My brother just returned from a golfing trip to Ireland. He had an interesting story to tell-the hotel he stayed at was part of a country house from ca 1600. The old part of the house had several guest rooms, and one day a young couple rented a room.At 2:00 in the morning, they came down to the desk in a state of agitation-they left, saying that the woman had awakened at 1:00 AM, to see the shadowy figure of a man in 18th century costume, at the foot of the bed! He turned toward her, and he had NO face! They were so scared that they refused the manager’s offer of another room for the night. The manager told my brother that a few years before, a workman was sent up to the same room, to free a stuck window. He came back scared out of his wits-while working at the open window, he felt hands pushing him out!
Now, I am a skeptic, but for those of you that believe in hauntings, isn’t this a bit unusual? I mean ghosts are supposed to be immaterial objects-why would they attempt to harm a human? Aren’t they also supposed to be unaware of humans?
What’s your take on this?
[cowardly lion]
I DO believe in ghosts, I do, I do, I do …
[\cowardly lion]
Although I do try to be skeptical about second-hand stories. I love hearing “true” stories, and this sounds fairly typical. Many people have seen ghosts with no faces. As for the workman … I personally was pushed by something invisible while on a ghost-hunt at a cemetary, so I don’t doubt him.
On the other hand, having a haunted reputation will definitely NOT hurt the hotel’s business, so if the only source for these stories is the manager, they may be … exaggerated.
What’s the deal about these “faceless” ghosts? Aren’t ghosts supposed to be the image of people? So why should some appear as faceless? Did they do something awful to be deprived of a face?
And, how dioes an IMMATERIAL body exert a force on a material body?
Just questions!
These are common elements in ghost stories - both the “true experience” kind and the “true bullshit” type. Fine examples of both (unfortunately, the reader has to decide which is which) can be found at www.castleofspirits.com and www.ghosts.org on the links labeled “True Ghost Stories” or something similar.
Enjoy. Personally, I love a good ghost story.
Another good ghost site is www.theshadowlands.net/ghost/ which also has several articles that may answer your questions about ghosts and how they appear.
Ghosts do not necessarily appear in human form. The most common type of ghost photo shows what are called orbs. Orbs seem to be small balls of energy, although they might be dust motes - it can be hard to tell from a picture.
Regarding faceless ghosts, I have only my own theories. I believe the ghost must “will” itself into its human form, and sometimes they forget to form their face because they can’t see it. Or maybe they know they’ll be scarier without it. I don’t think they died from having their face ripped off.
How a ghost can affect a material body is an open question. There is some evidence that the presence of a ghost, seen or unseen, can have an effect on electromagnetic fields and temperature. Perhaps ghosts can manipulate these effects.