The most popular idea most of us have about encountering ghosts all revolves around seeing. ‘I saw a ghost.’ But in fact virtually all our five senses (apart from taste, although there may be someone out there whose had different experiences) can experience the supernatural in some way.

It’s actually quite difficult for an spirit entity (which is really what I mean by ghost in this article) to become visible. It takes a great deal of energy. In fact all forms of manifestation drain their surroundings to some extent, but visual manifestations do this to a greater extent than others. Examples of ‘draining’ are clocks stopping (especially battery operated ones whose batteries drain off suddenly), high electricity bills and other electrical equipment sometimes acting strangely (always supposing there’s no ‘natural’ explanation for this.)

Ghosts who don’t materialise sometimes manifest themselves through sound. Where I live we often hear footsteps, voices, laughter, and occasionally a bell ringing. This latter is often, though not always, a forerunner to a full blown psychic attack. Once we were even treated to hearing a ghostly game of table tennis!

Smell is another common means of manifestation. Usually you get something floral, (almost always roses, occasionally lavender) or rotten flesh, drains or bad eggs. People used to attribute a sulphurous smell to the devil (think of fire and brimstone!) but it can often just be another way of the supernatural trying to attract our attention. Obviously it makes sense, (and keeps you sane) if you check out that you don’t actually have a problem with the drains, and that there are no dead mice behind the kitchen units before accepting a supernatural explanation.

Finally, have you ever felt someone tap your shoulder, turn around and there’s nobody there? That’s just another ‘attention grabber’. So when people say they will only believe in ghosts if they can see them for themselves, they are missing out on a whole range of possible experiences.

Seeking the Green by Tylluan Penry, published soon by Capall Bann. For more info please watch this space!