understand the technology better.

Tarot Readings, Medium Readings, Clairvoyants, or Psychics . . . Which to Choose?

Many people choose to seek out those that claim to be able to foretell the future as a manner in which to understand, anticipate and improve their lives. Tarot Card Readers, Medium Readers, Clairvoyants and Psychics are amongst the many titles for these fortune tellers who differ based on in their particular skills and areas of specialty and/or expertise.

Tarot Readings
Tarot card readers use a deck of 78 Tarot cards to answer questions and offer guidance and advice to those seeking information about their lives. Each Tarot card represents a specific concept or idea, which the Tarot card reader then applies to the individual’s past, present, or future. The Tarot card reader uses her expertise and knowledge of how these cards are interpreted, to determine what message is being conveyed about the person’s life. The cards have general meaning, but the Tarot card reader’s job is to interpret that meaning and apply it to the individual person’s life and circumstances. The same card can mean something different for one person than it does for another.

To begin the Tarot readings, the cards are laid out in a very specific pattern known as “a spread”. The reader will offer to perform one of two different types of readings, a general reading in which the cards guide the session, or reader guided session, which takes the form of question and answer. Here, the reader uses the cards to interpret the answers. These more specific types of Tarot readings, are ideal for someone seeking guidance, advice and understanding about one or more very specific situation/s.

Medium Readings
Medium readings are similar to Tarot readings in that they do both predict future events in a person’s past, present and future. However, the readers themselves are not equally skilled. A medium reader can communicate with those that have passed on. They can summon the dead and facilitate dialogue between their subjects and their loved ones that have passed. Medium readings are best known for this intended pursuit and medium readers are the obvious choice for those who wish to contact someone that is no longer amongst the living.

Clairvoyants
Clairvoyant, a word meaning “spirt-seeing”, is a term commonly equated with a person possessing psychic abilities and is particularly sensitive and receptive to the world around them. They are sometimes referred to as having a “sixth sense”, since they know and feel things that others cannot, using the typical five senses. Clairvoyants are extremely spiritual and are said to be able to tap into other dimensions. Many clairvoyants were born with their skill and make a conscious decision whether to nurture or suppress it throughout their lives. Clairvoyants differ from Tarot card readers in that they do not require Tarot cards to access their psychic abilities. They often, however, may choose to use other means to facilitate their skills, such as pendulums or crystal balls, dream interpretation and/or palmistry as a means to read into a person’s past, present or future. Clairvoyants are similar to Tarot card readers in that they are both effective means for those searching for specific information. The Clairvoyants have the ability to get information for someone that he otherwise would not be able to get, which is why they would come in handy if something was lost or stolen.

Clairvoyants can also be invaluable in criminal investigations, where they can uncover clues and possibly determine the whereabouts of necessary evidence that the average person would not be able to find. Clairvoyants are extremely accurate in their predictions and will always give a clear answer without the assistance of any outside forces or information. They will not ask for any personal items or information in order to get to know the person first. They can automatically tap into their ability to sense who the person is, what he is about, and what his future holds. Like Tarot card readers, they can perform either very specific sessions or more general ones. Either way, they are extremely intuitive and possess receptive skills that are unparalleled.

Psychics
Psychics, often referred to as “fortune tellers”, also possess what is referred to as a “sixth sense”. Like mediums, they are able to perceive things that cannot be detected using the usual five senses. Though psychics can also sense the spiritual world, they are unable to make a connection or communicate with it like mediums can. Psychics are like Tarot readers in that they also use additional tools in their readings to help them gain knowledge and be able to make predictions about a person’s past, present and future. The psychic’s information comes to them through visions in the form of pictures and dreams. They can see the future from a distance and can then interpret what they are seeing. Psychics do not interact with these visions, they simply observe, interpret and report the happenings.

Since there are several different titles used to describe those who can predict the past, present and future, many wonder who the most qualified reader is. With a little research, they would find that the choice would depend on what the individual wants to gain from the reading and which could deliver that best for them.

