Why Do People Believe In Ghosts? (Online Opinion Piece)

Hotel Del Coronado - San Diego, California

People have believed in ghosts, spirits and the paranormal for hundreds if not thousands of years. It's been one of the most unexplained phenomena of all time. And along with the questioning of if ghosts are real - is why do they exist and what happens after we die?

I've always been drawn to the macabre and paranormal for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching scary movies without my parents knowing and ghost hunting shows like "Ghost Hunters" and "Ghost Adventures". Even though it scared me a little bit as a kid, I was still so fascinated by it. I became more fascinated once I got to the age where I understood death and dying and I had experienced deaths of loved ones. I've always been a severe empath and people close to me have known my entire life, so I take these kinds of experiences to heart very deeply. After loved ones passing away, I had always wondered if they went to Heaven, Hell, Purgatory or just roamed the Earth. Growing up Catholic and having a strong interest in the paranormal made me often question what happens after we die, and quite honestly the thought of death still terrifies me as a grown adult.

I found a brief article from the website Ghosts and Gravestones about why people believe in ghosts, so I decided to review it and put in my two cents.

I believe that not only is believing in ghosts a fascination, but it is also a coping mechanism. I have friends and family all over the spectrum of believing in ghosts and the paranormal or not. I'm not here to convince anyone that ghosts are real or why people who don't believe are ignorant - just like with religion and spiritual beliefs, I believe people can believe in whatever they desire, as long as it gives them hope, comfort and happiness.

Not only have I seen videos, pictures, audio and different kinds of proof of ghosts and the paranormal, but 
I have even witnessed it myself. Although I am spiritual, I also do believe there are scientific explanations of ghosts. I'm the kind of person who has to "see it to believe it", which made me want to pursue my fascination with the paranormal farther than just watching, reading and researching. I wanted to find proof for myself.

I will also admit that believing in ghosts is definitely a comfort in a way and that also gives me closure. I took my paternal grandmother's passing very hard and I was filled with depression and regret for so long. But while combining the faith I was raised in, and the spirituality I have given myself as an adult, I know that she is at peace. I believe that there is a Heaven, Hell and Purgatory - but after death, spirits have the choice and ability to return to Earth as well as tap into the subconscious of loved ones still alive and Earthside. I get visitation dreams from my grandmother on rare occasions and my family and I say that she was a very holy woman, and that when her time came, she accepted it and went to be with God. And even though she is at peace with God in Heaven and loves staying up there, she still checks up on us because she loves us.

We also kind of joke that we don't get visitation dreams or signs from my deceased paternal grandfather because we lowkey think he is stuck in purgatory and is unable to have the freedom that my grandmother has with us.

 

(Scare actor - thrills)

OC Ghosts & Legends Tour Adds Brand New Locations and Lockdowns (Soft News)

 

OC Ghosts and Legends logo

One of Orange County's most successful paranormal touring businesses (and my personal favorite) has officially expanded their tours to San Diego county!

OC Ghosts & Legends has a variety of different tours and even lockdowns. It started out just in Orange County, California - hitting infamous haunted locations in the cities of Santa Ana, Orange and Black Star Canyon. In the past two years they have expanded their location to San Juan Capistrano by popular demand.

As their business and customer loyalty grew, they decided that just walking tours were not enough and that they needed to take it to the next level - so they decided to also provide exclusive lockdown investigations for guests.

And over the past year like many small businesses, they were forced to put their tours on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have just been given the green light in the beginning of 2021to resume tours while following state guidelines for COVID-19 protocol. This meant mask mandates, limited people on tours and social distancing. Thankfully customers were compliant and more than happy for work with the protocols so they could get their paranormal fix!

Once their business was back up and running, there was more demand from their customers to expand to other locations. They had entertained the idea of possibly expanding walking tours and lockdown locations up to Los Angeles County as well as down to San Diego County.

They have finally got permission from San Diego County to expand their tours and business to a couple haunted locations in San Diego! The two confirmed locations that are also open for lockdown tours are the Star of India tall ship and the Berkeley Steam Ferry.

They are also looking to potentially restart their rare, annual tour of Bracken Fern Manor in Arrowhead County, which has proven to be a huge hit.

As well as their expansion in southern California, they have also revealed that they will potentially bring back their lockdown events in Arizona and Nevada once guests feel more comfortable about traveling more

Potential guests can check out their website for upcoming dates for future ghost walks and overnight paranormal lockdowns. Special thank you to owner Cris August for the information.

https://ocghostsandlegends.com/

Whaley House Reopens for Guided Tours (Hard News)

 

Whaley House official historical site of California plaque

The Whaley House in San Diego, California has been a very famous paranormal hot spot for ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts for over a century and the owners of the location have offered guided tours for over 50 years. It was formally dedicated as a historic house museum in 1960 and has been doing tours ever since.

Unfortunately like many other small businesses, it had to temporarily shut down due to COVID-19. And finally after over a year of being closed to the public, the Whaley House has finally fully re-opened its doors!

The Whaley House partially opened for a handful of private events in the past year including a monthly soiree held at the Cosmopolitan Hotel down the road from it, called Ghosts of the Past. This monthly get together is by reservation only and a very fancy and exciting event for people who enjoy the haunted, spooky and macabre.

The soiree is filled with music, dancing, burlesque and event private haunted tours around Old Towne San Diego's most infamous haunted locations - the Whaley House included.