Audrey, aspiring author from London and consultant for link building service.

The Dybbuk in Jewish Legend

Practically every culture that has ever existed has had some type of ghost myth.  The mystery of death and belief in the afterlife lead to a wide variety of myths, legends, folklore, and entertaining stories.  And, of course, the ghost story is not merely an ancient motif.  Considering the popularity of horror films and literature, it may even be reasonable to speculate that ghost stories are more popular now, in our modern, scientifically-based world, than ever in history.

When analyzing the patterns in ghost stories, certain themes come up repeatedly.  Of course, not all ghost stories are the same.  But many of them tend to follow the themes of “unfinished business,” retribution, punishment of the soul, or simply explaining the unexplained.

A particularly interesting ghost story tradition comes from Jewish folklore: “The Dybbuk.”  The dybbuk, “clinging spirit” in Yiddish, is a spirit that attempts to possess the body of a living person.  Looking at a survey of legends and beliefs from around the world, one could possibly compare the concept to some of the Loas of certain African traditions, spirits (not demons) who possess the living (sometimes by invitation and sometimes by surprise visit).  The dybbuk are sometimes referred to by the more general term “ruchim” in early biblical accounts, which translates simply to “spirits” in Hebrew.

The dybbuk’s origins vary among the various stories.  The “unfinished business” concept mentioned previously is very common among world folklore traditions, indicating that souls sometimes cannot rest until they have accomplished some task or communicated an important message.  In these cases, the possession of a body, as terrifying as it may be to the victim and the spectators, is not necessarily a malevolent act.  In this version, the dybbuk simply has no choice but to “borrow” the body of a living person in order to carry out his or her task.  Many stories assert that all spirits must occupy some kind of living thing – even animals or plants.  However, a dybbuk who seeks to accomplish an important task is most likely to try to inhabit a person.

In other versions, the dybbuk has experienced “karet,” separation from God due to evil deeds committed during life.  For this soul, the normal cycles of the afterlife are interrupted as a punishment or negative consequence of the person’s living deeds.  Once again, stories often indicate that a dybbuk can potentially occupy any living thing, but they usually prefer to inhabit a human body.  Whereas the “unfinished business” dybbuk may choose a human host out of necessity, an evil dybbuk may choose a human host out of malice, spite, and better opportunity to do harm.

Women were traditionally portrayed as being more susceptible to possession by a dybbuk, perhaps because of the assumption that women were not as strong-willed as men.  People living in homes with neglected or missing mezuzot (special parchments inscribed with scriptures and hung on door frames as a sign of faith) were also portrayed as being more susceptible to dybbuk possession, for this was seen as a sign of little religious faith.  Religious faith, of course, is the greatest defense against any supernatural threat.

Like many traditions, the Jewish folklore includes spirits that are not necessarily evil or potentially harmful.  Some stories include the spirits of honorable ancestors, “ibbur,” who play some type of role in the development of the action.  “maggid” also surface in these tales, righteous sprits who linger for a while to serve as a helper or guide to the living who are in need of its assistance.  Although dybbuk are not all necessarily evil, their attempts to possess the living (their defining characteristic) separate them clearly from these helpful, non-threatening spirits.

The process of exorcising a dybbuk from a possessed person varies from story to story.  However, they tend to have certain patterns that are very similar to other exorcism traditions from various religions.  The interview is usually represented as a crucial element of this process.  The righteous man, sometimes alone, sometimes with a group, sometimes with the help of a maggid or angel, speaks to the dybbuk and attempts to gain knowledge of it, especially its name.  The concept that knowledge of an entity’s name grants power over it goes at least as far back as the ancient Egyptians, and this ancient, powerful idea is prevalent in most exorcism tales.  Once the name is known, the person attempting to release the dybbuk must use a combination of patience, logic, faith, and pure will to convince the spirit to leave, sometimes imprisoning it in a vessel.