Over the past year, I had made my way down for haunt gigs and photoshoots and decided to pay a visit to the Whaley House. Sadly its doors were closed both times I visited San Diego and I had hoped the museum and business were staying afloat and would be able to reopen soon. And that they did!

Another event that included a brief tour of the Whaley House (minus the inside tour) was from a San Diego local paranormal investigator called Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours. This small business provides both walking and bus tours around Old Town San Diego and San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter.

Top Cemeteries in L.A. to Find Your Favorite Celebrities Who Have Left This Physical Realm (Extra)

 

Hollywood Forever cemetery in Los Angeles, California

Want to visit your favorite celebrity even if they're no longer living? Here's where to find them.

1. Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Maila Nurmi, Alfred Hitchcock, Bugsy Siegel, Johnny Ramone, Judy Garland

2. Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills: Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, Brittany Murphy

3. Forest Lawn Glendale: Michael Jackson

4. Holy Cross Cemetery Culver City: Bela Lugosi, Sharon Tate, Bing Crosby

5. Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park: Toto

Disney Castmembers Share Their Haunted Encounters in the Parks (Extra)

 

The Haunted Mansion - a paranormal hot spot at Disneyland

A few friends of mine who are Disney cast members shared their spooky experiences that they have had at the parks and these are my favorite.

 

 1. "I've had quite a few experiences, a lot more at Autopia and a few at Space Mountain and Star Tours." – Justin Ruiz

2. "I used to hear people go down the stairs inside the tech area of Fantasmic and nobody was with me on the island. Also, the attics above Kodak Corner have a weird vibe." – Rick

3. "I worked at food and beverage in Galaxy's Edge and the beverage machines would act up a lot and there would be cold air spots." – Brian Palpatino

4. "I've had experiences with what I think is Walt's ghost and there's a mysterious scream on the Indiana Jones ride." – Mitchell Ralston

 

These are all fun brief ones, but this one takes the cake as my all-time favorite from Gloria Haro.

5. Former cast member Glo Haro worked at the park from 2000 – 2002 and from 2005 – 2015. She worked around New Orleans Square and Critter Country. Her main attractions she worked at were Pirates’ of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. (Of course probably two of the most active attractions for paranormal activity) She always felt like she was being watched, especially in the shifts in the early morning or late at night. She has also felt people tap her on the shoulder or pull the strings on her costume apron but when she looked behind her, nobody would be there.

“My first major experience was in 2001 and I was asked to go on a ride through of the Haunted Mansion and it was around 11:30 at night. I felt like someone was watching me from the Doom Buggy next to me and I didn’t want to turn my head because I was afraid of what I might see because I knew I was the only person in the ride,” Haro said.

“Once it turned to the attic scene after the ballroom scene, I heard what sounded like someone knocking on the back of my Doom Buggy and I just convinced myself that it was just the ride and it was just making weird noises, but I knew it sounded distinctly like someone was knocking on the back of my buggy,” Haro said.

“Next on the track your buggy turns and you can see who’s sitting in the buggy next to you. Well like I said I was the only one on the attraction…or so I thought,” Haro said. “As I looked up I saw an old woman with really short, curly hair and she was pointing to the other side of the attic. She was pointing towards where the old bride used to stand. I remember feeling a huge chill running down my body and I immediately felt sick. I couldn’t believe what I had just seen.”

That wasn’t the only experience Haro had at the Haunted Mansion.

  “About 2013 I was the lead at the time and I get a phone call from one of my cast members in the load area and they ask me if I’ve ever felt anything watching me or if I feel anything weird. I said yes. She asked if she could come up to my desk and draw what she felt she saw,” Haro said.

“She explained to me before she began to draw that she felt like she kept hearing someone call her name. And she said ‘Do you ever feel that when the buggies are coming down the ramp that you see someone sitting in a buggy and when it comes down to you there’s nobody there?’” Haro said.

“She comes back to me with a whiteboard where she kind of doodled this picture of what she had seen and lo and behold…it was that terrifying woman that I saw. I remember feeling my heart drop,” Haro said

Did You Know the "Happiest Place on Earth" Could Also Be the Most Haunted? (Extra)

 

Haunted hot spot between Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion

Here are some creepy facts you probably didn't know about Disneyland.

1. Scattering of ashes is very common and security at the park has to keep a close eye out for guests trying to do so. There has been an extensive history of guests scattering ashes of loved ones all over the park. From Haunted Mansion, to Tom Sawyer's Island and Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

2. There is allegedly the ghost of a guest who died on Space Mountain and is said to haunt the ride. He has been given the name Mr. One Way because he has been seen on security camera footage sitting in empty seats when the ride starts and when the train comes back he isn't there anymore.

3. Walt Disney purchased real skeletons for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride from UCLA Medical Center because it was cheaper and fake skeletons looked tacky. Over the years, the skeletons were removed as SFX and molding of props became more advanced, but if you look closely on the ride -- one human skulls still remains on the headboard of the bed in the captain's quarters.

4. Mr. Walt Disney himself is frequently seen roaming the parks and making sure things are in order.

5. There are real antiques in the Madame Leota room in the Haunted Mansion ride and it is said that they might be a contributing reason to why there is so much paranormal activity backstage on the ride.

6. There have been numerous deaths at the park. From people being hit my the monorail, drowning in the water at Tom Sawyer's Island, dying from crashes on The Matterhorn and Thunder Mountain, and being crushed by the People Mover.